Okay, here's chapter 2! I'm gonna start making them longer. You may not like this chapter as much as the others, but the others will be more exciting. Hope you enjoy this latest Chapter!

SoL

Chapter 2: Learning the Truth...

She bounded through the tree crowded woods, darting behind branches and tree roots. Her sleek lavendar fur rustled with the wind and her deep violet eyes shimmered with happiness beyond measure. In the form of an Espeon, she ran happily through the forest...happy and free.

A blur of dark fur caught her eye and she glanced to her left to see an Umbreon racing next to her. The Umbreon looked at her lovingly and then mockingly as it sped up to pass her. Not wanting to lose a challenge, she sped up, dodging tree branches and roots. She wasn't about to let him beat her again...

Finally, she caught up with him and burst through the final thicket of the forest, emerging into a large, beautiful meadow. They didn't make it far. To her horror, just beyond the thicket men dressed in uniforms with the letter C on the front stood waiting. She didn't have time to stop before she found herself in a cage and wearing a spiked collar. She looked franticly for the Umbreon, but he was no place in sight.

Kaylsta shot awake, panting and gasping for breath. Sweat poured down her body like she had just jumped into a pond. She shook herself dry and thats when she realized she was an Espeon...and she couldn't change to her human self. No matter how hard she tried, she remained the same form. A spiked collar hung uncomfortably on her neck and she gasped. Could it be the same collar from the dream?

Hoping it wasn't, Kaylsta jumped up on the windowsil and looked outside. They were moving again and the old trains metal walls and doors rattled with the shaking of the train on the tracks. Sighing, she turned away and concentrated on the woods beyond the train. Once again she could smell the fresh scent of freedom from her dreams. But it disappeared quickly when she heard clanging and clicking, signaling the doors were opening.

Quickly but silently, Kaylsta jumped to the floor and curled up like she was when she was unconious. She had just closed her eyes when the doors opened. Thinking, the small jewel on her head shimmered and she could see everything just as clear as if her eyes were open. She saw the Master and one of his henchmen walk in and walked toward the window.

"What is this project you wanted me to see, Malcolm?" the Master demanded strenly. Malcolm nodded and pointed to the sleeping Kaylsta. At first, Kaylsta panicked, thinking that they had figured out she was awake. But, Malcolm continued.

"That collar has a unquie power, as you have already seen on the other experiment," Experiment? What experiment? "It has the power to make the Pokemon...er Poke Morph, in this case, command everything the Master says. Observe." Malcolm pulled a small remote from his pocket and pressed the button.

Kaylsta then felt something explode from within her chest. She tried to scream but nothing came from her throat. Everything went white as the pain continued, but she could feel and understand what she was doing. She stood up, but tried to stop herself. She ran across the cabin of the train and Tackled the wall. The pain doubled in her chest and everything went black as she fell back to the ground. She was still awake, but barely. It took a moment for her vision to return, but when it did she saw the Master sneering at her pain, amusement and merriment in his evil eyes. The Master turned back to Malcolm and smacked him on the back, amazing to Kaylsta, gently. Malcolm grinned.

"Good job, boy," the Master cried. "These will work perfectly, at least until we can get them to the lab." He cleared his throat as if he made a mistake and glanced at Kaylsta before turning back to Malcolm. "I want these put on every Poke Morph."

"Already done, sir," he answered, proudly. "But one Poke Morph is stubborn and, even when he was unconious, he even blocked us out with one of the Snore attacks. He refuses to wear it."

The Master snorted. "Don't worry. I'll take care of that one." He glared at Kaylsta before walking toward the door. "Oh. And Malcolm?" Malcolm straightened his back in respect. "Watch the Espeon, will you? There's...something about her I don't like." Kaylsta glared at the evil leader.

"Yes, sir, Master Zhou," Malcolm replied, looking at Kaylsta with interest. The Master's name suddenly caught Kaylsta's attention, and a horrible sense of foreboding came over her. Why was that name so familar? She didn't know, but had a feeling she would soon enough.

Malcolm stared at Kaylsta a moment longer before walking over and sitting down on a stool. Kaylsta stood up and watched him. She was about to pounce when she noticed the remote attached to his belt. Attacking would only leave to destruction, she guessed, so she relaxed and thought of a different way. If she snuck up on him, she wouldn't have time to knock him out before he pulled out the remote and controlled her again. Her tail twitched in thought. Suddenly, she had an idea.

Kaylsta stalked over to the window, Malcolm watching her every move. She jumped up on the windowsil and her eyes glowed a mixture of colors. Malcolm started to convulse and fell over, unconious. Kaylsta made sure he was knock out before searching him. She finally found the keys on his belt and walked over toward the door. She pressed the button on the key ring and the door clicked and, with a swish, the door flew open. She hesitated, thinking. Who was the one Poke Morph that would let them put the coller on him? Kaylsta walked outside the cabin of the train and found herself in a hallway.

Now, she had to find her friends. Many doorways lined the hall and she sniffed each one, until she found the scent on Frollo in one of them. She quickly pushed the button on the remote and the door snapped open. Kaylsta walked in and looked around until she saw a Flareon huddled in the corner. He also wore the strange coller. Kaylsta darted over to him. Frollo's ear twitched and he jerked his head around, glancing at her.

"It's okay, it's me," she said, her voice hoarse. She walked closer and noticed that he was shivering and had many gashes and injuries all over his body. Kaylsta became concerned. "What happened, Frollo?"

Frollo shuddered and looked at her, eyes grim. "Aranel," he said hoarsely. Kaylsta raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"What? Aranel? She was here? Did she attack you?" Frollo sat there a moment before nodding. "Frollo, what happened?"

Frollo remained silent for another moment before looking at Kaylsta again. "These collars... They got control of her. Total control." Kaylsta gasped.

"B-b-but, it's the collar, right?" Frollo shook his head. Kaylsta began to panic. "What do you mean then?"

"Kaylsta, Aranel is part-Shadow One now," Frollo sobbed, hanging his head.

"Shadow One?" Kaylsta shoved the panic aside for a moment as she thought. Words from Master Zhou and Malcolm's conversation flew in her head. Lab...control collar... It all fit together. The answer hit her suddenly.

Shadow One's...the name they all despised...

They were all going to be one...

TO BE CONTINUED