A/N- So first two chapters, and... I dunno... Seriously though, don't expect more chapters quickly.
Chapter 2
Truth
Manectric looked stunned as she walked into the tunnel, the Barrier sealing itself behind her, just as Ellie said. "World… I created? That's impossible."
Ellie sighed as she began to lead Manectric through the tunnels. "One year ago, when the Games ended, you managed to stop the Authorities from continuing the Games. But they still haven't given up. When you said what you did, you proved yourself to the world. A few of us have met in secret for the past year, as well."
"You mean down here?"
"Yes," Ellie said, suddenly distracted. "Um… he should be here soon—"
"Who?" Manectric asked, suspicious.
"Ellie? Is that you?" a young male voice called. A flame burst out of nowhere and hit the wall with practiced accuracy, hitting the torch that was there and illuminating the cave. Manectric blinked a few times until she could see a Quilava standing slightly ahead of them on all fours.
"Ellie, you're okay. Thank Arceus," he said.
"Star?"
"Wait, someone needs to explain already," Manectric interrupted, feeling a little dizzy. "What is going on? What's with these… 'nickname' things? And these tunnels? And why Ellie's fur is… I don't know, different?… I… I don't…"
The Quilava named Star looked surprised. "Wait… You're Manectric, right? The victor of the Ninety-Ninth Games?"
"Please don't remind me."
Star looked apologetic. "I'm sorry. But… Ellie, why don't you explain? Since you brought her here?"
Ellie nodded. "Let's walk as I explain, alright? Star, light the torches as we pass, okay?"
"No problem."
Manectric began to walk, and the two Pokémon flanked her on both sides. Manectric wanted to push them both away, feeling like she was being crowded and led away against her will, but she refrained. She just didn't feel safe here. Manectric turned to Ellie. "Now explain. Also, is this a sort of… base?"
Ellie thought for a moment. "No, it isn't quite a base. More of a safe haven for those unlucky enough, or lucky enough, to know of what the Authorities are really like. Star, why do I have to explain?"
Star gave a small motion which seemed to be a shrug. "One, you've been here longer than most of us. Two, you actually can tell Manectric firsthand about your shiny status. Three—"
"Okay, okay. Fine," Ellie said, cutting him off quickly.
"Shiny?" Manectric asked, even more confused. Just how much did these Pokémon know?
Star nodded. "Yeah, Ellie's probably the only alive shiny Poké—"
"I'll explain," Ellie interrupted again, flicking her ear irritably as she walked, but she turned to give him a small smile. "Okay, first, what's been happening… Manectric, do you remember giving that speech last year? After the Games?"
"Yes." Manectric frowned slightly. It's been so long, and yet I still remember every detail.
Ellie sighed. "Well… I… agh, this is hard to explain… Okay, you know what, let me just tell my story first. I think that might help. So… I told you that my sister was Leafeon, right? Well, I… never really knew her."
"What?" Manectric asked, stunned. She'd never had littermates, only her own mother, who had disappeared. But still, Ellie claimed to have never met her own sister?
Ellie looked a bit sad, her eyes wistful. "I… only knew of her because my mother, Espeon told me. Eevee was her first, and I was the second, and last." Ellie looked bitter. "They called me a duplicate."
Manectric paused, causing the other two Pokémon to look at her. "First of all, what's a 'duplicate'? And who called you that?"
"A duplicate… it's when you are the second or more of a species," Star said, answering for Ellie. There couldn't be two 'Eevee's, so…"
"I was called Eevee 2," Ellie said angrily. "I wasn't supposed to be born. I was supposed to stay in incubation until the original 'Eevee' either died or evolved. Have you ever noticed that there are almost always just one of every species? The only exceptions that anyone knows, is of one Leafeon who worked for the Fire Region alongside a Flareon, and my… my sister. The Leafeon you knew… something happened, and she was able to evolve into Leafeon specifically, probably by the Game Master's mistake of placing a mossy rock in the arena, when she shouldn't have been able to, but the Authorities decided not to mention anything of it, and do you know what they did?"
Manectric shook her head wordlessly, but a sick feeling churned in her stomach.
"They killed the Leafeon who worked with the Fire Region dressers. She's dead. All because the Center wouldn't stand for two at least fairly well known 'Leafeon's." Ellie looked like she was about to cry. "They killed her. And eventually, both died anyway."
Manectric held up a paw. "Wait, there was a Raichu that worked with the Center as well, and I know of a Raichu who lived in the Electric Region. What of that?"
Ellie shook her head. "One is not that well known. The authorities most likely slipped over it, or let it pass. Similarly to me, but…"
"Ellie was let live because she was… er, an accident." Star looked apologetically at Ellie, but she shook her head. "But when the Authorities finally began to take notice of her shiny status… well, she was originally going to be taken and killed…"
Now Manectric exploded. "What?"
"I'm a different color," Ellie said quietly. "You've already noticed. Here, they call it a 'shiny' status. The Authorities tried to kill me, but one Pokémon saved me. He gave me to Xatu, who raised me."
"Xatu doesn't have a… a nickname?" The word was foreign to her.
"There is only one Xatu. She sees into the past and present, but she says the future is hard to read. Actually, I'm not a duplicate either. I only took a nickname because I have faith in the way the world once was, when humans were more… plentiful. Xatu shows everyone who joins us her vision of the past," Star explained, "Humans were our friends back then, or at least, most of them. They kept us in little red and white spheres, like those golden Pokéballs you and other tributes had, and like those that certain Pokémon who choose to live peacefully with humans have. There aren't very many of those though.
"They would be our friends, and give us these nicknames. It's mostly just a title or a sort of endearment kind of name that would mark us as our own unique Pokémon, and there would be many duplicates."
It doesn't sound so bad, Manectric thought. If they could have a world like that, she would be happy. Especially if it meant they could all coexist in peace.
"Not all humans are like that though," Ellie said, interrupting Manectric from her thoughts. "Some… started a terrible disease of hunger for power and corruption… and Leader eventually wiped almost all of them out. But their skills in training were precious, so Leader allowed several of them to stay."
There was an uncomfortable silence until Manectric finally spoke. "Leader… killed them?"
"Them and many other Pokémon who refused to let Leader kill their humans," Star said.
"One more thing. Who saved you, Ellie? You mentioned a 'he,'" Manectric said.
"I'd rather not talk about that…" Ellie shifted uncomfortably.
Manectric walked with them in silence until Star spoke out quietly. "Now… Xatu believes the Authorities are ready to destroy everything and everyone to achieve their goals."
"We're here," Ellie said, cutting off their conversation.
The tunnel ended at a larger cavern that could probably hold Groudon in it. Only about ten others were in there, however. They all looked up as Ellie spoke. Then:
"Ellie, you're okay! When I heard the explosions, I was so scared!" a Nidorina cried, jumping up and rushing over to Ellie.
"Arceus, I thought we'd lost you…"
"Ellie!"
"She's alive!"
Manectric waited to the side uncomfortably as several Pokémon swarmed Ellie, thanking Arceus she was alive or what-so-ever. But she was still in shock. These Pokémon… were all friends? The idea seemed almost foreign to her, but she remembered Weavile and Arcanine, and felt a deep pang of sorrow.
"Wait… Manectric?" a Luxray asked, confused, staring at Manectric. Several others glanced at her.
She frowned. "Do I know you?"
He smiled then. "I was Shinx back then, but I remember standing for you a year back! I took the name Ray since then."
"Shinx?" Manectric faintly remembered the small Shinx from before. "That was you? But I thought…"
"Like Ellie, who I assume told you a lot of things, I too was taken to be killed, or at least, that is what Xatu told me. Ellie came and rescued me. She… was pretty mad that day."
They both looked over at the apparently "shiny" Ellie, who was smiling as she spoke with the Nidorina.
"How long has she been here?" Manectric asked.
"She's probably been here the longest out of all of us, save for Xatu. Anyway… you see those screens?"
Manectric looked around and noticed for the first time, the four screens on one wall. There was currently nothing on the screens. "What are they for?"
"Those two," Ray began, pointing at the two to the far left, "can be changed to show the activity of several Regions, as well as the Center. Ellie took a team of herself and two others to set all of the tiny cameras up. One of them… didn't make it back." Ray shook his head, his eyes clearly full of anger. "The other two… show the Pokémon Channel, and that means…"
"You were able to watch the Games," Manectric said bitterly.
Ray nodded uncomfortably. "Ellie was really jumpy as she watched the Game's progression, and when Leafeon died… she just started crying hysterically… I think that was one of the only times she'd ever shown weakness."
"She looks strong," Manectric admitted, sneaking another glance over at the Eevee.
Ray followed her gaze. "She is. We all are. But there are times… when we can't help the things that happen above us."
"Do you know why our home was destroyed?" Manectric finally asked. She knew it was Leader. Meloetta. Who else?
"I'm not sure…" Ray looked a bit confused. "But I think the Authorities or Leader most likely ordered its' destruction. Who exactly attacked the Electric Region, I'm not sure, but I know it was a powerful Electric type. My guess goes to Raikou or Zapdos."
Manectric nodded, her mind racing with the possibilities. Yes. One of them could have attacked her home and destroyed it. One of them was probably the cause of her Trainer's death. Anger surged through her. They had to be stopped. "Will they attack the other Regions?"
"That is most likely," a new voice chimed. Both Electric types turned to them, and Manectric was aware of many others quieting down. Standing a little ways off was a tall green bird with white wings and red markings over its body.
"Xatu," a small Charmander said, standing next to a Mudkip and a Poochyena. The Poochyena smiled derpily and help up a random waffle. Xatu nodded to them.
"With things as they are now, each Region will be ravaged, destroyed by the Authorities. Ellie and Manectric have seen proof of this. They have seen one Region destroyed. My visions have foretold that they will not stop there. Leader will order the destruction of all Regions, including the Center, save themselves and the Authorities, maybe not even. It is possible Leader seeks to create their own world anew, erasing every other existence."
"That's impossible," Ellie argued, her voice shaking. Manectric agreed with her. "They can't just… just kill every other Pokémon…"
There was uncomfortable muttering among the small crowd.
"What about the rogues?" another voice called out.
"Rogues?" Manectric whispered to Ray, confused, but he looked a little troubled.
"They are the Legendary Authorities that were deemed to have unsecure or troublesome methods, and thrown out instead of killed. There aren't very many though," he explained. Manectric shivered and turned her attention to the Pokémon who spoke, which happened to be the Charmander from before.
Xatu turned to him with an interested glance. "Garnet? Continue."
Garnet looked embarrassed, but he spoke. "Couldn't we try to… you know, talk to some of them… and get their favor? They could help us! 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' right?" His voice was high, like a child's, and Manectric realized with a start that he was probably extremely young. What was one like him doing here?
"But they aren't exactly enemies with the Authorities," Ellie pointed out. "They're rogues! They do as they like! Like… us… but why would they want to help us, out of all things?"
"But they aren't like us! They were thrown out once too!" the Mudkip cried, standing up for his friend. "They might understand us!"
The Poochyena nodded, sticking his tongue out at the others. The Mudkip sweatdropped and nudged him.
"I highly doubt that," the Nidorina argued. The Krokorok next to her looked nervous. "They're dangerous, in a sense, and who knows what they might try to get us to do, if they even want to help?"
Manectric looked back and forth, feeling sick to her stomach. She could literally feel the tension in the air. "This isn't good," she whispered to Ray.
He, however, stood. "I say we find them. At least try—"
"They could kill us easily!" Ellie retorted, jumping up from where she sat, her hackles raised. "You know—!"
"ENOUGH!" Xatu's cry rang out over all the arguments. Instantly, everyone fell silent. There was anger in the bird's eyes. "I did not want a fight between all of us! Sit, all of you, and listen to my judgment." She then promptly fell over on her face.
Ellie growled, but Star rested a paw on her shoulder warningly and she reluctantly sat down. Ray sighed before sitting back down next to Manectric, muttering a quick apology, and the other Pokémon who'd stood also sat quietly, obediently.
"Garnet has made a good point," Xatu began, suddenly standing up again, her voice clear, but at the same time, Manectric sensed a deep reluctance in her words. "If there is anyone willing, we will prepare them to go out and find the rogues, so long as there are at least three. They will try to convince the rogues to aid us."
"Wait… aid you? In what?" Manectric asked, deep dread settling in her.
Xatu turned to look at Manectric. "Our lives depend on this action. Everyone's lives are at stake here. We must rise against the Authorities, fight back."
"But that's suicide, isn't it?" Manectric demanded.
Xatu was silent for a moment. "It may be so, but would it be worth it?"
Manectric bit her tongue to keep from saying more. It would, she thought bitterly. But at what cost?
"Manectric… even if you did not want to be among us, you have been dragged in by your hatred of the Authorities and the Games, and your Region and many of its citizens are gone. So I ask you this: Will you stand by us? Will you fight with us, if the time comes that we must?"
There was a thick silence as all eyes turned to her. Manectric wished Arcanine were here. She would have known what to do, who to trust. But she wasn't here. She shifted, but nodded, hoping it was the best option. "… Yes, I will stand by you. I will fight with you." There were sighs and some of the tension lifted.
"Now, is there anyone who will try to speak with the rogues?" Xatu asked.
Again, there was a silence.
"I'll go," Star finally offered. He looked around. "It's probably our best shot."
Ellie heaved a sigh. "I'll come too."
"Weren't you against it?" the Nidorina asked.
"Yes, Nira. But that was because the risks were—are—extremely high. I would go myself, but Xatu would not allow it." There seemed to be another reason, but she didn't say it.
Nira looked a little worried for her friend, but nodded, accepting Ellie's choice.
"Anyone else?" Xatu asked. No one offered, but exchanged uncomfortable looks.
"I…" Manectric began. Her throat was dry. She couldn't believe she was doing this. Putting her life back in danger, after she finally managed to escape the Games. Or so she thought. "I'll go with them." I need to do this. For everyone I lost.
Xatu nodded at her. "Then you three shall leave as soon as you can. Prepare well. There are only five known rogues as of now, and you may decide whether or not to meet specific ones. They are Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit, the trio Guardians of the Lakes, thrown out together because two refused to let one go. The other two are Suicune, who simply left and hasn't really been seen or heard from in a long time, and Rayquaza. Out of all of them, Rayquaza is extremely mentally unstable. From what I have heard, he is much like your final opponent, Manectric. Gyarados."
Just hearing the name sent shivers down Manectric's spine. If Rayquaza was more powerful and dangerous than Gyarados…
"We have no time to waste," Xatu continued. "If Leader truly desires to see our world destroyed, then we must hurry. Ellie, Star, Manectric, are you positive you can take this?"
All three nodded, but Manectric still felt the deep sense of foreboding in her mind.
"I wish you the best of luck," Xatu finally said. There was a general muttering of the same from the surrounding Pokémon. And unlike when the Center Pokémon wished it, they sounded truly sincere, hoping they would come back unharmed.
"Good luck," Ray said quietly. "Try, try, try to stop what happened to our Region." Manectric nodded, not really listening to his words.
Slowly, the group began to disband, and Xatu motioned for Manectric to come to her. She did, looking a little confused.
"Yes?"
"I must show you what I have shown the rest. What our world was like before it fell into disaster," Xatu said, beginning to lead her over into another tunnel behind her, into a smaller chamber. "Now close your eyes, and relax."
Manectric did that, and felt something tugging at her mind. She frowned, but Xatu laid a comforting wing on Manectric's shoulder.
"Sit, and stop resisting. It will flow easily," she said softly, and Manectric sighed, lowering herself into a sitting position, and tried to relax her muscles.
"And now, it begins." Xatu's voice sounded a bit muffled, as images began to flit through Manectric's mind, as real as day.
Two small children were happy and smiling as they played with a Lillipup. One of them tripped, but the Lillipup nudged them back to their feet gently.
"Lilli!" another human, this time a woman, called, coming out of a house, larger than the ones Manectric usually saw around the Electric Region. The Lillipup perked and yipped happily, running up to her.
"Nicknames…?" Manectric murmured.
"Yes."
The image continued, shifting to another.
Two humans stood across from each other on a large, dusty, rectangular field with lines marking the edges. They threw two sphere-like things towards each other, and they opened, a Servine and a Pidgeotto coming out and facing each other. They both let out a battle cry and their humans began to call out commands which sounded like moves. Amazingly, both Pokémon obeyed and eventually, after more commands and attacks were thrown out, the Servine fell, and both human and Pokémon cheered.
Both humans walked up to each other and grabbed each other's hand, shaking firmly, both smiling.
Another image.
Unlike the previous ones, the land was dark, and some areas were scorched to the earth, flames still licking at whatever it could find, anything that would catch. The sky itself seemed to darken as it glared down on the beaten land.
One human was fighting another, blood running from his lips. They fought, until one pulled out a small silver blade, and dragged it across the other's chest.
Manectric felt sick. The human who'd been injured screamed and fell, and the other cried out in victory. He turned and called out. "Arceus, heed my words!"
"Arceus…" Manectric murmured. "Wasn't he a myth…?
There was silence, then a large white Pokémon with golden rings appeared, shining with his godly light. "What is it, human, that you desire?" His voice boomed over the land, causing the Pokémon who heard him to wince.
The human stared at it in awe, then yelled. "You are God! But yet, you are a Pokémon! You will make me God as well, for I have conquered all!" He looked so proud of himself.
"Conquered all?" Arceus sneered, and the human growled back. "You have destroyed the land I have granted you. You have killed your most faithful friends, turned on your family. What, human, makes you think you have the right to ask such a thing of me?"
"You are weak if you have let me do such!" the human retorted. "You, unlike I, are not worthy of the title of God!"
Arceus's eyes glowed menacingly. "You dare defy me?" His voice was dangerously low.
"I have defied everything to get here! He was all that was standing in my way!"
"He was your friend, wasn't he?"
The human glared at the other's body, covered in blood.
"Was. Now, you grant me the title of God."
"You insolent human!" Arceus was enraged. "I knew your species was a bad idea from the start! You think to defy God himself. You and many others have tried! All failed! Do you know why, human?"
"No."
Arceus opened his mouth and an orb of pure light appeared. Before the human could do anything, however, one of the Pokéballs at his side opened, and a Delcatty jumped out, crying out, pleading for the God to stop. The human looked horrified for once, and Arceus froze, staring at the Delcatty, but his mind was made up. "If you stand with him, then you have defied me as well!" His attack fully charged, he let his Judgment attack go, and both human and Pokémon were struck, killing them both easily.
Arceus was still angry however, but one Pokémon appeared beside him. Meloetta. "My Lord, I implore you, let me handle this."
"These humans… they are not worth saving," Arceus snarled.
"They have minds that think beyond what we can, and I say we only save a few of them. Not all need to disappear."
Arceus was silent, then:
"Fine, I leave this world in your hands. Do what you must. Every year, however, teach them of what this human did, that he and his kind, as well as the Pokémon who aided them, were responsible for the death of many. I have had enough. To me, this world cannot be saved. I will never return."
Meloetta nodded, and watched as Arceus left. Another Pokémon materialized behind her and she smiled. "Destroy the humans, but leave few. At least thirty-four. We shall recreate this world anew."
The scene shifted again until screaming filled the air. Lightning crackled and struck, burning trees, and killing humans and the Pokémon who decided to stay.
One Pokémon was wailing over their human's death, and the human, in her last act of love, hugged the Pokémon to her chest, until a Raikou snuck up on them and sank his fangs into the Pokémon's neck, snapping it. Their head lolled, and they fell limp beside their human, their eyes dull.
The vision cleared. Manectric coughed, opening her eyes, and was shocked to find her cheeks wet. "It… that's it…?" she asked, her throat dry.
Xatu shook her head sadly. "No. Only the beginning. I think that is all you had to see, though, and you were shaking all over, crying, that I had to stop it."
"So… Arceus… he left us?"
"I don't think he even knew of what Meloetta did with the Pokémon who decided to stay with their humans. I even don't know if he still lives."
"It's... Wait, do you know about Meloetta?"
Xatu frowned. "I have my suspicions that she is indeed Leader. Can you say this is true?"
"Yes."
"Listen…" Xatu's eyes bore into Manectric's, her voice suddenly going very quiet. "Withhold this information from them. I feel that if they knew… things would not turn out as well as I hope. Ellie and Star, and everyone here are like my children. I… I wish I could protect them, but…" she shook herself. "Protect them. Please. And I pray that we will all be saved."
A/N- More of a plot builder, and several character introductions. So... feedback?