What Darkness Started:

Hiro sat in the flame lit camp, every Pokemon's gaze waiting for his words to speak. He sighed, crossing his legs in a bow shape, and leaning over as he prepared the story.

"On with it, then!" the raspy voice of Luxray teased, "The story isn't that long." With a sharp look to the lion Pokemon, Hiro lifted his face to the rest.

"Long ago." He began, "The was a trainer and her beloved Pokemon, a Mightyena."

"The trainer loved her Pokemon, and the Pokemon loved his trainer. Time went on, and the two became the best of the best, winning fight after fight. However, the Trainer was becoming older as they battled. Soon, the two were secluded to a small house in a small town. Time continued, and the two grew older and older, and then..." Hiro paused, the air now a heavy darkness in everyone's eyes, Keiko unable to decipher why, though.

"The Trainer died..."

Silence took over the camp. And uneasy stirring flickered inside the young Riolu. How did a Trainer dying have something to do with her?

Looking around, she noticed Roga's eyes tightly shut, as if regret was inside. Worried, Keiko kept her eyes on the Lucario until she heard Hiro's voice once more.

Regaining the attention of everyone, the Gallade continued, "In his sorrow, the Mightyena left the village and happiness he once knew. He rampaged in nearby forests, killing all that crossed his path."

"Now, the Ancients heard of this, and wishing to stop it, they sent the Pokemon they thought could relate to him the most: Darkrai." Now this was making some sense. Keiko thought to herself. One of the Ancients meant the Great One was involved.

"Darkrai went off and eventually found the Mightyena. He attempted to reason with the hurt Pokemon, but always failed each time. Anger to this welled up inside Darkrai, causing him to end up fighting the black Pokemon."

"They fought, ending in a draw, believe it or not. A final blow was given by Darkrai to the Mightyena's eye. This left some of the dark-type's power in it." Hiro's voice then grew low.

"And from then on, the Mightyena manipulated that use to his gain for power." Keiko didn't get it. He was still alive? How long ago did this happen?

"Mightyena is the reason you're here, Keiko." Hiro explained, louder this time. A pulse of questions rang through the Riolu like an arrow. What could this Pokemon do? Why was she so powerful as to beat a Pokemon an Ancient tied with?

"That's a bit much to throw on her suddenly, Hiro." Mewtwo calmy suggested, "She has been through a lot recently."

Hiro questioningly turned to the gray Pokemon, "But you asked we explain it?" "You put it on a bit heavy, though. I'll explain what this Pokemon can do now."

Mewtwo turned his attention to the group, "Mightyena is no ordinary Pokemon," He began, "With that scar he gained, he is able to control other Pokemon with a single bite of his teeth."

"They turn a Black, Gray, and Red color. their eyes become yellow and red with the hate that clouded the Mightyena's eyes once before. We call these, Dark Morphed. One you are morphed, Mightyena and his army can control your every move and will."

He stood up, looking to the whole group so that Keiko wasn't the main focus. "It's like a disease. Any Dark Morphed may spread it, be watchful around those." He light-heartedly turned to Hiro, "How was that?"

"If that's lightly, I feel sorry for the poor kid." he muttered a response.

"Alright, Alright! Story time's over." Staraptor whistled, "It's time the apprentices get going to bed."

Keiko inwardly thanked the motherly bird Pokemon. All the questions left her in a dizzy spin, hopefully she would get quiet time to think as everybody slept.

---

Camp had a sort of chill to it as everyone slept. Keiko chose a comfortable spot near Staraptor and Luxray on a make-shift nest of moss. Sleep would not join the young Riolu as she tossed and turned softly in the night. A buzz of Bug Pokemon in the dark wood hushed as Keiko lifted herself up. She had to go think.

Getting up a quiet as possible, the young Riolu tip-toed out of camp, grass whispering for her to turn back; it was the dead of night.

Her tired paws drew Keiko to the lake Swampert had thrown to the campsite earlier that day. She squinted her eyes as the memory returned: The swiftness of the water's flow, her being the only one to almost be taken away, and Roga. The Lucario's stern face flashed back to her mind. Why was he always so....odd near her. Come to think of it, everybody seemed wary around the new apprentice. Why?

She sat at the water's edge, her legs dangling into the glassy surface. Keiko's glazed eyes glared into the water, looking at herself. Why was she different? Why her? A tear drop fell from her face as time flooded back to her.

She saw herself, relaxing with Zangoose, Linoone, and Lopunny, all her friends. The fire wasn't there, there was no Mightyena, no Mewtwo-sensei, no Roga, nothing from what had happened.

She sighed, the vision disappeared, and the tears from her eyes flowed into the lake like a river. Sniffling and wiping her tears, Keiko felt like a helpless child, which plainly she was just a few days ago.

A sudden, hushed rustle made Keiko jump and turn to the bushes behind her. They moved back and forth, meaning something was watching her. The Riolu shivered in fright as she waited for her stalker to appear.

The mouth of the brush opened, to show a sly, reddish muzzle making it's way. The rest of the face pushed out: Black with gray bones extending from it's head. The whole body and two other creatures whisked their ways through.

"Well, Well..." The first one scoffed, "It seems we caught ours selves the best snack of all..."

"The Boss will be pleased with us now!" The second one shrieked in a laugh, "Free food for life!"

"Silence!" The leader barked, "Do you want to get us killed?!" His dark, yellowish eyes moved to Keiko's shiveringly helpless body. "I'll make this quick, child." With this, teeth flew at the Riolu, as Keiko closed her eyes, the only part of her body she could command.