Keeper of the Lost
One moment she was warm, comforted, and curled into a tight ball. Then she felt the pull, the one that followed her heart beat. A small impact cracked open her warm hide away. A voice, strong and assertive called her species name just as her paws landed on the field she had grown so accustom to feeling beneath her pads. Raising her head, she locked eyes on the Typeless before her. They were young, younger than the sun-circles she had survived thus far. Their hair a dark brown color and vibrant dark eyes. That much she could see from her position, knowing exactly what he saw in those cocky eyes as he threw the same hide away she also hid inside for rest.
Stunning, sleek fur shone with health under the artificial lights. Black as obsidian fur, short and wrapped tightly around her muscular and compact body. Muscles taut with malicious joy as apicorn red eyes gleamed with wild joy. Her crimson maw parting to reveal long, ivory white fangs. Sharp claws digging into the turf, scraping the blackish-purple stones as her pointed tail waggled like an Ekans' rattling tail. Curved horns, cracked and chipped held high as her black, wet nose took in the scents.
She was a powerful huntress, bright red eyes gleaming as they honed in on it's first target, a Togetic. It's cream, downy feathers covered it's body, speckled with strange shapes of red and blue. Dark brown eyes glittering with challenge as it's cream-colored wings flapped nosily, it's flight feathers slapping against one another in the effort to stay aloft. Her jaws curved upward in a soundless sneer as she lowered her head, allowing her bony and muscular shoulder blades to show as she planted herself firmly.
This is going to be easy. She cackled, her bright pink tongue peeking out as she panted, her mistress ordering her to use Nasty Plot, a simple move for her as that was all she thought about. She was going to burn this creature and tear them limb from limb. The heat of her flame sac burned hotter in anticipation. Soon, very soon, she was going to launch her attack. Her mind racing with dark thoughts, the same ones she wanted to use to mentally destroy her prey. With a barking laugh, she raised her head, taking the ancient stones of an Ancient Power attack. Her bony protrusions protected her from the brunt of the attack. Swiping her tongue over her salivating jaws, heating drool dripping onto the stones at her paws.
With a single order, one that she understood clearly, made her muscles quiver in delight. "Houndoom, Flamethrower!" Flamed built up deep inside her, coiling through her throat, causing them to flare through her nostrils and between her sharp teeth. With a snarl, she opened her maw wide, raging bright red flames spewing out, white-hot in the middle as it surged over the offending Togetic. It let out a shrill cry of pain as the fire enclosed upon it. It fell to the ground, thrashing and screaming as it's feathers were burned black and straight to the skin. Without remorse, the houndoom raised her elegant head, eyeing the trespassing trainer with a level gaze of challenge. Who is your next sacrifice? she wondered, parting her lips to pant lazily, tongue barely leaving her maw.
The burning corpse was left where it was as a Typlosion was sent out, it's massive yellow and mossy-green furry body spiking in rage. Flames burning with indignant rage. Another order came to her ears: "Dark Pulse!" Darkness encroached her as she let out a haunting laugh of malice. The Typhlosion looked startled, it's berry-red eyes wide in horror as she cackled. Their jaws parted to show sharp teeth as it charged with a wild roar, but it was too late. With a screaming howl, a pulse of darkness shot from between her horns, concentrated darkness from deep within her skull. It struck the fellow fire-type, causing their legs to crumple beneath their own dead weight. They skidded to a stop before her paws, blood oozing from their nose and ears from the impact. Slaver dripped from her jaws as her excitement grew, pride in her power made her hunger for more souls to steal.
What's next you dumb Typeless? Houndoom mentally sneered, seeing the fear on the trainers face. I dare you to throw everything you have, this isn't the first time I killed off one of you. She let out a wild bark, another pokemon appeared. A crobat, it's swift wings carried it to slash into her flesh with an Air Slash. She howled in agony, before the flames rumbled from deep within her. At close range she bathed it in red-hot fire, causing more agonizing screams It's feather-soft fur burning to a crisp as it fell still under her power. Her eyes focused once more as she shook out her thin pelt. Flecks of blood sprayed around as she took a loping step forward through the destruction. Her paw stepping onto the deceased Typhlosion's skull, digging her claws in for traction.
Her trainer's orders were just a buzz in her ears as she raised her head. A Gyrados had appeared with a creamy yellow stomach, white trailing whiskers, and shimmering red scales. She could smell the typing of it with ease, narrowing her eyes another orb of darkness gathered between her horns as it charged at her head first. With a wild bark, she launched the Dark Pulse, slamming into the opponents skull and ending their fragile existence. They collapsed in a large heap. With a bounding leap, she climbed on top of the massive pokemon and looked down at the opposing trainer. The trespasser took a step back, horror alight in their eyes as they sent out an Ampharos. The bi-pedal sheep pokemon's yellow and black hide couldn't protect it as she unleashed another flamethrower.
It shrieked, but was still standing, it's body scorched black with red-raw burns. A weak electric current zapped towards her, but she jumped out of the way, her sharp teeth flashing with an intimidating snarl. You may be fat, but I'm faster! She mentally crowed, striking with her sharp fangs in a Bite attack. With a wild pull on the flesh, she tore a gash into the other pokemon. Blood turning her crimson maw maroon. Her eyes focused on the trainer who trembled, their fear-scent intoxicating her as she let go of the flesh she had in her jaws. Pride flared through her chest, warmed by the flame sac as it began to burn hotter and hotter again.
The trainer threw out one last pokemon, the light of confidence had faded from their weary face. Curling her lip, she approached over the bodies, licking up the slaver that had dribbled from her jaws. The last pokemon was a sacrifice for her and she knew it. They were an Espeon, their eyes wide in horror and fear. She cackled softly, approaching the smaller pokemon lazily, knowing it couldn't touch her with anything to take her down now. Her tail tip wiggled, quivering with the tense excitement to not wag it with reckless abandon. She was a professional after all, the top of the team. She had a reputation to keep as a cold-blooded killer of the league's challenges.
"Have mercy, please..." the Espeon murmured, grief sparking alight in their deep violet eyes. Their pale lavender fur short and fine, quivering at the malice that was from deep within the Houndoom. These were the Espeon's only known kin since he had joined them. Now, he was watching hollowly as death came to him in loping steps over the bodies.
"Mercy," she breathed, her breath hot from the flames within her chest, "Is not something I am known for."
"Then make my death swift." the Espeon pleaded, their large ears lowering along with their forked tail.
The houndoom thought a moment, the familiar buzz reaching her ears. Her eyes darkened as a cold stone seemed to squirm in her belly. The others at least put up a fight, but this one, this one had begged for mercy before begging for a swift death. Breathing out gently, her hot breath scorching the fine fur of the Espeon black, she knew what had to be done. Lifting her head nobly, relaxing her taut muscles, she focused the darkness back into a dark orb between her horns. Her heart thrashing in sorrow for the brave, yet foolish, pokemon before her.
"Your wish has been granted, dear sacrifice." she growled solemnly, letting the Dark Pulse become released, bathing the pokemon evenly in it's darkness. The Espeon coughed out blood as it's body collapsed, the red gem that glowed brightly moments ago was now no longer glowing. The Espeon's eyes were closed, it's elegant body looking as though it had collapsed after traveling a long way. Perhaps he had traveled from far away. Her eyes looked up to the trainer, blinking slowly as though realizing for the first time she had demolished a team of pokemon.
Yet, this was never the first time she had done this. They weren't ready and were torn apart. Reaching her mistress, she sat down beside her, her eyes downcast in shame. How was anyone supposed to win when she had become so powerful. So powerful that she had ended a trainers hopes and dreams. Running her tongue over her jaws and nose, she knew as the adrenaline of battle was drained out of her veins, guilt will overcome her again. Just how many more times would she be trapped killing pokemon teams left and right? Looking to her mistress she knew that it was part of the passage to the Champion, a Typeless who owned powerful pokemon. Pokemon who were stronger than her.
Closing her eyes, she made a single wish. A wish that she would no longer be in this purgatory where she ended countless pokemon's lives and was finally put into her place. Her body trembled, her great-grandmother had been killed many sun-circles ago. Her grandmother and mother had no interest in battles, while she was hungry for them. Now, she wondered if she should have ever been that hungry for battles. Even in her mind she could still see the Espeon who gave in with such dignity that she didn't want it's soul. Perhaps, someday, it will be reborn and will do what no Espeon has done before him and live a long life away from her reign of death.
A death caused by her own hellish flames and thoughts. A death more noble and understood than what she had. Opening her eyes, she knew, something was going to give and whether it was her or another trainer's team she would not know. The future was never set in stone, she fought for her life every time and could only wonder if she could continue to do so until her time comes in a wave of water just like her great-grandmother had suffered. A noble death where fighting tooth and claw lead to a valiant end to a powerful pokemon.
A proper death that she wished upon herself, but afraid of how slow and tedious it was becoming. How far away was her demise? Many believed she was the keeper of souls trapped in purgatory. However, she felt she was trapped in her own eternal purgatory. A place where she must fight endless battles and only concede when ordered to. An existence that tested her faith, patience, and trust. Looking to her trainer, she could smell the pride and darkness that the Typeless carried. An unusual being, one she would never understand, but one she had put all her trust in to do the right thing.
However, how long would her trust in her Typeless last?
Author Note:
Based on a run where Houndoom wrecked my team not once, but three times. It was a nuzlocke and I did give up in the end because clearly, I was being punished for even bothering to "re-do" it over and over.
This was one of two runs that I lost, but I felt I should write about pokemon as a break from Warrior Cats. So enjoy the POV of Karen's Houndoom of HeartGold.
Hope you liked this morbid and gore-filled tale from a 2012 run! - NightSky