Chapter Seven—Pyrite Town, Char's Run, and Yuya

"Answer me! Did anyone else escape!"

"The Kids Grid."

"Damn it Char!" Nascour screamed, banging his fist on the bed.

Char flinched as Nascour raged at him, infuriated at the thought of something like this happening.

"Why did you let them escape, Char? I told you that no one was to escape!" screamed Nascour.

"But Nascour! They're just innocent kids! Would we really let them get caught up in this?"

"Innocent my ass! Look what they've done. They tipped off the police and almost caused the undoing of all the work we've done—that you've done!"

"But everything's fine now, no? The Shining Pokemon force pushed the police force back to Pyrite Town. All will be fine in The Under," said Char, trying to reason with the enraged Cipher boss.

Nascour then, fueled by anger, rose from the bed, Char rising with him. Char walked to him, seeming apologetic but it wasn't enough.

"No everything is NOT fine! You know very well how weak what you just said is.. Pyrite Town is our next target! Now everything will be more complicated there! And what of our other enemy? This Dark Troop or whatever—he could have seen it all! If that happened, he'll know we're in a prone position right now. I know you don't believe in the power of Shadow, but our enemy could really get the better of us now. All because of you!"

"But—"

"No! Don't even start! You are a hazard to us! Someone who trusts our enemies is an enemy to us! You are a danger, and you are not to leave the mansion while we go to Pyrite. I know that leaves us down a fighter, but your friends the Kids Grid, not to mention Duking and all the rest of them will be there. And I don't want you suddenly getting soft on us because of them. No. You will stay."

"Nascour!"

"You will stay!"

"No I wo—"

Char was cut off. Not by words, but by the harsh sting of Nascour's hand connecting with his face.

It was a brutal slap, one that sent Char wrenching to the floor from Nascour's power. Nascour fell angrily to his knees, grabbing Char and shaking him violently.

"You do as I say!" Nascour growled, continuing to shake Char.

Char was silent again, clutching at his reddened cheek with his hand. There were slight cuts from where Nascour's long nails had scratched him, he could feel a trickle of blood coating his fingers, slowly.

Char glared at Nascour. "I told you I forgave you. But right now, I'm not so sure."

"Well, you can be not so sure all you want, but you'll be staying here, and that is all I have to say to you!"

Nascour rose, leaving Char on the ground. It seemed like it was through a haze that Char saw him get dressed and walk out of the room, locking the complicated lock in a way that Char would not be able to open.

Char just sat there, naked, cold, scared even. But most of all.. furious. He stormed to his feet, snatching up his own clothes and putting them on.

Eyeing his pokemon belt on a chair, he realized that Nascour had forgotten to take it from him! He wasn't trapped after all!

Giving a feral grin to the air, he seized up his belt and put it on.

"Well then," he said to no one, "If I'm forbidden to go to Pyrite, so be it. I will not go to Pyrite. I don't care about this mission anyway. Cipher can rot for all I care!"

A window was broken, and with a mighty "Feeeeeaaaaaarrrr!" he was off, flying toward wherever the wind chose to take Char.

Meanwhile:

Pyrite Town

Duking sat at his desk, worried, and reviewing the facts with the Kids Grid for the third time the morning.

"So you're saying that Char, our Char, the one who saved us all before.. is working with a new Cipher? That he is evil now?"

"Well," said the girl with the Shroomish, "Char did save my life! He may be one of the bad guys, but he's not a bad guy.. if you know what I'm saying.."

"I understand. But regardless, Cipher is a criminal organization! They must be stopped, Char or no Char. He's a criminal just like the members of the old Cipher were and are. If he's really working with them, he's going to go to jail."

The kids were quiet, looking at their feet and fidgeting. They didn't want anything bad to happen to the big guy they liked so much, the one they adored and aspired after. But..

"There's nothing I can do, you guys. You've done Pyrite an invaluable service by tipping us off of Cipher's presence, but I'm afraid that no one can save Char right now.. No one but…" A light went on inside Duking's head.

"Kids, would you excuse me? I have a phone call to make…"

Yuya was sitting on the couch, at her grandparents' house in Agate Village. Nothing was on TV, the news of Cipher's re-emergence had not made it to the news yet. She was about to get up and make herself some breakfast, when.. 'briiing briiing', the phone on the table began to ring.

Picking up the phone, she heard a frantic voice on the other line. "Is this Yuya? It's Duking, this is very important!"

She was confused at his fluster, but she replied calmly. "This is Yuya speaking, what's the matter Duking?"

"It's Char. Char has turned to the evil side. He's joined Cipher!"

"Cipher? No, you must be kidding, Char would never—"

"The Kids Grid, who I know you trust, have seen it with their own eyes! Char was on a mission to take over The Under when they encountered him, destroying their satellite! I fear that Char has become a criminal, Yuya. And I know one thing," here Duking's voice got low, "I hear he uses modified pokemon now. Our police force couldn't beat him when he didn't. If Char has really gone renegade… we can't stop him! Cipher, or whoever this is.. will prevail."

Yuya's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe this. "No…"

"Yes! And that is why I called you. I beg of you Yuya, you've got to find Char and figure out what's going on! I mean, maybe he's being controlled! And if he is, I'm sure you're the only person who can save him. You're the closest person to him that I know! Please, Yuya! Seek him out! And solve this mystery for us!"

Yuya just knew that Char had to be in danger. And she never left her friends hanging. "I'll do it. I'll leave right now!"

"Thank you, Yuya. I wish you success.. for Char's sake."

The call ended, and Yuya began to pack her gear. She had recently bought a hovercycle, so she would be able to make the long trek across the sands of Orre just fine. When she had all of her things, and was about the head out the door, Eagun came from downstairs.

"Oh, where'ya off to, Yuya?"

"Grandpa, this is important. Char is supposedly working for Cipher now! And I've got to save him from what's really going on!"

Eagun stood in shock. "That pure-hearted boy, a criminal? No. You're right. Some foul play is afoot! You must go save him! But you cannot go like that. You have no pokemon, no defense in case he really is evil!"

"I know.. but I don't have time to catch one—" A pokeball was tossed her way. She caught it. It was Pikachu's pokeball.

"You can't let me take Pikachu, who will stay with you?"

"You need Pikachu more than I do, and besides, Pikachu is a very strong pokemon. It will be able to protect you well from Char's attack, if he does attack."

"Well, thank you Grandpa," Yuya said, as he headed for the door once more.

"Wait just a minute, I heard the whole thing!" cried Beluh, coming from downstairs carrying a small trunk. "You'll need this too!"

Opening the trunk, a small, green flute was revealed.

"A Time Flute!" Yuya was shocked.

"If Char is in Cipher, he could be using Shadow Pokemon. Celebi will save you from their evil attacks when Pikachu fails."

Yuya's eyes began to tear. "You give me your most prized possessions to keep me safe… Thanks guys."

"You're welcome, but remember, you've got to remember, you're on a mission! Go save Char!"

"Right, and make sure you come back in one piece!"

"I will you guys! Thanks for everything!" Yuya said as she headed out the door, and mounted her hovercycle.

As she raced off for the desert, she wondered… "If I was Char, where would I be?"

She headed for the Outskirt Stand.

Outskirt Stand

Char sat heavily in his bench at the back of the Outskirt Stand, listening to the faint sound of the early morning jukebox music. He tapped a finger against the table, once, then again.

He was still pretty pissed, a hand tracing its way up his face to his soon-to-be scar.

"Damn it...," he whispered to himself. "I hate this, I hate everything right now… But I still love.."

All the times he'd easily obeyed Nascour in the past played through his mind. All the loving things he'd done to and with him… Why did he have to screw it all up now? After escaping, would he be welcome back? Even so, would he ever be trusted again? He understood that although he was stubborn, and wanted to believe he was right.. he was wrong. He shouldn't have spared the Kids Grid and hurt Cipher. That was against the mission. The mission he was a crucial part of.. right? And he still loved Nascour. He could feel it. He couldn't stay angry.

"Gah!" Char said, banging a fist on the table in his confusion.

Getting ready to leave, he gathered himself and got ready to fly off when the door opened, light flooding into the dimness.

And he saw her. And she wasted no time in seeing him!

"Char!" Yuya cried out. "I've been searching for you! We need to talk."

Char stared at Yuya. It was a shock to see her, and not exactly a pleasant shock. He didn't know what this meant.. her arrival on the scene. But he figured he'd at least be civil to her. He didn't know who else she might have brought, and he didn't know where to go if he had to flee.

"Yuya. It's been a while."

"Yeah, it has. I hear you've changed.. for the worse."

Well, she didn't waste any time, did she?

"Let's take this conversation outside."

"Fine with me."

Outside, the sun glared off the sand and the various hovercycles that lined the area. The two squinted at eachother, but still remained in eye contact.

Yuya was nervous, but kept asking questions. "Why have you joined the bad guys, Char? I've heard all about it from Duking. I thought you hated Cipher. You told me you hated them. Why join them?"

"This isn't the same Cipher, Yuya. You don't know anything about this."

"I know they you're breaking the law and causing trouble! I know that you're planning to take over Orre! And I know… that you're using modified pokemon.. Shadow Pokemon, aren't you?"

Char instantly became angry. Anyone daring to say that HE, would use Shadow Pokemon, was surely mistaken!

"I would never! Shadow Pokemon shouldn't even exist!"

"Then what are you doing, Char? Why did you join Cipher? Is someone controlling you? Who is your boss?"

"No one can control me! And my boss is none of your business!"

"Then what? Why have you joined Cipher? What pokemon do you use?" Yuya shouted, forgetting to keep her voice down.

"I use the ultimate pokemon! Shining Pokemon!"

Yuya knew about the Shining Pokemon too, she had learned from Char. "Shining.. but they need—"

"Love. And I do love my pokemon. So does Nascour, and the Admins, and everyone else!"

"You serve Nascour?"

"I love Nascour!"

Silence.

"You.. love him?"

"Yes. I love him, and I love his mission. I will aid Nascour's plans because he's my boss, and my lover."

"Oh my god, Char! How… why?" Yuya didn't know what to feel but disgusted. "He's an evil man! No, forget the evil part even…"

Char snarled. "You have a problem?"

Yuya backed down. She didn't want to battle. "No… But.. Char.. Why? I thought you hated Cipher because they were evil."

"No, I hated them because of what they did to their pokemon. They abused them, they mistreated them.. I love pokemon, Yuya. I never want harm to come to them. So when Nascour revealed to me that he loved pokemon as much as I do, and still wanted to take over.. I joined him. Because Yuya, I was always like that. I joined the old Team Snagem because I wanted to take over Orre, I wanted to be powerful. But I became disgusted with the way they treated their pokemon, so I vowed to destroy them—to shut them down. And down they went! Now the new Cipher is alive, Yuya, we care about pokemon, we know they aren't just tools. We thrive on love! We cannot be defeated. We are invincible! And that is why I joined, Yuya. Do you understand now?"

Yuya didn't know what to say after that… "I..I.. I guess.."

"So there's nothing more to discuss. You understand me, and I understand you. Goodbye."

And as Char called out Fearow, and flew off, Yuya just stood. "I can't believe it… Char.. all along.. wanted evil?"

And as she sobbed for Char, she did not notice the shadow closing in on her.

Pyrite Town

By now, the forces of The Under, added to Miror B's own peons, was ravaging through Pyrite Town like bad little children, destroying and breaking apart anything and anyone who stood in their way, stealing pokemon and forcing the citizens to sign up for the cause.

Nascour, however, was on a specific mission. A large force of police and pokemon stood guarding the barricaded office of Duking. But not for long.

"Xia! Psychic! Throw them somewhere!" Nascour commanded, and Xia did just that. Lifting about 10 police officers and matching Growlithes up into the air, she sent them flying, some landing, unfortunately, in the gap where Pyrite Bridge was. They would end up in The Under, but certainly not alive.

This cleared an easy path for the peons to ram the door, their pokemon using all they had on it. It easily broke apart, and they surged in.

But Nascour issued them out, and one by one the Cipher peons filed out of the room. Xia guarding the door, Nascour walked up to Duking's desk, slowly.

But surprisingly, he did not attack him. He instead, gave him instructions.

"Don't dare move and don't dare call for help or my Metagross will kill you on the spot. I'm going to be right back."

Noticing that Nascour was paying special interest to the bookcase, Duking flinched. "What are you doing? Stop!"

"Oh, why, Duking? I just want to look at the… bookcase," Nascour said, walking forward and pressing a panel on the side of it. The bookcase slid sideways, revealing a small room, with several, scared children. The Kids Grids of Pyrite and The Under.

Duking bit his lip, he didn't know what to do. He didn't want to die.. but..

'Stop right there, Nascour!" Duking cried, rising to his feet. "I will not allow you to bring harm to the children!"

Nascour's eyes flashed rage at him, and he rushed forward, smashing his elbow right into Duking's face.

"Didn't I tell you not to move? Xia, bring him over here. Hold him still."

Xia used her mental powers to easily move Duking right in front of the chamber, where the shaking Kids Grid could see as Nascour beat him, over and over he struck, bruising and breaking. Nascour was insanely powerful, but he did not kill Duking. He instead beat him until he was satisfied.

"Now, that will teach you to follow orders. Xia? Keep his eyes open for this next part, hmm?"

Xia nodded, and Duking's eyes stretched open.

Everything was still, but for the sound of a rustle of a hand in a pocket, and the sound of a knife being drawn, the light draw sound of sharp metal against fabric.

Duking went to cry out, but could not, his mouth would not open.

Nascour stepped into the room with the Kids Grid, and asked a simple question.

"Who wants to die first?"

Outside the building, the peons heard the sharp cries and screams of children, and the maniacal laughter of Nascour, as he slashed away.

When the sounds ceased…

With a thump, Duking was released to the floor, free to move once more. The big man began to cry, and seethe. "How could you.. they were only children..," he cursed himself for not being able to do more.

"Were, is the key word here, Duking. Were."

And he left the crying man on the floor of the building, and began to walk out when he spoke one more time. "Why Nascour? Why did you spare MY life?"

Nascour smiled an evil smile at him, baring his teeth and replying with only this, "Someone needs to tell the story."

And then, he walked out, Xia following, the peons only seeing the bloody knife in his hands as evidence, and yet they still knew what he had done.

Everything was still, and then Nascour's orders rang out. "Find Miror B. Tell him that his office awaits. And get Duking out of here, just toss him out. Clean up the mess in the back room, too. I'm going to the Colosseum."

None argued as they jumped to complete Nascour's orders.

Char was close to Pyrite Town now, flying at his top speed with Fearow. He was hoping to all the gods he knew of that Nascour would forgive him, as they swooped down over the town and landed.

The operation had already started, peons and Shining pokemon were everywhere, bustling about, completing tasks. Asking one where Nascour was gave him the location of the Colosseum, and he made his way toward it.

Once reaching inside, Nascour stood behind the desk, grinning madly, holding a knife in his hands. "Are you here for a battle, because the Colosseum's out of service right now… heh.."

"No..," Char said cautiously. "It's Char. You know, me—Char."

Nascour's face should have gone stern. He should have questioned why Char was here, and where he'd been. But instead he smiled, putting the knife away and coming from behind the desk. "Char.. Char! So nice to see you.. come here.."

Nascour embraced Char, gently kissing his neck as he whispered how much he loved him. "I missed you. Glad you came."

Char was confused as to why Nascour was happy to see him, but decided that since the man had a knife he'd just shut up and play along.

"Er.. yeah, missed you too. Sorry about that."

"The Pyrite takeover is successful. We've completed the first phase of the plan!"

"Good. So now, Realgam Tower?"

"You read my mind, Char, you read my mind..," Nascour seemed to forget that he'd told Char about the plan.

"We'll take over all of Orre, won't we?"

"Yes." said Nascour, seeming to 'sober up' from what Char did not know was the rush from his mass killing.

"We'd better return to the mansion. Miror B can finish up here."

"You're right. Let's go. We've got serious planning to do if Realgam is even to be a possibility. Xia?"

Xia's blue flash carried them home with ultra-speed.

Near Realgam

Yuya was curious. A little too curious for her own good. She had figured that Char MUST be at the Realgam Tower, that was Cipher's tower! So she drove her hovercycle there, oblivious to the shadow that followed from behind. And when she stopped her hovercycle to get off and enter the power, Pikachu's pokeball at the ready, she was not expecting the large Slaking fist to connect with her head.

The pokeball almost dropped from her hand, she was feeling faint. She knew that had been one serious jolt to her system. She began to run, as far as she could, while fiddling with her PokeGear. Her last frantic action was to send a call to Char's PokeGear, if he even still had it.

"CHAR!"

Then her world went black.

Char lie on the couch in the presentation room, Nascour was next to him, on his laptop typing away, no doubt on a plan to take over Realgam. All of a sudden, his PokeGear began to shake, like a call was coming in. And then..

Yuya's voice pierced the quiet of the room!

"CHAR!"

End Chapter Seven