Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
Shadows of Ganderosa
Chapter 42
Traitors to the Throne
(Jarondai Territory: Jarondai Castle)
Strands of hay clung to the gabite's body as he lied there in the silence of this cell. The only source of noise was the creaking of the wooden supports above or the clunk of rocky debris falling from the ceiling onto the ground. Shadows were all around the dimly-lit room, leaving the gabite covered in darkness. But did any of it truly matter?
He watched the wooden door with despair, not taking his eyes off of it ever since Ryan left him alone with his dreadful thoughts.
This is all my fault... I knew something was wrong with Judah ever since Armageddon. Hazel even told me this was a bad idea, but... I wanted a solution as fast as I could have one, and I ignored the warnings to get it. Now Jake – Giratina – has the Sapphire Star, a human, and, from the sound of it, he has whatever the Amber Amulet is as well... He has everything he needs to create a new world... But I wonder... Is that truly so wrong?
Dillan started considering Giratina's plan. Obviously, the pokemon wanted to create a perfect world of peace. It all sounded fantastic. Of course it doesn't justify the murders, but was peace such a bad thing to work towards? Yet the more he thought about it – the more he considered this option being a good thing – a sort of ever-increasing lump originating from Dillan's chest seemed to weigh him down. It was as if there was a feeling that even though it was logically the right thing to do, his instincts said something about it was wrong. But what?
"I want you to watch this room," a voice called from the other side of the door. The calm, yet stern inflections made it easily recognizable as Thalia's. "No one comes in or out of this cell without you knowing about it. Do I make myself clear?"
The door to the room swung open as the massive nidoqueen strode into the room, dragging a white and green pokemon behind. Dillan's heart leaped with worry at the sight of the pokemon.
"Reya!" Dillan called out.
The gardevoir looked absolutely ghastly. Scrapes, bruises, and slashes littered her entire body. A white bandage was wrapped around her left eye where a massive mark etched its way past the cloth down to her cheek. Her breathing was very unsteady, and she looked completely unaware of what was happening around her.
Thalia dragged the gardevoir by the arms towards the cell next to Dillan's before dropping her there. She then grabbed the keys off of the wall before unlocking the cell. Grabbing Reya by the arms again, she threw the gardevoir against the back wall before slamming the cell shut. Upon colliding with the wall, Reya gave a shout of pain before landing on the ground where she lay.
Dillan looked towards Thalia and lunged at the cell walls, driving his claw through the hole before his fin scraped against the rust.
"What did you do to her?!" he shouted angrily. Thalia said nothing as she walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. "Thalia!"
"Dillan..?" a rough, weak voice asked from next to the gabite. Turning, Dillan noticed Reya leaning her back against the wall, looking at Dillan through her uncovered eye.
"Reya!" Dillan called out, moving towards the cell wall separating them. "Are you alright?!"
"You're... in Jarondai..?" she questioned. "Why?"
"I..." Dillan began, recalling the circumstances that led him to his current predicament. Shame came to the gabite as he tried to explain. "I'm-... We came here to... get Judah's help with fighting the Enemy..."
"You trusted them..?" Reya questioned with a slight smile. "You're just as naive as Arlon-" The gardevoir stopped as she pressed her left arm to her chest and coughed sharply.
"What did they do to you?"
"Whatever they thought could get me to talk," Reya said.
"They're interrogating you?" the gabite questioned. "Why? They have everything they need!"
Reya's eye widened in shock. Her eye seemed to drift towards Dillan's empty chest. "You... You didn't give them the Sapphire Star... You couldn't have... You lost it in Kerroshia."
"I found it a few days ago... and Giratina kinda... took it from me..."
Reya leaned back with a wide eye. She looked towards the ceiling and slowly exhaled."Then that's it... He has everything he needs to kill everything here..."
"But Giratina said he wanted to make world peace," Dillan said. "He was lying?" He seemed to sincere when they talked. And if he really wanted Dillan to join the Enemy, lying wasn't the way to do it.
"So he gave you the talk." Reya shook her head as best she could. "In that case, I assume he also told you about the inherent evil in every pokemon, as well as the rules of the world the prevent this evil from changing?"
"Yeah..." Dillan said, stunned she knew.
"That's what he tells every potential member of the Enemy. Although he probably referred to it as Team Rebirth. Either way, it probably... sounds fantastical, doesn't it? It sounds... almost like a dream turned reality, right? Yet there's a feeling inside you that tells you something's wrong... Am I getting all of those feelings right?"
Dillan said nothing. He was baffled that Reya knew exactly how he felt.
Reya gave what seemed to be half way between a laugh and a groan of pain before continuing. "Are you wondering how I know all of those feelings? Well, it's because every member of the Enemy felt the exact same way when they were introduced to Giratina's plan. Ignitus, Thalia, Arlon, even me: we all believed in him. We placed the Enemy on a hero's pedestal, sacrificing our entire lives to serve in the hopes of achieving the world peace he spoke of." A blank expression floated onto Reya's face as she began staring off into the distance. "Did Giratina tell you exactly how he plans on creating his new world?"
"All he said was he was going to use the Sapphire Star and something called the Amber Amulet to do it."
Reya smiled. Dillan didn't know how, but she seemed to think the situation was kind of funny. "Anything else?"
"What are you trying to tell me?" the gabite questioned.
"Did he say he wanted to change anything?" Reya asked.
"He talked about some kind of... evil every pokemon has in them that they're born with."
"Inherent evil?"
"That's the words he used."
"That inherent evil Giratina was talking about – what he wanted to remove from pokemon – is choice: the ability to choose between good and evil. He wants to take away a pokemon's choice. Whether you think it's wrong or not, it isn't possible to do so. Choice is so deeply embedded in a pokemon's soul that only Arceus himself is strong enough to change it. Anything else wouldn't work. And the funny thing is that the Enemy knows it."
"But why is he trying to create a perfect world if it isn't possible?"
"But it is possible," Reya stated.
Dillan felt even more confused than before. It felt like the gardevoir was contradicting herself. "You just said-"
"A perfect world is possible, but not with the pokemon of today," Reya said. "The Enemy will only share the whole plan when he feels his follower is ready to give their own life for his cause. When he told me the whole truth, I couldn't stay. It was too much of a betrayal of my beliefs." Reya stopped talking. A few tears escaped the corner of her eye, but she quickly wiped them away.
"What didn't Giratina tell me?" Dillan questioned.
"I believe your world's first humans were known as Adam and Eve, no? Well, Giratina wants to create a new Adam and Eve to populate his world. He wishes to create a new set of pokemon who won't have the ability to choose evil. They won't have any free will, making world peace a reality, but also a prison."
"But what about the pokemon of this world?" Dillan questioned.
"Did he tell you about the first world he created: his first attempt at world peace?" Dillan nodded. "Did he also tell you about it merging with this one?"
"Reya," Dillan prodded. "What is Giratina hiding from me?"
Reya shook her head. "He'll use our world again as a template to make his new one. Then, before they can merge and damage each other, he'll destroy this one, leaving only his new and perfect world."
The gabite's jaw hung open from horror. So Ignitus... was telling the truth...
"Giratina wants to end this world to make a new one," Reya finished. "There's no place in his world for the broken, so he's going to destroy everything."
"There's no way I'm letting that happen," Dillan said.
Reya laughed aloud, then grimaced from the pain. "You can't be serious," she said.
"Well... yeah," Dillan said slowly.
"Take a look around you," Reya said. "You're in a prison under the most protected island in all of Ganderosa. Even if we were to escape this cell, there are Ganderosa's top guards swarming the castle. And if by some miracle we make it outside of the walls, you'd have to deal with not only adventuring through the volcano, but traversing the sea. Face it, Dillan. There's no escape, and nothing you can do. The good guys have already lost to Giratina, and we've been losing since Ganderosa's Civil War."
"You're giving up?!" Dillan asked with shock. "You of all pokemon?"
"If the opportunity presents itself, I will take it. But it isn't a possibility."
"Weren't you the one who brought me into this fight?!"
"You did that yourself," Reya said. She rested her head along the wall and closed her eyes. "I merely helped you along the way in whatever way I could."
"And that means nothing to you?"
"Before I came to this place, I might have attempted an escape with you. But now, I realize it's more than impossible, if such a thing exists. It would take a miracle to let us out. So I'm going to enjoy what little peace the quiet can provide me before the Enemy decides I've licked my wounds long enough to go again."
Dillan grimaced at Reya. She's given up... She's really quitting. A feeling rose in Dillan's chest: not of anger, but of pity. They broke her. That has to be the explanation. The Reya I knew wouldn't have given in. They must have pushed her beyond her mental limits. Dillan looked towards the rusted cell doors.
"Why do you bother?" she questioned. "You came here for a sign of hope, correct? Finding the opposite must have been devastating, so why continue? You must realize it's over, and there's nothing more you can do for your friends."
Those words rang through his brain like church bells. There might not be anything I can do for Ryan... but I can't give up! If Reya's injuries are something to be afraid of, then Hazel's in trouble, and I won't let them hurt my teammate! A look of steely determination mixed with eyes of fear came to his face. "I can't afford to quit."
Dillan focused on his fins. As they extended into his usual blue blades, Dillan began hacking at the cell door. Driving his fins into rusted metal hurt just as much as it sounded, but he couldn't give up. Quitting means giving up on Hazel, and I can't do that to her! I got her into this mess, and I'll get her out!
Reya watched Dillan hack at the cell through her remaining eye. Watching him, she saw many things: none of them seemed heroic. It intrigued her to say the least, but that was it. She pitied his innocence: envied it. She use to own such a thing, but that was before she knew what the Enemy was capable of. All she did was shake her head at the pokemon and close her eye, bringing herself back to internal darkness. It's foolish to hope, gabite... It will inevitably bring despair when you realize there is no such thing in this world of shadows.
The chill of the door against Ryan's paw mirrored the pit in his stomach. He listened to the chatter on the other side of the door which came from Arlon's fat mouth. Other than the shiftry, it was silent. Ryan wondered if Thalia was in there, scowling at the babbling blow-hard.
The pachirisu took a deep breath and steeled himself visually and emotionally before pushing the door open revealing the chamber. Arlon and Thalia were both standing there, staring at the icy wall ahead. They were both waiting, though Arlon seemed to do so like a five-year old who wouldn't shut up until something else caught his attention. Speaking of which...
"And there he is, now!" Arlon announced with a grin. "It took you long enough. Are you still weeping over poor, little, dungeon-bound Dillan?"
Ryan didn't answer the shiftry. His focus was set on the nidoqueen who scowled at him through the corner of her eye. Then, a black object stole Ryan's line of sight. Appearing from the smoke, Giratina floated in front of the ice like a spirit of the night, staring at the group before him. Ryan took that as his cue to stand in line next to Arlon, using him as a buffer between him and Thalia.
"Congratulations are in order," Giratina stated. "You've all done a splendid job serving Team Rebirth. As of this moment, we have all we need to make the new world."
"I'm sorry to say it," Arlon began. "But I didn't come here for a better world."
"You can have the Gabite later. For now, he goes unharmed."
"Master," Thalia said with a bow. "Forgive me for being blunt, but what is the reason you called us here? Surely it isn't a simple thank you."
Giratina floated there for a few seconds before his blood-red eyes set on Ryan. "The future is upon us. With the arrival of the Sapphire Star, we have obtained all we need. This means preparations are in order."
"Preparations for what?" Ryan questioned.
"The Amber Amulet, Mr. Simon."
"It isn't here, remember?" Arlon asked snidely. "The good Master probably wants it transported."
"Arlon is correct. We need both the Amber amulet and Sapphire Star here if we are to achieve our goal."
"So... we're transporting it?" Ryan asked, internally wishing the snake monster would forgo the habit of drawn-out conversations. It seemed to be Giratina's way of getting it into their skulls through making them reach the conclusion on their own, yet it was extremely irritating.
"No," Thalia said. "The Guild is more than capable of such a task."
"Although that was true at a point, it is no longer the case."
Thalia's brow-line raised slightly as if she was surprised.
"Now I'm confused," Arlon stated. "Could you just tell us what you want already and stop pulling us around?" Thank you!
"Our enemies are still at large. Even though Akuji is currently ending Team Armageddon's presence, we still have to deal with our biggest threats."
"But our enemies don't do anything," Ryan said. "You know as well as I do that they aren't allowed to."
"The gabite failed," Thalia said. "They might send a new human as a result."
"It won't happen," Giratina said. "Although they may still have tribes who worship them and send them to confront us in a final attempt at seizing the crystals. Which is why I am sending Thalia's followers to act as bodyguards to accompany the transport. The rest of you will be on standby in case something goes wrong."
"That's all fine and dandy," Arlon said with an annoyed tone. "But I'm not doing anything unless I get some long-overdue revenge on a certain reminder of my agony."
"He said no," Ryan said flatly.
"If it pleases you, Master," Thalia began. "May I introduce an alternative that may satisfy Arlon's lust?"
Giratina looked at Thalia with a look of intrigue. "Go on."
Thalia looked down the line, though Ryan couldn't tell whether the nidoqueen was scowling at him or Arlon. "Would it not make the gabite suffer to see his charmeleon friend in pain?"
Ryan's heart thudded against his chest at the mention of Hazel. He began taking steady breaths, controlling his facial cues as best he could. No weakness... No weakness...
"Ooh!" Arlon said with a wicked grin. "Seeing as we don't need her, she makes the perfect candidate! Wouldn't you agree?"
Ryan looked towards Giratina with a steady face. Giratina stared back. Pressure started to build in the pachirisu's mind as the shadowy figure burrowed his sight straight into the pachirisu's skull, but Ryan persisted, not allowing it to take control of him. The only sign of this pressure was the corner of Ryan's lip which was twitching uncontrollably. Then, the pressure subsided.
"You have my permission to go through with the plan," Giratina acknowledged.
"In that case, I'm off to do some happily-awaited torture!" Arlon gave a wave of his brittle leaves before turning, but a beam of ice shot out in front of him. The shiftry came to a stop before turning towards Giratina. Sighing, he stated, "What's the catch?"
"Mr. Simon," Giratina said. "Thalia has brought it to my attention that you attempted to interrogate the gabite."
"Y-yeah?" Ryan said. "What about it?"
"Do you think he has information to offer?"
"Oh..." Ryan said, caught off guard by the question. "Well, he... may know the location of our enemies. And since Thalia can't get a word out of Reya, Dillan's our only other potential lead to our enemies' whereabouts. But to be honest, I'm really not so sure Dillan has-"
"Then I want you to supervise Arlon and interrogate the gabite." Ryan's eyes widened as his sturdy expression faded into a look of horror.
"M-me?" Ryan questioned.
"You know the gabite better than Arlon does. You are the best choice for the job, are you not?"
Thalia looked towards Ryan with a hardened gaze of suspicion. He was cornered. He didn't know if he could ever handle something of this magnitude. Thalia's already breathing down my neck... I'm not sure-
"Traitor?" Thalia snapped. "You shouldn't keep your master waiting."
"I can do it myself," Arlon interjected. "Once the gabite sees her screaming, he'll give me anything I want! And even then, I'll give her some more just for the hell of-"
"I'll do it!" Ryan shouted over Arlon. "Just... I'll do it."
"Excellent," Giratina said.
"Well, that takes some fun out of it," Arlon said drearily to Ryan. "At least let me size the gabite up before bringing in his girlfriend: get him to squirm in his cell! Then the little devil can bring in the girl."
"You want the traitor to take care of the charmeleon?" Thalia asked. She shook her head swiftly. "Out of the question."
"Do it," Giratina said.
Thalia looked towards Giratina with wide-eyed shock and a loose jaw. Ryan had never seen so much emotion on the nidoqueen's face. She was absolutely stunned. "M-ma... Master?" she stuttered. If not for the situation he was in, Ryan would have found it hilarious to see her squirm.
"Call it a final test," Giratina said as he stared at Ryan. "I have no doubt you'll succeed in your task, Mr. Simon. Do not disappoint me."
Ryan shut his eyes and took a deep breath before bowing to Giratina. "As you wish, Master," he said.
"Master-" Thalia began.
"Calm down, witch!" Arlon cackled. "The little guy couldn't betray us and get out alive even if he wanted to. There are too many spears in the castle. He'd be stabbed before anything ever happened."
Thalia flashed a stern, commanding expression in Ryan's direction: a warning. Ryan didn't care. She'd done it enough times that it felt more like an empty threat. "Master, I need to speak with you in private."
"I also wanted to speak with you," Giratina said. "But I want to make this quick. This is very important, and I want it handled as soon as possible. The rest of you are dismissed."
Arlon and Ryan bowed to Giratina before walking towards the exit. They passed through the doors, and before they closed, Ryan could hear one final string of words from Giratina.
"I want Dianne Arvaine brought here immediatel-"
Arlon closed them, blocking the rest of the conversation from the pachisisu-pachirisu. Ryan decided not to dwell on it. Chances of that being so important this close to Giratina's end-game was slim. So he ignored it and began ascending the stairs before Arlon stated, "Bring the girl to the dungeon and we'll get the 'interrogation' started!" With that, the shiftry climbed the stairs as fast as his wooden legs would allow before walking down the left hallway towards the dungeon.
Ryan was alone. A pit began growing in his stomach. Fear of the future started attacking his heart. Hopelessness began consuming him. He remembered the absolute despair in Dillan's face the last time they'd seen each other. Walking out of that room – leaving Dillan with those words – it was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do in this world. All of the pain and suffering... and for what? Protection? Doubt? Emptiness? Loneliness? Just to survive an extra day? For... closure? That one word came to mind. It stuck like glue to his brain. Closure... Closure... For closure...
A mental image of the field with the brick house flashed through his mind: his own memories. The house brought many feelings to mind, all of which seemed too similar to each other: longing, desire, a need for warmth. That was his old home. Closure... Closure... Closure...
Pain didn't describe the feelings coursing through Dillan's fins. Fear didn't describe the emotions in his heart. Tired didn't describe the exhaustion he was putting himself through. Self inflicted as it may be, it was torture in its own right.
One final slash at his rusted cage was all Dillan could muster before he stopped to pant. Looking at his cell's grate-like walls closely, he could tell there was no visible damage. Not even the rust seemed to fade from his continued onslaught.
"What is this made of..?" Dillan managed to get out.
"Something that can take more damage than you can manage," Reya said from her corner.
"There has to be a way out of here," Dillan said as he sat down on the stray hays.
"This place was created keeping in mind the strongest of pokemon would be put here. Seeing as you aren't even completely evolved, I would say you have no hope."
"But the keys are right-"
Dillan stopped when he heard a clunk from the ceiling. Someone was coming down to him. As the handle rotated and the door swung open, the gabite looked on with a scowling frown, though fear began filling his heart. A wicked, scarred grin accompanied by the yellow glow of his menace-filled eyes made Dillan start to fear for his life.
"It's been a while, Dillan," Arlon said with a grin.
The gabite did nothing. He wasn't surprised to see the shiftry, nor did he wonder why Arlon was here. Arlon was like a broken clock that way: always set on one thing. Only with the shiftry, it wasn't set to a number as much as it was a lust for Dillan's pain.
"Why are you here, Kieth?" Reya questioned. "You've been informed that Thalia's assigned to me, and not you."
"Well, aren't we vain?" Arlon said, not losing his sickening grin. " Who said I was here for you? Besides: the witch is busy with one of Giratina's orders, so that leaves me in charge. And last month's order of pain left me dissatisfied, my dear friend. And I have such a craving right now!"
Reya looked at Arlon with disgust. "Taking joy in the pain of others?" she asked. "Sickening."
"There's plenty of pain to go around," Arlon smiled. He walked towards Dillan's cell and stood inches from the bars, just out of his claw's minuscule reach. "Do you remember what I showed you last time?"
Dillan looked away from Arlon towards the left corner of the room as he remembered the hospital. He recalled those cruel words that still make him want to shout from anger and sadness every single time he sees Grace in that bed.
"Aww," the shiftry taunted. "What's the matter? Not feeling much like talking? I'm sure Grace felt the same way as her life slipped aw-"
"Don't talk about her!" Dillan shouted, cutting the shiftry off. "Don't you even say her name!"
"You..." Reya said slowly. She sounded as though she was depressed by the mere idea. "You showed him... You showed him his sister..."
"Well, technically it was Logan my swoobat," Arlon grinned. "Psychic types are too handy to go to waste, don't you think?"
Reya looked towards Dillan with a tensed brow-line, but the gabite kept staring at Arlon. He hated it, but the shiftry knew exactly how to push his buttons.
"Dillan," Reya said. "I... I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Gr-"
"It's fine," Dillan interrupted. "It wasn't your fault."
"Which reminds me!" Arlon announced. "I've got an extra special surprise for you, Dillan! And it's one that will not only make you seethe with hate and anger, but you won't be able to take your eyes off of the horrors! Ooh, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps!" The pokemon turned his charred face towards Reya. "And as an added bonus, you'll be able to sympathize with his friend." Hazel...
"You're going to torture someone?" Reya asked with a raised upper lip.
Dillan's heart stopped from the shock. "Leave Hazel out of this!" he roared, leaping at the bars. His claw came inches from the shiftry nose before his fin caught on the rusted bars. But he ignored the pain. "If you touch her-"
Arlon opened his jaw and faked a yawn. "It's always the same thing with you. I threaten your friend. You tell me you'll kill me. I mock you. You should really try something original."
Dillan slammed his foot on the floor, hoping that a stone would come out of the floor from underneath the shiftry and rocket him into the ceiling, but nothing happened. Arlon laughed at the pokemon's failed attempt.
"Not what I had in mind, but-" The shiftry's stopped himself, standing in silence for a second before stating, "Do you hear what I hear?"
Dillan stopped to listen to what was going on. Above him, he could hear a voice mumble with force. But pitch, tone, volume: it was all lost to the ceiling. This was entirely true until a scream rung through the door.
"And the fun begins!" Arlon said with the smile of a psychopath.
A second later, the door shot open and slammed against the wall so hard, dust fell from the ceiling. Standing in the doorway had to be one of the most horrific things Dillan had ever seen. A `massive pokemon at least six feet in size with a boulder-like body was currently holding both of Hazel's arms behind her back with one of his own. The charmeleon struggled against the pokemon, slamming her feet and tail against his boulder-like body: her tail flame flaring wildly as she did so. In front of the two pokemon stood a scowling pachirisu who wore a golden locket around his neck
"Ryan!" Hazel shouted in a panic. "Please! Stop!"
The golem looked towards Ryan, looking for orders. Ryan nodded towards the open door to which the pokemon shoved Hazel through. So much force must have been used, because the charmeleon was like a bottle rocket, flying through the air towards Dillan's cell before she slammed into the bars.
"Hazel!" Dillan shouted frantically.
"Oho!" Arlon cackled. "Worried already? But I haven't done anything yet!"
"Dillan," Hazel said, looking at the gabite through the bars. "What's happening!"
"Hazel," Dillan said frantically, not sure what to do. "I-I'll think of something!" He tried to mask the fear in his voice with confidence, but it didn't work at all. Think, Dillan! Think of something fast! Think!
"Lying is a sin!" Arlon shouted. He brought his foot up and planted it on Hazel's back, pressing her against the bars. "If I'm being honest here, your position isn't looking too good as it is. Empty promises will only make things worse." He smiled brightly and fanned out his arms. "Man, is it good to be back!"
The door behind the shiftry shut as Ryan walked into the room. He came to a stop next to the two pokemon, then he looked towards Arlon with a scowl. The shiftry took notice of Ryan and smiled even more than before.
"You want in, too?" he shouted.
"I'm here to interrogate, right?" Ryan questioned.
"You cowardice traitor!" Reya roared. "If you electrocute one scale on her body, I'll kill you myself!"
"Please!" Hazel begged. Tears started to gush from her eyes. "Ryan, don't do this!"
"Haven't you heard the news, sweetheart?" Arlon asked. "The pipsqueak's turned traitor! The only pokemon he's helping out is me! So you might want to close your eyes; you won't like what comes next!"
Dillan focused on his fins and began slamming his blue blades against the bars once more. It's my fault... I dragged her into this... I relied on her, and now Arlon's using her to get to me. And there's nothing I can do to stop it!
Arlon smiled at Ryan. He let the charmeleon go and took a few steps back. Suddenly, vines seemed to emerge from Hazel's chest and wrap themselves around the charmeleon tightly, subduing her completely. She tried to struggle, but she was tied up so tight, she couldn't even open her mouth to breath any flames. She was at the mercy of their enemies.
"You go first," Arlon said. "It should break Dillan when he witnesses his best friend killing his girlfriend."
"How can he be my friend?" Ryan asked Arlon. His voice contradicted the tension in the entire room. He sounded sad. "I cut those bonds, right? No more sentiments, right?"
Arlon's grin grew even wider than before. "If you can sleep at night by telling yourself that, be my guest."
The pachirisu turned from Arlon and looked at Hazel. He began walking towards his subdued victim. He watched her bloodshot eyes and quivering tail. She seemed so confused, not able to understand what was going on around her. What a betrayal it must have been. Not only was her country – something Dillan knew she believed was good even in the darkest times – run by a lunatic bent on destroying the word for his own version of peace, but now her friend, teammate, and someone she considered a brother, was about to torture her for Arlon's own enjoyment.
As Ryan drew closer, his cheeks began to spark. Every inch he walked, Hazel struggled even more against her bonds. She gave muffled cries to anyone who could help her, but there was nothing Dillan or Reya could do.
"Ryan!" Dillan shouted. The pachirisu stopped. He turned to him with a new scowl. "You don't have to do this."
"You don't understand," Ryan said. "I've already made my sacrifices. There's no going back to the cheery, happy times, now. I'm honestly not sure what you expect."
"What happened to the old you?!" Dillan pleaded, getting as close to the bars as he could without moving his head. "You use to be our friend! What happened to the pokemon that would die for us?!"
Ryan shook his head. "Do you even know what happened in the Alkan Islands when I left? Do you know what happened to me?" Everyone remained silent in the room. "Let me fill you in. Adelina chased after me, then Thalia showed up. She was ready to kill Adelina to get to me, and Adelina was ready to die from Thalia in order to keep me from being taken."
"So you betrayed Adelina?" Dillan asked.
"You don't understand at all... I did die for you in the Alkan Islands..."
"If that's over with, make the gabite squeal!" Arlon said with glee.
Then, it happened. In a flash of white light and electricity, Ryan sent a jolt of lightning through his cheeks into the pokemon's body. The crackling of the electricity canceled out any noise in the room, and the blue flash was enough to make anyone squint. And then, all eyes looked on with shock.
In a second, Ryan had gone from a "Quick Attack" into a "Nuzzle", hitting his mark. The shiftry grimaced as he doubled over from paralysis, clutching his sparking body. He looked on with wide-eyed shock.
"What do you-... think you're doing?" the shiftry stumbled, barely able to get those words out.
"I can't take back what I did!" Ryan shouted towards Arlon. "And I don't expect forgiveness for it, but Adelina would have died if I didn't leave with Thalia, and I won't let any of my friends get hurt because of me!"
Dillan and Reya continued to look on in their silent shock and confusion. Arlon, instead, looked towards the ground and began laughing. "You idiot!" he shouted with joy. "You think you can turn traitor twice? And you also think that the Master is going to let you go? There's no chance!" The shiftry stood up straight; the tip of his leaf extending into a green, glowing sword. "And it isn't like I wasn't going to hurt you before! This just means there won't be any consequences to beating you to a bloody pulp!"
Arlon lunged at Ryan., jabbing with his sword. The pachirisu jumped over the blade and swished his tail through the air, summoning a volley of stars. Arlon made no attempt at dodging Ryan's "Swift", but slashed once more, nailing Ryan in the chest with the blunt-side of the blade. The pachirisu didn't hit the ceiling, but merely used it as a back-board to launch himself at Arlon. Arlon merely side-stepped and waved his arm. Almost instantaneously, as set of green vines shot out from his leaves towards Ryan. The pachirisu got down on all-fours and started glowing. Then, he was off like a bullet.
Ryan bobbed and weaved between vine after vine in a flash of white light. He managed to jump over one vine, duck under another, side-step, everything he could do to avoid the onslaught of vines, though Arlon wouldn't let up. Then, he felt one wrap itself around what little ankle his body had. Immediately, the vine began to glow, and Ryan felt his own energy begin to drain from his body. Then another vine grabbed onto the pachirisu. Then another. Pretty soon, he was made a mummy of green, glowing vines.
"Looks like Thalia didn't teach you well enough, little traitor!" Arlon noted. "Too bad. I would have loved a challenge."
"Leave him alone!" Hazel shouted. To Dillan's surprise, the charmeleon's tail had burned a hole in the back of her cage, allowing her to break free of the vines and lunge at Arlon. The air was forced from the shiftry's lungs as Hazel slammed her shoulder into his chest. As the air left him, so did the vines, and Ryan was released. Hazel then went on to cock her head back and send a stream of flames down Arlon's face.
Ryan jumped to his feet and joined in the battle, jumping at the flames. Hazel stopped her fire long enough for Ryan to slam into Arlon's face. He began jabbing at Arlon. With each punch he threw, Ryan's expression began tensing into a look of rage. His punches were soon accompanied by shouts of anger. But Arlon didn't make an attempt at struggling. Instead, he seemed to enjoy each mark made upon his wooden skin. Pretty soon, an eerie laugh rung out from the shiftry's mouth.
"You feel it, don't you?" Arlon asked gleefully, unaffected by the punches. "Your conscience is gripping at every part of your soul, begging you to do the right thing! So you'll do it just this once! You'll be the hero! But deep down inside, you know that you can't be trusted! Not after what you've done: who you helped to kill!"
"Shut up!" Ryan shouted, throwing another punch.
"You think this might change how they think about you? Newsflash, shorty: all it does is makes you feel like you can change for a short time! You'll feel like you're the good guy again! But pretty soon, you'll turn! It's what you do! It's what you've done with your life in this world! So go on, you pathetic child! Hit me, make new friends, and justify leaving them with a poor excuse of righteousness! You'll be right back here in time! I promise you that!"
Ryan gave a shout of anger and drew his fist back for another punch, but he was stopped.
"Ryan!" Hazel shouted, holding his paw. The pachirisu turned around to face her, and wide-eyed shock took hold of him as he was thrown from the shiftry's chest by a crimson fist to the cheek. He did a few spirals through the air before colliding with the stone wall.
"Ooh!" Arlon smirked. "That one had to hurt!"
But Hazel wasn't finished. She quickly grabbed a stone piece of ceiling rubble from the floor and drove it into Arlon's head. The shiftry made a swift grunt before passing out from a major concussion. As Ryan recovered from the jab to the face, Hazel got off of Arlon and walked towards the keys.
"Reya!" she called out, moving the keys in the air once without letting go to signal an imminent throw. Reya nodded, stood up, walked towards the edge of the cell as Hazel threw the keys to her.
"Hazel," Ryan groaned. "Wh-"
Before Ryan could finish, he was cut off by what seemed like an invisible force picking him up from the floor and forcing him into the wall. Reya had unlocked her cell and walked out. She tossed the keys at Dillan's feet before making her way towards Ryan with an outstretched left arm that was surrounded by a pink glow.
"You coward!" Reya shouted sternly. "What are you trying to do here?"
"I came here to help!" Ryan managed to get out through a strained voice.
"Reya, don't!" Dillan shouted.
"Why wait until now?" Reya questioned, ignoring Dillan.
"I couldn't let my friends suffer when I could do-" Ryan stopped as he grimaced in pain.
"Hazel!" Dillan pled.
Hazel grabbed Arlon from under the arm and began hauling him towards Reya's empty cell. "Subdue him!" she ordered the gardevoir. "Don't just hurt him for no reason!"
"Fine," Reya snarled at Hazel. "But I want the truth! And if you give me anything else, I'll allow you to taste what you've allowed me to feel. Understand?"
"Alright!" Ryan said with strain. Then, he began panting. Dillan assumed it meant Reya let Ryan breath.
"Can someone let me out?!" Dillan asked, frustrated with his predicament. "No hands, so no keys!"
Hazel looked towards him and gave a light smile from the corner of her mouth. She walked over and unlocked the door.
"Better?" The charmeleon asked.
"Define better," Dillan said, not taking his eyes off of Ryan. The two walked towards the pachirisu, confusion clouding every aspect of his mind. First Ryan was their friend, then a back-stabber. Now what? At the moment, all Dillan wanted was answers.
As Dillan passed Reya, he got close enough to Ryan that he could breath on the pachirisu. "What happened with Thalia in the Alkan Islands?"
"Exactly what I said," Ryan told the gabite. "Thalia was going to kill Adelina unless I gave myself up."
"We could have fought her together!" Hazel urged.
Ryan shook his head and began eyeing the floor like a bad memory. "She came there with four other pokemon, each of which fought with us before we attacked Team Armageddon. They were waiting for Thalia to give the order to kill. She wasn't going to leave until she got exactly what she came for."
"So you gave up?" Dillan questioned. "You just quit and joined Thalia? How did you think that was the best idea-"
"I never said I was proud of my decision!" Ryan shouted, squinting his eyes. "But they would have killed Adelina!"
"You shouldn't have left in the first place," Hazel stated flatly. "Why did you leave, anyways?"
"Before we continue," Reya began. "There was a rumor before I left Team Rebirth of a traitor among our ranks. It was someone the Enemy hadn't trusted to share his identity with, yet still used as a puppet for insight on his opponents. About a week ago, I realized it was him."
Dillan and Hazel both looked at Ryan with shock. He didn't meet their eyes. He simply looked away in shame.
"You were with them before Team Rapture?!" Hazel roared. "With Arlon hurting us and Thalia hunting us at every turn, and you were with them!"
"I didn't know what they were at the time!" Ryan pleaded. "Jake, or Giratina, or whatever the hell you want to call it, doesn't share information with pokemon unless it's necessary, so I never knew they were the bad guys until later, at which point I ran away."
"That's when you went missing, wasn't it?" Dillan asked, recalling Adelina telling them about a time when Ryan had left her with no explanation as to where.
"Yeah..." Ryan admitted.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Dillan asked.
"I..." Ryan struggled to say. "I... can't say."
"Tell us now!" Reya warned.
"If you torture him," Hazel roared at Reya. "We're through with helping you with the Sapphire Star and everything related to it! Understand?"
"Tell me something:" Dillan said, ignoring the conflict behind him. "Did you know about me? Did you know I was human all along?"
That question brought silence to the room. All eyes were on Ryan. He didn't make any attempt at denying it. Instead, he gave a deep sigh. "I... kinda figured ever since we got to Palando and joined their Guild..."
Hazel gasped. This conversation shocked her and left Dillan speechless. Reya just shook her head.
"How..?" Hazel managed to get out.
"When you were first attacked by Arlon and Logan the swoobat," Ryan told Dillan. "We all thought you were delusional. Telling us Arlon was there when he clearly wasn't didn't help. Then you said 'human'. No amount of dementia or PTSD could suddenly make you know a word most pokemon haven't even heard. Eventually, I figured you were the next human."
"Next?" Hazel asked. "As in not the only one?"
"The last human who was brought here failed, so they got a new one," Ryan explained.
"I told you not to trust your friends," Reya told Dillan. "now you see he's been playing you from the beginning."
Dillan turned around, squinting his eyes slightly in disbelief. "How was I supposed to know you were even telling me the truth?" he retorted. "You've been keeping secrets ever since we met! I know it isn't really your fault, but you can't say it doesn't make it difficult to trust!"
"Enough!" Hazel interjected. "Ryan, just move on!"
Reya looked towards Dillan, not really wanting to continue the confrontation. Dillan did the same.
"Why not leave the Enemy when you had the chance?" Dillan questioned. "You had to have had opportunities."
"There's... two reasons," Ryan said slowly. "This is going to sound far fetched, but bare with me."
"I'm not sure how, but Giratina's always in my head. Even before we all made Team Rapture, he was planting thoughts and visions in my brain. I'm not sure if I'm the only one he does it too, either. But he'll find your greatest hope or fear and use it against you to keep you in Team Rebirth. And even though I left, he still tormented me with nightmares."
"He invades your thoughts?" Dillan asked.
"How?" Hazel questioned.
Reya shook her head. "You gave yourself to him?" she asked with disgust.
"Like I wanted to!" Ryan shouted.
"What are you talking about?" Dillan asked Reya.
"You know about the second world?" Reya asked. "And you know about the mystery dungeons merging with the world?"
Dillan was about to tell Reya about how Hazel didn't know as much as they did: that she wasn't with him when Judah explained, but Hazel spoke over him saying, "Yeah. I know about it."
"Dillan?" Reya asked.
"Y-yeah..." Dillan stuttered, stunned by Hazel's answer. How does she know?
"I assume you know that reality isn't the only thing that is warped by the dungeons. Pokemon are, as well."
"We know," Hazel said nervously for some reason. "It creates mutations in pokemon's brains... making them feral." She began rubbing the side of her arm as she wore a nervous grimace "And it probably affects other parts of pokemon, too... like natural abilities..."
Dillan was astounded. Not only did Hazel seem to know just as much as him, but now it looked like she knew even more.
"To put that into real-world perspective, most legendary pokemon have the ability to use telepathy. Well, Giratina's living in the second world and traversing into the mystery dungeons from time to time. He can't go very far into them, but he can still become exposed to whatever is in the mystery dungeon that allows it to shift instead of collapse on itself. You know it heightens natural abilities. In Giratina's case, it heightened his telepathic powers. It lets him dig through pokemon's minds if they give him access. And once you give him that access, it's very difficult to take it back. It really depends on the mind."
"And you let him in," Hazel said to Ryan.
"It was the only way I could think of... getting closure..." the pachirisu said nervously.
"Closure for what?" Hazel asked.
"I can't tell you here," Ryan said.
"Can't or won't?" Reya questioned. Ryan didn't respond. Instead, he continued to look sheepishly at the floor.
"You still haven't told us why you didn't leave before."
"It was the only thing keeping Adelina safe," Ryan said. "There's also the fact that the Enemy's been showing me my old home... my birth family's old place... And he's been using them as motivation to get me to do what he wants..."
"Has he been doing this for a while now?" Hazel questioned. Ryan nodded. "Why didn't you say anything? We could have helped!"
"It wouldn't have made a difference," Ryan said. "You could say I'm... kind of an illegal immigrant here... It's why Judah doesn't have records on my birth family and me until I was adopted here.
"There's... also you guys... When I found out the Guild was under the Enemy's control, it meant you both were only a mail-call away from being arrested, brought here, and executed as traitors... That with Giratina always clawing at my brain to get information, I needed to play the part of the villain..."
"But you can't hide from him," Reya said. "He'll have known you were going to turn and would have killed you weeks ago."
"And I know you," Dillan said. "You aren't an actor. You couldn't have faked liking to be a villain."
"First off," Ryan said. "I've had that guy digging around in my brain for a few years now, so I know how to hide information from him. Secondly, Thalia helped with my lack of acting. She liked to attack my personal feelings for my friends, so she was convinced any contradiction in my new, evil life was because I wanted to go back to my old one with you guys. She kind of convinced everyone of the same thing. Giratina also promised me something I've wanted more than anything."
"And that is?" Dillan asked.
"Closure."
"Being kinda vague, Ryan," Hazel said. "Mind explaining?"
"Yeah," he said. "It's not important."
"If Giratina thought he could bribe you with it," Reya began. "It is."
"It wasn't enough to get me to torture my friends, was it?" Ryan retorted.
"Fine," Hazel said. "Don't tell us. But didn't anyone ever question whether you were a traitor?"
"Not saying we believe you just yet," Reya said.
"Uh..." Ryan said. "Well... Thalia's been on my back since day one, not trusting me with anything..." He turned towards Dillan and had a sort of sadness in his eyes. "It's why I said what I said to you. And I'm so sorry about that, Dillan. I didn't mean any of it."
Dillan didn't say a thing. It was all so hard to believe, and he needed time to sort through all of the information. "I'm sorry myself," he said. "But this is too much to process right now..."
Silence filled the room as everyone contemplated what the pachirisu said. Reya broke the silence saying, "I don't buy it."
"I don't think we have much of a choice," Hazel said as she turned to Dillan and Reya. "If Ryan was really with Giratina, then he knows the layout of this castle better than anyone here."
"That isn't accurate," Reya said. "There's another pokemon locked in this castle who knows more than him."
"There's someone else trapped here?" Dillan questioned.
Hazel nodded. "Trinity Fitz. I was with her when I woke up. She was the one who told me about the Guild and Giratina."
"Not anymore," Ryan said. "I left the door unlocked when we came down here. She should be long-gone by now."
"Then we're back to Ryan," Hazel said.
"I refuse to trust him," Reya said.
"Reya-"
"No!" the gardevoir said forcefully. "He stood by while the Enemy was killing and abusing others because of cowardice and nothing more! I refuse to trust him! I'll lead us out of here. I should be able to sense the guards before we run into them, making it simple to escape. But I will not stand by and let him lead us."
"We can't leave without the Sapphire Star," Dillan said. "Giratina has it. If we leave-"
"Nothing happens," Reya assured. "He needs you to use the crystal."
"Really?" Dillan questioned. "Is that why he needs a human?"
"Now isn't the time. At the moment, we need to leave."
"But Ryan should know how to get us out!" Hazel continued. "He-"
"Hazel," Dillan said. Hazel turned to him with a raised brow. "It's alright."
Hazel looked at Dillan and sighed. "Alright."
"We should hurry," Reya said, dropping her arm. Ryan slid down the walls, surprised to feel gravity again, and landed on his face, though he quickly recovered.
I agree," Ryan said through the pain. "Giratina's probably going to send someone our way pretty soon, and I don't think I'll be able to explain Arlon in a cell while you're all free."
"Dillan?" Reya said as she turned to the gabite.
In a split second, Dillan winced at a tiny sting in his brain. It was over as soon as it began. "Can you hear me?" Reya's voice echoed in his head. Dillan jumped from the shock of the voice. It was loud and booming, echoing as it talked. "Calm down, it's only telepathy. I want you to trail behind me and watch the traitor. I still don't trust him."
You're in my head?
"Yes."
Then you can hear this. In that case, I want you to promise not to hurt Ryan.
"Then you believe him."
I'm not sure what to believe... A part of me wants to trust him... but I'm not sure he's telling the truth... And at the very least, he's not telling us everything. He might be saying some things while lying about others... and I'm not sure what to believe right now...
"Remember to keep the prophecy in mind, gabite. There is a deceiver among the group of four who will save the world, and I now believe that deceiver is this pachirisu. And if he has gone against the Enemy once and still returned to his grasp... I would be very weary of placing my faith in a pokemon like that."
Before Dillan could think of something else to communicate, Reya said, "Let's go." She then walked off towards the door followed by Hazel, then Ryan. Dillan shook his head and followed.
The tension in the group was practically tangible. Reya was obviously furious with Ryan, and didn't trust him one bit. Hazel seemed cool and collected about the whole situation, though Dillan wondered if it was because the truth about everything hadn't sunk in yet, or if it was because she wanted to remain strong for the team. Dillan assumed it was probably a mixture of both. The gabite himself felt unsure about the everything.
When did all of this become reality: my reality? The Guild was suppose to be something pokemon could look towards for help. But now it looks like it's all controlled by the Enemy... And the King... what is he to the Enemy? Is he a commander? Is he just a collaborator?
Dillan sighed. I didn't want this... All I wanted was for things to go back to the way they were... the time when Ryan was my ally: my friend; the time when Hazel was there to help me through the bad times, and I was there for her, as well; the time we could all rely on the team without worrying whether stabbing each other in the back was even a concern... What happened to those times?
As Dillan began ascending the stairs, he wondered if they could ever go back to the way things were? Then, another thought crossed his mind: one about his old life as a human. Things had been so wonderful in this world, what with his friends, whereas his old life was a wreck: divorced parents, no friends that came to mind, and Grace. He wondered whether he even wanted to go back to his previous life? And did he want to regain his memories to find out whatever was no longer there for him? Did he even want whatever sorrows came with going back as a human without Grace?
(Jarondai Territory: Jarondai Castle)
The purple carpet crumpled under the hakamo-o's feet as she dashed through the tall, arched hallways. Any guard that stood in Fitz' way was destroyed. She had handled and sold enough of their armor to know their weak-points, what it protected, and where it was lacking in defense. As she darted around a corner, she found a gallade who wore a full suit of metal with his back towards her. Before the pokemon knew what was happening, Fitz jumped at him, grabbed him by the arm with one hand, twisted it upwards, then jabbed with her free hand into the pit of his arm in a "Sky-Uppercut" attack. The force she used threw the pokemon through the ceiling. By the time he broke out and regained consciousness, she would be long-gone. Her training had paid off.
Fitz continued to run down corridors, making quick decisions as fast as she could without stopping. Hesitation was for those too weak or too stupid to make a decision. It was something she was taught when she was very young, yet it was a part of her she couldn't seem to get away from. It felt too much like him.
She managed to make quick work of any guard in her way. They were an obstacle: an issue that needed to be ignored if possible, yet corrected when necessary. There was only one goal here: to repair that poor-excuse-of-a-gabite's blunder.
Foolish, stubborn idiot! Fitz thought as she slammed into yet another guard, subduing him in seconds. He had to make it difficult and come to this place! He had to put Ganderosa at risk! He had to ignore what was right in front of him. And now he is putting his friends at risk! How is he supposed to lead and look out for an entire army when he cannot even look after the pokemon closest to him?!
Fitz stopped herself and peered quickly around a corner. She saw her target: the set of iron doors with golden engravings like vines stretching all across the front. There, inside of the door, was the single biggest threat to Ganderosa. Yet there was still a minor hurdle she had to cross. Two guards – an abomasnow-abomasnow and a raichu – stood up straight and attentive at the front of the door. Each wore their own set of shiny armor accompanied by a spear in one hand, and a sword hanging from their waists in case the pointy stick wasn't enough.
"Why even have guards when you know the enemy closest to you possesses the knowledge to cripple them in seconds?" Fitz asked in a whisper.
She closed her eyes and focused on the middle of her stomach. This is going to make a lot of noise that someone may or may not hear. But knowing there are two of them, I will not be able to take these guards as easily as the others, and I need to get into that room at all costs.
The pit was filled with a warmth, and the massive scales on the back of her hands and forehead began glowing a dim yellow. The warmth rose as energy built up in her chest, creating a new glow that radiated outwards from its origin. In a few seconds, the energy became as hot as fire, and she knew it was ready.
Fitz tore around the corner, aiming towards the ceiling. The two guards only had enough time to turn and look at Fitz before she opened her mouth, sending a massive ball of red energy into the sky. The raichu's eyes widened as he saw the impending doom overhead. He only managed to yell before the ball exploded in an ear-piercing blast, sending miniature meteorites down towards it and it's fellow guard. There was no evading the balls of fire that pelted every inch of the floor. One collided with the top of the raichu's head and threw him towards the floor. The abomasnow managed to shield his face from the attack, but in doing so it obstructed his view of Fitz.
Fitz gave a determined roar as she dashed towards the abomasnow, getting under him before slamming a glowing fist into his chin in a "Sky Uppercut" attack. Hitting the floor with the back of its head, the pokemon was out cold. Fitz then shot her eyes behind, but was too slow.
She heard a shout before her body began to thrash from the burning electricity being shot through her. Fitz didn't dare fall: not when this guard about to subdue her. Instead, she swiped her tail at her opponent. The raichu jumped over and went into a head-butt: exactly what Fitz was hoping for. She dove head-first into the pokemon, focusing her energy into her head-scale as she did so. With one final shout, her head became as hard and as shiny as metal, and the pokemon collided. No pain shot from the collision on Fitz' end due to her scale. Instead, the raichu passed out.
Fitz stood up tall and triumphantly above the two beaten guards. Is this truly the state of Ganderosa's best? Disgraceful. It must have gone down-hill since-
"I knew you'd come here," a voice called from behind.
Fitz whipped around and found the golden-engraved door was open with a dragonite standing in the doorway. The dragonite was wearing its crown of gem-encrusted gold, gold-plated pauldrons, and a purple cape. His small smile and warm eyes portrayed a pleasantness about him. Fitz' eyes drifted towards his neck where a blue crystal in the shape of a star sat on a metal chain.
"It was only a matter of time, wasn't it?" Judah questioned.
"Not even trying to hide?" Fitz questioned.
"You came for the Sapphire Star, didn't you?" Judah asked, getting right to the point.
"One chance," Fitz said bluntly. "Hand it over, or I will take it."
"Why not simply talk about this?" Judah questioned. "We both want the same thing."
"You would use me just like my father," the hakamo-o stated angrily. "Eventually you would kill me, same as him."
"Stop acting like a child," Judah said calmly, shaking his head. "You were born into this, just as your father was. Embrace it, and accept that you'll be helping the future of Ganderosa."
Fitz felt her anger bubble over, and she darted towards Judah, shouting in rage. She jumped at the dragon, but he side-stepped her and grabbed her by the neck. He then proceeded to throw her into the wall, cracking it on her scale.
"You never were able to defeat me, thief," Judah taunted. He planted his feet on the floor and raised his closed fists, readying himself for combat. "But you can still make the attempt."
"You stole everything from me, first!" Fitz roared as she threw herself at Judah, raising her fists to attack through physical combat. "And I am not a thief!"
She made a right-hook, then a kick to the stomach. Judah blocked her attacks, making no attempt at attacking himself. It infuriated Fitz. She made a few more punches and kicks, then whipped her tail: all were either blocked or dodged. Fight back!
"You've gotten better since the last time we saw each other, I'll give you that much."
"Stop talking!" Fitz shouted as she made a fake-right-hook towards Judah. The dragonite made a move to block, leaving him open for Fitz to slam her right foot into his chest, sending him backwards. The dragonite tripped on hit cape and flipped onto his stomach. "You distracted yourself."
"It has been too long," Judah said. He couldn't help but laugh a little. "Can you believe it's already been five years since you last stole from me? Too long considering it's your profession."
"I had to make ends meet since you took everything from me!" Fitz shouted. She focused on her head until it turned to iron. She then dove literally head-first towards Judah.
Judah spun on his back and leaped to his feet. As he did so, a spiraling twister of smoke mixed with blue and red lightning erupted from the floor. Fitz' eyes dilated as she realized she was throwing herself right at a readied-Judah.
"You should have gotten out of Ganderosa when you had-" Judah stopped as his eyes grew wider and a grimace contorted his face. He doubled over and gasped from some sort of pain. What in Ganderosa?! Fitz collided with Judah's skull, her head-scale protecting her from any damage that may have been caused by King's crown. Even so, the crown protected him from damage, yet dented on impact. But Fitz wasn't done. She had no clue what made Judah fall over, but she did know it left him open for an onslaught.
In a split second, she grabbed onto Judah's pauldrons and flipped backwards, lashing his chest with her tail before landing on her feet. Her fist began to glow before she pounded Judah's chin, sending him onto his back. Fitz pounced on top of Judah and began throwing her fists as fast as she could, pounding on Judah's face. The dragonite had no room to groan from the pain before another one came his way. Fitz felt every negative emotion she'd held in the past few years urge through each punch. She recalled her father's kind face: one that use to be filled with a proud look to his eyes. It use to be one she could look at with hope and love.
"You took everything from me!" Fitz said as tears began streaming from her eyes. "All of the love I felt! Every hopeful feeling I had for my future! My dreams! You stole it all from me!"
Judah's open-paw jolted up and grabbed Fitz' left fist, then her right. Judah began breathing very slowly. Blood dripped from the side of his face, but he didn't let it halt him.
"Girl," Judah said. "Don't lie to me. I don't feel guilty, and I don't feel sorry for you. We both know he never had the ability to care in the first place."
Fitz brought her knee into the dragon's face, forcing him to let go of her hands. She then grabbed a hold of his face and held it close to hers. Fitz focused on that pit of anger and let it fuel a massive orb of energy in her chest. It radiated so much heat and light, it shone little beams across the dragonite's face.
"I am done running from you and your forces!" Fitz roared. "Do you hear me?! I am tired of the death and struggles and losses, and feeling as though I am in the middle of it! All I want is peace in my life, and you refused to let me have that! So I am ending it all here!"
Judah looked at Fitz, still wearing his sickening smile. "Then end it, girl."
Fitz stared down the so-called King with a lust for death: revenge. This was the moment everything would end. In one blast, it would all be over. King Judah would be dead, and Ganderosa would be free of Giratina's reign.
Nearly a minute went by. The energy was still swirling in Fitz' chest, stagnating. She wanted to do it. She wanted more than anything to live the rest of her life in peace and not have to worry about another single day of running and surviving. But now that the opportunity was here, she stopped at the final step.
"You won't do it," Judah said calmly.
"What makes you think you are not about to die?!" Fitz shouted.
"Hope, girl," Judah stated. "It's what's been keeping you going all this time: the hope that you can get your previous life back."
"I know it is impossible!"
"Yet you still hold on, hoping that he can fill in the emptiness you feel. Am I wrong?"
Fitz grimaced. She had never thought about it before. All the memories of her past, all of the hopes for her future: did they still remain like a string in the darkness; one that she hoped would lead her back to a past of love and safety?
Tears began to swell in Fitz' eyes, slowly etching their watery marks down her scales before they fell onto the blood-stained chest of the dragon king. She began to sob as she dropped her fist at her side. Judah looked up at her with a scowl.
"Pathetic," he said coldly. "You had the chance to end the war, yet you refuse to kill me. Taking a life shouldn't ever be that difficult if you have the right reason. Yet blind hope is your motivation in life. And you certainly refuse to give that up, right girl?"
Fitz' eyes widened as she saw a shadow out of he corner of her eye. She looked around wildly, but all she could do was tighten her fists. A wild fist slammed into her' face, throwing her from the King's body. The energy in her chest subsided as she spun into the next room – one with three thrones: a massive one for the King, a medium one for the Queen, and a small one for the prince or princess. With more than enough energy from the sudden attack, Fitz collided with the Princess' throne, splitting the top of it with her head-scale. Then, she fell into the seat itself and struggled to turn around to see Thalia was hunched over King Judah.
"Master," Thalia said as she helped the dragonite to her feet.
"Trinity Fitz, you won't kill me. You may be able to fool yourself into believing you have the strength to end this war, but the truth of the matter is that you still want your father, and killing me won't get him back. So now, I'm giving you one warning. Surrender now, or you will be taken by force. You've already lost."
Fitz looked at Judah, then Thalia. There was no winning this battle. Judah made it clear as day that Fitz couldn't end the war. She didn't have the strength to kill the king.
"I cannot kill you," Fitz said sadly. "At the very least, this fight showed me that much. And when you have Thalia at your side to assist in your battle, beating you to escape is not possible. But to say I lost is a false statement."
Judah looked at Fitz curiously. "What game are you playing, girl?"
"Master," Thalia said with a little more force to her usually calm tone. "Her paw."
Judah's eyes widened as he placed his hand on the empty space of his chest where the Sapphire Star would have sat. He then looked towards Fitz, and in her left, clenched hand hung metal strings. Then, the king smiled. "Little thief..." he said just loud enough for Fitz to hear.
"I am no thief," Fitz said proudly. "And all I want is to be left alone. But this time, I will not let you destroy the world. Do you hear me, Giratina? I do not care who you are. I will not let you murder the pokemon of this world."
Fitz closed her eyes and calmed her heart, taking deep breaths as she did so. Then, the entire world became devoid of noise. As she opened her eyes, she found the entire room had stopped in place. None of the pokemon ahead would even breath. She waited for Judah or Thalia to make a move, but they simply stood in place.
"It's over..." Fitz said to herself. She brought her paw up to her eyes and opened it, revealing the glowing gemstone which was now shining its blue light on the surrounding area. It was an amazing object who's abilities were a wonder to behold. So this is the Sapphire Star's power... Yet there was a sort of pressure that seemed to force itself on her body: something that seemed particularly odd.
Fitz ignored the pressure and took a few steps towards Judah. She stopped in front of the dragon, scowling at his chest. Another chance... to end it all. Most pokemon cannot even get one, no matter how hard they try.
"Ironic that I am mentally capable of doing so," Fitz said aloud before walking towards the exit. She took a few more steps before stopping in place. Was it just her, or did the pressure start to increase? It seemed to push against her brain, but she tried ignoring it.
"Who are you?" a rough voice called out.
Fitz whipped around, yet found no one who was talking to her. She glanced around the room curiously. Time is frozen... No one should be able to talk.
"Answer the question!" the voice demanded.
"W-what?" Fitz said, startled. She continued to shoot glances around the room to find the source, but the only pokemon standing in the room were Judah and Thalia. "Who are you?! Where are you?!"
"I am the spirit of the Sapphire Star," the voice said forcefully. "I have been tasked with assisting the Paladin of the Sapphire with his journey as best I can. Seeing as you are not the Paladin, I ask again: who are you?"
"I... am a Guardian of Ganderosa," Fitz said sounding slightly strained. She couldn't tell for sure, but the pressure in her brain seemed to be slowly growing. Currently, it was ignorable, yet slightly painful.
"I don't recognize you," the spirit stated. "Lying to me would be a mistake."
"I am a friend of Valery G."
A hum echoed through the room as if the spirit was thinking. "In that case, I give you temporary permission over the Sapphire."
"Fine," Fitz said harshly. It wasn't the spirit's fault Fitz was being a little rude. She was just getting irritated with the building pressure in her mind, therefore being a little rough towards this spirit. "You said you are the spirit of the Sapphire Star?"
"Yes," it said.
"How come I have never heard of you until now?"
"Is that truly important?"
"Yeah!" Fitz shouted as she started to grimace. "Because I want to know what it is that you are you doing to me!" The pain increased, and Fitz pressed one paw to her skull to try and deal with the ever-rising pressure. "Are you trying to pop my brain?!"
"That would be the Sapphire Star," the spirit stated. "Even though you are currently using the Sapphire Star, using it kills anyone who is not the Paladin. Though I am sure you know this by now."
"Just tell me how to stop the pain!" Fitz said through clenched teeth.
"You must stop binding time and let it flow," the spirit explained.
"Not happening," Fitz said flatly, taking a look at Thalia who was right next to her. "Too close to pokemon who want to use me."
"It will kill you if you do not let go."
"I want another option!" the hakamo-o ordered. The spirit didn't answer. Fitz guessed it was thinking, but for how long? The silence and pressure of whatever seemed to be killing her was torturous, and waiting for an answer was agony in its own right. "Well?! I am still dying here!"
"There is another option," the Spirit began. "Although I am not sure you will be able to pull this off. It's very difficult to do and takes a lot of control and concentration. But if you manage to simply slow time down instead of halting it completely, you can outrun anyone who wishes to harm you. It will lessen the pressure and extend the amount of time you can use the Sapphire Star, but a lapse in concentration would most definitely end your control of time, and I don't believe you can slow it once more given your state."
"Give me a minute to think!" Fitz shouted. She closed her eyes and weighed her options. This spirit, whoever she was, was new. She didn't care what it said or implied; it had to be new. She had never heard a single word about a spirit in the Sapphire Star until today, and now that it was here, she had no clue whether to trust it or not.
Yet it seemed to know what it was talking about. It knew what the pressure was. Yet she said, "Paladin". She was obviously referring to the human, but calling him a Paladin? Was it his official title? Though everyone she had met called him "Human". This spirit was peculiar, that was for sure. But the question still remained: could Fitz trust it?
"No choice," Fitz said aloud. She looked at Thalia, then Judah. "Only one option, and probably one chance."
"Then let's hope this doesn't kill you."
(Author's Notes)
Hey guys! MasterKnight2142 here, bringing you another (hopefully) exciting chapter of "Shadows of Ganderosa"! And is now bringing you another long-winded author's notes, which I hope some of you enjoy, because I'm sure no one else does.
So before I start, I just wanted to give a massive shout-out to my new editor/assistant, "Deuxious Vultious"! He contacted me about a week ago, offering to go above and beyond the normal roles of a beta-reader for "Shadows of Ganderosa". Really great guy who helped bring a lot more quality to the story through suggestions and grammatical checks for your enjoyment! Give his profile a look, and give him a really big "thanks" for helping the story!
Shout-out to "PlagueDogUnleasheD", "StoryBrookFields95", "Deuxious Vultious", and "Swifteagle313" for following/favoriting the story! Gandrosa's breached 75 followers! Honestly, thanks to everyone for this!
I was looking at the "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon!" community (the most popular one I could find to "advertise" my story), one that is for stories based around Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, and Ganderosa, based on the amount of follows, in the mid-section of page two out of the 15 pages! In actual numbers, it's ranked 33 out of the 523 stories on the site in follows, and it is still gaining! As for favorites, it is also on page two as the 59th or 60th most favorited story on the community (59th or 60th because it is currently in a tie)! I've said it before. I'm not that guy who has to have first no matter what, but I am the guy who marvels at how far his own work has come (though I guess now it's me and Deuxious' work XD)! And I am really glad to see how the story has grown, and am aiming for page #1 at the least (mainly cause I will never be able to catch up with "Silver Resistance" or "Defenders of Warmth", which I'm fine with)!
So real quickly then I'll be off. Not sure how it's been for people in Europe or other countries, but for American College students, Christmas Break is over. If anyone is worried about chapters getting out at a slower rate as a result, don't be! If it gets to that, I'll let you know. But I intend to not let it get to that just yet! I will not let this story come to a slow period, because I intend on finishing it! And letting it drag on will make me lose interest, then it implodes and ruins your days. And I am determined to prevent such a thing. So don't worry about it!
That's all for now! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If not, meh. It's not the end of the story, or the twists I have in store! I'll see you guys in the next chapter!
P. S. Please see my DeviantArt page (MasterKnight214 (Without the 2 at the end)) for a bad, yet very accurate map of Ganderosa (Again, MasterKnight214 on DeviantArt).
