Book II: Imprending Twilight
Chaper 131: A reason to fight.
Point of View Black
The glaceon grunted in her unconscious state. Aside from her agony there was an awkward silence lingering between the three of us.
"Well, we've got to do something with her," Kana brought the question back up. "If not, she'll come after us again, or might bring more trouble," She reminded me.
She was right, I thought. Leaving the glaceon alone was dangerous, but I had zero intentions of murdering her, even if she held malicious intents towards us. There had to be something, and I was set on figuring it out. Maybe keep her stuck somewhere until this was all over, maybe hit her in the head and hope she'd get amnesia. I was doubtful the last one would roll over smoothly.
"What do you think, and No, killing her is not an option."
"Really?" Kana sighed, flicking her head away from me. Maybe being judgmental of her nature wasn't the best way to win her over in this situation. How could I not feel that way though? She was different, in ways I wasn't sure what to expect, even if she was once the sweet innocent jolteon that'd never harm a single pokemon.
"Well," Kana thoughtfully started, her eyes showing she was just as lost as I was over the ordeal. "I only see one thing I can do to at least keep her from coming after us." She cautiously walked over the glaceon, her muzzle lowering down towards her hind leg, her teeth ready to sink into her leg.
I felt a chill run through me. She couldn't have been serious. "Kana, you can't-"
"Why not?" She shot back, her malicious glare pushing me back a step. "She just tried to kill the two of us without hesitation. It won't kill her, but it'll keep her from pursuing us any further."
"No, you still can't! She's unconscious. Maybe she's sick twisted, but she's still another pokemon."
"Another pokemon that tried to kill us," Kana reminded me.
It didn't matter what I had to say when she was in this implacable state. In the end I saw that it was clear that Kana's mind was convoluted. The thought of this malicious persona wearing Kana's face left me in a state of fear. I had to believe that the Kana I cared for was still in there, I knew she was because at times I'd see the real her breaking through the darkness of her shackled mind. It was impossible for her to really be this pokemon, I had to find a way to bring out the real her.
"Kana," I firmly rose my voice, taking a step forward and taking back the ground I had cowered back from. "You need my help, that's why you searched me out. I also have the right to refuse. Now, get away from her," My voice grew more firm as I closed the gap between us. Suddenly Kana seemed to get the message and backed off from the glaceon. Her form scrunched up in a defensive position as if she was expecting me to lash out at any moment.
"I said I'd help, but only under my conditions, and for one that means we're not going to go around hurting others when we don't have to. I'm not that kind of pokemon and I know you know that you aren't either. When all this anger of yours wears off I know you'll see right through it and regret whatever you think you are now."
Kana bit at her lip, obviously not wanting to hear my tirade about this again. Regardless, I didn't care. If she really was my friend then I couldn't let her act like an idiot, not until her emotions sobered up from whatever was devastating her.
"Second, you're not going to kill Rhys. I'll take care of him, and that'll be the end of it."
"I told you, he needs to be dead!" Kana rose, her fangs showing in defiance with a murderous glare in her eyes.
"I never said I'd let him go free, but right now you don't need to be doing things you'll regret. Trust me, once you do something like that there is no going back. You might think it's going to fix whatever your problems are, but you'll only be greeted with a whole new world of problems. Besides, if you kill him, you'll more than likely have trouble fulfilling my last demand."
Kana kept her murderous glare fixated on me, impatiently waiting for me to state my demands.
"Last, if I help you, I want you to come home to Alex with me. We've both been gone for a long time, they're all probably worried sick about us and-"
"I refuse," Kana snarled, her blood lusting eyes growing in size as she bit down so hard her jaw was trembling. Only when she exhaled a frustrated scowl did she continue. "And why are you even so obsessed with going back to them? You've hardly known them for that long in all actuality, yet for some reason you think you can just bring around all of this tragedy and then disappear with everyone's lives in ruins only to resurface with big smile on your face, happy and ready to continue some stupid façade!"
"Excuse me?" I flinched at the statement, unsure of where this was going, but not liking it one bit. "What are you talking about? Do you think… no, I honestly don't even know where you're going with this." I shook my head, feeling a bit of anxiety coming on.
"Most of the time you spent back with Alex you couldn't even get along with anyone. Constantly shutting everyone out, keeping secrets and still keeping secrets! All you've done is lie and continue to lie and drag us into your problems!" Each word bit into me, tearing out chunks of any confidence I thought I had. Suddenly, I felt powerless. "If we never met you, none of this would have happened! You're the reason I can't go back. At least if I never met you I could have gone on in living in my blissful ignorance!"
I didn't dare say a word. I was only able to think of how truthful her words were. 'She's right,' I thought. I was always reminded of the sad reality of things. My existence in their lives had ruined everything. Though, I was trying my best to set things right… how much more could I do? I've risked my life every day, nearly died countless times. I shouldn't even be alive. Yet, none of it made things right. My existence was a cancer to those around me, my world would spread into theirs, plaguing them with the same misfortunes I've endured my entire life.
"And now you want me to go crawling back to everyone, to live in that house again… I'd sooner freeze to death out on these streets than to ever face any of them again. You're just some selfish umbreon trying to use us to fill a void, but you don't truly deserve to be with them. And you know what? That's the only thing we have in common, you and I both don't belong anywhere in this world. We'd be better off gone."
I wanted to say something, anything. If only I could say something to defend myself, clear my name even just a bit, but to do such a thing would be an insult to everyone… I, and only myself was responsible for ruining all of their lives. Maybe things really would have been better off if I just ended everything. If only I had done it before I met everyone… then maybe things could have been different.
Before another lashing could be delivered the sound of clapping grabbed our attention. "You wanted to kill me, huh?" Kana and I were both too shocked to say a word. The fact that he came to us was unbelievable.
"Rhys," Kana spat out. "I've been looking-"
"I know. More importantly, why do you even have business with me? You and I don't even know each other. Or correction, you don't know me. I know enough about you."
'Enough about her?' I repeated, unsure of what he meant. "What do you mean by that?" I demanded, knowing that nothing that came from him was good.
Rhys scoffed, "I know everything about her, after all, she was a friend of yours, and perhaps a potential colleague for myse-"
A bolt cut off the zorua, forcing him to dodge to the left, his form illuminating with a purple energy.
"Have it your way then." Rhys shook his head. "Just know, "I won't go easy on either of you just because Ryder was once my colleague."
Kana's eyes widened, "Colleague?" was all she could utter before a bright flash of purple blinded us.
The light lingered, continuing to burn at my irises, but more importantly, I felt my strength being sapped away. A few seconds went by and the weight of holding myself up became too much and I collapsed down onto the ground. Only a little longer and all the color was fading from the world.
It was just like the last time Rhys attacked me. He was able to steal away all of my strength within seconds… but how?
"On a ranking of power at Genesis, I am ranked SSS," Rhys spoke up, killing off his power before it could finish off the job. "That being said, I'm far more dangerous than any pokemon in this city. As simple as a snap of my finger I can drain any pokemon of all power, rendering them defenseless."
"Why are you doing this?" I struggled to speak. I bit down at my lip, trying to keep myself conscious through pain.
"Reasons," Rhys answered. "Truthfully, I had let you live this long because I had hoped you would flee. I even came here with the intention of one final warning, but after hearing you conspire with her I've had a change of heart. Too bad, I didn't really want to kill you, you did seem like there was some good in you somewhere.
"Of course, killing you here would be a waste. I do have a nice idea of what I can use you for."
Point of View Kana
How much time had passed? That was what I wanted to know when I came to. Or maybe, where was I?
The shackles chaining me to the wall from a collar around my neck made it clear that my comfort wasn't in mind. Dark confines made it hard for my eyes to adjust to the new setting. Feeling my paw along the ground I could feel the aged stone ground crumbling as my claws raked against them.
Was I alone?
"Black? Someone?" The droplets of water hitting stone were the only responses I got.
I pulled at my confines, hoping I could pull myself free. In the end all I accomplished was straining my neck.
Creating a spark of light I was able to expand my view by only a few feet, but with this I could make out the rusted iron bars holding me in a cell… Wherever this was, it was somewhere ancient, abandoned.
Suddenly, my ears perked up at the sound of a door opening. A light flickered on, stinging my eyes as I turned away. Struggling to look forward, I could make out the silhouette of a fox standing in the blinding light.
"So, you've finally awoken," his voice began, his figure becoming more defined, allowing me to see the zorua staring at me with a bored expression. "I've only got a small amount of time, so I'll be curt."
I didn't utter a word, unsure of what this man was truly capable of. Especially since I wasn't in any position to defend myself.
"So, I already know who you are, what you are, why Genesis chose you. Frankly, I don't care. All I care about is one thing." Rhys leaned into the bars, his eyes peering at me intently for answers. "Where is Ghost hiding? I have my strong suspicions, but you could make things a lot easier. Help the good people win. Maybe do one right thing in your pathetic life."
My mouth tightening, no word would leave, even if I wanted to speak the truth. If he really knew what I was… then he should have known that I'd have no way of truly answering.
"Right," Rhys shook his head. "I knew you wouldn't talk. Not that you can help it. See, if it were possible I would have ripped every nook and cranny of information from that skull, but you have a block in your mind. One not even I can penetrate, but I recognize this. After all, I helped bring it into existence."
I continued to hold my silence…
"Genesis changed you. I know you would have snapped within seconds in your situation. The real Kana would have been broken down in pitiful tears and pleads at this point. Not you though. This you is still filled with that unquenchable desire to murder me, even if it isn't really your own true desire."
The zorua shook his head once more, this time shapeshifting into a zoroark. His blue eyes stared into me, suddenly reducing my bravado as I started to dread his ill intentions. To his right he reached for a steel case, one small enough to hold an item the size of a pen. With the flick of a finger and a click the case swung open in his palms.
"See this?" He held up a syringe. "It's something special that was created, something created by someone close to you."
Someone I know? I wondered just what he meant, but only one name entered my head. John Hayter…
"That's right, I can tell by that shocked little look you're wearing that you already know it, John made this for me. It's the reason he was taken away. The reason Genesis has probably already executed him." Rhys opened the cell door, walking and crouching down to my level, bringing his face only inches from my own. If it hadn't been for him holding my collar to prevent me from attacking I would have already done it. Would've ended everything right then and there…
"This syringe, it contains the cure to what Genesis has done to you. You already know what they've done to you, but your mind now forbids you to ever think about it, subconsciously steering you away every time the thought enters into your mind."
Again, I wasn't able to reply… I wanted to say something… but nothing would come to mind, only blanks.
"With the nanites that Genesis created, they can subconsciously control any pokemon and human to act any way they want. Those nanites are in you now, Kana, and this syringe contains a counter nanite, one that'll free your mind, let you be you again." Without warning his hand trusted forward, a sharp sting stabbing into my neck. I attempted to pull away, but it was over before I knew it.
His hand released my collar and I soon found that his grip was the only thing holding me up as a splitting headache took control of me. Both my paws scratched at my cranium, desperate to stop the growing pain inside my head. The sensation that something was crawling deep inside my brain, ripping it apart piece by piece as it burrowed deeper inside me.
I screamed and screamed, the feeling overwhelming me. My eyes began to water and just when I thought the pain would never end it faded away almost as fast as it came. For a minute straight I remained on the floor, gasping for air, tears running down my face.
"W-what did you do to me?" I choked out. The zorua reverted to his true form, his expression unmoved by the agony he had just put me through.
"I freed you," he simply replied, but with each word he spoke my head throbbed in pain, finding the slightest thing excruciatingly irritating. "Don't get the wrong idea though, I didn't do it out of kindness, but because I want answers. That headache is nothing compared to what I will do to you to get what I want."
My heart froze, his words inciting terror. Like a splash of cold water, everything was hitting me. Why was I here? Why was I trying to kill him? Why am I doing any of this? None of it was me, even in my distraught state after learning the truth of my coming to this world… But never would I choose this path, endanger my friend even if I was bitter. None of it was me.
"I… I don't know anythi-"
"Quiet," the zorua ordered. With a flash his form grew in size, his ears and form bending to take on the shape of an espeon. "Without the nanites in your system blocking your mind, I am free to see whatever I want from you. The real you, everything you feel and know."
"W-wait…" my eyes widened as I realized what he was planning. I couldn't let him, even if I wasn't in a situation to argue. My mind was my only true sanctuary, to have it invaded in such a way felt disgusting. Every secret I had was his to know, every emotion, pain, pleasure, memory, all of it was his, and as simple as a snap of a finger he could take everything from me. I would never put it beyond a monster like himself.
"Come now," Rhys shook his head, "Do you really think I'm such a monster that I'd tamper with your mind? Maybe if I had a use for you, yes, but you serve no purpose past me learning what I need to know. For all we know, you truly could know nothing."
"Just leave me alone!" I begged, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
"Just relax, it'll be over before you know it," he softly spoke. The gem on his forehead illuminated, and within a moment I felt an unexplainable force slipping into my mind. Eyes searching through me, a chilling force invading the confines of my privacy, seeing everything.
"Stop, get out of my head!" I scream as I shot off an electrical discharge, but missed pathetically. Before I could try again an invisible force pinned me flat to the ground. I squirmed in place, shaking, trying everything to break free, but in the end all I could do was cry and pitifully beg for him to stop.
I clenched my eyes shut, just praying it's be over any second, that no harm would come to me. Maybe four minutes had passed by the time I felt the invisible hands leaving the sanctity of my mind. My eyes cracked open, seeing the false espeon lost in thought, but still keeping me pinned tightly to the ground.
"Perhaps you were a waste of time after all," Rhys mused. "Although, you did have a bit to offer."
"What did you all see?! You had no right to do that, my mind is-"
"Quite frankly I don't care," Rhys bluntly retorted. "You were a potential threat, and I needed to see everything you were capable of, what you knew. What I find most interesting is how Genesis planned on using you to use Ryder to kill me by using his connection to the WPA. Quite funny really. Except, that was never going to work. I'm very disappointed in Ryder though, I would have thought he had more honor than to plot to murder me."
In an instant I was reminded that I wasn't the only one in danger here. Black had been taken with me, perhaps being treated with similar torture, or already dead.
"What are you going to do with us?" My voice trembled.
"Hmmm, for you I'm not quite sure. Heh, as for Black, I thought it over quite carefully. Seems I have one final use for him, but that's for later. For you, I'd act on your best behavior, don't be a problem, and maybe when this is all over I'll consider letting you go free." The espeon shifted back to a zorua. "After all, none of this truly was your fault."
"What about Black?!"
"Don't worry about him, he sowed his own fate when he plotted to kill me. The only reason I'm considering sparing you from true consequence is because you were merely a puppet with no free will. Ryder on the other hand acted on his own free will. He's an adult, and like all adults he'll accept responsibility for his actions."
Rhys turned from me, I called out to him again, demanding answers, but this time he didn't answer. Within mere moments I was left alone again, my cell door locked shut.
Point of View Flare
Another day and nothing has happened.
A few flurries scattered about the air as a whip of cold wind made me shiver in a tight hug. Many of the human's in the refugee camp were huddled up in blankets with their loved ones, cherishing their family, friends, their pokemon. Wish I could have said the same. My ears dropped at thought of my sister. Not just her though, even Alex, Kana and everyone else I had lost.
Among the crowded streets were a few pokemon rationing out meals. At the other side of the street a large screen played the news. Many humans had gathered around intently around the screen, perhaps praying that there would be some good news in all this chaos.
Maybe one day that could change. The best I could do was hope.
The sun had set not too long ago, the clouds in the sky blocking out the moon, leaving only the few working city lights to guide my way. It was time to head back. I was out of energy for today, my feet had become raw from exhaustion.
"Suppose I should go back," I mused as I turned about, searching for the path back to Zylen and the others. My eyes passed the large television on the building, but an image I hadn't expected caught my eyes.
"Wait," I said urgently, shoving my way through the humans, moving closer to the news channel that portrayed an image of Black. My jaw hung low as my eyes were glued to the image, seeing the worn down umbreon in a mugshot.
My ears listened in to what the news anchor had to say, before the image changed to another mug shot of a Lucario, this pokemon severely scarred, even missing an eye.
"In recent reports the WPA has announced some good news in these times of crisis. The umbreon responsible for the Lumiose incident has been captured and is currently being interrogated. From what the WPA has informed us of, the terrorist Ryder has been working closely along with the leader of the Crimson Dawn who is also now in the custody of the WPA. No complete answers have been given, but it has been heavily implied that the two played major roles in the recent crisis in Snowbelle. Stay tuned as we await for further updates on the two-"
I pulled away from the crowd. I couldn't listen. It wasn't true, none of it was true. He wouldn't do that, never! As I burst into a mad dash back to my sanctuary my aching feet suddenly didn't seem to matter. All I did care about was getting back to everyone else!
All I could repeat in my tired voice were my words of denial. It was impossible!
When I reached the convenience store I ran straight through the door. Naomi jumped up from her sleep in a defensive position. Zylen too seemed just as shocked.
"Flare?" Zylen asked. "What's wrong, did something happen?"
"The WPA's got Black!" I shouted in a panic. The two fell silent, but it was Naomi who showed the most concern. "Not only that, they're blaming Black for everything that happened here, saying he aided Genesis and the Crimson Dawn or something, I don't get it, but it's a lie!"
"What do you mean?!" Naomi asked, her voice shaking with the same fear I had. "They can't do that! What proof do they have?!"
"I don't know, they didn't say. But, if we don't…" I started to feel sick with anxiety as the thought of what would happen if we didn't do something. "If we don't do something, they're going to kill him, I have no doubt. We can't let that happen!"
Zylen's voice rose up over my own, his tone sharp, "Flare. This is the WPA we're talking about! We're three pokemon. No, not even three, my arm is trashed, I won't pose much of a threat in my current state. Opposing them is suicide, don't be an idiot and think you can throw your life away for one pokemon!"
My fists clenched as I marched towards the zoroark, "And what if it was my sister?! Would you let her die?"
"That's different!" He retorted.
"How is that different!? He's my friend, Annie is yours, you would have helped her, and don't pretend you wouldn't!"
"It's different because Annie and I are a complicated mess!" Zylen's grab on my sister tightened, his claws unintentionally digging into her shoulder. "Don't be an idiot like your sister!"
"Just what the Hell does that mean?" I snarled, blowing smoke as I exhaled a breath.
"Dammit, why are you two both such a pain," the zoroark snapped. "You know how she got in the condition she's in now? Because she wanted to play the hero, she chose to be a selfless prick and leave me to help others, even after I begged for her to stay! Now look at her, she's dead, a hollow husk of herself! Do you know how hard that is, being helpless in watching someone walk to their own death?!"
In truth I didn't know the feeling. My fists loosened as I felt a bit of guilt welling up inside of me, guilt for something that wasn't my fault. I understood that Zylen was only looking out for me, but this was something I couldn't obey.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that, but I can't leave a friend like that. I won't let him die for something he didn't do. Even if you won't help, I still have to go."
"You idiot!" Zylen snapped.
"Perhaps I can be of help," a voice came from the front entrance of the store. All of our heads spun to make out a pokemon hiding in the shadows. The silhouette was no doubt an eeveelution, or some kind of fox, but as to whom it was I wasn't sure.
"Heh, I was actually wondering if you were going to show yourself," Naomi spoke up, her eyes intently focused on the creature.
"I didn't originally plan for this." A yellow paw stepped out from the darkness. A jolteon stood before us, but one with a disfigured appearance. Half his face carried severe burns, making the creature a bit hard on the eyes, creepy to say the least.
"Let me guess, you're here about Black."
The jolteon smirked, "clever as always."
"You two know each other?" I glanced at Naomi.
She gave a single nod, "It's a complicated story, but I wouldn't trust this guy."
"How crude," he shook his head. "Here I came hoping perhaps we could help each other, after all, nobody wants to see Ryder suffer such a fate."
"You're just using us," Naomi replied.
"Does it matter? Without my help he's as good as dead. The WPA plans on using him to spearhead a war against Genesis. With Black in their custody and them having the ability to convolute the truth in their favor, I'd imagine things are going to get very nasty soon. I can help you save him though, or, give you a fighting chance that is."
"What did you have in mind?" I spoke up.
"Flare, don't listen to him!" Naomi snapped.
"I just want to hear him."
The jolteon chuckled, "Simple, I plan to bring together everyone needed to rescue Black and the Lucario, Mandus. With all of you working together and following my plan, I can guarantee a good chance of winning."
"At what cost though?" Naomi interjected, her tone venomous.
"I can't promise everyone will survive, that'd be a lie. Someone might die. But, agree to join me, and I have much to offer for everyone."
The jolteon could easily see our interest in the situation as his grin grew.
"Naomi, I can reunite you with Stark, for I've already spoken with him earlier and he's agreed to help under some circumstances. And for you two." The jolteon shifted his attention towards my sister. "I know why the braixen won't really awaken. It's not any ordinary coma, it was induced."
"Wait, what do you mean induced?" Zylen said. "But she's in a coma, you can't just wake her up."
"That answer awaits you only if you decide to assist me in rescuing Ryder. I'll give you an hour to think it over, I have other rounds to make. Just remember what is at stake."
The jolteon turned back, but before I could utter another word his body faded to pure darkness and broke apart. I stopped before I could say what I had wanted, unable to process what I was seeing as he disappeared into nothing.
"W-what the hell is that guy?" Zylen sounded just as confused.
"I don't know," I said, glancing at Naomi, "But you do, don't you?"
The dark-type gave a slow nod, her face filled with that blank look of uncertainty. The sudden appearance did leave me wondering just what that jolteon was and how they were linked. As thoughts continued to spin in my mind, I couldn't help but cross my arms and stare down the umbreon for an answer.
I suppose an explanation is at hand," Naomi sighed. "Listen, just don't be angry when I tell you a lot of things have probably been going on behind your backs without you realizing it. It's complicated, and I'm not that much further ahead than you two."
"Well, just start from the beginning and tell us what you can."
"Right," Naomi nodded, taking a moment to get her thoughts together. "Well, guess I'll start by saying he's a pokemon that goes by the name Skull Face. He never comes in his true form, he always takes on the form of someone that's already dead… Which at times his logic of who qualifies as dead doesn't seem to make sense, since he pretended to be Stark once, even though he was aware that he was alive. So, just bear that in mind, he says that's the catch of his transformations, but he doesn't stay true to that."
"Pokemon that are dead, huh," I said slowly. This'd probably be another tally on the things that normal pokemon and their friends didn't have to put up with.
"Yeah," Naomi nodded once more. "I guess the first time I met him was back in Cyllage city. It was after Sam abducted me and trapped me somewhere I couldn't escape on my own. I was probably done for, but Skull Face showed up, offering me a deal to help me if I went and aided you guys in the battle against Jack's pokemon."
"So that's why you chose to help us that night? I thought it was out of some form of conviction for your past, not the fulfillment of some deal you made. Plus, I thought you were starting to warm up to us back then." I couldn't help but shake my head at Naomi. I didn't really hold anything against her for it, mostly because at the time we were still strangers.
"Hey, don't act like that!" Naomi scowled, "I would have went either way, I wasn't about to let any of you die to them. Plus, I still wanted to settle things. Skull Face knew that, which is why he risked his time on me."
"I see, then what happened after?"
"Well, a lot. I am technically dead on the records now because Skull Face had me fake my death shortly after when I was taken to the pokecenter for my wounds. This is when I disappeared from you guys for a while. It wasn't until in Shalour that Skull Face held a meeting with a few of us who knew of his existence. Aiden, Black, my brother and myself. There he made us promise to keep an eye over Black, make sure he wouldn't get into any serious trouble. For some reason he wants Black alive, and he's been overseeing things for a while to bail him out of situations. After that meeting I haven't seen him, I just did as I was told and after the Shalour incident I haven't heard from him till now."
My ears dropped at the new information. How was I supposed to feel about this? Behind my back they were keeping things from me, crucial things, things I should have been trusted with. If I had known maybe I could have helped more, maybe I could have done something to stop everything that happened… If this guy was all powerful, then why did he let Kana die and everyone get split up like that? There is no way Black was safer on his own being treated like a terrorist than in our small group.
"It doesn't make sense," I whispered.
Naomi's ears perked up, "It doesn't. A pokemon like him is dangerous, he isn't the type to make mistakes. I feel like we're missing important pieces to this puzzle, and by the time we figure them out it's going to be too late because he's not going to give us a chance to learn."
"Then what do we do about this? You said he has Black in his better interest, and right now we have no way of saving Black on our own. He said he can get us all amassed, we'll finally be linked up with others who can help us actually fight back for a change."
"Fight back?!" Zylen rose his voice. "Flare, you idiot. Are you listening to what she's saying, or maybe you just won't listen to the parts that conflict with what you want to do. This pokemon is plotting something, he's using you. Just wait, when the time comes, he'll discard you. Whatever he has planned for that umbreon, just let him do it. I've seen enough of this crazy bull crap where I know just not to get involved. I've already lost what mattered to me, don't wanna see the same for you."
"I'm an idiot?" I snarled back, feeling a flash of anger rising up from within. "Why are you so obsessed with running? You keep just trying to take the easy way out! First when I was a child you surrendered to the WPA, then you let my sister-" In a mere second the zoroark had dropped my sister and sprang up from the ground. A crushing force slammed into my nose and sent me spinning to the ground.
Drips of red fell from my nose, the scent of metallic strong as I whipped the warm liquid onto my arm. As I stood back up, glaring at Zylen.
"You little punk, just what the Hell do you think you're going on about?" In another flash Zylen kicked at the back of my knee and forcing me back to the ground. "I'm just some asshole who runs away and leaves you all in a bad situation? Unbelievable."
The zoroark stormed off, kicking the door open as he left.
"You know, that was pretty messed up, right?" Naomi rose her voice. "While Zylen was gone we did a lot of talking. He told me everything."
"Everything…" I gritted my teeth as I struggled to my feet.
"Yeah, or at least enough to get the picture. He's done a lot for you and your sister, and from the sounds of it he hasn't ever asked for anything in return. Don't you think you should at least hear him out more? At least understand his feelings."
"Dammit," was all I could mutter under my breath as I followed behind Zylen, a sudden realization overtaking me that I said some things that were out of line.
Outside a sharp wind hit against me, flurries of white blinding me. Zylen hadn't wandered far, he had only went across the street. With his back turned against me as he leaned up against a street lamp I approached him. In his good hand he fumbled with a cigarette, trying to figure out just how he was going to get it lit up.
"Here," I said in a hushed voice as a small flame at my finger tip poked at the tip of the cigarette. The tip lit up, but the zoroark didn't take a hit, instead he readjusted his back towards me. Perhaps I deserved that. What did I deserve if I truly did neglect everything he had done for us.
"Listen, what I said back there, I was out of line. I'm just not thinking straight with everything that's going on and I said some things that weren't true. None of what happened is your fault, and I am-"
"Just be quiet," Zylen grumbled. "Don't want to hear it. You two are so alike that it pisses me off."
"Listen, I'm not trying to fight. I know what I said was wrong, but I need you to understand how I feel too."
"Yeah? Well no one ever cares about how I feel. Never. It gets old after a while. Constantly helping someone you care about so much, especially when they keep asking for more and more, and you just happily agree, just so you can keep seeing that smile. Then one day, you wake up, years later. You begin to question just what in the hell you're doing.
"You begin to realize all this effort you've put in towards making a friend happy, yet in the end they've barely done anything for you. It's one sided, and it hurts when you care so much about that person but it's detrimental towards yourself. The one thing Annie did for me that truly made me happy was confess herself to me, saying she wanted to be with me. Even if it was at the most shitty time possible, it made me happy… Yet in the end, that one thing I truly wanted from her, that thing that would have made everything worth it, will be something that'll never be."
Zylen tossed his cigarette to the side, not even bothering with it. His hand pulled at a tuft of fur at his side, but he didn't utter a word. I could see now that something had been eating away at him this whole time, something I was oblivious to.
I wasn't sure what to really say, but regardless I said the first impulse that came to my mind. "So, you really care about my sister that much?"
The zoroark gave a small nod. "I've had feelings for your sister for a very long time. It's the only reason I've done so much for her without asking for anything in return, because I really just wanted to make her happy. It wore me down over time, and it's only now hitting me that maybe it was all a mistake."
"Why does it have to be a mistake though?"
"Because, I doubt Skull Face or whatever he's called is telling the truth. In the end she might not be coming back. Now I have to live knowing that I failed her after so much, in the end I didn't get the one I truly cared about. Maybe it's because I really was too much of a coward to help her," Zylen dryly chuckled. "I don't know if you know anything about love, but it hurts a lot."
"Okay, just stop before I return that hit from earlier," I rose my voice, but not out of anger but of determination. "I don't care if he's lying or not, one way or another we're going to get my sister back! Maybe it won't be right away, but I know if we work together we can figure something out. I refuse to let everything go to waste, and you should feel the same way!" My words echoed throughout the empty streets.
Zylen's good arm dropped to his side as he turned his head enough to glare out of me in the corner of his left eye. "And you do realize following down this road could mean the both of us and even everyone else around you dying, right?"
"I know they're joining in for their own reasons, and I know because of that they'll find their own reason to keep fighting. Right now, saving my sister and my friend are mine. Be selfish for yourself, save my sister just so she has to keep her word!"
Suddenly Zylen broke out laughing, the look of determination I had slipped away into something looking as if I missed a simple joke.
"Man, you and her really are too alike. She'd always try and dress the offer up in a way that'd make it seem good for the both of us. You only screwed up in not asking for cheesecake or something ridiculous out of it too."
"Cheesecake…" I said, feeling dumbfounded.
"Yeah… your sister would ask me to go risk my life doing something crazy, yet somehow she'd always convince me to do another silly thing on top of that like bringing her cheesecake."
"Ummm… I was kind of wanting a yes or no on on whether you'd actually help me…"
Zylen's amusement quickly turned to a frown. "Right… Listen, I can't say what I'll do honestly, because I'm scared of what will happen. I'll say this, if I got along with it then you have to follow my lead. As in, if I say to do something you do it, if I say run and flee the country-"
"Then I flee the country, got it."
"Right, and that's all I have to say. I'm putting us before your friend, and if I suspect that freak is up to something dangerous we're leaving."
"Alright, deal," I nodded as I held out my hand for Zylen. The zoroark returned the nod as his good hand stretched out towards mine and we gave a single shake in agreement.
Chapter End
Author Note: I don't really have anything to say, other than I'm always happy to hear your thoughts and I'm always looking for constructive criticism.
Thanks to genericgamer207 for editing this chapter.