Welcome back for another chapter of Never alone! Sorry I could not manage to publish this chapter yesterday like I first told you I'd do, but instead it's by far the longest chapter until now. I'll maybe do longer chapters more often now, but of course the story will have less chapters if I do so. Maybe you can already tell from the title that this chapter is VERY important for the plot, but as I already mentioned last time, all of them will be now! Little teaser: The next one will very likely bring the answer to the biggest question of this story! Until then, enjoy exploring the Base of the Slaves and experience True Betrayal! Serious Reviews are appreciated.

Chapter 10: True Betrayal

On the backside of the letter a map was drawn. It was pretty detailed and made with a lot of talent. It clearly showed a spot at the beach that was around a mile away from Metro Village. This was the place the Slaves of the Darkness where hiding all the time. But… how should I get in there and be of any help? I could hardly fight at all as I've already learned before. And between this single failed fight and this day nearly a month had passed. But otherwise… it could not be a coincidence that Thunder went to this dangerous place now. It had to be because of what happened back at the ocean… and I was my fault in some way. SD already went there to help too, but if I did not at least try to help them, they'd probably both die! As I realised this, the decision was already made. I took SD's map and went to the beach!

I did only take very little time to reach the shore. The beach looked pretty normal. It was just miles of sand and the endless water in front of me. And then there was a little cave… just at the spot SD made the sign on his map. I looked around in the cave to find some hidden way, as something had to be there. And there really was a hidden lever just underneath a normal looking stone. As I activated him, the ground opened underneath me and I fell down into an underground place. As I fell, I already realised: My plan to just sneak in would NOT work if I just fall down in their base now. As I hit the ground a short wave of pain went through my body, but it stopped pretty quickly. In front of me was a building. It was bigger than everything I've seen in all of Metro Village. It kind of looked like a prison, but WAY bigger. Luckily not a single guard seemed to be at his post at the big walls as I just entered the building. One last breath and I went inside, knowing that there was nobody outside because they were all hunting for my friends! The last step had been taken. There was no turning back now!

Thunder's POV

The endless floors were all just like I remembered. I went straight to my goal, no distractions allowed! The place I needed to go was just at the back of the second floor! The leader's office! It was way to late to turn back now. It had to end know, no matter in what way. I had to fight my lifelong nemesis, Darkrai himself. I had to capture him, or better kill him. But I already knew that it would be nearly impossible to do so. Still, even if I'd not win, if my journey would end now… it would be better than just going on. Especially after what happened back at the clearing. The pain I saw in her eyes… as I just wanted to tell her the truth, but knowing that I couldn't. I just wish I'd be able to tell her everything. I'd tell her how I really feel about her. That I feel just the same… but it would only hurt her even more. Because one day, the day the truth comes out, she will see my true face. Everyone will. And if I somehow manage to end Darkrai's damned live… I'll make this day become today! But first I had to find the strongest foe of all!

On my way to the leader's office, I've met many beknown faces. Some of them tried to stop me, but couldn't while others were cleverer and did not even try. And finally, after what felt like hours, I reached my destination. A big, wooden door was just in front of me. A big golden sign flaunted on it. "Leader" it said. And the memories were just coming back… The time had finally come. I entered the room, expecting to face the king of nightmares himself… but the room was empty. Confused, I went further inside, looking for any hint of the darkness itself. As I entered the centre of the room, I heard a voice talking from where the door was.

Fate's POV:

I walked through this long and labyrinthine floors for a long time. I did not really need to fight that much, but there were two Slaves caring about me being here and attacking me. I actually managed to defeat them, even if I don't really know how. But they were not that strong either. From the signs on their shoulder's I'd believe they were a Rookie and later an advanced one. But still there was no sign of any of my friends. As I searched on the second floor, something different happened… but nothing good. As I tried to sneak through the floors, so that the Warriors inside of them would not see me, I was surprised. As I just looked around a corner, somebody pressed me to the ground from behind. I felt a claw pressing down on my neck. "Ya better not move an inch girl, 'cause if you do, I may feel forced to hurt you a little… a little more than you'd survive." I could not see who attacked me, even if the voice seemed strangely familiar. I just stayed how I was, obeying the attacker. "Good girl! Now stand up, but don't try anything stupid! I'll take you to your best friend!"

Thunder's POV:

"Long time no see, old friend. What are you doing in this rotten place?" Looking to the door, I saw an old "friend" of mine. Still not the leader of the Slaves, but no one nicer. It was the first of Darkrai's generals, Gavin the Gachomp. The guy that had already attacked Fate back at this one day. "Piss off you idiot. I don't need you too right now. Where the hell is Darkrai?" "You are searching for the boss? Oh, how sad. He is not here right now. He's on a business travel. He'll be back in a few days. Until then I'd be happy to show you your room until he arrives. The dungeon!" "Still the same arrogant idiot, aren't you. Go out of my way or I'll make you move by force!" The Garchomp laughed like some stupid maniac. "I'd like to see you try. Your best days are long over and you know that your electric moves can't hurt me, don't you? So, I'll give you the choice: You follow me peacefully and nobody gets hurt… today… or you make me force you." I just jerked with my shoulders. "Well, if you want to die so badly…"

Boss fight: vs. Gavin, General of the Slaves

And with this the fight began. I knew that it should be pretty easy to beat him. I did not expect him to really be stupid enough to believe that I'd not have any other moves than electric type. He should know my strength after what happened in the past, but it seemed like the generals were still all arrogant like before. Their biggest weakness… underestimating their opponent. "Come on, attack me if you want it so badly!" Wondering how stupid he had to be to even give me a free hit, I used my chance… and used my ice fang against him. I already trained to be able to fight him, since I couldn't be sure that I'd never need it. And since Ice fang is not a difficult technique to learn, I just did it.

My opponent cringed in pain as he got hit by the four times strong move. "Ouch, fuck! Why, you little…" He seemed pretty angry as he started to fight me with all of his force and all of his cleverness… which was not much. Again, just depending on effectiveness he tried to defeat me by just using earthquake over and over. He did not expect me to have no problems standing like normal and using another Ice fang. He was hit pretty badly again. For the first time, he did a good move at this moment as he summoned a sandstorm. It became harder for me to see my enemy's movements and attacks, also it became harder to aim at him. Gavin realised that his earthquake would not do him any good now, as he started using Dragon claw to hit me, which worked out way better for him. He actually managed to hit me four times and to hurt me pretty badly. But as he believed he just had to do it again to defeat me, he dropped his defence right in front of me. As my third and last Ice fang hit, the sandstorm disappeared and Gavin fell down against a wall, just barely conscious. He was not abled to move anymore. "H… hey. Thunder. Buddy. You'd not kill your good friend, would you?" After he had to admit his defeat, he did not seem that confident anymore. I just walked over to him, already readying my next attack. "Then tell me ONE good reason, why I should let you stay alive!" To my surprise it was not him answering.

"Because if you kill him now, I'll kill your little girlfriend here!" I was shocked to hear this and I looked who dared to threaten me like this… What I did not expect was, that I actually saw Fate standing there. But she wasn't alone. There was somebody else. Someone with his claw just ready to break her neck. Gavin seemed to be the happiest one in this situation. "Good timing dude. That was pretty close!" The new intruder just looked at him with rage in his eyes. "For you my timing was really, really bad. Because after Darkrai finds out about your stupidity, you'll hope that you just would've died here! And now to us, Thunder!" My glance was much like his to Gavin… full of hate. "What? Did you not expect me to be here like this?" "Why. Why are you here like this? Why are you here, you f***ing TRAITOR!" My counterpart seemed to be very amused about my rage. "Well, the better question is, why did you not seem this coming? Isn't being betrayed like one of your hobbies… buddy?"

His ugly red eyes were burning red as he laughed about me. "Seems like I´m in control right now, am I not, Thunder?" I did not say a word towards the traitor. "What? Just because I lived with you for some time you are that pissed to see me here? Oh, and let me correct one thing you said back as you explained Fate this group: Blaze the Blaziken was expelled just a few months ago. He was just to weak. And since they needed a strong fire type, I got the position of the general instead. All of this was planned from the very beginning." "Why did you have to do this? Just why… I thought… we were friends!" Again, he laughed like the sick bastard he was. "You believe a lot of bullshit, don't you? How about we make a deal: Both of you will now follow me to the dungeon peacefully. There you'll wait until the boss returns. And as he gets back, he'll decide about your… Fate. In more than one way, if you know what I mean!" "Tell me one reason, why I should? If I do, we will both die! If I'd fight you know, the chance to survive would be higher for me and for Fate." "And that's the interesting part: It's your choice: You fight me, having the chance to save both of you, but a much higher chance that both of you just die, or following me and letting Darkrai choose your Fate, with me doing my all to convince him, to let Fate stay alive. You decide it!" "How can I be sure, that you'll really try to convince him? You lied to me all of this time!" "I can be honest if I want to. And I promise you, that I am now. That's all I can do to ensure you now. What will you do? Die or die? Doesn't look good for you, does it!" I knew that it could be very stupid, but SD was right. I was already weakened and I would have no chance fighting him. And if I'd follow him now, maybe at least Fate could survive. After all, it's my fault she got into this. And that's how we ended up in a small cell in the dungeon of the base of the Slaves of Darkness… captured by what I believed was my best friend…