Hounds of War. Chapter 2, What is Lost.
*Word* = Sound Effect
'Word' = Thought
"Word" = Speech
"Ugh... What hit me?" My eyes open and immediately I screw they closed as blinding orange light makes my head spin. As I blink the pain away, my vision clears and I see that I'm in a forest, and the sun is setting.
"Crap, it's getting late. Silica is going to be..." *Bum Bump* "AAAAAHHHHH!"
I start screaming as pain washes over my body, and my skull seems like it's on fire. Images begin to flash before my eyes, all meshing into a single image of a girl, a single name coming out through a hurricane of white noise going on inside of my head. 'SILICA.'
And then it stops. The pain, the images, it all goes away. But the name of the girl is etched into my mind.
"Silica."
'What in the name of the distortion world was that?! Who the hell is this girl, and why can't I remember anything?'
As my head continued to try and piece back together the jigsaw puzzle that was my memories, I saw movement in my peripheral vision that put me on defensive mode, and without thinking, instinct took over and I morphed into a Leafeon and merged with the foliage around me. No sooner after I was hidden a Bisharp and a pod of Pawniard arrived searching for me.
"Where did he go?"
"He was here just a second ago?"
The Bisharp stood in the center began giving orders. "He couldn't have gone far. Spread out, and search the next hundred klicks for it. Need I remind you that lord Pluto wants him alive, so if you find him, immobilize, don't kill. GO!"
And with that, the Pawniard dispersed. All that remained was the Bisharp. He was standing with his back turned to me, and was within striking distance. If I took him down, I wouldn't have to worry about his Pawns, as they are timid without their leader.
As I prepared to strike, he spoke aloud, "If you attack me, I'll have no choice but to immobilize you immediately, and we won't be able to talk." He then turned around and looked directly at me.
I was stunned. He knew I was still here, and not only that, he knew exactly where I was.
"Who are you, and what do you want with me." I said, still ready to pounce, not letting my guard down.
"My name is Striker, leader of Pawniard pod Delta. My Pawns and I belong to Hades, a group of Pokemon led by Lord Pluto, and his top six, known as the Six paths to Hell."
"Never heard of you" I said, trying to search my broken memories for anything related Hades, only giving myself a headache from doing so.
"That is understandable," he said, "seeing as we keep to ourselves, while searching for those who are strong enough to join. Ones who have unique abilities. Ones such as yourself."
"So is that why you're here? You want me to join you? What if I say no?"
"Then you won't ever see your sister Silica again."
*Bum Bump*
'Silica! The one stuck in my head! The only thing I can remember right now!' Rage swelled within me as I morphed into a Flareon with my mane ablaze.
"I swear to Arceus if you've hurt her I'll..."
"You'll do what!" He glared at me, and instantly my rage died as I morphed back to my true form from fear. Striker then cleared his throat. "Lord Pluto has no intention of hurting you or your dear Silica. All he wants is to test you to see if you are strong enough to be a part of his ideals. If you are strong enough to defeat all of the champions in his arena, you will be accepted as the Fourth Demon of Hades."
"..."
"The fight is to take place one hundred moons from now, on the day of the last new moon of Summer. If you wish to see your precious Silica again, go to Black Basin Falls before then." He turned around. "Pawns, we're leaving!" From the nearby brush, all of his Pawns gathered, and as they took off, Striker said, "I hope for her sake you make the right choice."
And like that, they were gone. As I sat there, processing what Striker had told me, I had only one thought go through my head.
'Silica, wait for me. I will save you, but first...
Where in the Distortion World is Black Basin Falls?!'