I felt like I was drifting down a river of darkness. My mind, unable to anchor itself to a strong image. Memories, ideas, and dreams swam past me like fish in a river. Wait. What's a fish? Is it like a magikarp? Or is a magikarp like a fish. I was so confused.

A light peered through the ocean of images. The pink or pokemon smiled at me. A small stubby leg reached from the small orb and tapped me on the nose. I felt a ripple through my mind. I felt the waves rush over my mind and felt the wind rush into my lungs.

I sat up with a snap that hurt my neck. I looked around and saw well-lit cave filled with nothing but a fire in the center. I tried to stand but felt the ropes that were wrapped around my legs and arms quickly stopped my progression. I took another look around the cave and saw shadows slowly creeping from the corridor. I quickly laid back down to act like I was still sleeping.

I heard the clicking of claws tick closer and closer until I felt the presence of the figure just only inches away from me. My heart began to beat faster, forcing my chest to hit the solid rock ground harder and faster. I tried my best to hold my breathing in and keep a steady pattern. I felt a puff of air as the creature was leaning over me and began sniffing me. I didn't know what to do besides stay completely still or blend into the rock itself and disappear.

"He's got an interesting smell sisters" I heard a female voice call out. I didn't heart the others enter as they answered.

"Of course. He is stronger than all of us, my dear sister."

"Even stronger than me? I seriously doubt that."

"You all know that he is because he has shown us his power already."

I felt a dark presence envelope the room. I felt me lungs strain under the pressure of the presence that entered. My muscles tensed as I tried to fight against my instincts to fight and attack the dark presence that was with me in the room. I could feel the monster roaring inside m mind, wanting to fight and rip her to shreds.

"Sisters. He's awake…and so is the monster."

I had heard that voice before.

"Come on Lucario. Don't be so bashful."

I slowly sat up and saw all of the eevee evolutions that stared at me. All of them had a dark aura coming off of them, but none were as strong as the eevee that stood in the center of them. That was the one that intoxicated the room with the dark stench. Her aura wasn't too hard to see. It was almost as dark as my own when I had seen the monster for the first time. They did however share the same dark eyes. They were eyes of the fallen.

"He escaped my trance faster than most. Impressive" The espeon said as her gem glowed. I could feel her prodding around, but I mentally put-up walls to try and slow her down. A frustrated look appeared on her face, confirming that I had done it well enough to stop her efforts.

"We shouldn't be so surprised in his capabilities sisters. He is the one that does house the monster of Grandon Village. The Matriarch of the massacre. The creature of catastrophe. It's host lays before us" The eevee said. Her sophistication and manner of words surprised me.

"We must be respectful to him so we can have him join us in our efforts."

I felt a small jolt run through my spine as she spoke so casually about me joining them.

"I am sure you are confused about joining us, but just think. You are a monster that is way more than any of us here. You would only be joining the ones that would accept every bit of you instead of having you push don every part that is powerful. That is "bad". You could be yourself and not have to worry with us Caleb" The eevee said.

"My name is Koro!" I snapped and earned a few growls from the other sisters.

"My apologies. Koro."

Some of the eeveelutions began look at each other as they grew uneasy with the tension that had quickly grown in the room.

"Where are my friends?" I asked with the burst of rage that was given to me with he mention of that name.

The eevee nodded and more shadows came from the corridor. I saw the blank stares of my friend's once they entered the room. I couldn't feel their normal auras. They were mudded by the darkness in the room and something that was inside them. There was a cloud over their eyes. None of them could look up at me. They only stared at the ground like that was the only thing that every existed.

"I can assure you that they are completely fine. We are just giving them the same choice that we are presenting you, but in a more potent manner. We have introduced them to some of the dark substance that helped us to accept our true selves. Slowly it will help them accept their true sides or they will die like some of the daughters from that nearby village that have accepted our cause. My sister is just helping them stay in a "comfortable" state to help them choose the right path."

I felt my anger rising as I saw Katrina, Zeina, and Carter visibly sweating. I didn't know how much longer they would be able to hold out against the darkness. Katrina was breathing hard, almost wheezing as she stood staring at the ground. I needed to get them help and soon.

"I can feel the monster wanting to come out. I want to see it. I want you to accept who you really are Caleb!" the eevee yelled at me.

"I told you I am not Caleb. I am Koro!" I roared. I ripped the ropes.

I slowly stood and stared at the group. Only the eevee had a huge smile on her face. The others were either filled with rage or fear. I didn't care which because I knew what I needed to do. I could feel the monster inside grow excited as it agreed with what I had planned for the eevee. It did ask to see the monster. I would hate to disappoint.