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Chapter 44
Proselytize
Terron staggered at the sight of Yimtri and his two companions hovering beside him.
Upon looking into the glowing gemstones of the livid Sableye, a wave of memories came over Terron; memories of when he first met the Sableye. The time anxiously navigating his way through the wretched forest. The arduous conflict between his team and the Erebus-controlled Sableye. The horrifying revelation that the Sableye refused to confess to for so long. The torturous conversation he had with the Sableye after Aurora Town was gutted by Plagued Ones.
He could see each memory so clearly.
Yet, despite the disdain he held in each of the memories, he could not feel it now. Despite how much he grew to despise the Sableye for all the misfortunates that befell the ones he loved, Terron couldn't feel the spite swell inside him.
There was only a consuming dread.
"Hello there, Terron," Yimtri hissed, glaring directly at the Cubone. "It's been a while since I've last seen you, hasn't it?"
For just a second, Terron could feel Yimtri's claws in his throat, a mere centimeter shallow from puncturing his jugular.
He knew that phantom feeling would soon be real if something wasn't done.
But before he could even attempt to formulate a plan, Zeverous sprang to his feet and crouched low to the ground on all fours. His eyes illuminated ominously, their brilliance almost rivaling Yimtri's. He stood before Team Vendetta, as if trying to block them from the ghosts' view. A low, menacing snarl emitted from the Zoroark.
"Yimtri... what are you doing here?"
The Sableye let out a snort. His scowl only seemed to deepen.
"So it is you, Zeverous," Yimtri said. "My followers couldn't remember the name little Zekra screamed at you after Shade put you out. But, so I see. You're still alive and just as plagued as I remember you were."
"What are you doing here?!" Zeverous screamed. "Why are you here?! How did you get here?!"
"Yes, you're still so heavily influenced by your plagued self, just like last time," Yimtri noted indifferently. "It still clings to your petty grudge. It feels so difficult to resist its urges so you can protect your sister and her despicable friends, doesn't it?"
The glow in Zeverous's eyes flared and his body began shaking.
"So, why am I here, you ask?" the Sableye went on. "Well, that has a very simple answer; I'm here to have the ones behind you receive their punishment for breaking the oath they each swore to me."
Terron, Zekra, and Novus cringed as they scooted away from the ghastly company and behind the mighty stature of the Zoroark. Though Zeverous hadn't been in their company for long, he vaguely understood the Sableye's words. He grit his teeth tight as his fur stood on end.
"And how did I find you? Why, with some help from my dear members," Yimtri said as he outstretched his arms toward the two by his sides. "Ghost-types, after all, make excellent spies. They did a very fine job of shadowing you and alerting me of precisely where you hid away after you fled from Shade."
The Mismagius's and Chandelure's grins widened. Yimtri kept his scowl as he lowered his arms, his dark expression never changing.
"So, step aside, Zeverous. I give you your choice now. Get out of my way or suffer the same fate those three wretched Pokémon will. It's your choice."
"You won't hurt them," Zeverous growled. "I won't let you even touch them. I don't know what they did, but it doesn't matter. You won't hurt them. I will defend them from you, Yimtri. These three aren't going to die to you."
The Zoroark winced as the smoke-like streams rose from his body. His claws dug deep into the ground as he made strange, eerie hisses that didn't belong to his voice. But even as his plagued self worked to consume him, he continued to cast the Sableye a menacing glare and kept his protective stance in front of the team.
Yimtri continued to gaze upon the Zoroark's fierce gaze, not wavering at the fearsome sight.
Then, he slowly shook his head.
"You are not strong enough to even attempt to accomplish that," he spoke. "You are weak. If you were truly strong, you never would have been plagued. You became plagued because you were, and still are, weak."
That was all it took for Zeverous to snap. His eyes burned with the deep malice as he sprang forward, quick as a blur. The Mismagius and Chandelure darted into the walls, disappearing from the burrow as the Zoroark closed in on the Sableye.
A smug smile briefly broke out on Yimtri's face as he leapt into a wall before the Zoroark could make contact with him. Zeverous released a frustrated murmur as he landed in the spot where the Sableye once was, his claws glistening with a crimson light. He swiveled his neck in the direction Yimtri had disappeared in and, with a flash of light, instantly turned into a Mismagius. He swooped into the tunnel wall, presumably chasing after the Sableye.
"Zev! Zev, come back!" Zekra called as she leapt to her feet. "Come on you guys! We have to go after him!"
"I don't think so."
The Mismagius and Chandelure emerged from the wall behind the team, provoking a scream from the Zorua. Both of the ghosts grinned as the Mismagius wrapped an appendage around Terron and Zekra's throats while the Chandelure did the same with Novus.
"Gaauuuggh! Let go of me!" Zekra cried.
She turned her head back to show an ominous sphere forming rapidly in her maw. But, before she could fire the Dark Pulse, the two ghost-types released the team from their grasps and hastily disappeared through the walls once more. Team Vendetta drew close to each other, guarding the others' backs.
"Keep an eye out for those two," Terron instructed as he yanked out a bone club from his coat. "They could come up from anywhere. Ugggh, I hate ghost-types so much…"
"The second I see them, I'll be sure to blast them," Zekra assured. "One Dark Pulse should take them out. Ghost Pokémon don't exactly take damage too well."
"Yeah… too bad they make up it for it by being intangible and fast…" Terron groaned.
Seconds passed and Yimtri's followers did not come. Terron resisted the urge to let his tense stance slouch.
"What's going on…?" he wondered. "Why aren't they coming back?"
Terron didn't know if Zekra or Novus gave a response. Perhaps they had, but he couldn't hear it over the sudden rush of wind. The next thing he knew, he was standing in a forest with his companions, the world covered in dusk. Floating just feet away from him were the Mismagius and Chandelure, both looking at him and resisting a laugh.
"It's a wonderful night, is it not?" the Chandelure asked. "The moon is bright and the world is quiet. Miles away from civilization is pleasant, isn't it?"
"How did you…" Novus started to say.
The Quilava's eyes suddenly widened before he could finish. He glanced down at his neck, right where the Chandelure had wrapped her arms around him. Still tied to his neck was his folded Reunion Cape.
"No… you didn't actually…"
"Oh, but we did," the Mismagius chuckled. "We know how those 'scarves' around your necks work. They're so useful to not just you, but us as well. Now you're out here, so far away from everyone, where no one can hear you scream…"
In the shock of the moment, Novus failed to notice that the Chandelure had snuck up behind him until it was too late. She wrapped her arms around the Quilava as she lifted him off the ground. He set himself ablaze in desperation, but the second the fire emerged from his quills, it seemed to flow directly into the Chandelure and seemingly made her own flames burn brighter.
"Oh, you poor Quilava," the Chandelure cooed as she curled an arm around his mouth, muzzling him. "Your inner fire has no effect on me."
The Chandelure abruptly moved to the side to avoid a pillar of black energy. Her eyes narrowed when she found Zekra charging at her, a pink light sweeping over her as she changed.
"Oh yes, you," the Chandelure grumbled. "I nearly forgot that you can actually be a detriment. Well, that can be fixed with ease."
She let out a scoff as she twisted her body in a full circle. A barrage of blue flames flew from her body and sailed at Zekra. The light covering the Zorua instantly faded, revealing a Greninja. She nimbly avoided each of the burning lights, snarling as several Water Shuriken formed in her webbed hands. She tossed them forward, but unfortunately, the Chandelure's reactions were just as swift. The ghost flung yet another volley of flames, each colliding with the stars and evaporating them in an instant. A mighty stream of the fire followed.
Zekra bounded out of the way, but soon found herself running into the Mismagius as he slammed into her, his being covered in a black aura. She tumbled along the ground, returning to her Zorua form as she frantically dug her heels into the cold blades of grass.
Terron clenched his grasp on his club, realizing that he had to help. Even if he didn't have much of a talent with fighting against ghost-types, he had to try. He had to aid Zekra when Novus and Zeverous couldn't help her anymore.
"You're not going to be able to help her, Terron. How can you when you can't even help yourself?"
Terron's insides ran cold. He didn't know what happened next. One second, he could feel something sharp press into the back of his makeshift scarf. Then, another second later, he no longer found himself watching Zekra fight off Yimtri's ghostly members. He now stood alone in a glade, the moon casting its otherworldly brightness upon him.
Except, he was not alone. There was a single Sableye standing a few feet away from him, claws drawn as his black, tattered cape billowed in the nightly gale.
There was a ferocious glower of pure animosity upon Yimtri's face. His gemstones burned ever the brighter.
"You really thought you could escape punishment for breaking your oath?" Yimtri asked incredulously. "Did you honestly think that my threat wasn't sincere? Or did you perhaps think that I would not be able to find you?"
Terron's heart shattered in despair. His legs wobbled. He pushed his persona into his head, but for once, it couldn't calm the dread that coursed through him.
"Yimtri… wait…" he choked out.
"Silence, Terron," Yimtri seethed. "I don't know why I chose to trust you for this long. Clearly I was mistaken for thinking you were trustworthy. I should have left you in Erebus Woods, had I known it would have led to this."
"Yimtri... you don't understand!" Terron pleaded. "I didn't tell anyone about Erebus!"
"Of course you didn't," Yimtri scoffed. "Of course you didn't tell anyone about Erebus when you threatened to do so the last time we spoke until I gave you my final warning."
"I swear! It wasn't me! I don't know who told the Fellowship about Erebus, but it wasn't me and my friends! In fact, that's the reason we came back to Dusk Mines! To ask Sh-"
Terron's back slammed against the ground as a set of claws dug into his throat from under his scarf. A terrible aura flooded into him, filling him with an agonizing cold. He looked up to find the Sableye glaring at him, his jeweled eyes gouging into his soul.
"Let me tell you why this particular encounter with me is different from the others and why resisting is futile: it's because there's no one here to save you," Yimtri spoke vehemently. "The other times you fought me, our battles were cut short by those with you. First, it was Syn who managed to knock me away from you when Erebus manipulated me as though I were nothing but a puppet. Then it was Vantis and Impetus who protected you in that very same fight. And then finally, when you threatened to expose Erebus's existence to your superiors on that day your beloved home was reduced to a ghost town, Len saved you. In all of these times, you would have died or perhaps become further plagued. But, you always had assistance. Your assistance protected you from me. You were never strong enough on your own.
"That's no longer the case here. Your friends cannot save you. The Fellowship cannot save you. No one can save you. No one can protect you."
Terron wanted to think of a clever retort. He wanted his bravado to surface and free him from the grim situation. He wanted to stand up to the Sableye as he had the last time the two spoke.
But nothing came and Terron knew exactly why: because Yimtri was right.
Without even knowing it, he had relied upon others to protect him from the plagued phantom. He had never truly accomplished anything on his own. Someone always managed to save him before everything went downhill. The one time he had thought he stood by himself in Aurora Town…
He had only been able to do so because he had the company of Novus and Zekra. Even if they couldn't help him, they were there. Their company gave him the strength he needed.
No one was here for Terron now. No one was around for miles. He truly was alone, something he had never known for the longest time.
Yimtri snickered at the horrified expression upon Terron's face.
"Yes, the truth hurts, doesn't it?" he asked. "Well don't worry; I'll put you out of your misery. The pain will end now. All of it."
The claws pierced Terron's skin. The blood trickled from his jugular and his breath caught in his throat.
Don't roll over and die.
Fight back.
Prove to him that he is wrong.
Terron wasn't sure who said those words. Perhaps it was his plagued self or perhaps it was his will to live. He didn't know.
But, he didn't need to know.
A powerful conviction swelled inside him, erasing any pain he felt. All traces of the dread were burned away.
With his renewed vigor, Terron swung his club at the Sableye, for Yimtri had forgotten to pin his arms down. The Sableye flew off the Cubone, skidding across the glade as Terron sprang to his feet. He put a hand to his throat and felt the blood slide down his paw. Yet, he knew that the wounds weren't deep enough to be fatal.
The Sableye brought himself to a halt and glared back at the Cubone.
"Retaliating, are you?" Yimtri asked.
"You're not going to kill me, Yimtri," Terron said. "I'm not scared of you. You said that no one's going to help me this time, and you're right. Because I don't need anyone. I'm going to protect myself from you."
The Sableye scowled.
"Do you really think mere audacity will save you?" Yimtri asked. "I don't know if you realize this, but I'm far older than you, Terron. I have more experience than you. I have faced more terrors than you ever will. I have abilities that you can never hope to obtain. And most of all, I'm the better leader than you. You would have given up the day you had to be put in my position. I am the leader of the Dusk Mines Fellowship and a resilient puppet of Erebus who has tirelessly fought against the strings that have tried to manipulate my followers and myself for the past twenty years. A Sableye who can stand on his own if he must. You, meanwhile, are nothing but the false leader of a group of wandering, wayward fugitives who no longer have a purpose in life. A fragile, little Cubone who would have been thrown to Erebus today had it not been for the fact that Zeverous saved you and your friends. You are weak by yourself."
Terron felt a flare of anger rise within him, but refused to listen to the violent impulses it fed him.
"That's not going to work on me," Terron growled. "You're not going to impair my judgment with my emotions. And you're wrong; I am strong enough by myself."
An amused grin spread across Yimtri's face, surprising Terron.
"So you're catching on," Yimtri said, laughing quietly under his breath. "Perhaps you're much more competent than I assumed you were."
"And perhaps you're better at stating the obvious than I thought," Terron returned.
The Sableye's smile disappeared. He dove into the ground, phasing into the grass until completely gone from sight. Terron hastily sped away from his spot, stuffing his free paw into his pocket as he searched for something to aid him.
He saw a shadow creep toward him with the swiftness of a Rapidash. Though the shadow had no definite shape, he didn't need to think long to understand what was happening. With a burst of sudden energy, he tore out a handful of bone thorns and flung them at the shadow. He didn't know if his idea would work, but he knew he had nothing to lose.
One of the spikes sank into the shadow, resulting in a loud cry. Not even a second later, the shadow materialized to the surface as the Sableye, the thorn stuck deep into his side. He hastily ripped it out and tossed it to the ground in disgust.
Seeing his chance, Terron took the club grasped in his other paw and flung it at the Sableye. Yimtri was quick to notice the oncoming club and instantly dived back into the ground, completely avoiding the attack. Terron snarled as the bone came swerving back to his paw.
"Stop pulling that stupid trick!" he growled. "Get back here!"
"If you insist."
Terron suddenly felt a presence from behind him. Quick as lightning, he spun on his heel and tossed his club forward, but it was too late. Yimtri abruptly flew out his shadow and tackled the Cubone down, his claws streaming with a black energy. Perhaps it was the dark spiritual power all ghosts held or perhaps it was his plagued power; Terron wasn't sure. But that didn't matter, as Terron had no intentions of finding the answer.
The Cubone ripped out something from within his coat as a claw struck down toward him. The object blocked the attack, putting the two leaders at an impasse as they each struggled against the other's strength.
"Metal? You have metal upon you?" Yimtri wondered in an unimpressed demeanor. "I did not realize that Cubone used metal as weapons. You're full of surprises, aren't you, Terron?"
Terron glanced at his hand and found that what he held was one of the Aron armor pieces he had gathered on his mission for Chrysalis. He had forgotten about it with everything that had happened for the past couple of days.
"Well I'm not any ordinary Cubone now, am I?"
Yimtri said nothing as he took his free claw and swiped at the Cubone. Terron promptly swung his armored plate to the side, taking Yimtri with it. His claws carved into the Cubone's mask, nearly ripping it off in the process.
The Sableye tumbled to the ground as Terron bolted to his feet and stuffed the plate away. He pressed his mask firmly into his face, and much to his horror, felt three new cracks near his left eye. The second his paw went over the jagged lines, a deep malice spiked within him.
"You little prick!" Terron screamed.
He lunged at Yimtri and grabbed ahold of the front of his cape as they rolled along the cold, grassy field. Yimtri attempted to shred Terron as the world around them spun rapidly, but Terron somehow managed to avoid each of the attacks.
The second they came to a halt, Terron pinned the Sableye down by his collar. He shoved the sharp end of his club against Yimtri's throat.
"I should kill you right now," Terron hissed. "I really should. After everything you've done to me and my friends and everybody else in all of Shiron, I should put an end to you."
Yimtri scowled. His shadow shifted along the ground for just a second, and then four tendrils shot up from it. They snapped at the Cubone, their jagged points glistening in the eerie light of the Sableye's jewels. Terron pressed his weapon against the Sableye harder. The tendrils stopped inches away from his face.
The Sableye and Cubone locked gazes, both of their eyes burning a cold spite into the other's.
"You can't kill me," Yimtri seethed. "My shadow will puncture your mind faster than you can drive that bone into my throat."
"I wouldn't say that," Terron returned. "You're underestimating me."
"You're lying to yourself. I can see it so clearly behind that mask of yours."
Terron scowled. He tightened his grip around the club. He couldn't afford to let his focus waver right now. He had to keep his mind as clear as possible, or it would ultimately cost him his life.
"Tell me something: why did you tell the Fellowships about Erebus when you knew things would end this way? When I've repeatedly told you why I had to keep its existence a secret?" Yimtri asked. "Do you have a death wish? Or do you simply despise me so much that you crave to see me suffer?"
Terron kept his glower fixed to the Sableye. He knew there was no answer that Yimtri would accept. The Sableye was completely bent on believing Terron and his friends told the Fellowship of Erebus and there was no convincing him otherwise. No matter what was said, Yimtri would deny it. Any trust he might have had in the Cubone was completely eradicated now. Terron knew this just by looking into the Sableye's gemstones.
But then, something abruptly came to his mind.
"You know, that's a very good question," Terron replied back, mocking the same deadpan tone the Sableye was speaking with. "So good, in fact, why don't you answer it for me?"
Yimtri did not seem to anticipate this particular retort. Terron grinned from behind his mask, seeing the fleeting wince of surprise upon the ghost's face, and knew to press the question.
"Tell me," Terron said, never moving his pointed weapon from its lethal position. "Why would I do something so stupid as to blab your secret after all the trouble you've gone through to make me trust you? Why would I come all this way, just to pointlessly bring your vengeance on my head? And not only mine, but my friends, too? Why would I ever want to put them in such danger? And why would I come back here of all places, the one place in the world I would most likely be caught by you? What would it accomplish for me? Tell me, Yimtri, if you really think that's what I did, let me hear why you think I did it. Go on, let me hear some of your theories! You seem pretty smart, I'm sure you can think of something!"
Yimtri scowled.
"But did I ever convince you to trust me? I find it hard to believe you ever trusted me in the first place," he challenged. "Your trust for me has been as false as that mask you wear. Let me pose you another question, Cubone. Seeing this is the third time I've been in a position to kill you, what reason have I ever given you to trust me? In your eyes, I have been nothing but a danger and a menace to your existence, have I not? I was responsible for your journey into the woods and letting Erebus corrupt you. You have loathed me since the day we last met. Why should I assume I have ever held any of your trust?"
"Because…" Terron uttered, searching for the honest answer. "Because you… knew the truth. When nobody else knew the truth about the Plagued Ones, you knew. And you were the only one looking for a way to fight them. So even after all of the torment you've put me through, whether it was dragging me into that hellhole you call Erebus Woods, getting me plagued, outright trying to murder me, and overall just ruining my life every single moment you get the opportunity to, I trust you. I trust that you're doing this for a good reason. And if I can trust you after all that, why can't you do the same?"
Terron bit down on his tongue. He hadn't intended to say those words; those strange words whose reasoning even he couldn't understand. They had burst from his throat without him realizing it until it was too late.
Yimtri's expression became blank.
"… that's your answer?" he asked dully.
Terron didn't answer the question. His stomach tied into an uncomfortable knot.
The glow in Yimtri's eyes seemed to darken.
Terron grit his teeth as he anticipated the shadows the strike at any second. Yimtri was probably preparing to take advantage of his momentary weakness.
"Fine."
Much to Terron's surprise, the shadows surrounding him seeped back into the ground. Yet, he didn't remove his bone from Yimtri's neck. The lack of hostility was not comforting to the Cubone.
"Fine what?" Terron asked.
"I've decided not to kill you," Yimtri explained simply.
Terron's jaw gaped open, but he was quick to twist it into a scowl. Yimtri remained motionless.
"I'm not trying to deceive you," Yimtri stated. "I've chosen to believe you. Your accusation was correct; there is no reasonable explanation for why you would have broken your oath to me. The only circumstance that could have led you to revealing the truth was if Erebus possessed you to do so against your will, and even that I can rule out because I know that Erebus's intention is to remain secret. Then also, I doubt it could influence you to do so anyway because you have not been plagued severely enough. Therefore, I can only assume I was mistaken to accuse you, and so I have no reason to kill you. Now get off me."
"How can I be sure you're not trying to trick me?" Terron asked venomously.
"Because I would have killed you already if I truly intended to do so. In truth, I was searching for an excuse to let you live, an excuse you have now supplied to me beyond any reasonable doubt. You now have my word that you and your friends will not die by my hands, or the hands of my followers."
"You were giving me the benefit of the doubt…?" Terron said, almost in disbelief. "That doesn't seem like you. Why would you do that?"
The Sableye glanced up at the moon high above the two of them, taking in its ethereal light. For just a moment, he almost seemed peaceful.
"Because if I let you live, it means that you get to help me."
Then, in that moment of distraction, Yimtri shoved the Cubone off him. Terron tumbled along the glade for a moment before hastily picking himself up. He glared at the Sableye as he brandished his club, ready for whatever trick Yimtri was about to pull next.
But the Sableye only got to his feet and dusted himself off before casting his stare at the Cubone. There was no malicious gleam in his eyes.
"There's no longer a need for hostility," Yimtri said. "No, not when you're going to help me."
"Help you? What are you talking about?" Terron asked cautiously.
"I'll explain everything after we get your friends," Yimtri replied. "It's something I need to explain to all of you. Save all of your questions until then. But for now, follow me, Cubone."
Without another word, the Sableye walked toward the forest, his tattered cape trailing behind him. Terron watched the Sableye leave, his muscles frozen in indecisiveness.
What is he planning? Why did he let me off the hook so easily? Terron thought to himself. There's no way he would just… choose to believe me like that. I couldn't have been that persuasive! What does he want me to do for him? There's got to be something he's not telling me.
What's going on in your head, Yimtri?
The light of Yimtri's eyes began fading into the distance and showed no signs of stopping. It seemed Yimtri wasn't concerned with whether or not Terron listened to him.
You should go with him, Terron. See what's happening.
Oh… you. Terron thought bitterly. I know who you are. You can stop pretending to be my voice of reason.
Who's to say that I'm not both? I am it and it is me, just as how you and I are the same. But, enough of that. Follow the Sableye.
I'm not listening to you. He's up to something.
Terron felt a migraine come over him, making him flinch. He gripped the edges of his skull.
Why must you be so stubborn sometimes? You'll be fine. After all, you and him are virtually matched now. If he attempts to slaughter you once more, you will be prepared. So go. See what he wants your help with. Go find your friends. Besides, if you don't follow him now, you'll remain lost in this forest anyway. He's your only way out of here.
Go Terron. Find your friends and see what he wants. You might be surprised by what you hear.
Then, just like that, the headache vanished and his mind became silent. He glanced over at the disappearing Sableye one last time.
… Fine. I'll trust he won't kill me… for now.
Though he could feel his stomach tie into a knot, Terron went after the Sableye. Even still, he remained a considerable distance behind Yimtri once he caught up. Yimtri didn't seem to mind as he led the Cubone out of the glade and into the forest.
The two walked for minutes of silence before Yimtri came to a halt. Terron peered over the Sableye's shoulder to find the Mismagius and Chandelure hovering in the distance. Wrapped in their ghostly appendages were Zekra and Novus, both still conscious, yet rendered completely immobile.
Terron grasped the club in his claw, but Yimtri raised up a claw, stopping him.
"You two can release the Zorua and Quilava," he instructed. "We're not going to kill them anymore."
Both the ghosts and the ones in their grasp seemed stunned. But, the ghosts didn't loosen their grip on their prisoners.
"Why?" the Mismagius asked dubiously. "Ever since the Fellowships came to wipe us out, it's always been your goal to kill the ones who told them of Erebus. And you were so bent on killing them earlier today…"
"Yes, that's true," Yimtri said. "But as it turns out, these three are not the ones who told the Fellowships about Erebus. Someone else spoke of the secret. I think I might know who, now that I've pondered in the subject more… but it wasn't these three. Therefore, we are not going to kill them."
"But how do you know that they are innocent?" the Chandelure then asked. "They could be deceiving you, my liege."
"They could, but I've chosen to trust this Cubone's words," Yimtri replied. "I realize you must find this to be a questionable act, but from where I stand, it is unlikely they could have been the traitors. Whether or not I'm wrong, it's my choice and I will stand by it and take whatever consequence comes from it."
The two ghost-types gave each other an uncertain glance. Then, with a slow nod, they lowered Zekra and Novus to the ground and released them from their grasp. Zekra and Novus remained where they were as Terron hurried to their side. They immediately touched the scarves around each other's necks, not wanting to continuously keep warping back to Yimtri's members. The two ghosts flew to their liege.
"Not going to kill us, are you?" Novus asked skeptically, fire rising from his quills.
"No, I'm not," Yimtri answered. "Your deaths mean nothing to me as of now. Besides, I've found something… better to make of your unexpected company. Killing you would only deprive me of that."
"And what would that be?" Novus growled quietly.
"Come with me to Zeverous and I'll tell you."
Then, without waiting for a response, Yimtri and his companions turned and wandered deeper into the forest surrounding them. Terron and Zekra took a step forward, but Novus immediately blocked their path.
"You don't find this suspicious at all?" the Quilava asked. "You want to follow after the plagued Sableye?"
"Well, we don't have anywhere else to go and we do need to find Zev," Terron reasoned. "And besides, if he really wanted to kill us, he would have done it already. He had the chance with me. So yes, I'm following him."
"And I want to find Zev, so that's why I'm going too," Zekra added.
Novus scowled at each of their remarks. He cast them a glare and then, to their surprise, he stepped aside.
"Fine, we will follow the plagued Sableye," he grumbled. "But keep your guard up. I do not trust him."
Terron and Zekra nodded before the three of them trailed behind the Sableye in the distance, slowly picking up their pace.
Minutes of traversing through the empty woods later, the six finally came across the one they sought.
There, resting near the base of a large pine tree lay Zeverous on his stomach. His eyes flickered eerily as low, guttural growls gurgled from the back of his throat. Standing on his back, her jaws clenched tight around his neck, was a familiar Turtwig.
"Zev!" Zekra cried, cringing at the sight.
"Don't go near him," Yimtri warned. "He's under his plagued self's influence. He's not Zeverous right now. He might kill you in his current state."
"Well it's your fault he's like that! You can't just leave him like that!" Zekra insisted. "There has to be something that can be done!"
Yimtri ignored her yelling and went toward the Zoroark without the company of his ghosts. Zekra took a step forward.
"I said don't go near him," Yimtri hissed, eyeing the Zorua. "I will take care of this. Your brother will be fine in just a moment. I won't hurt him, if that's what you're thinking."
Zekra grimaced, but gave a slow nod. The Sableye turned away from her and stopped before the restrained Zoroark. Zeverous's growling amplified. He flexed a claw, but before he could swipe it at the Sableye, Chloe bit down more forcefully upon his neck. Zeverous let out a low whine as his paw fell limp.
Yimtri reached into the collar of his cape and ripped out something from under it. He grasped the unseen object in his claws.
Then, he pressed it into Zeverous's forehead.
Zeverous stopped struggling. His demonic snarls ceased. The fiery spite in his eyes disappeared.
He looked up into Yimtri's eyes. The malice upon the Zoroark's face immediately returned, but it wasn't nearly as demonic.
"What did you just do to me?" Zeverous demanded.
"Why, I'm pushing a special item I found against your head that can stifle your plagued self's voice," Yimtri answered. "It's no longer influencing you through your grudge. Right now, it's as though you're not plagued at all."
Zeverous's eyes widened, completely mystified. Yimtri faintly smiled as he carefully placed the object on Zeverous's claw. With great reluctance, Yimtri finally released his hold on the item, allowing everyone to see it.
It was a metallic, pin-like object that glimmered in the light of the Sableye's gemstones.
"That's the pin you were telling us about," Terron gasped. "You had one on you all along…"
Yimtri staggered as he abruptly gripped his head with a claw. His eyes seemed to glow even brighter.
"Nggh, I almost forgot how crippling it feels to not wear the pendant," he groaned. "It made me forget. Now my focus wavers. It wavers so easily. The thoughts. The thoughts are stronger. I can't ignore them as easily. Was it always this bad and I can't remember? Have I grown weak? Which one? Which one is it? Nggggh."
He stumbled away from the Zoroark and leaned against a nearby tree. He sank his free claw into the trunk, snapping the bark with low cracking sounds. His ghostly companions were quick to swoop close to him. Chloe cast him a pitiful gaze, but remained upon Zeverous's back.
"My liege, might I suggest that you and the Zoroark share the pin for the time being?" the Chandelure said carefully. "You can think so much more clearly when you wear it and I do believe we need you to be in your best mental state right now…"
Yimtri slumped his head against the tree as he glanced over at Zeverous. He gave Zeverous a weary stare for just a moment before releasing a long sigh.
"Apologies, Zeverous. You will have to tolerate me. You will have to tolerate me being so close," Yimtri said. "Lume is right; I can't talk like this. I can't. I have things to say. I require I talk coherently. I can have Chloe release you. I can. I know you don't want to remain like that. You just need to swear you will not attack me. Otherwise we will restrain you again. What do you say?"
Zeverous looked away from the Sableye, refusing to make eye contact and he let out a scoff of disgust and glanced down at the pin. An evil grin slowly made its way across his face as his claw seemed to curl around the object.
Chloe released her hold on Zeverous and glared down at him.
"If you try to steal that, Zoroark, I will end you," Chloe hissed. "You and my liege will share the pin. Understand?"
Zoroark frowned, but loosened his grip on the pin.
"Fine, but only if you agree to get off me," he stated. "And your liege is not going anywhere near me. We'll just toss it back and forth. That's all I'm willing to agree with."
"That's fair enough. Give my liege the pin first, as he has something he needs to explain right now."
The Turtwig leapt off the Zoroark's back and trotted over to the Sableye. Zeverous glanced down at the pin in his paw one last time and then flung it at Yimtri.
The Sableye caught the pin instantly. His eyes dimmed as he released a claw from his head.
"Yes, my thoughts are in order again," Yimtri verified pleasantly. "Perfect. Now I can truly speak my thoughts as clearly as possible."
He remained quiet for a moment, as if contemplating in his words very carefully.
As he did this, Terron then noticed something he hadn't thought much of before.
"Hey… where are all of your members?" Terron asked. "You had at least a few hundred of them. Where'd they all go? Did the Fellowship kill all of them when they came for you?"
Yimtri brought his gaze directly to Terron. His eyes flickered.
"Oh, they wanted to do that when they came to Dusk Mines," Yimtri said bitterly. "They really did. But thankfully, my watchers saw the Fellowship coming in from the horizon and most of us managed to evacuate just in time. They are simply not with me because I scattered them across the region, telling them to find the anti-plaguing pins and possibly any clues in regards to the voice I heard in Drae's mind. And of course, kill you three if they came across you.
"However, as you can see, I did not send all of my remaining members to search the region. I had Chloe, Noc, and Lume accompany me as I tried to see if we could do anything else in our current predicament. Chloe and I are rather capable of warding off most threats when it's only the two of us, but I wanted extra help in case something went terribly wrong, so I brought two of my other members with me. And for a while, we remained safe. We ran into a few Fellowship members that tried to kill us, but we were able to dispatch them. But then, I saw that the Oracion Fellowship was occupying Dusk Mines about a month after my Fellowship became a group of fugitives and found out they were trying to destroy the woods. Then when I saw this, I finally saw what I had to do and sent Noc and Lume to serve as my spies, where they pretended to work under Shade's command as volunteers from another Fellowship as Chloe and I remained hidden nearby..."
"Wait, why did you want those two to be your spies?" Terron interrupted as he pointed at the hovering phantoms.
The faintest of smiles appeared on Yimtri's face.
"That ties directly into what I wanted to say to you," Yimtri replied. "So, do listen closely. I had Noc and Lume to work alongside Shade in my abandoned Fellowship because I sent out a mission to the Nestati Fellowship and only that particular Fellowship. That mission was asking for a team to destroy Erebus Woods in exchange for a payment, something that Shade herself did not offer. For you see, despite the fact that she and the other leader asked for assistance, they refused to post it as a job listing. They did not want to pay others to help, probably because they wanted to save funds. They only asked for volunteers from other Fellowships. Naturally, no one wanted to come because they feared they would become Plagued Ones, so the two leaders were forced to start sending their own members to the woods as orders they could not disobey.
"So, I created a mission asking for a team to come to Dusk Mines for actual pay without the Oracion leaders' knowledge and posted it in the Nestati Fellowship, where it would cause the least amount of suspicion. I feared if I posted it in the Pledge Mountain Fellowship someone would no doubt spot me or perhaps they'd question why there was suddenly a pay when the leaders so stubbornly refused to do so previously. The Nestati Fellowship would probably not care as much, as Chrysalis was never one to truly care about such things when I knew her. Then, the team would arrive at Dusk Mines and Noc and Lume would eventually spot them and bring them to me before Shade figured out something was amiss. And then, my plan could be put into action.
"That plan… was to have those Pokémon help me defeat Erebus."
Team Vendetta's minds went completely blank. Neither of them could speak as the full meaning behind Yimtri's words slowly dawned upon them.
Yimtri wanted to kill Erebus? Yimtri, the one who had spent every waking moment of his life hiding the creature's mere existence, wanted to go into its home and defeat it? Why did he want to do this now when he had been living near the creature for twenty years? Why now? Why not at any earlier point in time?
And most importantly, how did he even plan to kill a creature with such god-like power?
However, before they could voice their thoughts, Zeverous let out a snort. Everyone turned to find the Zoroark shooting Yimtri a skeptical gaze.
"You? You want to defeat Erebus?" he laughed. "That's a funny joke, especially coming from you, Yimtri."
Yimtri frowned. With a flicker of light from his glowing gemstones, he tossed the pin at Zeverous. The Zoroark snatched it with ease, yet his expression remained unchanged.
"I'm completely serious in saying that I will go back into Erebus's home and defeat it," Yimtri stated firmly. "That is not a joke. I fully intend on killing Erebus."
"Hah! Don't make me laugh!" Zeverous spat. "You don't have the guts to go back into that misery dungeon. You outright refused to even admit what was wrong with the place for the longest time. Besides, how would you have even convinced these hypothetical, random Fellowship Pokémon to go with you into the woods anyway? They surely would have killed you because you're wanted by the Fellowship. And even if they didn't, you couldn't possibly convince them to go inside that place. No Pokémon is idiotic enough to enter such a suicidal place."
"I had a plan, but that doesn't matter anymore since I have you four now," Yimtri then said, turning his displeased gaze away from the Zoroark and to Team Vendetta. "I must admit that I was… shocked to find that you three were the ones to heed my call for assistance. My members and I had been searching for you everywhere after I discovered from a member that you weren't with Len anymore and had no such luck in finding you anywhere else. And then suddenly, you show up right on my old home's doorstep. Fate has a rather twisted way of working, doesn't it? Heh, and I planned on taking full advantage of this once Noc and Lume explained all that had happened. But I suppose, in a way, not killing you and having you help me works out for the better. You will be much easier to convince than any other Pokémon."
"How do you even plan on defeating Erebus?" Terron asked, finding his voice again. "I mean, you never see it and it's so powerful…"
"Not to mention that it'll plague you for good if you go back there and try to kill it," Zeverous added. "Your idea is suicide, Yimtri. No one's going to listen to it. Nobody who values their life anyway. So stop trying. Stop trying to make everyone's life as terrible as you claim yours is."
Yimtri scowled at the remark. Yet, he was quick to compose himself with a quiet sigh. Zeverous continued to scowl as he pitched the pendent back to the Sableye.
"I understand your concerns, but let me tell you why there's no need for them," Yimtri stated. "You see, though Erebus is a creature of such horrific power and appears undefeatable, I don't believe that is quite so. Every creature can be defeated. Even legendaries from what stories of old have told. You simply have to have a strategy to overcome their overwhelming power. And what is Erebus's power? Why, it's the ability to plague you and make you bend to its will. But we don't have to worry about that when we have… these."
The Sableye held up the pin resting in his claw.
"Wait… you found more of those things?" Terron gasped.
"I found exactly one more, even if I left it somewhere at the moment," Yimtri answered. "However, that's all we need. Zeverous and I are the only ones who truly need the pins. You and your other friends will be fine, for Erebus hasn't plagued you nearly enough to start controlling you like it can with me. And if it tries to plague you further, either Zeverous or myself will stop it. With these pins, Erebus has no power and it becomes a vanquishable foe."
"But how would you even get to it?" Terron then asked. "It never showed itself to us when we were in Erebus Woods last time. Doesn't matter if you're safe if you can't even fight it."
"That… is the one flaw in my plan," Yimtri confessed. "I do not know how to lure Erebus to us. From my experience with it, it only comes to you if you have wandered through the dungeon for a very long time or if it decides that it wants to plague or control you. Its behavior is very unpredictable… it's rather strange. However, I know for a fact that Erebus will come to us eventually. It doesn't ignore you for long. It will come. I just don't know precisely when."
"So your plan… is to get inside Erebus Woods," Terron started to say, carefully thinking out each detail, "and then wear those pins you found so that you don't go insane like you did last time. And then you're going to wander around for who knows how long… and then when Erebus shows up, you're going to fight it and somehow win against it despite the fact that it's probably still pretty powerful, even if it can't control you anymore. That's what you're going to do?"
"Yes, and you four are going to assist me with that plan," Yimtri replied. "You're going to help me end this nightmare I've allowed to go on for too long now…"
Terron grimaced at the Sableye's words. He could see that Yimtri was determined to carry out his plan and that nothing could make him waver in his decision. Yimtri was going back to the twisted forest and possibly never return. And he wanted Team Vendetta to come with him.
The Cubone took a step back. His heart beat violently in his chest.
"We're not helping you," Terron said, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.
Yimtri didn't seem surprised in the slightest.
"Oh really?" Yimtri asked. "Care to explain your reluctance?"
"Your plan… it's too risky," Terron muttered. "You're going to fail. You're going to die or become a full Plagued One. Erebus can't just be defeated by a bunch of plagued Pokémon. You don't even know what it is. How can you hope to beat it when you don't even know what you're up against? Sure, you know it can plague Pokémon, but what else? What kind of abilities does it have? How are you going to defeat Erebus… when you have no plan to follow once you get to it?"
Yimtri said nothing. His blank expression remained unchanged.
"Yeah… we really don't want to go with you," Zekra then said, finding difficult to look at the Sableye in the eyes. "We're not going inside Erebus Woods again. Never again, as long as I live…"
"Not to mention that we already have a plan we are going to follow," Novus spoke as he stepped forward. "And unlike your idea, plagued Sableye, there is no chance of failure. So, keep us out of your demented plan. You are free to risk your own life, but not ours."
"They're not coming with you, Yimtri," Zeverous said firmly. "Stop trying to convince them otherwise. You're on your own. I swore I'd protect these three in any shape or form. And right now, you sure are being quite a threat to them. We're going to leave right now, you hear me? You're never going to see us again. I'm going to make sure you never find us again. I'll make sure of it, even if it's the last thing I do. Got it?"
Yimtri scowled. He looked upon each of their faces. He saw the flimsily disguised dread in Terron's eyes, the great hesitance in Zekra's, the steadfast resolution in Novus's, and the dedicated malice burning in Zeverous's.
Then he said something they did not expect.
"You're all turning into the coward you accused me of being."
Team Vendetta flinched at the remark. However, they were quick to get over the shock of the statement and contorted their mouths into snarls.
"You are," Yimtri stated coldly, cutting them off before anything could be said. "You accused me of not doing anything when I was keeping Erebus's existence a secret. You accused me of being a coward. Now look at yourselves; you are refusing to finally end this nightmare because you are terrified that you will suffer."
"Only because your plan is ultimately pointless, as there's a very good chance that you will fail," Novus replied curtly. "Your sacrifice will be meaningless. Meanwhile, I actually have a plan that I know will lead us to success and end the Plagued Ones."
"Yes, but how long will it take you to complete that plan?"
Novus frowned harder. His gaze burned brighter into the Sableye.
"I heard part of your conversation when I came for you in your little hideout," Yimtri went on. "Specifically, the entirety of this plan you speak of. You want to find the two great dragons? Well, that plan is not the most ideal right now. Even if you know where to search, it will still take you days to arrive at each of those locations and search. Perhaps even weeks or months. In that time, thousands more will be plagued. The Fellowship will have a much higher chance of finding you and killing you, now that you are a traitor. You will burn away precious time. Meanwhile, my plan can be initiated tomorrow and take a day to complete at maximum. Sure, there are risks, but you cannot accomplish anything if you do not take risks."
Novus said nothing in return.
"You did the same, seeing as how you didn't say anything about Erebus for twenty years and let the world become further infested with those disgusting creatures," Zeverous then hissed.
"Only because there was nothing else I could do," Yimtri countered as he tossed the pendent to Zeverous. "I had no power against Erebus and neither did anyone else in the Fellowship. Telling everyone of Erebus would have only resulted in more plagued or dead Pokémon who would vainly attempt to defeat it. As painful as it was, I had to keep Erebus a secret, for the sake of preserving lives. I knew there was nothing anyone could do to defeat it, no matter how desperately I searched for a way to eliminate it for those twenty long years. Only my Fellowship could know the truth because they truly deserved to know what was happening to them…"
Zeverous growled under his breath, but he too remained quiet. He threw the pendent back to Yimtri.
Yimtri turned back to stare directly at Terron. Terron returned the gaze with an unsure one.
"I will admit that I do not have the faintest of ideas of what I will do when I actually face Erebus," Yimtri admitted, surprising Terron. "But, I do not have to have a plan for everything before I set out to do it. There are simply some things you cannot plan for and you must weave your way through the predicament and trust that your abilities will help you through it. Understand that. Also…
"If you come with me, I promise that as soon as Erebus is defeated… I will tell you what I have been obfuscating from you since the very day I met you. About why I asked if Erebus sounded familiar. Why I asked you such strange questions."
The Sableye held out his claw toward the Cubone.
"So, what do you say? Will you assist me and finally put a stop to Erebus, thus bringing progress to stopping this endless nightmare that has plagued Shiron for fifty years and obtain the answers you desperate want from me? Or will you reject my offer and follow your friend's plan, allowing even more death and suffering as you search? It's your choice."
Terron stared at the claw, baffled by what he was hearing. He wasn't sure if he truly believed Yimtri when he said that he was being given a choice, but that hardly mattered at the moment. Yimtri was offering him vital information that he craved. Terron knew there was a strong chance that the Sableye would probably back out of his promise, but something within him stubbornly objected to such a thought. It demanded that he listen to Yimtri and follow him into the depths of Erebus's domain. And Terron knew exactly what was speaking to him.
His plagued self.
You can end Erebus right now. Maybe you won't stop the Plagued Ones since there's still that other voice Yimtri mentions, but you'll be so much closer to destroying the Plagued Ones for good when you kill the one who creates them. And maybe you can get answers out of it so you can truly stop the creatures from infesting the world…
And you can get your answers from Yimtri. He might know who you are… you know that you've considered that for the longest time…
Go with him. Go destroy Erebus. Get your answers.
Do it, Terron.
Terron thought for a moment.
Why do you want to get rid of your own kind? Why do you want to kill Erebus when you work for it? Terron wondered.
There was no response.
But, despite the confusion he felt, Terron saw what needed to be done. He saw the truth in the words his corrupted self spoke.
Terron grasped the Sableye's claw. His paw didn't phase through.
"We'll come with you," Terron announced. "We'll stop Erebus."
Yimtri grinned as he curled his claw around the Cubone's. Terron shuddered as a bitter cold seeped into his veins, but didn't let his resolute gaze waver.
He looked back at his companions and saw that they didn't share the same strength. Zekra was as stiff and rigid as a board. Novus was casting Terron a sharp gaze. Zeverous seemed filled with neither contempt nor joy, simply wearing only a blank expression he had worn so often as a Greninja.
Terron slowly frowned.
But, Terron couldn't ponder in the subject much longer, for Yimtri withdrew his hand.
"I'm glad that you made that choice," Yimtri said, still wearing his eerie smile. "Now, Erebus stands no chance against us."
Satisfied with the situation, Yimtri walked away from the group. His companions followed suit.
"I will see you four in the morning," he said from his distance. "Don't wander off too far. Wouldn't want the Fellowship to spot you now, would you?"
And then, the Dusk Mines Pokémon disappeared into the black of the night.
Terron stuffed his paws into his coat pockets and continued to keep his eyes glued to where he last saw them, as if anticipating them to return at any second.
"Tear, why are you making us all go back to Erebus Woods when we just managed to escape that place? Again."
The Cubone turned around to find Zekra staring at him. Her eyes were filled with a strange mixture of reluctance and disapproval. Terron found that Zeverous and Novus were giving him similar glances.
"Tell me that you were just bluffing so that they'd leave us alone," Zeverous demanded. "Tell me that's why you agreed to that ridiculous plan. Tell me so that I know you're not being an idiot, Terron."
He took a few steps away from the three before turning around to face each of them. Even as an uncomfortable tension weighed down upon him, he refused to let it stifle his voice. He had made a choice and had to stand by it. Even if all of his friends didn't think the same.
"We're going with Yimtri to stop Erebus," he stated.
"You know that's a really bad idea…" Zekra countered lowly. "You know what's going to happen. Tear, call off what you're planning. We're going to get plagued. We're going to become Plagued Ones if we go back into that dungeon. It's going to happen. I swear, it will. Haven't you figured out by now that we need to stay away from Erebus? Really, don't send us back there. Please."
"Zekra… we have to do something," Terron sighed. "We have to stop Erebus. It's the only thing we can do right now."
"I think you forget that we still have my plan," Novus stated. "Finding Reshiram and Zekrom? Remember?"
"Yeah, I know," Terron said. "But… like Yimtri said, that plan will take too long. It'd be okay if that was our only plan, but now we can destroy Erebus and despite the risks, we could accomplish so much if we succeed…"
"You're only saying that because the Sableye said he would give you some sort of information if you came," Novus said with a frown. "You're only listening to the Sableye because you have been bribed."
Terron didn't respond.
"Honestly, why do you trust that Sableye?" Zeverous spoke up, drawing closer to the Cubone. "He's deceived me in the past. He's deceived you by not telling you about how you're plagued as it happened. He's deceived everyone, no matter how well-intended he tries to make himself to be. What makes you think that you can trust his words? What makes you think that he will not turn you over to Erebus the second he gets the chance?
"Forget about that Sableye, Terron. We don't need him. We have your friend's plan and my plan. My plan that I swear will keep you guys safe and nothing will get in the way. Forget about that wretched Sableye and let's abandon him right now while we have the chance."
The Cubone saw his teammates' gazing boring into him. He saw how they probably thought he was insane for wanting to follow Yimtri's plan and praying that they could bring some rationality back to him. Before he could bring them back to what could easily be described as their worst nightmare. He could see it so clearly in each of their eyes.
A strange power suddenly rose in his heart. A powerful, abiding impetus that completely consumed him.
"We're going with Yimtri," he said fervently. "And do you know why? Because I trust him. Because he had the chance to kill me, but he didn't. Because despite the risks his plan has, despite the fact that we might die or worse in that accursed dungeon, he's right. We need to kill Erebus now. We need to stop all of the suffering right now. It's been fifty years and no one's done anything significant to stop the Plagued Ones. Now, we get the chance to kill Erebus, the one who creates the Plagued Ones. We are not turning this opportunity down."
Hearing this baffled the group, but Terron didn't let himself stop.
"Besides, I'm your leader. You're supposed to trust my judgments. You're supposed to believe in me and know that I'll keep you safe. And I will. I swear, I will. Nothing's going to happen to us. I'll make sure of it. And if something does…
"I will step down from being the leader and let one of you guys be the leader. Because if it turns out my trust in Yimtri was a mistake, then obviously I've failed as a leader and need someone better to take my place. I don't know which one of you guys will be the new leader, but that's where I stand. That's the promise I can make to you guys. But until then, trust me. Believe that I know what I'm doing. And after this is all over, I swear we'll get away from Yimtri and go follow the other plans we made. We'll need them."
Terron took in a deep breath and sighed, feeling the burst of confidence fade from his heart. He watched each of his friends' expressions as they became fixed in a state of disbelief. But he knew there was nothing he could do but wait. He had said his words and it was now their time to say their own.
After a long, painful moment of silence, his teammates glanced at one another. They huddled together, uttering whispers that Terron couldn't make out. Yet, he made no attempt to understand them and simply waited for them to finish. About a minute later, they looked back at the Cubone.
"We'll trust you," Zekra spoke. "Even though your whole idea is really risky and stuff… we'll follow you. And hopefully… things go well."
For the first time in a long while, Terron smiled.
But, he couldn't help but notice that one member of the group was staring straight at him, eyes narrowed in a dark glare.
Zeverous.
Far away from Team Vendetta, Yimtri and his companions stood in a small cave near the edge of a forest. The Sableye leaned against the stone wall, a black messenger bag now lying on the ground beside him, no doubt having been hidden somewhere in the cavern earlier. He stared absently ahead him as his ghostly companions hovered close. Chloe stood at a distance, keeping her gaze glued to him.
"Tomorrow's the day," Yimtri announced. "After twenty long years of being tormented by it, Erebus will finally fall. I've been anticipating this day for so long, and yet I almost thought it would never happen… especially not in the company of those Pokémon."
"Do you think you're prepared enough for this?" the Mismagius asked.
"Yes, of course," he replied. "I have the pins, I have my supplies, I have a clear mind, I have those Pokémon who I least expected in my company… yes, I'm quite prepared."
"And you have us!" the Chandelure chimed in. "We shall keep you safe from Erebus! Erebus cannot possibly hope to defeat eight Pokémon, no matter how powerful it might make itself appear to be."
"And that's where you're wrong, Lume."
"I beg your pardon?" she asked, the glow in her eyes dimming. "What do you mean? Do you not think that Erebus can be overwhelmed by our numbers?"
Yimtri shook his head. Lume and Noc came closer to the Sableye, giving him their anxious stares.
"You two are not coming with me to Erebus Woods," he said. "No one is. Only myself and those four from earlier will go to eliminate Erebus."
The ghost-types staggered at the remark. It took a large amount of willpower for Yimtri to remain solemn.
"Only the five of you are going?" the Mismagius asked in disbelief. "You can't be serious! You need more Pokémon to go with you! Let us go with you! We'll protect you and help you fight!"
"No, Noc, you're not coming," Yimtri sighed. "I refuse to let my members become even more plagued than they already are. It's already my fault that you are the way you are now and that your lives have been ruined… you don't need to suffer even more because of me. Therefore, I refuse to let you come with me."
"My liege, it's not your fault that we have become plagued!" Lume cried. "It is Erebus's! We will gladly come with you and become further plagued if it means assisting you and putting an end to such a horrific creature!"
"You're not coming with me," Yimtri snapped. "I will not let my members risk their sanity and suffer through the same fate I did. Stop begging me to make your lives a living nightmare. You have no idea what you are truly asking for."
The ghosts cringed, floating back as the Sableye grit his teeth. Yimtri stopped and turned his gaze away from them.
"Just do as I say," he said. "Don't come with me. Keep yourselves safe. Besides, Erebus has a higher chance of controlling you two than the ones coming with me because of your time spent in Dusk Mines. It will order you to kill me. Tell me; can you truly bear the thought that you might kill your liege, even if it isn't entirely your fault?"
The Mismagius and Chandelure said nothing. Yimtri figured they'd react this way. He had anticipated it.
"Go back to Shade and continue to be her spies until I defeat Erebus. And then when it's all over, join my other members in searching for more of those pins and the second voice. Do that until the day of planned reunion comes. Those are your orders. And if you try to come with me to those wretched woods tomorrow… I'll consider that treason. And you know what I'll have to do with those who are considered traitors…"
The two ghost-types stared at him, their eyes wide by the remark. They remained stationary in the air, waiting to see if the Sableye had anything more to say. They waited to see if he would take back his threat that seemed so cold for even him to say.
But, Yimtri did not speak. He refused to make eye contact with them.
When they saw this, they each released a low sigh and hung their heads.
"Very well then," Lume said ruefully. "If that is what you wish."
"Good luck, my liege," Noc then said. "We hope that you succeed… we really do…"
And with that, the Chandelure and Mismagius silently drifted away into the forest, presumably returning back to Dusk Mines.
Yimtri watched them leave for a moment longer before he released a deep sigh. He sank to the ground in a sitting position, letting the back of his head slump against the wall. His mask of solemnity faded away to reveal a more somber expression. He glanced over at the Turtwig who still remained at his side.
"Tomorrow it ends," he pondered aloud. "Ah, this day has finally come, yet I almost wish it remained nothing but a glimmer of hope to never see the light of day. Ahhh, but I've gone too far to back out of this now."
"You don't think that you and those four will be able to defeat Erebus, do you?" Chloe asked.
Yimtri looked away. However, seemed to be all the Turtwig needed to see to have her answer. She stared into the distance, the direction where Dusk Mines lay.
"Then I'll go with you."
The Sableye quickly snapped his attention back to her, stunned. She didn't return the stare.
"Chloe, you're not coming with me," Yimtri urged. "I don't want any of my followers to come with me, especially not you. Just because I have a rather meager amount of Pokémon coming with me to Erebus does not mean you have to suddenly change your mind about how you feel with dun-"
"I'm going with you," she stated again, bringing her gaze back to the Sableye. "I don't care if I'm entering Erebus's domain. Perhaps if this were any other situation I would continue to avoid such a place, but this is different. You will finally destroy the one who creates the accursed places known as Mystery Dungeons. And if you feel you cannot accomplish that with the company you have, I will set aside my reservations of such a place and come with you."
Yimtri scowled as a powerful burning wormed its way into his heart, eliminating his stupor.
"You're not going into Erebus Woods," he hissed. "No amount of convincing will change my mind. You are not going there. If you follow me into those woods-"
"You're going to kill me?"
The glow in Yimtri's eyes brightened as his scowl grew deeper, allowing Chloe to see his gemstone-shattering teeth. She only narrowed her eyes in return.
"You're not going to kill me," she stated flatly.
"And what makes you so sure that I won't? I don't exaggerate my threats. You've known me for long enough to know that."
"Because you love me too much to kill me."
Yimtri flinched at the remark and immediately cursed himself for showing the weakness. He glared at Chloe, who kept her unwavering, resolute stare.
"You know that it's true," Chloe said. "You won't kill me when that undeniable fact is still present in your heart."
"You are not pulling that tactic on me," Yimtri said darkly. "You are not bringing that topic into this conversation. It won't work. You already know why it won't work."
"But you admit that you will not be able to stop me if I follow you tomorrow. I can play this game too, Yimtri."
"For the last time, you are not coming with me. Stop trying to convince me otherwise."
"No."
Yimtri curled his claws into his palms, becoming increasingly aggravated with the Turtwig. Of course only she could bring out so much of his emotions when it was normally buried under the stress of each day.
"I'm preventing you from becoming plagued even more than you are already. I am making sure Erebus does not ensnare you in its cold, unrelenting grasp," the Sableye seethed. "I really could let you come with me. I truly could. But I don't because I want to keep you safe, myself safe, those four safe, and because I respect your decision for not wanting to enter dungeons. Thatis my reasoning as to why I refuse to let you come. I see nothing wrong with it."
"Except for the fact that you're lying to yourself in thinking that you can defeat Erebus with a team of only five Pokémon," Chloe countered. "You don't think you can do it. You are not confident enough. And if you are not confident enough, you will fail and Erebus will kill you or make you a complete Plagued One. You are filled with doubt and no matter how much you try to delude yourself, I know you can't convince yourself otherwise."
Yimtri grimaced, not sure how to respond to such a comment. The Turtwig came close to the Sableye and looked directly into his glowing gemstones. He returned the stare.
"Let me help you. Let me give you the support you need," she offered. "I am barely plagued; Erebus will not be able to influence me so easily. I will be able to resist its commands. Believe me."
The two held their gaze, neither one speaking. Chloe kept her eyes fixed in a firm glare while Yimtri's merely remained blank, neither angered nor saddened.
Moments of silence later, Yimtri gave a defeated sigh.
"Fine, you can come with me," he muttered distastefully. "It's your choice with whether or not you want to follow me on this near suicidal mission…"
There was a quick flash of a smile from the Turtwig. But, it was quick to fade back into her stoic expression.
"Why do you do this, Chloe?" he sighed with a shake of his head.
"You already know the answer to that question," she answered simply.
She sat beside him and leaned her head against him, not phasing through his intangible form. Yimtri wrapped both his arms around her neck and pulled her close. He absently stroked the back of her head as she nuzzled him in the chest.
"I know, Chloe. I know."