Hiya all! Here's the next chappie. Thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed!

(EVERYONE meaning 'foxyjosh and STEELIXLOVER')

Sorry for the wee bit of lateness. Being busy and writer's block for my reasons. Also, I stayed up a little late to write this so don't take too much notice if it's a little bit rough around the edges or if I have a few grammar of spelling errors here and there- I'll correct it tommrow!

On another matter, I decided to go flick through my 'story stats' for this tale and I found out that this story is on a 'C2'? Funny how things happen…

DISCLAIMER: Anyone but insertnameofownerofPokemonhere DOES NOT own Pokemon- 'anyone' includes me!

Moonlight's Shadow Chapter 17:

Worse and Worse

When you've done something wrong, very wrong, and you know that you've done something wrong, it is very easy to go into a state of extreme guilt and depression. However, strange as it may seem, Shadow did not feel any guilt of any sort- or even depression after her argument with Koja. If anything… she was a little upset and hurt at what had happened but somehow not guilty.

Shadow just simply knew that for the main part- she was right. Call it pride or something else but she simply wouldn't apologize to Koja. She couldn't. Maybe she would apologize over getting angry and upset… But that would be it. What she had said, she knew was the truth and was glad, not regretful at getting it out of her mind and at Koja.

The Umbreon sighed. There was an almost nagging pain at her heart, as if her conscience was telling her that she really should be feeling sorry and regretful. But those feelings just seemed so distant, far away… so unbelievable to be put into her box of feelings.

Shadow gazed up from where she was on the hills. The early morning sunrays just barely made it over the far mountains, leaving the area still quite dark. It was almost hard even now not to jump at every shadow now or even anything that moved. But then… maybe Koja was right… on some accounts…

Was she a little… Shadow glanced at a particularly ominous shadow near a boulder… Was she being too paranoid? Maybe… It was not something to do with that 'evil being' that she was apparently somehow connected with… Maybe it was just her out to cause trouble for herself… Moreover… Was she really that self-sympathetic sometimes?

Another sighed was released as the Umbreon reflected on the somewhat brief past she had known after evulotion… Scenes of being afraid and somehow alone flickered through her mind, some memories faint and faded, while others seemed to stand out boldly and vibrantly in her mind.

Things were so complicated… They'd always been complicated. She, Shadow, was complicated. Koja was complicated. Everyone was complicated. Everything was complicated. The whole world was complicated. Shadow half kicked herself mentally in the head, annoyed with herself… She was making her life more complicated and dark again wasn't she…?

At times like this… Shadow wished to go back to the world before evulotion. Where things were hurtful, upsetting but at least very simple. Now, she was being told she was the key essence of this prophecy type of thing and that there was something desperately strange and wrong with her? She did not in the least understand that.

She had overhead Sami once say something about her not really being an Umbreon… Or that she was abnormal and freakily strange… She had seen the flickers of fear once, half hidden behind Koja's fiery red eyes when her blue gaze had been too intense.

A barrage of questions that seemed quite like a swarm of Beedrills started to buzz and jab at her, asking things that made her more and more confused and lost… She knew she should be surer of herself now but… The Alakazam- Shadow shuddered. She was thought to be two years old? That was… Impossible…

More questions came, crushing Shadow's pondering on the latter thought and making her eyes screw up tight for a moment, as if to get it away from it all… But that didn't happen. They just came again…

Why couldn't the Gods, as powerful and busy as they were, why couldn't they spend a minute explaining to her what was exactly going on? Why couldn't they-

An intense change in temperature made the Umbreon drop her thoughts, as the grass around her seem to scorch and sizzle into ash. The Dark Pokemon's fur felt like it was about it explode from heat and it was then that Shadow noticed exactly who was standing next to her. Standing proud, wise, tall, and in all his glory was Moltres- Lord of Flames.

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Koja wasn't exactly still seething and angry as he was last night… But anyone could tell that the Absol definitely wasn't in a mood to mess around in. Even Pep wisely left him alone, making sure to stay clear out of his way. He was forcing himself to do some detective work. He wanted to really know what was going on… Was his father still that cold, ruthless Absol… or a different creature all together? He had to know. He had to know who The Council was and whether Shadow and his sister was right.

Shadow. Koja's eyes narrowed. He had deep regret in their spat but there was no going back until he was sure he was wrong. Until then, he wasn't going to speak to her unless he needed to. It was clear they didn't have anything to say to each other anyway. Shadow didn't seem keen on an apology and neither was he… Even if he was deeply hurt inside.

Afterall… She had said that she didn't know who he was anymore… or that he was being so unsensible and-

No. Koja brushed the thoughts away with a shake of his head. He couldn't get distracted not now… He was blending in with the shadows near the sides of the valley, looking for the group called The Council… He knew they were somewhere here… After picking of snippets and tidbits of information by 'accidentally' overhearing conversations for other pack members Koja knew that this Council would be having a meeting somewhere in this area…. where was the only question now…

Jackpot. A bright color of red fur stood out against the green and grey surroundings. That red fur was the fur of a Flareon. His keen eyes zoned in on the Fire Eon and the Absol also saw quite a few other Pokemon- all matching the descriptions he had of 'The Council Members'. A Flareon was standing upright next to two Jolteons and A Vaporeon and Umbreon were sitting under the shade of a large tree. Completing the gathering was a Skarmory standing in the shadows as though he was meant to be there in secret.

Koja gave a start. He recognized that Skarmory… That large build of his body; that sleek shining plumage and that family scar down one wingspan… No doubt about it. That Skarmory was also known as Skye- the silent and unspeaking friend of Pep the Poochyeena. But what would he be doing there…? Even if Koja assumed the quite unlikely possibility of Skye being a member of the Council, Skye was unable to talk. He doubted the Council Members would want to play a game of charades to do any communication.

Koja bounded closer, careful to keep to the darkest parts of the shadows and to make sure his scent wouldn't be carried by the wind and into the noses of those Pokemon. Koja, his heart beating slighter faster then normal, swallowed when he found himself just meters away from the action. Relaxing and telling himself they wouldn't find him, Koja began to listen-

"Did you hear something?" The Vaporeon in the group spoke up, his dark eyes scanning the area for an intruder.

Koja froze and he willed them not to notice or find him, "Don't notice me. I'm just part of the background… I'm nothing at all! Just go back to your meeting… don't notice me."

"Never mind about that, we don't have a lot of time left." responded the Umbreon after a quick look around, "It's your mind playing tricks on you."

Koja breathed a sigh of relief. Saved.

"Continuing on, "The Flareon, the obvious leader of this 'Council' glanced at Skye, "We need you to tell to relay our message to the Great One."

Koja cocked his head… This 'Great One' probably wasn't a God like Raikou or Zapdos… Who would it be…? Koja shook his head, doubting he'd get the name from listening to the conversation. No normal Pokemon would address or call any God by his or her original name… It was almost like degrading the God so terms like 'Holy One' or 'Lord' was used instead.

"We are having problems with the Absol and his friends. We are also having problems with the matter that our power level has gone down- in a short while we will no longer be in control. That other Absol will. We will need to move on with the plan quicker then expected."

Skye nodded and looked towards the Vaporeon as the Water Type went on, "We are certain there will be no ceremony for the outcast Absol but the pack will rise against us soon. When we had the Absol kicked out, we fed the pack reliable lies by blackmailing the Absol's father. But now, those lies are fading away. The plan really must move ahead."

Koja's eyes widened immensely. It was shocking. Unbelievable. But this definitely was the truth. He just knew it was it. There was a sharp pain at his heart… Regret filled the Absol as he remembered what he had said to Shadow and his sister. He had to go back and find them now… He had to. He had to apologize.

Koja took one last glance at the gathering before his eyes before he started to turn around to leave. But before he did, he stopped as he heard the Flareon say,

"No Skarmory. Tell us any new messages from our Lord."

Koja's eyes widened once again. Skye was going to speak? He would stay behind- at least to watch how Skye would communicate with this 'Council'. The Council which was… Koja glanced at the group: One Flareon, one Vaporeon, one Skarmory, one Umbreon, and one Jolteon… Wait- there were two Jolteons weren't there…?

"What do we have here?"

Koja looked to his left and to his absolute horror…. Saw the face of the last member of the Council smiling cruelly down at him. He was caught.

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"G-greetings, milord…" Shadow respectfully had her head bowed to the ground, "What brings you into my humble presence?"

Though there was still a great amount of reverence that Shadow had for Moltres, one of the Sacred Elementals… She wasn't awe struck by him anymore. After seeing the God too many times in such a short period of time… Well that awe just kind of vanished on its own… It was like… She was going to see him regularly, like on a daily basis instead of never. Which, by most Pokemon's standards… only happened in the days of old with the old Pokemon myths and heroes.

"Good day mortal, "The heat the came from Moltres had lessened somewhat though the air was still sweltering hot, "I must put this to you frankly, Child of the Night."

"Say what you need to." Shadow kept her voice cool and calm but on the inside she was bursting with all kinds of questions.

She wanted to know what exactly was going on… What she really was and so many other questions… But Shadow knew that bombarding a God with questions was rude, disrespectful… and just plain wrong. Shadow tilted her head up slightly, meeting the eyes of the Fire Bird, with a little bit of fear in her eyes. What was he going to say to her?

"I have specific instructions to give to you and these instructions are meant to be kept secret. They will not be uttered from your mouth."

Shadow nodded mutely, her heart starting to beat faster and faster. What were the instructions? She knew that this matter with this 'Dark Lord' was incredibly serious and that her orders definitely weren't going to be a walk in the park…. How hard they were and how life threatening and dangerous they were… would be another matter entirely.

"Please continue, Holy One. I will definitely carry out your orders, no matter the cost."

Shadow bit her lip, desperately hoping that her orders… were manageable. But the Umbreon's fears seemed to greaten when she saw the grim smile of her God when he heard her last few words. Did that mean… something tragic?

"Good. Then let us get on quickly for we have a short time to talk and a very large quantity of information that must be shared. I will start off with something positive. You are going to be remembered for eternity."

Shadow jerked her head up, on the verge of being completely gob smacked. What kind of starting sentence was THAT?

Moltres allowed his words to sink in for a few moments before continuing on, "The next thing that will have to be said… This cannot be delayed any longer, young one. For the sake of the Immortals, the Gods, the Goddesses, for the good of the world…" the Lord of Flames swallowed heavily before he went on, "You must take up this burden and become…"

The Moltres closed his eyes, and even without seeing the God's fiery eyes, Shadow knew that he had a deep emotion of pain in his heart. Shadow's heart sank. This was becoming worse by the moment… What… was going to happen to her?

"You must take up this burden and become… a sacrifice and the final destroyer of the Great Evil which seeks to overturn our world."

A sentence which also meant… Her destiny was to not to live… but to die... very soon.

Whew… I dunno, but this story is about ¾ through. In fact, I half can't wait to get it done so I can continue writing another fiction that I'm planning… But anyhow, please, please review. I'm aiming for 100 reviews before I let this story end and I guess I'm nearly at the half way mark! I'm either probably ending at Chapter 25 or 30, or some other random number if I decide to do things differently!

Oh, and by the way, does anyone have any ideas or suggestions at all? I basically have the general story outline for the rest of the tale but I do have serious writer's block at every chapter. ANYTHING that you suggest would be greatly appreciated- or if I'm beginning to really confuse you… Thanks to all for reading!