"Be strong, Zekra."

That was the last thing Venri ever said to Zekra. Those last three words are all the shadow left the Zoroark with before she once again fell into her deep slumber.

She had been so tired. She had been so weak after the battle with Rem's shadow. Then she had to rip Zekra away from death's advancing grip when all other Plagued Ones perished. Of course she had fallen asleep immediately after.

Now she had faded away into oblivion. Here she lay deep inside Zekra's darkness, where she had always dwelled, now silenced and pacified. Just like before, she supposed. Before the plague had wormed its way deep into Zekra's heart and gave Venri a voice and life of her own. Funny how her fate had brought her right back to the beginning.

She knew Zekra would be strong enough to handle the world without her until she awoke. Zekra had grown quite a bit in all the time they had been together. There wasn't anything Zekra couldn't handle. Even if all her friends were gone. Even if she was lonely. Even if she'd eventually outlive everyone she still cared for now because she was immortal now.

Zekra would be okay. She had to be. Venri could be at peace knowing that. Besides, the little shadow would eventually wake up if things got real bad. She could only be asleep for so long.

Oh Venri, listen to you deluding yourself.

Venri felt a presence in the darkness then. That was impossible. Only Venri existed in Zekra's heart. This was Venri's domain and hers alone. Yet she could still feel an entity with her. It was dark, powerful, and brimming with a force not unlike the Primogenitor itself.

I've been searching for you for a very long time, Venri.

And just who are you?

I'm a fellow shadow. Actually, that's not the correct way to word it. I'm a fellow Plagued One, a shadow given life by Rem's shadow's power.

Yeah right! There aren't any Plagued Ones left! They all died after Rem joined back with his shadow. Quit lying, who are you?!

Venri Venri… I would never lie to you. Oh my dear Venri, would I never. Besides, are you not a Plagued One yourself? You claim all of them perished, yet here you still exist.

I wouldn't call this existing. This is just… nothing. I'm nothing.

A haunting chuckle echoed throughout the void. However, Venri wasn't scared. This was her domain after all. She could kick out whoever was with her if they bothered her too much.

That's right, Venri. You are nothing. You're sleeping deep inside your host now, aren't you?

Yeah, I am.

Such a pitiful existence you find yourself in. To eternally slumber deep in the darkness of Zekra's heart must be a torturous existence. I'm sure you miss interacting with the world, romping outside of her host's body through her illusions.

This isn't permanent. I'm just really tired right now and need a little nap. I'll be out of here in no time. In fact, you're kind of ruining my rest right now with all your talk.

Are you sure about that?

Venri paused. She would wake up, she knew she would. She had only been asleep for a few days now. She'd probably be awake after another month or so. Then she could reunite with Zekra again and all would be just as great as before. Well, as much as it could be with Dimitri and Novus leaving her and Impetus and Syn both being dead.

You've been slumbering for a little over a year, Venri.

What?! What, no I haven't!

It's true. It has been entire year since Rem's shadow rejoined with its host. You have showed no signs of waking. After entering your darkness and seeing you for myself, I've come to the conclusion you will undoubtedly never awaken. You're far too weak.

Panic came over. No, no that was wrong. He was lying. He was just saying this to get a rise out of her, to provoke her. That had to be the reason. It couldn't have been a year…

You will never awaken again, Venri. You are doomed to forever slumber in your host's darkness for all of eternity. What a morbid fate, is it not?

Prove it. Prove that it's really been a year and that I'm stuck here.

Very well.

Light suddenly flooded Venri's vision. And for the first time in a very long time, she could see more than just the darkness. She could see the outside world. She saw the world through Zekra's eyes, just as she had in the very beginning.

And in this world, she saw Zekra's new life. She saw Zekra was now a leader of The Fellowship's successor, The Shadow Alliance. Though she proved herself a competent enough leader, she saw how miserable the Zoroark was. She felt it. She felt the emptiness gnawing at her heart, eating it, devouring it, slowly turning Zekra into a shell of her former self. She felt how much she missed her friends, how much she longed for them to return to her. Especially Dimitri. Oh how much her heart ached for that human.

Darkness blinded Venri once again. She clawed for the light, but it was futile. It remained out of her grasp, forever out of her reach. She was stuck here in Zekra's heart, forever cut off from reality and Zekra herself.

Venri wanted to cry.

Do you see now? You are trapped here.

No… no… I told Zekra I'd come back! I promised her!

Overwhelming despair filled the void surrounding Venri. She had failed Zekra. She had kept her alive, but at what cost? Now she was miserable and alone. And most of all, Venri couldn't keep her promise. She couldn't be there for Zekra when she needed her most. She had failed Zekra.

… It doesn't need to be this way.

Huh…?

I can take you away from here. I can remove you from your host and make you strong enough to be your own being. You don't have to be a measly shadow anymore.

You can…?

Oh yes. As a fellow Plagued One, I've learned many things, including how to survive even after Rem's Shadow was assimilated. If you would come with me, I will help you. It will take some time of course… but if you trust me, you will be your own Pokémon.

Will I be able to see Zekra too?

Yes. You can do anything your heart pleases once I'm done. So go ahead, Venri, and let me take you away from here. Let me help you.

Venri didn't even need to think the decision over. She already knew what she wanted. It was true that she had no idea who this supposed Plagued One was, but she saw no better options for her situation. She couldn't return to the outside world, and most importantly, she couldn't be there for Zekra anymore. She would gladly take anything other than this awful fate she found herself in.

I'll go with you, but I've got one question first.

Ask away.

Who are you? Really, who are you? And why are you helping me?

Devious shimmers went through the void. However, it didn't make her afraid. It didn't feel malicious, just teasing and coy.

Why Venri, I'm simply a fellow Plagued One that wishes to help the only remaining Plagued One. You don't deserve to remain trapped in this prison for all of eternity.

She felt something wrapping around her form then. Something with long, black tendrils. Two glowing white eyes filled the void as she felt whoever it was absorbing her into his being.

And though she felt the urge to struggle, she didn't. She let the entity take her in, all of her, as she slowly left behind Zekra's heart. With every moment, more and more of what little consciousness she had faded away.

That's it… let yourself fade away… it'll all be over soon enough. Soon you'll find yourself much happier than you ever could be. Soon, oh soon, my dear Venri. So very soon you'll be your own Pokémon.

What's… what's your name…? I want… I want to know your name.

She heard his laugh again. She heard it not just around her, but inside her as well. The laugh lulled her her, numbed her, drowned out the bright lights and blackened her mind.

But just before she faded, she heard him speak one last time.

My name… is Gallows.

To be continued in Shattered Selves...