Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
Shadows of Ganderosa
Chapter 18
A Lost Friend
Dillan openned his eyes. He felt weak from his battle with Arlon. Dillan took a view of his surroundings. He was still in the library. Adelina was talking to Bolt. Dillan couldn't tell what was being said, but he could tell it wasn't pleasant. Bolt looked disturbed while Adelina looked angry. Dillan looked behind the arguing pokemon. He saw Koa. Koa was standing next to an unconscious Arlon. Arlon.
Dillan tried to get to his feet. He felt the spent energy taking its toll. Dillan's legs were shaking, but eventually, he stood up. Bolt and Adelina didn't seem to notice the gabite. They were too wrapped up in their conversation. Dillan didn't care. He had his mind set on one goal. Dillan started walking towards Arlon. Every step made Dillan feel like falling over, but he didn't care. His lack of energy didn't matter. He needed to get to Arlon. He had to.
Dillan passed Adelina and Bolt. "Dillan." Bolt said. "You're awake."
Dillan ignored Bolt's comment. He remained focused on his task.
"Dillan," Adelina said. "Are you alright?"
Dillan walked up to Arlon. He was inches away from the shiftry. Koa looked at Dillan with a worried glance.
"He can't hurt you." Koa said. "He's unconscious."
Dillan looked at Arlon. The shiftry had rope binding his feet and arms together. He stared at all of his features. The blank expression of his eyes and openned lips. His clenched jaw. The burns all over his body. His frizzled white mane that's burned at the tips. He could almost feel sorry for the shiftry. Almost.
"How long was I out?" Dillan asked.
"Thirty minutes." Adelina said. "Which reminds me, what were you doing here?"
"In that case, he needs to be awake." Dillan said.
"A-Awake?!" Koa yelled. "You can't be serious!"
"Didn't he try to kill you?" Bolt asked. "Why would you want to wake him up?"
"His friend took my friend before you guys showed up." Dillan said. "If it really has been thirty minutes, than she's..." Dillan's voice trailed off. He knew what he wanted to say, but it was hard to form the words. Gone...
"Dillan, think about this-" Bolt started.
"I have thought about this." Dillan said. "He's been trying to hurt me, my team, and my friends ever since I can remember. This poor excuse for a pokemon knows where Reya is and he's going to tell me. You three can either help or let me handle him. Either way he's going to be awake."
"This is a bad idea." Bolt said. "But count me in."
"Y-You can't be serious!" Koa said. "H-He'll kill us!"
"I am serious." Bolt stated. "If what Dillan said is the truth, then how can we turn our backs on him?"
"Is this the guy responsible for the nuzleaf we ran into?" Adelina asked.
"He is." Dillan answered.
"Then I'm in."
"You can't be serious." Koa said.
"He might know what happened here." Adelina said.
"Besides, what's there to worry about?" Bolt asked. "We beat this walking log before."
"With a Z-Move." Koa said. "I don't have the energy to do that again and neither do you."
"Can we just do it?" Dillan asked with an annoyed tone. "We're wasting time; time my friend doesn't have!"
"Alright." Bolt said.
"I've got this." Adelina told the group. She walked up to Arlon. She put her paw under the shiftree's long nose. Adelina's paw began to glow white. Smells radiated off of her paw. The smells were very strong. Dillan looked at Arlon with anticipation. The shiftree took a deep breath as his eyes flew open. Arlon began coughing. He looked at the group around him as his breathing became normal Arlon looked at Dillan. His face grew into a smile.
"Hello, Dillan." Arlon said. "Congratulations-"
"Save it, Arlon." Dillan said sharply. "I don't want to hear it."
"You seem confident in yourself." Arlon pointed out.
"Just tired of you and your threats." Dillan answered. "Now, where is Reya."
Arlon shrugged. "That traitor isn't my concern."
"So you know?" Dillan asked.
"Of course I know. I couldn't be a commander without that knowledge."
"So tell me." Dillan said.
Arlon hummed as if he was thinking. "And why should I help you find a traitor?"
"Stop calling her that!" Dillan said.
"Why should you care for her?" Arlon asked. "She worked for my master; your enemy."
"She's different." Dillan said defiantly. He felt his anger bubbling up inside of him.
"She is?" Arlon asked mockingly. "Are you truly this naïve? Do you honestly think she's such a goody-two-shoes?"
"Stop it!" Dillan shouted.
"Make me!" Arlon said with a wicked grin.
Dillan began to move towards Arlon. He pulled his arm back to punch that grin off of his face.
"Dillan!" Adelina shouted. She grabbed his arm. "What do you think you're doing?" Dillan looked at her with frustration. His eyes were filled with hate, but then he saw her eyes. Dillan felt shocked. Adelina's face showed many emotions: Anger, sorrow, worry, fear, loneliness, so many emotions. Dillan was shocked to see all of it on one pokemon's face. He felt the tension in his muscles. He felt the anger that bubbled inside of him soften at Adelina's face. "Were you seriously going to hit him?" Adelina asked.
"I..." Dillan said feebly. "I... I..." Dillan couldn't think of what to say. He turned to face Arlon. The shiftry seemed overjoyed at Dillan's reactions.
"What's wrong, Dillan?" Arlon asked.
"That's enough out of you." Bolt said.
Adelina squeezed Dillan's arm. Dillan looked at the lickitung. "Don't stoop down to his level." she said. "I'm positive that's not what your friend would want."
Dillan relaxed his muscles. He hung his head in shame. What was I thinking? What did I hope to accomplish?
"You." Adelina said sharply.
"Miss," Arlon said with a wicked grin. "Your interruptions need to stop. Can't you see I'm breaking someone?"
"Quiet." Adelina said. "You will talk when I ask a question. Otherwise, you'll shut it. Now, you and your goons seem to have control of this place, correct?"
"That's why you'll never make it out of this place alive!" Arlon stated.
"Where are the pokemon who lived here?" Adelina asked.
"Why don't you ask him?" Arlon questioned as he pointed towards Dillan.
"What?" Dillan looked at Arlon with confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh." Arlon said in a mock tone. "That's right. You have amnesia. That's too bad. Ryan may know what happened."
"What did you say?!" Adelina shouted at Arlon.
Arlon gave a wide smile. "Did I hit a nerve?" he asked. "You shouldn't worry about it. When I'm finished with my task, that gabite and Ryan will suffer! I'll personally tort-" Bolt punched Arlon in the face, knocking Arlon unconscious.
"Shut it!" Bolt shouted at Arlon.
"Why'd you do that?" Adelina asked.
"The dude needed a vacation to the land of the sleeping."
"You make it sound as though he's dead." Koa pointed out.
"You know what I mean." Bolt said. "Besides, he wasn't giving us what we needed."
"Wait a minute." Dillan said. "Why are you guys here? I thought the guild shut down its member's activities."
"It did what?" Koa asked with wide eyes.
"When did that happen?" Bolt asked.
"Yesterday." Dillan said.
"We've been looking for-" Koa started. Bolt interrupted Koa with a bump from his arm.
"Ex-nay on the amilly-fay." Bolt whispered.
"It's fine." Adelina said with a straight face, though based on her eyes and clenched fist, Dillan could tell she was pained. "We were looking for my familly. Before I joined the guild, I lived here with my parents and my little brother. When you and your team told us about the mystery dungeon being here..." Adelina's voice trailed off. "I thought this shiftry might have information about what happened. Even if he does, it looks like he's not going to simply give it to us of his own free will."
"That's horrible." Dillan said. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Adelina said with a forced smile.
"Sorry for the change in subject," Bolt said. "But what's this about the guild shutting down its operations?"
Dillan told the group about the riots as well as Team Armageddon.
"And the guild shut down just because of that?" Koa asked.
"The Guildleader says it's a danger to the guild's members."
"That's nonsense!" Bolt said. "Other pokemon could be hurt if we don't help. I don't know about Team Force or your team, but I signed on to help others, not to sit around when the going get's tough."
Adelina didn't say anything.
"I don't know." Koa said. "If civilians are rioting and hurting us, I wonder if they even want our help."
"Just because there are a few bad berries doesn't mean the whole bunch is ruined." Adelina added. "We can't just give up on Ganderosa simply because Team Armageddon wants to spread lies about the guild."
"Um, guys?" Koa said.
"Yeah?" Bolt asked.
"Wh-Who are they?"
"Lord Arlon?!" Dillan looked to the entrance. There were two nuzleaf standing by the exit. They were looking at the group. "You!" the left nuzleaf said as he pointed at Dillan.
"Not you two again." Bolt said. In an annoyed tone.
"Again?" Dillan asked.
"Not the time, Dillan." Adelina told him.
The right nuzleaf faced the exit and cupped his hands.
"Stop that nuzleaf!" Bolt shouted. No time to think, got to act. Dillan ran for a second before his muscles gave out. Dillan fell forward and slammed into the stone floor. Bolt and Adelina passed Dillan and began running towards the two nuzleaf, but it was too late. The right nuzleaf put his cupped hands to his mouth and tightened his chest. A whistle blew out into the fog for three seconds. Bolt lunged at the right nuzleaf. The left one intercepted Bolt with a protect attack. Bolt kicked off of the force field and landed a foot away from the nuzleaf. The protect vanished as Adelina ran towards the two grass types. The whistling nuzleaf didn't stop. He continued to blow a tune into the mystery dungeon. Dillan tried to get up. Even though his battle with Arlon was so short, it took too much energy. Why do I feel so weak? Dillan got to his feet.
Adelina reached into the air and two orange swords materialized out of thin air. She spun around with the swords, swinging them like she did when she cooked. She didn't attack the nuzleaf with them, she just danced. What is she doing? Adelina tossed the swords at the nuzleaf. The guarding one put up his hands instinctually to block the swords, but they seemed to pass right through him. Adelina flung her tongue at the nuzleaf. It wrapped itself around the nuzleaf. Adelina threw him to the side in a twirl. She then smashed the nuzleaf into the whistling one, let her mace-nuzleaf go, and they both flew into a bookshelf on the side of the library. The collapsing wood sent dust into the air.
"Dang it!" Bolt said loudly.
"Was that what I think it was?" Dillan asked.
"A warning." Adelina said.
"D-Does that mean the other nuzleaf know we're here?" Koa asked.
"I would assume as much." Adelina said. She looked at Dillan. She walked up to him. "Where's Ryan and Hazel?"
Dillan felt his face grow hotter. "W-What?" he asked.
"I'm sorry if I spoke too quietly. Allow me to ask again. Where is Ryan and Hazel?"
"Um..." Dillan looked at Bolt. The pikachu was staring with a confused expression. Koa was looking around, as if this was some kind of misunderstanding and the rest of Team Rapture was hiding behind a book shelf, waiting to jump out and say, "Surprise".
"There is a time and place for everything, but not now." Dillan said, trying to sound stern; though he sounded more worried.
"No, we have time." Bolt said. Dang it. Is there any way out?
"Tell them, Dillan." Arlon said from behind the gabite. Dillan looked at the shiftry. He was sitting down, looking at the group of four. "It'll be fun." Arlon sounded pleased with the situation. Why shouldn't he be?
Dillan looked at Team No-name. "I can't say." Dillan said feebly.
Arlon began to laugh. "Oh, the irony!" he shouted. "Isn't that the same response Reya's given you for all of your questions? You expect more, yet you won't give more."
Dillan stared at the ground.
"Shut it." Bolt said. The pikachu walked towards Arlon.
"You want me to be awake." Arlon said.
"And why is that?" Bolt said as he drew back his fist.
"Because you'll have to drag me out of here, when I could just walk." Bolt stopped himself. "Trust me when I say that I know how bad that is."
"Whatever." Bolt said. He turned to Dillan. "Tell us or don't. It doesn't matter right now. What matters is getting out of this mystery dungeon."
"You want the escape orb?" Koa asked.
"We don't have one." Adelina pronounced. "Ryan used ours in the Shadowed Brush."
"S-So we have to go out through the f-fog?" Koa asked with worry.
"Yeah." Bolt said. "And even better, you're going to guard big, dark, and crispy."
"Wh-What?" Koa yelled.
"I agree." Adelina said. "You have the type-advantage over him. You're the obvious choice."
"Alright. Now that that's settled, let's move."
"Wait." Dillan said. He looked at Arlon. He saw the crystal Reya had given to him in between Arlon's leaves. "Give it here." Dillan said sternly.
Arlon openned his leaves. Dillan walked up to the shiftry cautiously. He's gong to let me have it? Just like that? Dillan reached out and picked up the crystal by its string. Arlon snapped his jaw quickly. Dillan jolted back, swinging the crystal through the air.
"Careful!" Arlon warned. "I bite!" Arlon began laughing. Dillan looked at Arlon with annoyance.
The gabite decided to turn his attention to one of the isles of books. Dillan walked down the isle. He walked over to the brown bag that rested on the floor. Dillan picked up Reya's bag and put the strap on his shoulder. Reya. I'm not sure where you are, but that blue pokemon won't get away from me. I'm getting out of this mystery dungeon and finding you.
"We need to move fast." Dillan said.
"Why's that?" Bolt asked.
"My friend could still be in this mystery dungeon. If we can get out of here before her, we can stop the pokemon who captured my friend."
Dillan started walking towards the exit to the library. He was starting to regain his energy, so walking was becoming easier, though he didn't know how he would do in another fight, should it arise.
Koa carefully walked over to Arlon. "Get up." he told the shiftry.
"Don't kid yourself." Arlon said with a grin. "I could snap you like a twig!" Koa whimpered. Adelina stepped forwards.
"Don't try it." she said. Adelina turned to Koa. "I'll help."
"Thank you." Koa said sincerely. Dillan looked back at the team. They seemed ready to him.
"Let's go." Dillan said. The group walked down the stairs, with Arlon in tow, into the fog.
Dillan was on auto-pilot. He didn't think about anything he needed to do. He didn't think about the bag he was carrying or how much heavier it was than Hazel's. He didn't think about where he was turning. He just kept walking.
"You guildmembers are hopeless." Arlon said.
"Shut up and keep moving." Adelina said sternly.
"You follow the system, yet you don't even think about why it exists."
"What's your name?" Bolt asked Arlon.
"My name?" Arlon asked. "Are you paying attention? It's Arlon."
"Nah." Bolt said. "I knew a shiftry named Arlon once. You're not him."
Dillan was shocked to hear Bolt say that. He didn't stop walking, though he did listen intently.
"You?" Arlon asked. "How would a punk pikachu like you know?"
"Bolt," Koa said. "I don't think it's a good idea to talk with-"
"It's fine, Koa." Bolt said reassuringly.
Dillan took a quick glance backwards. Bolt was walking backwards, keeping his eyes on Arlon.
"Fine?" Arlon asked. "You're all fools. You won't look at what's right in front of you!"
"I don't need to." Bolt said. "My friends will guide me. Can you say the same?"
"I don't need friends when I've got an army!" Arlon stated.
"Ah." Bolt said. "I think I understand now. Let me tell it to you straight."
"Left." Adelina said. Bolt looked forwards. Dillan took a left and Bolt followed.
"Thanks, C. A." Bolt said. He turned back around. "Now, Arlon. I met your old commander a while ago. About two months ago. Yeah. I just started fighting in the arena in Palando. There was a shiftry named Arlon who had come to Palando recently. He was big and confident in his abilities as a fighter. I met him on the battlefield. He told me his name was Arlon. He told me about his tribe that lived in the Labensia region. He told me that they were in a tough position and that he fought for his tribe. "
"His tribe?" Arlon asked. "Ha! That old fool did it for his own personal enjoyment!"
"You're wrong. That fight told me his true desire to help his tribe thrive. That shiftry was an excellent fighter. He was skilled with his leaf blade attack; an attack that all grass types strive to master. A pokemon like that is a good one; though his weakness was his weight."
"I know." Arlon stated. "How do you think I killed him?"
Bolt tripped on a piece of stone that was jutting out from the path. He tumbled over onto his back. The group stopped in their tracks. Dillan looked back. Bolt looked horrified.
"You killed him?" Bolt said.
"You expect me to let him live?" Arlon asked with a maniacal smile. "Your name is Bolt, correct? Tell me Bolt. When the time comes when your king asks you to kill, will you hesitate? Or will you strike down your enemy for the greater good of yourself? Will you do it for you tribe? Perhaps your country? Your world? You think the old Arlon was a good pokemon because of one fight? No. That shiftry is better off dead! He scarred me for that whelp you follow! Now, don't get me wrong; I don't blame the old fool for my scars. He was doing what he thought was best for the tribe, even though he was leading us all to our extinction! No, I blame you!" Arlon was looking at Dillan now. "Funny how it always comes back to you! That's why you need to die!"
"You're contradicting yourself." Dillan said. "If you think your old commander was leading your tribe to extinction, why are you following his path?"
"Because I don't care any longer! Life is pain! Without it, life is nothing more than a dream! Good or bad, feelings are the key to a world of happiness! I have lost feeling in my entire body! I feel dead inside; but alive at the same time! I can't taste the splendor of a tree's sap! I can't feel the icy chill of a winter's breeze! You think I care for my tribe? I've told you this before, Dillan! I don't care about them! I care about my feelings!"
"And they still follow you?" Adelina asked.
"It's the only thing they've ever known!" Arlon stated. "They follow me because it's the path they have always known! I follow this path for Dillan!"
"You're as evil as it gets." Bolt said with a scowl at Arlon.
Arlon began a fit of laughter. "Kid, you haven't seen anything yet!"
"Lord Arlon!" Dillan looked ahead to see a group of three nuzleaf blocking the way. "We're here to rescue you!"
"Too late, boys!" Arlon stated. Dillan looked back at the shiftry. To his surprise, Arlon's arms snapped the rope bindings like string. Arlon slammed his foot into Koa and brought a green blade of grass out almost simultaneously. He darted to Adelina. She put her hands up in a defensive posture. Arlon leapt onto Adelina and used her to vault over Dillan and Bolt. Arlon landed next to the nuzleaf. He turned around to face the opposing group. "I do have to thank you, Dillan. Your energy was very helpful in recovering from our battle. I wouldn't have had enough energy without you."
"What?" Dillan asked, thoroughly shocked by what Arlon had said.
"A Leech Seed attack is the perfect source of instant energy. Now tell me; are you feeling drained?" Dillan grimaced. "To be honest, I was hoping to weaken you until you passed out from pure exhaustion, then have you begging me to end your suffering as I break every bone in your useless body; but that no longer seems possible. Oh well! Guess I'll have to take you out the old fashion way!"
"What do we do, boss?" one of the nuzleaf asked.
"One of you take care of the gabite! He's weaker than the others! Two of you handle the scyther! He won't do well under pressure! I'll handle the pikachu and the lickitung!"
"Right!" the three nuzleaf said in unison.
"Don't get separated!" Bolt said.
"Got it!" Adelina said.
"A-Are you sure we can win?" Koa asked.
"Sure I'm sure!" Bolt said. "Have I ever led you wrong before?"
"Well, there was the time-" Koa started.
"Not the time, Koa." Adelina said.
Here we go!
Arlon rushed in first. Dillan felt his adrenaline leave his body. Arlon had his sights set on Dillan. He didn't know why he felt so scared in that moment. Maybe it was his lack of energy. Maybe it was because he never felt so alone. Sure, Bolt's team was with him, but that didn't seem to be a factor. Reya was gone. He had left his friends back in Palando Town. They weren't with him. Arlon's face of malicious evil seemed to eat at his mind. All Dillan did was watch the shiftry run up on him. That's when he realized he wasn't Arlon's target. Dillan looked to the side as Adelina used Protect to shield her and Bolt. Koa seemed just as scared as Dillan was, but that didn't seem to stop him. Koa ran pass the shiftry and confronted the nuzleaf. One of the three nuzleaf parried off of Koa's attack and started rushing in on Dillan.
Stop this! Stop being scared! You need to figt them! You need to get over your fear, now! Dillan tried to muter up some courage as the nuzleaf attacked with a thrust. Dillan dodged the attack. Now. Dillan focused on his fin. A blue light emitted from his right fin as Dillan swung his arm at the nuzleaf. Dillan took a deep breath. He felt himself moving too slowly, probably from his lack of energy. The nuzleaf grabbed Dillan's arm. He used Dillan's momentum to throw Dillan onto the ground. Dillan rolled over a couple of times, feeling his back fin bend, and got up to face the nuzleaf. His eyes drifted to Arlon.
To Dillan's utter surprise, Arlon was handling both Bolt and Adelina. Arlon smashed into the protect. Bolt jumped through the force field as it dispersed. He stuck his small paw into the air, creating a red glow that surrounded it as he came down at Arlon. Arlon didn't move an inch. Instead, he took the full blow of Bolt's attack. Bolt was very shocked that Arlon didn't even flinch from the move. Instead, Arlon's leaves glowed and a green sword came out of the air. He slashed at the pikachu. Bolt barely managed to dodge the attack. Adelina brought out an orange sword and rushed in on Arlon. Arlon slashed at the lickitung. Adelina blocked Arlon's attack with her sword and licked Arlon's face. Arlon smiled at the saliva that clung to his face. He slashed at Adelina again with his sword. Adelina blocked the attack and forced him away. Bolt ran up on Arlon and head-butted his chest. Arlon doubled back and smiled at Bolt.
"You can hide a Leech Seed attack and simply drain your opponent," Arlon started. "Or you can give them the full blast and make your enemy suffer for their mistake!" Bolt looked at his chest. There was a small seed sitting in the middle. It split open, shooting vines all over his body. Bolt gave a groan of pain as the vines seemed to electrocute him with a red flash. A ball of white energy floated out of the seed Bolt had on his chest and over to Arlon. Arlon touched the orb and absorbed it. The red lightning stopped attacking Bolt. "Of course it only lasts a few seconds." Bolt gave a yell of adrenaline and he was off to attack Arlon again. Adelina followed.
Koa wasn't doing so well. He found himself between a rock and two hard nuzleaf; the rock being a wall to a nearby house and the nuzleaf being self-explanatory. Koa slashed at the two nuzleaf. Both nuzleaf dodged the attack. One of the two decided to use an areal dodge. That one used a razor leaf attack and pelted Koa. Koa put his claws in a defensive stance. By the time he lowered his blades, the second nuzleaf attacked with its fist that was enveloped in a dark substance. The nuzleaf hit Koa straight in the face. Koa landed on his back. The scyther tried to get up, but the two nuzleaf started kicking their victim.
"Adelina!" Koa yelled. "Bolt! Someone! Help!"
"I've got it!" Bolt shouted. He dodged one of Arlon's blades and began running towards Koa.
"No, you don't!" Arlon stated. He swept his foot into Bolt's face and sent him flying in the opposite direction of Koa. Adelina used Arlon's attack to strike him with a Wrap attack. Arlon exhaled from the attack, but he didn't seem fazed. He swept his sword at Adelina's tongue. She let go of Arlon to avoid being hit.
Dillan was still having trouble with his own fight. The lack of energy was taking its toll on him. Don't give up! You can fight this simple nuzleaf! One fire attack should weaken him. Then I can help Koa. Dillan got up and planted his feet. He inhaled quickly and exhaled, releasing a stream of fire. The only problem was that the stream wasn't very big. The nuzleaf's arm was scorched while trying to dodge the attack, but it didn't look too bad. Focus! Dillan tried to search his body for any extra energy he may have. He felt his adrenaline start to rise. He focused on his friends. If I don't do this, I won't be able to see them again! Fight for them! Dillan took another breath and used his Flamethrower attack. This time, it wasn't small. It consumed the nuzleaf. It yelled from the burning pain it was experiencing. Dillan stopped his attack and the nuzleaf fainted. It didn't look badly burned. Dillan felt the flamethrower take its toll, but he was determined to stay in the fight.
Bolt got up. Another burst of red electricity flowed through Bolt. He gave a yell. Adelina looked back at her friend instinctually. Arlon took that as his opportunity. He slashed at Adelina with his blade. Adelina felt the sword's edge in her chest. She gave a cry of pain. The sword created a flesh wound, nothing too bad. Adelina looked back at Arlon. She rushed the shiftry with her swords once again.
"What are you trying to accomplish?" Arlon asked Adelina. He blocked her swords and slashed. She parried off of his sword and whacked the shiftry's head. "Your swords can't hurt me! Nothing can!" Arlon slammed his sword into Adelina's right arm. Adelina yelled. Her sword fell to the ground and dispersed in an orange glow.
"Adelina!" Bolt shouted. The pikachu began to vibrate as he ran towards Arlon. He started getting faster the more he vibrated.
"You'll all die here!" Arlon shouted as he and Bolt engaged in combat.
Dillan rushed to Koa. He tackled one of the nuzleaf to the ground. The nuzleaf recovered quickly, swinging his head-leaf at Dillan. The leaf felt like a razor against his scales. It didn't do much damage, but it still hurt. The nuzleaf seemed to be aiming for Dillan's head. Dillan started slashing at the nuzleaf with a Dragon Claw attack. He aimed his first attack at the nuzleaf's head-leaf. He slashed it, cutting a dip in the stem that connected it to the nuzleaf's head. The nuzleaf gave a yell of pain. Dillan then began slashing at the nuzleaf's head. The nuzleaf trusted a fist into Dillan's chest. Dillan recoiled from the oxygen forced from his lungs. The nuzleaf continued to attack Dillan's chest. Dillan got off of the nuzleaf in an attempt to get away, but the nuzleaf followed him.
"Get away from him!" Koa yelled. Koa came out of nowhere and slashed at the nuzleaf. The nuzleaf went through the air. He slammed into a building and fell to the floor. The nuzleaf didn't get up. Koa helped Dillan up. Dillan saw that Koa had handled the other nuzleaf.
"Thanks." Dillan said.
"No problem." Koa said.
"Now for Arlon."
"Not so fast, boys!" Arlon stated. Koa and Dillan looked at Arlon. Arlon had finished his fight with Bolt and Adelina. He was breathing heavily, as though he was weak. Bolt was off of the ground, being pressed to Arlon's chest by the neck. Arlon's left arm was holding the pikachu while his right held a green blade to his neck. Bolt was grabbing at the shiftry, trying to stay above his arm as to not suffocate. Dillan and Koa were horrified to see Adelina was gripping her arm at Arlon's feet. She was panting heavily. Arlon kicked her down to the ground. Adelina slammed into the stone floor and passed out. "I have your friends!"
"No!" Dillan shouted.
"Oh, yes! Isn't it sad how every road you choose leads to a friend suffering at your hands?"
"Leave them out of this!" Dillan shouted. "It's between you and me!"
"That's where you're wrong, Dillan! It was between you and me; until these three interfered by saving you! The moment the idea of intervention became an option in their pitiful minds was the moment they decided to suffer for you!"
"Please, leave them alone!" Dillan shouted. "I'll give you whatever you want, just leave them out of it!"
"Here's the deal, Dillan!" Arlon shouted triumphantly. "Your friends have put themselves in a sticky situation! Because they decided to help you, they will die! It's inevitable! It'll happen no matter what you choose! Now here's the fun part! At this point in time, I'm here for you and you alone! If you surrender to me, then both of your friends can live to die another day! If not, I will kill them all, starting with the pikachu!"
"You're saying that if I surrender, both of my friends live?" Dillan asked. "Just like that?"
"I'm only here for you!"
"Don't trust him!" Bolt shouted from between Arlon's arm and his chest. "He's lying!"
"Shut it!" Arlon shouted as he brought the sword into Bolt's neck. A small stream of blood trailed it's way down Bolt's neck. Arlon held the sword there. He looked at Dillan with a triumphant gaze. "What's it going to be, Dillan?"
Dillan didn't need any time to think it over. As much as he hated to do it, it was the only option. "Fine. You win. Let them go and take me."
"Them?" Arlon asked with a wicked smile. "What do you mean by, 'them'?" Arlon kicked Adelina like a foot ball. She skidded across the floor and over to Koa and Dillan.
"What are you doing?" Dillan asked with worry.
"I'm keeping my end of the deal!" Arlon said with a smile so evil, Dillan felt like hurling. "I said both of your friends live; not all of them!" Arlon brought the sword to Bolt's back. Dillan felt his heart fall out of his chest. He felt like he had been smashed in the side and he was falling to the ground. It was a horrible sensation. He watched the sword get closer to Bolt's back as the world began to flip on its side. That's when Dillan realized he was falling. He looked to the side and saw Koa shoving him.
"I'm so sorry..." Koa said softly. Koa became enveloped in a green glow. Dillan watched as the glow quickly flew towards Bolt. It touched Bolt. Bolt watched in horror as he became a yellow ball of light. It floated to Dillan's side and materialized. Bolt was standing next to Dillan's falling body. Dillan watched in horror as Arlon's blade went through the green mass. The mass materialized into Koa. Koa was facing Arlon in shock. Dillan felt the ground meet his side as the sword went through Koa. Koa looked at Bolt and Adelina with eyes of fear and worry. Arlon drew his sword out of Koa. Koa fell to the floor.
"Koa!" Bolt shouted. "Koa, no!"
"Koa!" Dillan shouted.
"U-Turn?" Arlon asked Koa. "You sacrificed yourself for your friend? I can't decide if that was heroically stupid, or stupidly heroic! Either way, that was an idiotic decision! Do you honestly think that'll amount to anything?"
"I'm going to kill you!" Dillan shouted. He got to his feet and rushed up on Arlon. He focused all of his rage and hatred for the shiftry into his chest. He fueled his inner fire. He exhaled. A blaze of fire illuminated the fog. The shiftry was enveloped by the fire. When Dillan stopped his attack, he looked on at the pokemon. The shiftry was still standing.
"That almost tingled me." Arlon stated. "Oh, wait!"
"Hey, Arlon!" a voice called out from behind the shiftree. Dillan recognized that voice. Arlon looked back. Dillan saw the shiftree's head move back from an impact. A red object bounced off of Arlon's head and into the air. It rolled over to where Dillan was standing. Dillan looked at the object. An apple? Dillan looked at the shiftry. Stars shoved Arlon onto his back. Out of the fog came a blast of fire that attacked Arlon. A fuzzy white creature jumped from the fog and slammed into Arlon's stomach. Dillan instantly knew who it was.
"Ryan?" Dillan called out.
Ryan bit into Arlon. Arlon stood up as he grabbed at Ryan, trying to pull the pachirisu off of his body. Ryan hung onto the shiftree.
"Damn you!" Bolt shouted at the top of his lungs as he flew by Dillan. He went into a Volt Tackle attack. Bolt slammed into the back of Arlon's head. Ryan jumped off of Arlon just in tme. He avoided the shiftry slamming into the ground. Dillan watched as Hazel came out of the fog.
"Move!" she told Ryan and Bolt. The two complied. Hazel shot a sphere of fire at Arlon. It hit him as he was struggling to get up. Arlon was enveloped in a tornado of fire.
"I can't lose like..." Arlon's voice trailed off. The Fire Spin attack dissipated and revealed Arlon on the floor. He was down for the count.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Ryan said to Hazel. He went to high-five Bolt, but was shocked to see the pikachu ignore him entirely. Ryan watched as Bolt ran over to Koa.
"Koa!" Bolt shouted.
"Bolt?" Koa said softly. Koa was breathing heavily.
"Koa, don't talk!" Bolt said. Hazel and Ryan saw the scene Koa was in the middle of. Hazel gasped from shock. Ryan didn't say anything. He looked stunned. "Just stay awake!"
"I don't think I can..." Koa said. "I can't seem to do anything right."
"That's not true at all!" Bolt stated. "Just hold on!"
"Bolt, it's getting hard to stay awake. Can I ask you a question?"
"Don't say things like that!" Bolt said sternly. Dillan felt tears coming to his eyes. Hazel fell to her knees. She started weeping. Ryan stared at Koa with a sad look in his eyes.
"Why did you call me Koa?" Koa asked. "Why was that-" Koa coughed abruptly. "Why was that the nickname you gave me?"
"You know why!" Bolt shouted at Koa. Tears started flowing down Bolt's cheeks. "now save your strength!"
"No." Koa said. "I need to know. Koa means 'fearless', right? But you're the brave one; I'm the coward. So why did you call me Koa?"
"You are brave, Koa! You're one of the bravest pokemon I know! You survived so many hardships! You helped me out of a bad situation! You were always there for me! You saved me; so you can't say you weren't brave! I'm not brave at all! I'm more terrified than ever right now, so hold on!"
"Bolt..." Koa tried to say. "Thank you... for being my friend..." Koa stopped coughing.
"Koa!" Bolt shouted as Koa closed his eyes. "Koa, don't go! Koa! Koa!"
Koa died in the Castle Ruins. Team Rapture and Team No-Name took Koa's body outside of the castle walls. Dillan dug a hole as Koa's final resting place. The remaining members of Team No-Name were broken. Bolt and Adelina couldn't stop weeping; and how could they? Their best friend had been killed by a pokemon that still lives. Dillan buried Koa's body in the hole. Bolt found a piece of stone that he used as a head-stone. Adelina carved words into it.
"Here lies Tucker 'Koa' Jerome. Beloved Friend and Son of Ferris Jerome and June Jerome. May he rest in peace."
Team Rapture decided that Bolt and Adelina wouldn't be going anywhere right now. They needed time to rest. Dillan decided not to build a burrow for tonight.
"Why not?" Ryan asked.
"It's my miracle sense." Dillan stated sadly. "I see everything from down there. I couldn't..." Dillan's voice trailed off at the end.
"Alright." Ryan stated. "Then let's set up a tent."
Dillan searched through Reya's bag. That's two pokemon lost in one day. It's my fault. I should have helped Bolt and Adelina when I had the chance. Then we could have helped... Dillan pulled out the tent.
"Where'd you get that bag?" Ryan asked.
"It's Reya's." Dillan stated.
"Reya?" Ryan asked. "Like the Reya from your dreams Reya?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Dillan stated.
"Where is she?" Ryan asked.
"Ryan," Dillan said sternly to Ryan. "Please. I'll tell you later."
"Alright." Ryan stated. "Well, let's set it up."
"Do you guys need help with setting up your tent?" Hazel asked Adelina.
"We're fine." Adelina said coldly. "Thanks for asking."
"If you need anything, just ask." 'Hazel told Adelina and Bolt.
"Yeah..." Bolt said sadly.
Hazel turned away from the two. Team Rapture began to set up their tent.
"How did you guys find me?" Dillan asked.
"We knew you'd be here." Hazel said. She sounded harsh. Dillan couldn't say he was surprised. He did ditch them earlier. "It was pretty obvious. You'd been talking about going to the Castle Ruins up until we got to the guild. Logically speaking, you would be here."
"You're mad I left, huh?" Dillan said.
"A little, yeah." Hazel said. "We didn't know what to think. Then Haily told us you'd be back. At that point, it was simple reasoning to assume you'd be here. We would have gotten here sooner, but the Guildleader held us up."
"That guy can talk." Ryan said. "Let me tell you, he wouldn't shut up."
"Anyways," Hazel started. "We can talk about it all later. Right now, let's just get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow."
By the time Team Rapture set up their tent, it was dark. They didn't talk very much. Dillan wasn't feeling up to explaining what had happened. His thoughts were clouded with guilt. Bolt and Adelina were silent too. No doubt they were dealing with their own struggles. Team Rapture didn't know Koa personally, so the pain seemed dampened for Ryan and Hazel; but for Dillan, it was worse. He couldn't say it was worse than Bolt or Adelina's pain, but it was close. He blamed himself. And I should. It's my fault. It's my fault he's dead.
Dillan volunteered to watch Arlon to make sure he didn't escape. Ryan and Hazel told Dillan not to take the job alone and they should take shifts. He agreed, but he didn't mean it. He had to watch Arlon. It was his duty. Arlon was his problem. He walked out of Team Rapture's tent into the cold night. It was a half moon out tonight. Dillan walked over to Arlon. Arlon was awake. Bolt had tied him up to a tree. The shiftree was stuck there. Ropes were all over his body, binding him to the wooden surface.
"Hello darkness my old friend." Arlon said.
"Why did you do it?" Dillan asked Arlon.
"Do what exactly?" Arlon asked.
"You know what." Dillan stated. "Why did you kill my friend?"
"It's quite simple, really. I was helping out! In an exploration team, two is a couple but three is a crowd! Your friend was a third wheel!" Dillan whacked Arlon in the jaw. Arlon looked at Dillan. "Why did you hit me? Was it the same reason I killed the scyther?"
"That was for Ryan." Dillan said.
"Did you do it for fun?" Arlon asked. "I know I did!" Dillan hit Arlon again.
"That was for Reya."
"I get it now!" Arlon stated. "You did that for revenge! Does it feel good yet?" Dillan kicked Aron in the stomach. Arlon exhaled sharply.
"That was for Koa!" Dillan said forcefully.
Arlon struggled for a breath. When he got one he stated, "You can't hurt me. I'm immune to feeling!"
"You can feel!"
"Oh, your so right! I feel anger and joy! Other than that, my body has the highest tolerance for pain."
"You can fear." Dillan said.
"You're right." Arlon said as if a lightbulb turned on in his head. "Are you going to kill me?"
"Can't say the thought didn't cross my mind." Dillan stated.
"Then do it! Prove Reya wrong! You aren't the hero of this story! Become what you were always meant to be! Kill me and become the villain!"
"You want me to kill you?" Dillan asked. I can do it right now. I can end it all. One jab and it's all over. He won't be able to hurt me any longer. But... What am I doing? No. This is wrong. Why am I contemplating murder? Why am I hitting him? This is wrong. This is all wrong. What happened to me? Dillan fell to his knees.
"Can't do it." Arlon stated. "You will be able to soon."
"No." Dillan said. "I won't. I'm done with this. Killing you would be giving you what you want. You want me to hurt. Killing you will have proven to you that you've broken me. No. I'm done giving you what you want. You killed Koa. You'll pay for that, but I won't bring you your just deserve. That's not my decision. That's the Guildleader's."
"You think you've won?" Arlon asked. "You will break! I'll break you! I'll kill everyone you care for! Do you hear me? Everyone will die!"
Dillan hit Arlon in the jaw one more time. This time, Arlon was out cold. "I'm done with you, Arlon." I only hit you to shut you up. You won't hurt anyone anymore. Ever.
(Author's Notes)
Hey guys! Koa is dead. Do not have false hope. There is no getting him back. Accept it! ACCEPT IT! (I may be trying to convince myself... But that's not the point!) He's dead. Good luck!
Shout out to SleepyGoron! Thanks for favoriting and following the story! Glad you like it!
Thanks for staying with me thus far! Sorry for killing off Koa, but I want you guys to feel insecure about the characters. Anyone could die! Also, please don't leave just because Koa is dead. Things get better (or worse. Depending on your point of view). Anyways, see you guys in the next chapter!
P. S. Any posts on Koa's death will be removed, so don't even try it. Thanks! Have a good week!
