Shadow shivered involuntarily as he descended the stone steps leading towards the hidden room beneath the Solaceon Ruins. One thing that continued to baffle him was how this passageway was pitch-black, but the two floors above were inexplicably lit up, with no visible source of lighting. The darkness didn't concern him personally, because his eyes were capable of piercing through it, but it nevertheless seemed peculiar that only those two floors had light.
The quiet was a touch disconcerting, as if the veil of darkness muffled sound as well, save for the gentle pattering of his paws on the stone, or the subtle clicking of Ember's clawed feet upon the same surface behind him.
Leaf had wanted to leave the Ruins entirely, complaining that he was too tired to stay any longer, and practically begging Shadow to take him back. Under normal circumstances, the Espeon would have happily obliged, since his entire body ached all over, and a pounding headache tormented his skull. Unfortunately, he hadn't received any of the answers he had come to the Ruins for, and going back now would make the entire affair pointless. He and Astrid would have just gotten themselves injured and then gone back with nothing to show for it.
Raze had volunteered to take the Leafeon back, and although Shadow was reluctant to leave his brother under another's supervision, the Buizel nonchalantly reminded him that he had been the one to introduce them to A/C in the first place, and it'd be no trouble to watch over the Leafeon at the Kadabra's den until Shadow returned. Raze also noted that if they started back right away, they'd catch up with the trainers and not have any issue with navigating in the dark.
Ember opted to continue into the hidden chamber with Shadow, explaining that she also wanted information from Kaito. Although slightly wary of being accompanied by someone he barely knew, Shadow saw no point in objecting to the Charmander's presence. In all likelihood, she planned to proceed regardless of his intentions, and in his current condition, having even tentative backup was better than tackling the task alone.
An empty corridor stretched out from the bottom of the stairs, and Shadow paused to allow Ember time to catch up. His eyes had no difficulty penetrating the gloom, but the Charmander's flame was on her tail, and therefore situated behind her, requiring more careful steps to ensure that she had enough light to step confidently. It was probably just a relief that these stairs weren't crumbling with age.
"This hall leads into a circular room," Shadow informed the Charmander, cautiously following the corridor, his heart pounding in his chest. "To my knowledge, this is the deepest section of the Ruins."
"You've been here before?" Ember wondered, and Shadow nodded absently, his stomach churning with anxiety. The last time he had been here, he had faced down Diablos for the first time since leaving home. It was not a fond memory by any stretch of the imagination, and that encounter had solidified Shadow's greatest fear that Diablos was too powerful and terrifying to fight against. Had Frost and Lin not intervened when they had, he had no idea how that meeting might have played out.
He felt marginally more confident during this visit, if only because he hadn't yet gotten the feeling that Diablos himself was present within the Ruins, and he wasn't navigating this corridor alone, but there remained an ominous chill in the air that made him feel cold and anxious.
Orange light flickered from the end of the hall, a fire's warm glow. Shadow began walking faster, intent on reaching the end before he had the chance to lose his nerve. Ember matched his stride, perhaps just as eager as he was to reach the end of the ominous hallway.
Moments later, they emerged from the claustrophobic tunnel into a large, circular chamber. Whereas the corridori leading here had been blank stone, numerous shapes and drawings had been inscribed into the walls of the chamber, with almost thirty different hieroglyphic sigils stretching from one side of the room to the other, each of the eye-like designs silently observing the occupants.
A simple stone pedestal stood in the rear of the chamber, absent of the relic it once held. Although difficult to tell from this distance, there appeared to be an inscription written near the pedestal's base.
Shadow next turned his attention to the other occupants of the chamber. The orange glow he had glimpsed from afar was, predictably, a product of Cecilia's flames. The Quilava had her back to them, a strong blaze burning from her head and hindquarters, and she was looking up at one of the murals on the chamber walls. Her fairy companion was hovering above her head, one of his short arms tracing over a line of hieroglyphic text, muttering to himself. A small sphere of light encompassed the Togetic's body, illuminating the walls around him without needing to rely on the Quilava's flames.
"When did you guys sneak down here?" Shadow wondered aloud. Cecilia jumped slightly and whirled around, her body tensing into a battle stance, which she noticeably did not relax, even after seeing him. Her blue eyes narrowed, but Shadow supposed it was reassuring that she didn't immediately launch fire in his direction. Kaito flinched badly at the sound of his voice, and was scowling slightly when he turned around. Both of them seemed mildly perplexed to see Ember standing with him, but Shadow couldn't really blame them for that.
"We didn't really 'sneak', gorgeous," Cecilia answered casually. Ember growled and flexed her claws restlessly, watching the other Pokemon through narrowed eyes. Shadow glanced towards the Charmander, wary of being caught in the literal crossfire if either of the Fire-types labeled the other as an active threat. Cecilia still hadn't relaxed her stance, and Ember's stance was equally rigid.
"We happen to be in the middle of something right now," Kaito stated impatiently as he folded his arms across his chest, although considering the length of his limbs relative to the rest of his body, the gesture was not particularly effective at conveying the intended message.
"In that case, I'll get straight to the point," Shadow growled, fixing the Togetic with a stern glare. "I understand that it was your idea to unseal Diablos. Tell me why."
Kaito blinked twice, and a small frown darkened his expression. Cecilia winced and looked up at the hovering fairy, clearly expecting to be on the receiving end of a reproachful look, but Kaito didn't so much as glance in the Quilava's direction. From the corner of his eye, Shadow saw Ember looking between him and Kaito with a puzzled look. Unless the Charmander was an excellent actress, then it appeared she knew nothing of the Spiritomb's existence, despite being acquainted with Kaito and Cecilia. That was a small comfort for the Espeon, as one reason he had been wary of Ember accompanying him was in case she too was in league with the demon.
"I have need of his power," Kaito answered simply, and Shadow blinked, slightly surprised that the fairy Pokemon hadn't made any effort to play dumb or otherwise deny his accusation. "Diablos has the ability to expose and purge the darkness within a person's heart."
"So he claims," Shadow retorted, but to his surprise, Kaito chuckled softly.
"Diablos is but one of several options I researched on how to tackle the problem that plagues our world," he stated, moving back and forth in the air above them, like a person delivering a speech before an audience. "However, he is the option that seems the most promising. I've confirmed with my own eyes that his power relates to the darkness that burdens our hearts. These past few months, his power has been restricted, and his memories bound."
"So what happens when those shackles are undone?" Shadow demanded, his fur bristling. Cecilia tensed, but Kaito was unfazed by the Espeon's aggressive tone. "If Diablos is so powerful and malevolent in his current state, what happens when those restrictions are cast off?"
"Then the cleansing can begin," Kaito stated simply, but his expression hardened. "Darkness is a burden within us, one that we instinctively long to be rid of, because it is a venom that infects our souls from the inside. Just like how the body requires some fat or sugar to function, our hearts require some darkness, but in excess, it will kill us from within. Except, in the case of darkness, succumbing to it can tarnish the lives of innocents. Just imagine if a person indulging in unhealthy foods could give another, random, individual a heightened risk of heart failure."
Shadow squinted at the Togetic, unsure whether his rambling was to be taken entirely seriously. He could sort of see what Kaito was getting at, but his points didn't seem to connect to one another properly.
"That is what darkness truly is," Kaito continued, his expression stony. "A person's innate selfishness. Pursuit of pleasure and enjoyment at the cost of those in the way. The person knows the risk, and rather than employing careful balance, they indulge again and again, until the consequences catch up to them."
"What the hell are you blabbering about?" Ember snapped. "What are you even trying to accomplish?"
Kaito scowled briefly, but when he next spoke, he was using a softer tone. "Ever since the day I evolved, I've been able to sense those with pure, kind hearts. Being raised by an order of monks may have given me unrealistic expectations of the rest of the world...because I soon discovered that most people are innately selfish. Society as a whole encourages people and Pokemon alike to get ahead by any means necessary, and morally dubious approaches are fine so long as they are not caught. Little concern is ever given for those who are stepped upon or cast aside, and too often, the discarded people harbor bitterness and crave the destruction of others. This is a perpetual cycle."
"That's just nature," Ember retorted rudely, and Shadow glanced at her in surprise. He had never anticipated the Charmander to be invested in the discussion. "Competition is ingrained in every species' instincts. Fighting over the best food, the best territory, the best mate...it's rooted in survival. Human society is no different. Competition is what drives individuals to improve themselves and make themselves more desirable than their rivals."
"And to hell with those who are harmed in the process?" Kaito wondered softly. "The innocents caught up in a conflict? A young boy bullied for being weaker than its peers, or the man who played fairly, but was sabotaged by a rival? What of those harmed simply by acts of selfishness and neglect? Are these cases part of nature as well?"
"So what are you trying to accomplish?" Shadow asked, echoing Ember's earlier question. The Togetic frowned and glanced his way.
"I will find a remedy, and break this endless chain of pain and conflict," Kaito stated bluntly. "Diablos can rinse away the excess darkness contained in the hearts of others, and then the cycle will end. Hearts will be kind and pure once more, and the world will be brighter for it. Darkness inspires nothing but conflict and pointless suffering, and with that stain washed away, the world will be restored to its-"
"You don't know a damn thing," Shadow growled.
There was a pregnant pause, and all eyes focused upon him. Shadow's body was trembling with emotion, and his forehead gem was glowing silver. Kaito seemed about to reply, but stopped himself several times. The only sound in the room was the crackling of Cecilia's flames, and even those seemed muffled and muted.
"That's your vision of the world?" Shadow spat, each word laced with contempt. "No conflict, no suffering, just everyone dancing in a great big circle, going 'la-la-la-la-la'? What about all the lives you tear apart in pursuit of this goal, huh? Or don't you think about that, because your 'oh-so-perfect' world will make up for it?"
"I never said-"
"SHUT UP!" Shadow snarled. "You have no right to force your ideals on others! I lost my parents because of you unsealing that demon. Am I not one of the innocents harmed by pointless conflict and selfish ambitions? What about my brother, huh? He wasn't even six months old yet, and now he has to grow up without them...how is that fair to him?!"
Cecilia cringed, fidgeting so much that she looked like she had an upset stomach. Ember was avoiding eye contact, her tail flame burning like an intense inferno. Tears stung at his eyes and blurred his vision, but he refused to break eye contact from the Togetic, who gazed back at him passively, neither saying anything nor showing any sign of regret or remorse.
"Your vision is an insult to everyone who endures hardship on a daily basis," Shadow hissed. "I lost my parents, and not a day goes by that I don't miss them. On some nights, my heart aches so much for them that I feel like I'm going to cry, but because of that pain, I find the will to keep moving forward. I don't enjoy my sorrow, but it's a burden I'll gladly carry with me, because the struggle has shaped me into a stronger person. Maybe that's what darkness is to you, but to me, it's an inspiring light. It won't be easy, but life isn't supposed to be easy!"
A jolt of pain shot through Shadow's skull, and he clenched his eyes shut, tears rolling down his cheeks. He was breathing more heavily now, and any effort to maintain composure felt futile. He didn't even know where he had found the inspiration to make such a statement without fumbling his words or getting his thoughts tangled together. At the same time, he felt somewhat foolish, like he had just revealed an embarrassing secret to a large audience. His body still ached all over, and it took a great deal of effort to lift his head up again.
"I don't expect to change your mind, nor are you likely to change mine," Kaito stated bluntly. "In spite of everything that's gone awry, it would be a greater disservice to throw this chance away. All the time spent researching ancient sites and lore in pursuit of clues would have been for nothing, but we ultimately succeeded in finding the Keystone and undoing his seal. Giving up on our ambition now when we've gotten this far is simply out of the question."
"Then I'll devote myself to snuffing out your ambition," Shadow snapped, his fur bristling. Cecilia's jaw dropped incredulously, and even Kaito seemed taken aback by the declaration. "Diablos is a monster leeching off of those he can manipulate and abuse. He'll turn on you the moment he no longer needs you."
The Espeon flinched when he felt a paw touch his shoulder, and he cast Ember an aggravated glare, wincing when the muscles of his neck ached in protest. The Charmander was scowling, visibly losing patience with the direction the conversation was going. She strode forward and placed herself between Shadow and the other Pokemon, serving as an impromptu mediator to the escalating argument.
"Enough bickering," she growled, flexing her claws impatiently. Her cerulean eyes flashed in Kaito's direction, and the Togetic flinched, regarding her with genuine wariness. "What are you looking for down here?" she demanded.
"I already told you; we're not looking for anything," Kaito insisted. "We already have the stone that was hidden here, and our visit is merely to research the site's significance. None of the other Ruins sites we've examined had active guardians, much less one willing to pursue a pilfered object across the entire region, and I want to understand why this place breaks the mold."
"A stone?" Ember repeated with a scowl. "The same kind that Kuro took from the Ruins of Alph and later pitted me against Inferna for ownership of it? What the hell kind of stone is that important? Why do I keep getting dragged into this stupid game you all are playing?"
"Kuro's approach is very different from mine," the Togetic answered with a shrug. "You aren't important to my- whoa, whoa, let me rephrase that!" Kaito insisted, waving his arms in a desperate attempt to backpedal on his comment. Ember's expression had darkened, and the flame on her tail had shifted into a vibrant, blue-white flame, if only for an instant.
"I'm not important to you, but Sorin is?" Ember asked quietly, but it was a very dangerous type of quiet, the silky softness that usually preceded an explosion of rage and emotion. "Why is that?"
"That isn't what I meant!" Kaito insisted, fidgeting.
"No, I understand perfectly what you meant," Ember hissed, studying her claws with an unnerving amount of focus. Shadow wanted to intervene somehow, but had a hunch that if he made the slightest misstep, in either word or deed, all the fire lizard's rage would be directed towards him instead. "I'm worthless to you. You won't tell me anything about what you're doing because you don't want me around. I'll just be in the way. A hinderance. A burden."
"That's not true!" Cecilia burst out, her eyes shimmering with distress. "Kaito's worried that Kuro wants to exploit your negative emotions!"
"I don't need him 'protecting me' by rejecting me!" Ember snarled, her tail flame again shifting to the ominous blue-white flame. In spite of every instinct telling him not to engage the Charmander, Shadow lightly touched a paw to her back.
The contact was sufficient to distract the fire lizard, although he earned a rather dirty look for his trouble. Ignoring the voice of reason in his head yelling for him to stop touching the hostile female and instead retreat out of range of her claws, Shadow made eye contact with her, silently commanding her to calm down. The last thing he needed was for a fight to break out down here, when his entire body still ached, although with that in mind, he probably shouldn't be attempting this at all.
After several moments that stretched out for an eternity, Ember frowned. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked finally, sounding more puzzled than angry, which allowed Shadow to breathe a sigh of relief (although he immediately retracted his foreleg).
"Pretending to be a Sylveon? I dunno," he said, shrugging awkwardly. Ember snorted with genuine amusement, but then shot Kaito a death glare. The Togetic hastily started to explain his earlier statement again, but she held up a claw to stop him before he could get more than a few words out.
"I don't want to hear it," she growled. She spun on her heel so fast that Shadow had to duck his head back to avoid being singed by the flame on her tail. "I'm done with your stupid shit," she grumbled, stalking back towards the corridor leading out of the chamber, leaving Shadow torn as to whether he should follow her, or stick around and try to get more information out of Kaito or Cecilia.
The other two Pokemon watched Ember's departure for a few seconds before exchanging uneasy glances.
"Um...I'm not positive on the subject of dragons, but usually if aggressive instincts are surfacing like that in the basic form, that usually means the Pokemon is getting close to evolving," Cecilia told Kaito in an undertone.
"Oh, thank Arceus you didn't say that to her face," Kaito gasped, clutching his chest anxiously, and Cecilia giggled nervously.
Shadow rolled his eyes and turned to follow after the Charmander. They had obviously lost interest in indulging his curiosity, and he was in no state to insist. He had plenty of information to mull over in the meantime. Kaito had masterminded Diablos' unsealing because he believed the Spiritomb could take the excessive darkness of a person's heart, and if the same thing was done to every heart in the world, it would cleanse the world of selfish evil.
But then what?
Even if Kaito's goal was somehow achieved, what would become of Diablos, who had absorbed so much darkness and gained so much power? Was he just expected to disappear from the world, leaving a purer society behind? No chance of that. The malevolent ghost was far too self-serving and cruel to accept such an outcome.
That was the problem with Kaito's plan. Did he have a means to re-seal Diablos, or destroy him, once his grand vision was fulfilled? Or would he unknowingly be leaving the world at the Spiritomb's mercy? Did Kaito not think any of this over before pursuing his objective?!
One thing was absolutely certain in Shadow's mind - Diablos had to be stopped before he returned to his full strength. He would need to get stronger in order to fight the demon, but he needed more support than just himself and a tiny handful of others. He would need to gather many more allies together...but who would he even be able to convince of an impending threat like this?
