1LRH Chapter Three: Missing Pieces


"ZANE!" the others called as they walked around, searching desperately for their missing friend. It was well past mid-morning when they came to a tree that was bent to the left, with a branch sticking out. It looked like a finger, pointing to the north. The others sat under the tree, miserable.

"What could have happened to him?" Jaz asked, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. No one answered her.

"I feel...oddly tired," Sajin said as she blinked, trying to stay awake.

"Now that you mention it, so do I," Jerio said, scowling.

"Me too," the others chorused. Sajin narrowed her eyes and clacked her beak softly.

"I wonder if it has anything to do with Zane disappearing?" she muttered, mostly to herself. The others looked at her, and Jerio rubbed his eyes, yawning.

"I don't know, but we have to find him," Tek said gravely. "I just hope we can..."


"Ugh, my head..." Zane muttered as he woke up. He sat up and groggily rubbed at his eyes, wincing at the pain in his head as he moved.

"Where am I?" he asked as he suddenly realized he wasn't among the trees or undergrowth. He was now in a large, dark cave. The ceiling soared above him, but he could hear the squeaks and chirps of Zubat, despite the fact that he couldn't see them.

Scowling, he stood carefully and let flames explode to life on his back. The sudden light stung his eyes for a moment, and a din erupted above him. Looking up, he gasped at what he beheld: hundreds, no, ithousands/i of large, blue Golbat and smaller, blue Zubat were zipping around. The largest of the Golbat spotted him and gave a piercing shriek.

"Below! Fresh blood!"

Zane gave a cry as suddenly, hundreds of Golbat began to dive towards him. With a cry, he shot out an Ember attack, but it didn't go high enough to even startle the hungry bats. He tried a Smokescreen, but the Golbats' ultrasonic cries made it just as useless.

Closer and closer the horde came, and as the shadow fell over him, Zane gave a cry of fear and threw his paws over his head...


"Where could he have gone?" asked Jaz. Her legs were twitching, as they were prone to doing when she was nervous. The others shrugged, looking upset and worried.

"Tek, d'you think you can hear him, if you listen for him?" asked Sajin tiredly. The Water Mouse looked up and closed her eyes, her ears twitching. After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked at the others sadly.

"Nothing," she said softly.

They sat there for a long while, lost in their grief. It was only until the little Pokemon that had joined them spoke that they even noticed it.

"What is wrong?" asked the small, cat-like Pokemon. It was mostly pink, but the fur on its belly and face was cream-colored. Its tail was flower-like and had three, yellow-tipped strands of fur sticking out at the tip. It was a Skitty.

"A friend of ours is missing," said Tek. The Skitty sat down and licked at a paw.

"Lost a friend, have you? You must be new here. Well, maybe my Ma or Pa can help you. Come on." She stood and began to trot off, heading deeper into the forest. She paused to look back at the others, who were hesitant to follow. "Well come on then. Sitting here moping won't help you find your friend," she said.

Tek and the others shot one another uncertain glances, but finally Jerio stood.

"Alright, let's go then. We've gotta find Zane!"

"That's the spirit," the Skitty said cheerily. "Now let's get moving!"


This is it, Zane thought as he crouched down, paws over his head, eyes squeezed shut. I'm a goner...

"Get back, you winged pests! Get BACK!"

Zane cracked an eye open and peeked up to see a dark purple figure standing before him, warding off the Golbat. They didn't seem very happy either.

"Illusion!" they screeched angrily. "Illusion!"

"GET BACK!" the Pokemon named Illusion suddenly bellowed, and fired a dark blob of energy at the Golbat. They shrieked furiously, but flapped back up to the ceiling of the cave, where they continued to raise a ruckus.

"Eh...thank you..." Zane said nervously, standing. But he gasped again when the Pokemon turned and was revealed to be a one-eyed Gengar.

"You're welcome, little Fire Mouse," she said, smiling. It was far from reassuring, though. Zane gulped and began to scoot towards the mouth of the cave, which he could just make out.

"Well...th-thanks...I should really get going now...my friends, you know, probably worried..."

"Friends? I saw no one when I found you," Illusion said, her voice silky. Zane stopped and looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I was out, enjoying the night. My favorite time of day. I came across you, alone and deep within a nightmare. I thought perhaps you were lost, so I waited for a few. When none came, I attempted to wake you, but couldn't. So I bought you here." She paused and looked up at the still-angry Golbat. "I must apologize for them. They normally behave themselves."

"I...I wasn't alone..." Zane said, looking confused. Illusion smiled again and looked back down at him.

"But you were, my dear. If you like, I can take you back to where I found you, and we can search for them."

"Well...okay then. That sounds good," Zane said after a moment, though he didn't sound very convinced. He would be glad to get away from the noisy Golbat though.

"Very well then. Let's be off," Illusion said, and with that same, too-sweet smile, led him off.


"So, you woke up and he was just gone, huh?" Skitty asked. Her name, the others had learned, was Flow. Actually, it was her nickname. She had a tendency, she said, to simply go with things, and the nickname had come with that. Her real name was Moondance.

"Quite a silly name if you ask," Flow had said as they'd walked. "Just call me Flow."

Now, as they neared a den whose mouth was covered by vines, Flow gave a mew. Almost instantly, a large Delcatty stepped from the den.

"Moondance," he said, his voice rich and deep. His fur gleamed with the sun that shone upon him in patches through the canopy above, making him appear quite regal. "Who are your friends?"

"Pa, my name is Flow," the little Skitty said, rolling her eyes. "Anyways, these guys are Jerio, Tek, Sajin, Jaz, and Kalo. They were washed up onto the island yesterday by that bad storm. They say their friend Zane, a Cyndaquil, is missing. They woke up this morning and he was gone."

"Hmm, sounds like Illusion's work," the Delcatty said, his eyes narrowing as the young Pokemon joined him.

"Illusion?" Tek asked, not liking the Delcatty's tone or expression. He nodded.

"A Gengar who lives in a cave some distance from here. She has one eye, because of her shameless habit of stealing away young Pokemon. She feeds off their dreams of fear and despair, and once that is gone she steals their lives. She took a young Rhyhorn once, and when his mother found his body near the cave about a week later, she went into a crazed grief and attacked Illusion. Thus is how the Gengar lost an eye, and almost her life. She managed to flee and hid for nearly a year. Now, it seems, she is back to her old tricks."

"But Zane would have fought back," Jaz said, shaking. She didn't like the sound of this Gengar at all, and was very worried, like the others, for Zane's life. The Delcatty shook his head as he led the youngsters inside the den.

"No. Illusion uses her Hypnosis to put her victims to sleep, then makes away with them. Once she has them, she uses tricks and honeyed words to persuade the young Pokemon to stay with her. Once she does that, she drains them of their dreams, then their life."

"Then we HAVE to go help Zane!" Jerio cried. "We can't sit around here doing nothing!" The others nodded. Just then, a softer voice spoke from near the back of the den.

"And you shall, but we will help. For we too lost a young one to the foul Illusion."

Flow ran to the back of the den, where a smaller but no less beautiful Delcatty was lying. Three smaller Skitty were pressed against her, sleeping. Tek balled her paws into fists.

"Then let's go!"

"We shall, but we cannot be too brash, or your friend will not survive," Flow's father said gravely. "We will wait till nightfall, and then we shall strike. Illusion must, it seems, be taught again the price of her deeds. For now, we shall eat and rest and conserve our strength. The battle to come will not be easy, young ones..."


Zane and Illusion arrived where the group of youngsters had been resting the other night. There were five places were the grass and underbrush had been flattened, but the places were empty, and had been for some time.

"They probably left to look for me," Zane said, worry in his voice. Illusion shook her head a little.

"It seems the smart thing would have been to wait here for you. What if you'd returned? How would they know if they'd left?"

"Maybe they did wait...I mean, it's pretty late in the afternoon. I wouldn't expect them to wait all day for me..."

"But dear, no one was here last night either. Would they have all left in the middle of the night?"

"Maybe...maybe Doom had found them and they had to leave..."

"Dear, Doom returned to his den last night, snarling about a Noctowl that had chased him away. He looked pretty scratched up. I doubt he left his home last night, unless it was to get something to drink."

"I...I don't get it..."

"Obviously, they left you, dear. I'm sorry to have to say it, but it's true."

Zane shook his head, unable to believe it. Illusion smiled softly at him.

"You must be hungry. You look a little thin. When was the last time you had a decent meal?"

"I...about two days ago," Zane said softly, too upset by being abandoned to notice his hunger. Illusion patted his head in a motherly manner.

"Come then, we should get you fed up. Perhaps something did happen and your friends had to leave, but it seems strange they did not wake you before doing so."

"I...what will I do? How will I get home?"

"Dear, I will help you, don't worry. Now, let's just worry about getting you fed."


Tek and the others ate a meal of berries and sweet, tangy roots in silence. They had slept for a few hours, before being roused by Flow's father to eat.

None of them felt hungry, but the only thing they'd all had for the last two or so days had been a few apples. So they ate, though they didn't taste the food. All were nervous about the battle that was sure to come, especially Jaz.

"We will leave when you are finished eating," Flow's father, named Ihs'io, said. Flow's mother, Kalili, would be staying behind, mostly because she had to take care of the Flow's younger siblings. Flow would be going with them, though. She was, for her age, very experienced at battling, having to live on an island where more mean than kind Pokemon dwelled.

Tek and the others nodded at Ish'io's words, but didn't really hear them. After about fifteen minutes, they'd finished and it was time to head out.

It was close to early evening as the seven Pokemon stood outside the den. Kalili and the three little Skitty stood inside the mouth, seeing them off.

"Yay! Fwow gonna beat up on mean ol' Iwussion wi' Pa!" the little Skitty sung as they danced around Kalili's legs. She smiled a little as Ish'io chuckled.

"Quiet down," she said, lifting a paw to stop their dancing. Ish'io sighed and gave his mate a little nuzzle, and Flow bumped heads with her younger siblings. "Be careful, all of you," she called as they turned and headed off.


"How is it?" Illusion asked as Zane ate a sort of pastry. It was wheat, having been ground somehow into a crust and baked with berries and other various fruits cooked within. Zane nodded as he ate a second one.

"Very good, thank you," he said around a mouthful of flaky goodness. As night had slowly fallen, he'd forgotten his sadness and fear at having been left behind by Tek and the others. Illusion had talked with him, fed him, given him water from a clear, chilled pond near the back of the cave. He'd always heard how Gengar were cruel Pokemon, taking delight in scaring and terrorizing others. But this one was different.

Now, Illusion watched with her single eye as Zane ate, malicious plots forming in her cunning mind. She had the foolish little Cyndaquil right where she wanted him. He'd bought her lies, and now was ensnared in her trap. As soon as he was done eating, she'd subtly feed him sly words, to put the seed of fear into him again. And then she'd let him sleep, and the Nightmares would begin.

She chuckled softly as the plan formed in her mind, and Zane looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"What are you laughing about?" he asked, finishing the rest of the pastry. Illusion looked at him and smiled a little.

"Nothing, dear Zane. I was just thinking about a joke I heard not long ago."

"Oh. Hey, er, what happened to your other eye?" Zane asked after a moment. Illusion sighed.

"Some time ago, I was attacked by a Rhydon. I was lucky to get away alive."

"Wow. That sounds like it would have been scary."

"When an angry boulder is attacking you, not much else is very frightening," Illusion said with a solemn nod. Zane shuddered, then stared at the wall as he sighed. Illusion grinned, and not in a pleasant way. It was time.

"Dear, you look tired. Perhaps you should get a little bit of sleep?"

"No, I'm fine...I..." Zane was cut off by a yawn. Actually, he was feeling slightly tired. He rubbed at an eye and yawned again. Illusion stood, never taking her gaze from her victim. She began to use her Torment attack, keeping Zane from doing much else than sitting, while trying to stay awake and yawning occasionally. She also began to use her Nightmare attack. Though it would do little good against a non-sleeping being, she could still use it to plant the fear within him. And it started to work.

Zane began to shudder as thoughts filled his mind. Being left alone, abandoned. Then he saw Tek and the others, lying at odd angles, not moving. Then his parents, his family, all lying as well. Then himself, alone, alone in the darkness of solitude...

And then he was asleep, where Illusion's Nightmare attack took full affect. She smiled coldly as Zane began to whimper from the awful dreams flashing through his mind. Once his began to thrash, crying out as the horrors of his tormented mind grew unbearable, Illusion held out her hands and let the thick, gooey energy drip from them and wrap around Zane as she used her Dream Eater.

Instantly, she felt herself growing stronger. This one had always been full of self-doubt and fear. A prime choice, indeed.

As she fed off Zane's dreams, she began to fall into a slight stupor. One so young, full of such angst. How perfect! It was why she always went for the youngsters. Always so full of fear at the smallest shadow or noise that was unfamiliar.

"And soon, it shall be over, my dear," Illusion said with a sinister chuckle.


Kalo stopped dead cold and shivered as the sun began to lower behind the horizon. The others stopped to look back at her.

"What's wrong Kalo?" Flow asked, and the Bulbasaur shook her head, worry gnawing at her gut.

"Zane...something's happening! We've got to hurry!" she said, shaking her head as anxiety threatened to overtake her. Jerio shivered as well and looked to Ish'io.

"We're almost there," he said, his fur bristling. They were all feeling the effects of Illusion's Nightmare and Dream Eater attacks. "She is wasting no time. She is truly a foul Pokemon. Come! We must make haste!" he said, leaping forward. The others ran after him, as Kalo carried Sajin and Jaz in her vines once more.

It didn't take long for the cave to come into view. By the time they reached it, all of them were feeling agitated. Ish'io gave a low growl.

"Time is so short. Quickly now!"

With that, they ran as fast as they could to the cave.


Illusion smiled as Zane slowly fell quiet, twitching once a while and giving a faint whimper now and then. He was also growing pale.

"Aahh...and now, dear Zane, it is time for your suffering to end..."

She stood over the weak Cyndaquil and placed a hand on his head. With a faint scowl, she used her Curse attack. Zane twitched and gave a moan as the Curse began to take effect on his weakened body. Illusion stepped back, watching and waiting. It took quite a bit of concentration and energy to keep a Curse active. But it was just about done...

"FOUL ILLUSION!" a fierce voice suddenly bellowed. The suddenness caused Illusion to jump and break her concentration. The Curse faltered, and then Zane was free of it. The Gengar turned to see a familiar Delcatty surrounded by several younger Pokemon, standing in the mouth of the cave. She quickly recognized five of them as the Cyndaquil's friends. The sixth was a Skitty, most likely one of the Delcatty's brood.

"Aahhh, Ish'io, is it not? Welcome to my humble abode. It seems you have caught me at a...very inopportune moment. You see, I am just about to dispose of the remains of my meal," she said with an evil cackle. Tek and the others spotted the weak, unconscious Zane at that moment and cried out, hurrying to get to his side. Before they could, however, Illusion used a Psychic attack, hitting them with a blast of mental energy and sending them tumbling backwards.

"Illusion! For the deed you have done, I shall finish the work that was started a year ago!" Ish'io cried.

"I fought a Rhydon in the midst of raging grief and survived! I can easily rid myself of a weak cat and a few pitiful babies!" Illusion spat as she faded into the shadows, her eyes glowing a sinister shade of red. Ish'io gave a small growl and looked to where Tek and the others were getting to their feet.

"Go, take your friend from here! Take him back to our den. Moondance and I shall take care of Illusion."

"But..." Jaz started, and Flow jumped forward, her eyes ablaze with battle fury, her fur sticking up.

"Go! Your friend is terribly weak, and must be tended to right away! We can handle this vile Gengar!"

Kalo nodded after a moment. "She's right. Besides, we've never really had any battle experience. Come on, let's get Zane out of here!"


Illusion watched from the shadows as Tek and the others left, Zane in tow. She narrowed her eyes and turned her gaze to Ish'io and Flow.

It was time to show them what happened to little pests who interfered with her meals...


Misa: Chapter three ish here.

SS: Duh. I think the people can see that.

Misa: Aw, be quiet.

Coal: Can I make some toast?

Misa: Er...okay...

Coal: Woo! Goes off and grabs a loaf of bread, then hacks at it with his Scythe. When he's done, the bread is all burnt and charred and smoked. Toast! Picks up some and eats it.

Misa: Oo...Watches him eat the burnt bread. Ew...on so many levels...

SS: Hey, remember to review or I'll hunt you down and beat you with my Scythe!