My eyes opened to see the training area and Sir Lance approaching. He seemed tired, but his stern look and confidence seemed like they were back. He had lost the age that he had from the council room and looked like he was ready to do anything with his cane in hand. I tried to stand and I felt Katrina's head roll off my shoulder. I quickly put my hand out and caught her head as she slowly woke from her slumber.
She noticed Sir Lance's approach and quickly stood to greet him. He waved to acknowledge her. He approached me and I tried to stand, but I looked like a baby who still didn't know how to walk. I fumbled at the ground and he grabbed me by the arm and stood me up.
"So It seems that Lord Ferris's power has done a real number on you Koro. How do you feel?" He asked.
"It's hard to move, sir, but it's better than yesterday." I said, now standing on my own.
"Good." He said and swung his cane towards my mid-section.
My arms moved faster than I could think and caught the cane before it connected with my stomach.
Sir Lance smiled and began swinging and kicking at me. My body responded well to all of the attacks, but my movements were sluggish and sloppy. My muscles felt like they were still waking up.
"It seems your body is still a little sleepy. Remember, the aura that flows through us all will give you power to overcome." Sir Lance said. as he formed a fighting stance.
A pulse of warm energy washed through the training area. I could feel the aura more and I saw Sir Lance's aura was brighter and hotter than normal. He charged forward, but he was faster than before. I had trouble keeping up with his attacks and I felt something inside me stir from my fear.
I jumped away and focused on my aura. I felt power surge from it and my muscles began to tingle with fire. Another warm burst washed through the area again. I made the same stance that Sir Lance made. Sir Lance dropped his cane to the side and we both stood there, staring at each other. We waited until the wind picked up and we both charged forward. Sir Lance raised his palm and I did the same. We connected palms at the same time and a huge surge blasted between the two of us and sent us flying.
My body felt a little electricity in it, but it didn't stop me from getting up. Sir Lance stood over me, holding a paw out for me to grab. He pulled me up to my feet and grabbed my shoulder. A huge smile was strung across his face.
"You have made great progress Koro. Do you know what just happened?" He asked.
"No sir."
"That was a move called force palm. One of the many moves or styles that us fighting type pokemon use. We spend a lot of time training to learn different fighting styles to master these moves. I am proud of you Koro. I do remember that the last time that we fought, your dark form almost slipped out, but it didn't make an appearance this time. Maybe what Lord Ferris did was needed." He said while giving me a little shake.
"Katrina, come here," he commanded.
Both Katrian and I stood in a line as he grabbed his cane.
"With your recent treatments, the council has permitted you to form a team and go on missions. Congratulations are in order." He said and pinned a medal to my handkerchief. I took a look at it and felt happy. It looked like Katrina's with the black and crimson gems set in the gold mold.
"But we can not give you time to celebrate because the council has a mission ready for you. A series of disappearances have occurred in a small village near the edge of the continent, Valiant village. Mothers, fathers, and children have all gone missing in a mystery dungeon near the village. Your job is to find and rescue all those pokemon, if they are still alive." Sir Lance said.
Katrina looked happy and sad at the same time. She was carrying the packs from the market. They looked full and ready for the trip. Sir Lance had probably told her about it before my fight with Sir Lance.
"We expect you to leave immediately. Half of your team is waiting for you at the edge of the village. Meet them there to start your mission." Sir Lance said and turned to go back inside.
"Yes sir. Wait, half of our team?" I asked.
"Yes." Sir Lance said without turning around, as if ashamed of what he was about to say.
"The council still believes that you are a risk to the village. Extra pokemon will accompany you on this mission to make sure that if an event of your dark self comes out. Your team consists of the one who has taken you down before, Katrina. A powerful mystic pokemon that can paralyze you before you finish your transformation, Zeina. And last a fire type pokemon that is quick enough to take down a fast steel type pokemon, Carter. That is your team. THey will help you and be there to stop you."
"Yes sir.
"I'm sorry that I couldn't help you control the dark in you." Sir Lance said and left Katrina and I in the training area.
Katrina came over to me and hooked the pin that Sir Lance had given to me. She smiled at it and looked at it for a moment as it rested on my handkerchief. She held up my bag and I grabbed it, but was surprised by how much weight there was.
"We need to take the back exit to the edge of the village. The pokemon of the village are not ready to see you just yet even though it's been more than a week since the event. " Katrina said and began walking back towards the river.
I stopped as we walked along the river's edge. I had been asleep or with Lord Ferris for a week. I was astonished at how much time I spent away.
We emerged from the trees and I saw the buildings on the edge of the village. For some reason the buildings seemed grayer and less energetic. I saw Carter and Zeina standing near the entrance. When they saw us, Zeina tensed up and I saw her reach into her own pack for something.
She quickly walked up to me and I froze as she approached. She grabbed my paws and slapped iron shackles into them. Katrina looked at me with despair and then looked at Zeina with anger. She knew what was behind the shackles.
"You wear these while you are sleeping. I don't want the monster to eat me in my sleep. Now let's start the mission, monster." Zeina said and started walking away from the village. Carter smiled, but I could see the sweat beginning to build on his brow as he followed Zeina.
I looked at the shackles and stuffed them into my bag and began to follow. I looked back at the village and saw small glimpses of the damage I had done to the village. Some holes that I had left were already fixed, but there was more damage besides the buildings. Zeina made that very apparent.
We didn't talk during our walk that day, nor the next day. It was hard to talk with all of the tension between us. My mind was filled with so many thoughts. What has changed in me? What was my dream from before?
We set up a campfire again for the night and we sat around it as we waited for the food to be ready. The tension between us finally broke us.
"So, how does it feel? To be the monster?" Zeina asked.
I felt a pitt form in my stomach and sat there in silence.
"I wanna know how you felt when you were killing and destroying? How did you feel?" Zeina continued.
"Zeina! Stop!" Katrina yelled and stood glaring at Zeina.
"I forgot that you can relate to him cause of the little monster you were as a child!"
I felt Katrina's rage like an explosion. She was struggling to hold it back.
"Am I making you angry? Little Miss Handicapped?" Zeina said with a sarcastic wave of her hand.
Katrina snapped at the name calling and jumped at Zeina. She tackled her to the ground and they rolled around on the ground, grunting and struggling. I stood to try and stop them from hurting each other. Carter was a few steps ahead of me and was running after them.
"Come one ladies. We are on the same team here." Carter pleaded as he ran after them, still being careful to not get hurt himself.
"ENOUGH!" I yelled and everyone froze. They stared at me as tears began to well up in my eyes. I clenched my fist to try and stop the tears.
"You wanna know how it felt?! It felt like pure power and strength! It also felt terrifying! I couldn't stop killing! I couldn't stop craving the taste of their blood!" I yelled.
Zeina got up and folded her arms in disagreement. Katrina followed her lead and walked over to me. Her folded arms only made me angier.
"You don't get it, do you!? The fear of going too far, or letting it slip has constantly been in me! Every thought I've had is how to stop it. It's all I can remember! Nothing else!
How would you feel if you had to constantly worry about letting out a monster." I yelled and saw them loosen up. They all felt a little guilt.
I turned away from everyone and went to my pack to rest for the night. I picked up the shackles that Zeina had thrown at me at the beginning of the mission. I clenched them in my fist and turned back to Zeina.
"You watching?!" I yelled and slapped the shackles onto my wrist.
"Just to make sure a MONSTER doesn't eat you while you sleep, right?" I said and laid down on my bag.
I could hear them move around and Carter saying that she should apologize to me. I just wanted to sleep and escape this place. I could feel tears slowly stream down my face. I wanted them to stop, but it was hard to get them to quit. My emotions were running wild. Like a broken dam letting the reserve of water out. They wouldn't let me rest in peace as they stole my energy. It did make it easier to sleep.