Chapter 3:
'Definitions of evil'

The sun had rose at eight, only behind the thick clouds. Normally, the sky was a miserable grey overcast all day around Crio. Far above in the atmosphere, the country was masked by a white whirlpool of clouds. Wherever it was cold, it would snow and if it was warmer it would rain.

That morning in Iris it was almost silent, with only the sea current lightly splashing against the harbour walls. On top of the hill, where the hotel was situated, only the wind could be heard, which gave a long rest for the pokémon up there.

On one hay bed, a completely bunched up blanket started budging left and right, until the layer on top lifted, revealing the little snout of a glaceon, who was half asleep. Lifting the blanket off his head, Glim looked to his left and noticed that Ben and Jane were not in the room. For a moment, the glaceon whumped his head onto his pillow, wanting a little more rest. He tightened his blanket around him as if it was hugging him. The tight comfortable feeling suddenly flashed a fantasy into his mind, imagining a hondoom to be the blanket around him. The thought his eyes open, as he did not even mean to think of that, it just came to him without warning. His enormous tired eyes looked down along with his ears, remembering he kissed the houndoom who escorted him home.

'Why did I do that?' he whispered.

On the other side of Iris, on the street behind the Lopunny Cove, Shadow was oddly sleeping on his back on a rusty park bench.

'What the hell happened to you, mate?' chuckled Boris.

The houndoom quickly woke and fell off the bench, but he managed to catch himself. Though a little dizzy, Shadow was quick to remember that he was napping on an old bench since he thought he was not tired enough to return home.

The old park, like the rest of the town was almost silent, since the stores across the street were closed on Saturday mornings.

'Oh, uh, nothing I was just dreaming.'

'Shut up- what, here and with those over there?' said Boris, pointing at the stores which were wedding and flower shops just opposite the playground.

'Y-yeah!' said Shadow, who then burst into laughter with his best friend, poorly trying to hide his infatuation.

'So come on. What happened with you and her?' he asked, nudging Shadow with his elbow and putting a seductive emphases on the way he said 'her.'

'Well…' stuttered Shadow.

'Did you go to town?'

'Not like that.'

'Day Care?'

'No.'

'Sixty-nine?'

'We didn't have do it, you idiot!'

'Oh what! But you saved her ass, therefore deserve that ass!'

'Boris! That's not how love works, man. She was attacked, it's pretty jerky to push her into that after what she went through. Besides, I had only met her last night.'

'So, you didn't do anything?'

'Well…'

Shadow turned toward the windows of the wedding store, featuring romantic pictures of married pokémon. Trying not to answer Boris' question was making him blush.

'Come on, spit it out.' demanded Boris in a cheeky manner.

'Right when she was leaving, she turned and kissed me.'

'Mouth?'

'Mouth.' shadow replied smiling.

'Dang dude, get in there… in fact, why didn't you? How pretty was she?'

'"Pretty" is not good enough, not for her. Her scent, her face, her voice, those eyes.'

Shadow stopped, having to look away in embarrassment. If his skin was not pitch black, he would be bright red from his thoughts alone.

Boris shook his head.

'Sorry I asked.'

In the hotel lounge, Glim emerged from the dormitories. On a small table, Ben was holding up tourist post cards of Lilac Island, while Jane who had a pen and paper, seemed to be arguing as usual. Hearing the door open made the infernape look back.

'Glim, you're finally awake.' said Jane, turning right to see the glaceon.

Ben meanwhile reached out for a chair just behind him and pulled it from another table, rotating it for Glim to join them. Still a little tired, the little glaceon climbed onto the chair.

'It would have been nice to speak to you after you, y'know, disappeared. Why didn't you wait for me?' asked Jane.

'I got attacked and some- friends, came to save me.' replied Glim, trying to hide what else happened that night.

'You didn't tell them your name, did you?'

'No.'

'And they didn't have suspicions over you?'

'They didn't even realise I was a boy, so no.'

'Okay, so what did you find out in there last night?'

'Regarding Lilac Island, locals were saying it was closed off and dangerous to approach, which is also why the docks are restricted. Two ladies said that friends of theirs were being abducted and never coming back too.'

'To Lilac?'

'I'm assuming so. As for the leader, I think he or she may be a roserade.'

'A roserade?'

'Yeah, locals were making jokes about the Republic, but those girls said about the roserade being the strongest member in the Crimson. But-'

'The Republic are just racist assholes with big mouths, especially Nicolai.' sickened Jane. 'And as for this roserade, did anyone say they were the leader?' Glim shook his head and Jane scratched her head. 'Well, it's a start. If it isn't the leader, I can still make them squirm out who the real leader is.'

'So what's the plan for today?' asked the garbodor.

'Look at this map. Now Lilac Island is generally accessed from the harbour from this town, right? But that never stopped water types or any land species from simply swimming over. Just one mile north of Iris, the isle of Lilac gets far closer. My father told me about how his parents once swam over to the isle. So I am going over to that point, to see if it still gets used or if the Crimson have already got that area rigged. If not, we are going over there tonight.'

'Then you be careful Jane, I'm sure the Crimson may have already thought of that.'

'Don't worry about me. As for you two, I want you to go to the observation point-'

'That's been destroyed.' interrupted Ben.

'The harbour point yes, I was referring to the one near the north exit. It's where tourists often take dates, so they get a clear view of Lilac Island. There you should be able to note any defences we need to beware of, or if there is any other ways we can get there.' said Jane, rolling up her map, getting up and putting her bag on.

'So, wait. You didn't figure out a way over yesterday?' asked Glim.

'There wasn't much info about Lilac, other than it was "taken over and dangerous." So it would make sense that the CR leader might be over there.' said Ben, also getting up.

'I guess.' whispered Glim.

Moving down the hill to Iris' high street, Ben and Glim walked side by side.

'Uh Glim?'

'Yeah?'

'Was there something else you wanted to tell us, back there?'

'Huh?'

'Well, last night. Um-'

Suddenly Glim's pupils went small, assuming that Ben knew what the glaceon and Shadow did.

'I couldn't help notice you're um, escort. A houndoom? Well I was just wondering what you were doing, y'know?'

'You saw us kiss didn't you?' asked Glim quickly, making Ben clench his teeth in guilt and pause awkwardly.

After pausing for a few seconds, the garbodor quickly came out with 'yeah.'

'God damn it!' Glim complained, weakly stomping. 'He saved me and was nice to me! And I felt bad for him, he really liked me and fought off four kids who punched me in the face!'

'Did they really do that?' asked Ben, looking shocked.

'Yeah.'

'Damn, well good on him for sticking up for you. But did he know about you?'

'No, he and his friend were calling me a "her," so I don't think so.'

For a moment, Glim and Ben kept quiet, but the garbodor had hoped that the little glaceon would talk more about the mysterious houndoom. It seemed obvious to Ben that Glim was a little shy on the subject, so he was to give him the little push.

'So uh, did you actually like him?'

'You mean, the houndoom? Well-'

'It's okay to be gay Glim, just saying that here and now.'

'I'm not gay!'

'You're not?'

'W-well, I don't know.'

'You sure?'

Glim kept walking, remaining quiet and thinking deeply, unable to change his worried expression as he walked. Ben looking over him also stopped talking, feeling bad for pushing the glaceon into personal queries that he himself could not answer.

Passing through the high street of Iris, the very same houndoom and scrafty were heading to the Grand Lake Hotel, where they knew 'Glacia' was staying. On their way there, Boris continued making jokes with sexual innuendos, while Shadow would respond with his mature shaking of his head. Coming from the other side however was a garbodor and a little glaceon who was glancing at the closed down stores. When Glim spotted the houndoom and scrafty only metres away, his pupils went tiny. Acting casual and fast, he merely walked just behind Ben who was more than big enough to cover him from being spotted as they passed the two young men. When the big garbodor had passed Shadow and Boris, the glaceon rushed in front, hiding himself if the houndoom looked back. Ben had noticed Glim walking in a strange manner and asked if something was wrong. Glim kept his mouth shut and only shook his head, as they carried on. The garbodor briefly looked back at what they just passed.

'Was that him?' he asked quietly and Glim responded with a light nod.

Shadow stopped, which was followed by his ears and tail erecting, while his own pupils grew small. Boris also stopped, noticing the houndoom in his freeze.

'Dude, what's wrong?'

'Do you smell that?'

'Uh, smell what? I mean there was a garbodor that just passed us, but I didn't smell anything.' Shadow turned around, fixing his eyes on Ben at first, before recognising the cobalt blue blur in the distance walking next to him. He knew that scent anywhere, the glaceon next to the garbodor was the same one, who he was helpless to resist. 'What is it bro?'

'Glacia.' Shadow replied excitedly.

At the destined observation deck, Glim and Ben were keen to see if any of the payable binoculars worked. There were only five and after wasting a pound, none of them worked, however, the giant pokémon made of rubbish insisted that the one on the far west could be easily repaired. While the garbodor fiddled with the lens, scratching small objects from his body, the little glaceon noticed a conkeldurr, on a bench nearby, who was just staring out to the ocean. The conkeldurr appeared old aged, judging by the wrinkles and darkened spots on his skin.

'Ooh! I think that's it.' cried Ben, looking into the lens. 'I had to hack it, but, it was already broken.' Glim approached and stood on his hind legs, trying to reach the binoculars, looking like a pichu for being helplessly small. The garbodor used his left morphed arm to give the glaceon something to stand on. Glim tried to look through lens, but then smacked his face for leaning too far forward. 'Whoa, sorry Glim. Hold on.'

Ben looked back for some object. He spotted a wet crate next to wall behind them and the garbodor had to extend his much longer right arm to grab it. Ben slid the box beneath the little glaceon, which gave him enough height to use the binoculars.

Glim could see Lilac Island, it was much closer but details on the island were still difficult to see. He could at least make out an uphill trail and a few cottages at what appeared to be the docking point of Lilac. Most of the town was up on the island's hill, which was out of sight through the binoculars. Other than the few signs of housing, there was nothing else but grey and green water and dismal weather between the two towns.

'See anything?' asked Ben.

'There's a few houses, but I don't see any defences, or ships.'

'Keep looking, I'm gonna take a look under the water!' Ben called out, whilst running for the ladder gap on the deck. Glim glanced at Ben in confusion, thinking he had misheard the garbodor, since the water is usually freezing at that time of year. True to his word, Ben casually climbed down the ladder. As soon as his junky feet went under the water, he screamed out loud in shock, as though a harpoon was fired into him. The glaceon meanwhile could only shake his head and smile. 'What the fuck is Jane on about! This water is colder than David Camerupt, oh my God!'

The conkeldurr nearby chuckled, while Glim continued eyeing the island. The garbodor eventually climbed down into the water, still shouting as he did.

The garbodor was not the only pokémon to be oblivious at that moment, as little Glim innocently remained staring at the choppy water, someone was creeping up behind him. A houndoom, whose body was stuck in magnetism for the scent of the glaceon before him. Shadow knew deep inside that it was the same glaceon, but every step closer struck fear into his paws. Far behind him, overlooking the approach was Boris, who was a little tense about what Shadow was doing.

'Dude!' angrily whispered Boris, far too quiet for either Shadow or Glim to hear. 'Shadow, what the hell are you doing!'

Right behind the glaceon of his dreams, Shadow raised his nose, silently inhaling that scent he craved. Every time the houndoom had to exhale, he had to look away so his insanely hot breath would not alert Glim. He felt like an enormous creep doing that, enjoying the glaceon's scent so deeply while he was unaware. At that angle however, with Glim undressed and being higher up, allowed Shadow to see the truth for himself, something that had cast a cold, demonic dilemma over him. Slowly, the houndoom walked backward. He really wanted to call 'Glacia' and ask if that was him, but he already knew it was. Even in his attempt, the name he wanted to say just did not escape his tongue. What was once affection had been taken over by terror as the houndoom turned and just as quietly ran away. The scrafty, unaware of what Shadow discovered could only follow him.

When Shadow had run off, Glim had enough of the binoculars, just not able to see anything other than what he had already seen at first. He then turned to the conkeldurr, who was looking at him with interest.

'Friend of yours?' he asked.

'Uh, yeah, like my big brother.' Glim replied, assuming the conkeldurr to be referring to Ben. The huge muscular conkeldurr glanced down the alleyway for a moment, looking for the houndoom and scrafty. 'Can I, ask you something? Um, I don't suppose you know anything about that island do you? Like how to get there?'

'This "revolution" really is that serious, isn't it? Lilac Island was a holiday resort until now. I was part of the structural engineering way back when, for the big boats that would cross the sea. But now, those vessels are gone, the lighthouse was destroyed and that there harbour is forbidden for any boats to use. Which means that we don't definitely know what is happening over there. All we hear from the island are rumours.'

'I've been hearing rumours too. Some say that the leader of the Crimson is over there.'

'Crimson? I wouldn't know, I'm afraid.' said the conkeldurr, blankly fixed to the view of the island merging with the watery horizon that was the ocean.

Glim meanwhile was interested to see if there was a lighthouse as the old conkeldurr said. He looked up and turned all around and did not see any tall figure.

'Wait, there's a lighthouse here?'

'There was.' replied the conkeldurr, pointing to his west, at a hill that sloped downward before it became a cliff. Glim could see an oddly shaped light grey rock, standing in front of the cliff. 'Do you see the whitish grey rock down there?'

'Oh, that's it is it?'

'Yeah, don't know who destroyed it, don't know why. But that never stopped us from sailing, you know.'

'It didn't?'

'You're a glaceon, so are you able to use the move Signal Beam?

'Signal Beam?'

'It was one of few moves some us could use to help guide sailors in. In fact, if you can use it, you may see something else from the island over there.'

Glim jumped off the crate, standing between it and the conkeldurr. He breathed out into the air, but only used Icy Wind. The move Signal Beam was described to be an insectoid attack, made of light, shining in all colours of a rainbow. For an ice pokémon, the move resembled Aurora Beam, only it was not so cold and would apparently make the user feel very strange inside at first. When Glim tried to use the technique, he breathed out and failed completely. Signal Beam was not made from ice like Aurora Beam. Keen to see that response that Lilac would give, the glaceon was not giving up.

'How would your friends use it?'

'It generates from you're aura, much like how bugs can light themselves up, yeah? Light yourself up and fire your laser. It'll come naturally when you can show that there aura of yours.'

On the hill next to Iris' north exit, Shadow was laying down on the grass, where he could see the whole of Iris, including the Coronet on the other side. He was stuck in thought, unable to stop thinking about the glaceon he knew as 'Glacia' and loved so much, only to have his feelings crushed by one fact.

'Yo, why'd you run?' asked Boris, just catching up to Shadow. 'What's up? Dude I was terrified, man. I thought if you got any closer, a big red exclamation mark was gonna sound above her head!' The houndoom remained quiet. 'You okay? Why didn't you say anything to her?'

'It wasn't a her.' mumbled Shadow, finally breaking his silence.

'What? If it wasn't her, why'd you get so close?'

'I said, "it wasn't a her" as in- well, Glacia's a dude.' replied the houndoom standing up.

Boris showed a little surprise to the reveal, letting the news sink in.

'Really? Holy crap. Wait a minute, how didn't you notice that before?'

'I did- sort of, but remember she was in that dress and her- his face was just so beautiful to me.'

'Dude, I didn't get my own look at her last night, I was only there to help save her ass. Besides, what's the problem, maybe you like him for that?' suggested the scrafty, making the houndoom jump in shock.

'It's- it's not "him," that's the problem here!'

'Then what? Dude, it's okay to be gay- Oh!' said Boris, suddenly realising Shadow's full dilemma. 'It's because of Father Charles isn't it?'

Shadow nodded, as though his veins had frozen.

'He's going to kill me when he finds out.'

'That's if, he finds-'

'No, Boris you don't understand, he's a freaking xatu, they can see the future all the time. He probably already knew of my escorting last night and even if he doesn't, he'll probably have learned about what I did.'

'And all you did Shadow, was like a dude who looked like a chick, which maybe he'll brush off as just a mistake. We all make them, man.' said Boris, making Shadow pause, who first looked down, before looking over at the Coronet.

'I sure hope you're right Boris. Because apparently Arceus hates gays according to him, and should be sent down to Giratina.'

'You really believe all the shit he says? What if he's just saying that to control you?'

'Then I hope you're right again. You're forgetting I have to go back there, for having no home, right?' asked Shadow, which ended their dispute, with both of them looking over at the Coronet.

Their attention was then drawn away, toward the observation deck when a long stream of rainbows suddenly started beaming up to the sky.

A beam of light was being fired from the little glaceon, who looked like he was screaming. When the move finished, Glim was out of breath. The watching conkeldurr next to him clapped his huge hands.

'That's how you do it, now hold on.' he said, looking back at the island.

Glim also looked back at the island and suddenly a bright pink light flashed from the top of the island, on its horizon. The flash looked very pretty, like a rainbow of multiple shades of pink. The glaceon gasped, afraid that he triggered something.

'What was that?' asked Glim, hiding behind the bench, that the conkeldurr was sitting on.

'That there move was called Dazzling Gleam, another signal technique we'd use.'

'That also means someone is over there.'

'Indeed.'

'You think they need help?'

'Well. I like to think that someone over there just misses the peace that Crio once had. So they use that move to keep the spirit of our bonding alive. Even at grim times, when the lighthouse were inactive, we still had each other.'

As the conkeldurr finished talking, a big pokémon made of rubbish started climbing out of the water. Yelling and swearing as he came out, Ben was shivering and frequently grunting in pain. When the garbodor got onto the deck again, he approached Glim.

'Anything down there?' asked the glaceon.

'N-Nothing but junk and corsola, who- who said they see nothing down there.' said Ben, struggling to speak through his shivering.

'Okay, but we now know there is definitely someone over there. Someone who might need help.' said Glim, staring out to the island.

The pretty image of the Dazzling Gleam he saw was stuck in his eyes. To the little glaceon, it felt like a cry, a sign desperate for help.

Outside the Coronet, a massive old age building made of stone, with a large cemetery behind the structure, two boys stood, several metres from the main doors. Shadow was tense, afraid and serious. He wanted to know if the priest Father Charles knew of his mistake and if he was to be forgiven for it. Knowing the xatu well, the houndoom was prepared for all his secrets to be pulled from his head yet again and whether or not they would be thrown back at him was a matter of luck to him. His plan was to simply pass Charles, like any other day, as though nothing had happened. If the xatu greets him as usual, he would know he was in the clear.

'Y'sure you don't want me to help, dude?' asked Boris.

Shadow shook his head.

'No. He's balanced and cares for me, I'm sure he'll understand. I was mistaken as you said.'

'Well, good luck. If something happens, I'll- I'll think of something.'

'Thanks.'

The houndoom had to use his key to open the high doors, which were heavy for any little pokémon to simply push open. Inside, Shadow could see Charles at the altar far ahead, who was praying as usual. The houndoom intended to leave the door behind unlocked, in case if anything bad did happen, but right as he began his approach, he received a telepathic message.

'You have left the doors unlocked son.' coming from the priest.

The houndoom pretended to have forgotten as he glanced back to the door. Boris outside, with his back to the wall heard the door lock, which made him slightly tenser. Shadow still kept his calm, the doors was to stayed locked at all closing times for the public and everyone who lived in the Coronet had their own key. The houndoom clipped the key back on his collar and proceeded down the aisle, heading for the stairs, which was passed the xatu.

'Afternoon Father.' said Shadow, as he passed Charles, who did not answer.

'Shadow.' said the Xatu, just before the houndoom reached the old stairs, causing him to stop in his tracks. Shadow frowned, clenching his teeth. As anticipated, the father already knew about his feelings for the glaceon. 'Is there something you want to tell me?'

Shadow turned around, unafraid to confront his fear, since the xatu seemed to know already.

'Something tells me you already know.' answered Shadow.

'Yes.'

'Then allow me to justify myself Father. That night when I met that glaceon, I was mistaken, for multiple reasons. I had several drinks that night, disrupting my judgement. The glaceon was dressed in a very provocative outfit, who probably wanted that kind of attention and when he got attacked, he was the one who kissed me. Even though we had only met that night, he clearly liked me, which was not in my control Father. You yourself, always told me to stand up for those innocent who get attacked.'

'Of course. But answer me this.' said Charles, suddenly reappearing right in front of Shadow.

'Was that glaceon innocent?'

The houndoom froze in place, causing his heart to start racing. Remembering that the priest claimed homosexual pokémon evil at birth.

'I was mistaken-'

'You fell for that glaceon!' shouted Charles, somehow making his head bigger and his eyes turn black. The xatu then slapped the houndoom with his wing. Shadow only flinched. 'That glaceon has cursed you! God made male and female, to carry the miracle of life! It is wrong for anything to fall for its own gender!'

Out of his sight, Shadow was suddenly picked up into the air by Telekinesis, coming from multiple bronzor and baltoy.

'Wait, what're you doing!' demanded Shadow, while his paws were being pulled hard.

'God is furious with you, which was why he sent me those visions. You have to be healed Shadow.'

'How?'

'He will give you the choice. Go back to that glaceon and send him back to Hell!'

'What!'

'You heard me, Shadow! That freak of nature is a mistake and God does not make mistakes. You will go and kill him and remove the curse he casted to your soul!' roared Charles, taking part in pulling Shadow's limbs harder.

'You think…' stammered the houndoom, clenching his fangs. 'You think God wants that Father?'

'I do not "think" my boy, I know he does.'

'Just say he did create him! Just think for one second! You really want me to kill one of his creations, because you think he hates the glaceon?'

'You will not question his ways, heretic!' shouted Charles, tightening his grip on the helpless hound. 'The gays are made by Giratina, not God! Now go kill your glaceon or I will have to sacrifice you!'

In the immense pain, Shadow wanted to say he would, but the memories of 'Glacia's' scent, sweet behaviour and beautiful eyes seemed to quell his pain. The houndoom did not want to kill his glaceon and refused to give in to fear, making his only option being to retaliate. Shadow roared a huge dark pulse of energy that zoomed toward the father, who vanished just before it hit him. The Dark Pulse carried on going through the wall and floor behind the xatu. Charles reappeared above the floating houndoom and swung his wing, emitting a sharp wave of air, that spun Shadow down to the ground and knocking him out. The attack kept going until it hit the big metal door, making them thud loudly.

On the outside, the scrafty was already aware that Shadow was under attack. He was right up against the door, eavesdropping on the incident, until the doors hit him away. Boris was only hit back a metre, but realised that despite dark type pokémon having ignorant immunity to psychic type attacks, the houndoom was not able to fight the xatu.

'Oh shit!' said Boris, glancing around.

Knowing that Charles had brought multiple pokémon to assist him, the scrafty knew he would have to do the same, if he was to stand a chance. Remembering that 'Glacia' was staying at the hotel very close by, along with a garbodor, Boris rushed for it. As luck would have it, before Boris even got close to the Grand Lake Hotel, he spotted the very same glaceon and garbodor climbing the hill toward it. Without thinking, the scrafty jumped down the hill, forgetting how steep it was, causing him to start tumbling down it.

'Try not to catch a cold Ben.' said Glim.

'Funny, I can't be poisoned anyway.'

'So when are we going to find Jane?'

Before Ben could answer the glaceon's question, they were interrupted by the sound of Boris smacking the concrete behind them. He grunted from the recoil and was covered in dirt due to the hill. Glim meanwhile, still afraid of being recognised hid behind the garbodor as the scrafty shook himself before getting up.

'Glacia, Glacia! Major problem!' said Boris leaning left, trying to see the glaceon he already saw.

'Whoa, whoa, easy.' said Ben raised his arms, trying to prevent the scrafty from seeing Glim. 'Who're you talking to?'

'I need to speak to Glacia, now! I know he's behind you. Glacia, Shadow is in danger!' called Boris, while Ben had nothing to say, knowing that Shadow was Glim's escort who saved him.

The glaceon also wanted to speak to Boris, but was afraid of the scrafty knowing anything more about him. Instead he peeked around the big garbodor, looking into the eyes of the scrafty, who appeared incredibly desperate.

'Glacia look, we already know you're a dude, but Shadow, y'know, the guy who saved you is going to be killed!'

Hearing those words, put Glim into a shock.

'W-what's happening to him?' the timid glaceon finally spoke.

'Long story! His father is going to kill'em if you don't help, come on!'

Glim just stood, too frozen with fear to answer, but then the garbodor turned to face his little glaceon friend.

'Glim, let's go!'

'What?'

'Where is he now?' demanded Ben.

Boris, pointed up the hill and already began running up it.

'He's trapped in the Coronet, let's go!'

The garbodor knew it would be quicker for him to climb the hill path and take the left turn for the Coronet. But before Ben could start his climb, he noticed Glim was looking up at him with worry in his eyes.

'What are you doing?' asked Glim.

'What're you doing? Aren't you going to help Shadow?'

'I-I don't know.'

'Glim! He saved your life, he fell in love with you, and now he's going to be killed.' The little just paused silent, looking away, like he was not interested and regretting it. 'If you're not going to save him, I will.' said Ben, running ahead.

The glaceon watched as Ben hastily ran up the hill, quick for a garbodor. He wanted to follow Ben, deep down he wanted to save Shadow, but what he feared most was himself. Glim knew that the houndoom was madly in love with him and even if Shadow knew he was a boy, the glaceon was also afraid of what might happen if he was proven to be gay. Would the same attacks happen to him for letting the houndoom love him? Did Glim even love him too?

Closing his eyes, little Glim tried to walk back to the Grand Lake Hotel, like it was not his problem. After all, it was the houndoom who came to him and would not leave. How he knew that the little glaceon was not a girl confused him, but honestly, he did not want to know. They had only met the day before and at a nightclub too. The more he thought about it, the worse Glim thought about the houndoom. But then, right as he reached the top of the hill, seeing the hotel, he remembered that the houndoom saved him from those thugs. He cared for the glaceon and walked him home. Glim already felt as if he used him for a sucker for love, which stopped him from getting any closer to the lodging. He could not believe what he was thinking, he was hating himself then. In return of a genuinely kind houndoom who both saved him and protected him, Glim was just going to let Shadow die.

The glaceon then glanced behind him, seeing the towering Coronet rather close and began to run to it, forming a more determined face. He could see Ben and Boris were already hacking at the doors in the distance. On his way down the road, he caught glimpse of several black objects flying to his right. Glim gave it one glance, but whatever he saw flew behind the Coronet. He was pretty sure he saw a load of floating eyes with black shapes as part of them.

'Revenge be ours.' whispered a young voice, echoing in Glim's head.

Neither Ben nor Boris saw Glim approaching behind them. The garbodor was working on unscrewing the hinges, while the tough scrafty kept using his Hi-Jump Kick, doing great damage to the doors on each attempt.

'It's almost open!' grunted Boris.

'Go, Go, Go!'

The scrafty boomed through the doors, making the one to his right fly off its hinges behind him, while the other survived, but barely. Boris landed on his feet, into the Coronet, but as he did, he was met by a huge gust of wind, forcing him back. Almost falling backward, Boris was caught by the large trashy body of Ben, who being much heavier was determined to proceed through the wind. The source of what was called Tailwind, was coming from Father Charles himself. The xatu priest was standing in front of an unconscious houndoom, who was left on his back on the altar, while the six baltoy were hovering in a circle around him. The four bronzor meanwhile were idly floating above the xatu father, awaiting instructions.

Struggling to move any faster, Ben persistently pushed through the fierce wind, with Boris stuck on his front. The xatu had advantage to use Air Slash, whipping up his wing and unleashing a wave of energy toward the scrafty. Boris could only deflect the attack by swiftly redirecting the wind against his arm and sending it passed him, which still hit the garbodor by the arm, making him nudge back slightly.

'You alright?' shouted Boris.

'I'm fine, keep going!'

'Begone!' shouted Charles, raising his wing and lashing another wave of concentrated air.

In attempt of getting closer, the scrafty endured it, which left a long cut down his belly and arms, where he attempted to block the attack.

When the garbodor had managed to get half way down the aisle, the bronzor finally moved in and all glowed an aqua blue. The bronzor were using telekinesis, to stop Ben and Boris in their place. The two were not picked up, both together were too heavy for just four bronzor. As soon as the telekinesis had stopped the garbodor and scrafty, the wind died down.

Father Charles intended to recast the Tailwind spell, but just when he looked away, Boris forced himself out of the psychic hold and tried to run up to the xatu, but he was quick enough to swing his wing once more, striking the scrafty with concentrated air at point blank. Boris was hit so hard, he was thrown up into the air, well over Ben and crashing in front of the door, leaving the scrafty badly cut up and cracking his shoulder. While Boris weakly yelled in pain, a little glaceon leaped out from behind Ben and blew a strong cold wind, hitting all the bronzor and the xatu while they were distracted. Charles was blown back against the alter, while the floating bronzor only shook as they were not so affected by cold air. The Icy Wind however, did release Ben from the Telekinesis.

Glim was more interested in saving Shadow and ran ahead, but the xatu priest already saw of his approach.

'Freak!' shouted Charles, using Air Slash as the glaceon tried to jump over him and hitting him past Ben, though not as far as Boris.

The garbodor lightly jumped, attempting to crush the xatu with his body, who retaliated by summoning wind that appeared black and screaming in Ben's ears. The attack pushed the garbodor down to the floor in front of the xatu, while holding onto his ears. Father Charles stood on Ben's head, while two bronzor descended to make sure the pokémon made of weak rubbish stayed down.

Half way down the aisle, Glim got back up, angry and upset, so desperate to stop the baltoy from whatever they were doing to Shadow. The xatu meanwhile, pressing his talon on Ben's head harder, glared at the little glaceon, like he was some hero from a fairy tale and Glim was a monster to be slayed.

'You do not get it, do you glaceon! You cannot save him, because God forbids it! Diseased pokémon like you belong in Hell!'

'You liar!' screamed Glim, on the verge of crying.

Without answering, the xatu waved his wing fiercely, unleashing another Air Slash. The glaceon jumped back, easily dodging it, but putting more distance between him and the houndoom. Glim was just in front of the injured scrafty when he looked up and noticed something above Shadow.

A huge dark silhouette was manifesting quite high above the altar. It appeared very thick and with a long tail. Seeing it caught Glim's attention more than Father Charles' insanity.

The xatu yelled. 'Do not defy the words of God, you parasite! God speaks to me! I speak his words! I am God-'

It was then, when Glim had first witnessed what would become his worst nightmares. A ruthless, enraged, undying monster who would never quit.

Father Charles was suddenly stabbed by the shadowy figure floating behind him. What looked like a giant black tail with a stinger on the end had burst right through him, revealing his ribcage and spewing his cold blood everywhere. The xatu did not even scream, he sort of flinched in shock as the tail lifted him off Ben, who was also dumbfounded at what he was seeing.

The entire dark figure fully revealed itself to be a massive, grotesque being that appeared to be a fusion of three dead pokémon at once. The tail resembled a gyarados, except it had a long stinger that was on fire and leading up the tail seemed to be a giant simisear, with the giant mouth of a gyarados and massive insectoid wings on its back. The simisear part was also on fire, much darker than usual and grown on its shoulders was the head of a vespiquen that had bulky fiery arms of its own. Wrapped around the fusion was the last head which looked like a gyarados' head, but without its mouth and having huge insect eyes, while its head was on fire. The whole creature was horrific to look at, mostly because of those dead, black eyes all three heads had.

The simisear part stretched out its arm, which glowed black and then swiped the xatu priest with a dark attack. Immediately, something had changed, but little Glim had not noticed what happened, until he saw something green rolling towards him. He glanced down and saw the head of Charles, stopping dead in front of him. The glaceon leaped back screaming, hitting Boris as he was getting back up.

'Yo! Caref- what the hell is that!' yelled the scrafty only noticing the huge monster, with the rest of Charles' body slipping off its tail.

The bronzor and baltoy had noticed their leader was dead and the very sight of the multiform creature sent them all floating away in a panic. At the same time, Ben attempted to roll passed the giant and try to rescue Shadow who was still unconscious on his back. The many little psychic pokémon scattered and Ben managed to pick up the houndoom and carry him, running up the stairs.

'Go, get out of here!' shouted the garbodor, also frightened by the giant creature, only hoping that Glim and Boris were running also.

When Ben had shouted, leaving the scene, the creature tried to attack him with its tail, swiping a similar wave attack like Air Slash. Luckily, the garbodor got up the stairs just in time. The glaceon and scrafty meanwhile also attempted to escape, but the door way was suddenly blocked by a swarm of nine unown, all of which had no pupils and had an eerie green glow to them. The alphabetical pokémon used Hidden Power to project a laser in front of Glim and Boris, forcing them back. Boris was seriously injured and Glim was terrified.

The three headed monster growled, slowly floating towards Glim and Boris.

The little glaceon was frozen in place, but Boris stepped forward, clicking his cracked shoulder and trying to summon his rage.

'Bring it then.' mumbled the scrafty, who ran ahead and jumped high.

The simisear part of the monster swung its enormous arm like a hammer, sending Boris through the stone wall. The glaceon was all on his own as the beast continued creepily floating towards him. Unable to move back any further, Glim blew his freezing cold air to slow the giant creature, which did slow it down, but it was barely fazed, making no reaction in response. The little glaceon tried throwing a shard of ice at the simisear head, which did nothing. Glim turned around and tried to dash past the unown blocking his path, as the multiform monster rose up its tail, about to attack again. He managed to dive past the unown, however they were already using their Hidden Power, hitting the ground behind the glaceon, which sent him and the unown flying out of the Coronet.

Glim who was not hurt much from his crash, had landed on the edge of the hill and as he looked up, the simisear, gyarados, vespiquen fusion rematerialized instantly from a dark cloud in front of him. With nothing to lose, the glaceon stood and shot his laser made of rainbows at it, trying to buy himself time to escape. Instead, the monster screamed in multiple pitches of its voices and remained twitching in the air. Glim was surprised to see the monster appearing to be in great pain, he took several steps back, fearing it was going to explode. Looking around, he could see that the unown were also acting up, twitching violently, as if they were furious and in pain. The glaceon glanced up at the monstrosity, to see it was suddenly right in front of him. Its soulless black eyes had gotten bigger and started leaking black water. It crashed on top of Glim, screaming in fury and sending the glaceon into a blind panic, using Signal Beam again. The monster thrashed on the floor trying to kill Glim, only to flail, hammering the floor with its very bulky arms and tail. But the little glaceon being pinned down by that creature had him panicking, fighting for his life. Suddenly the enormous multiform creature appeared to be getting projected into the air by the attack made of rainbows, until it completely turned a dark purple and started crumpling into itself.

Feeling as though he had managed to kill it, Glim relieved himself from using Signal Beam, allowing himself to breathe. He was shaking, gazing up at the dark figure that the monster appeared to be compressing into. Just when it seemed it could not get any smaller, the black figure it had shrunk to quickly faded, revealing an unconscious pansear, combee and magikarp. The three little pokémon fell and were caught before hitting the ground by the nine angry looking unown, which then started circling around them as the three were gently put down on the ground.

The cold little eeveelution being several metres away from the event, got back on his feet, frightened and confused, but curious about what was happening. Nearby, a scrafty emerged from the side of the Coronet, who glanced left and right, looking for the monster, despite how exhausted and injured he was. Boris noticed Glim, standing very tense and shaky and started limping towards him.

'Glacia!' called the scrafty, limping with an aggressive expression. 'You alright?'

Glim stayed silent, only glancing back for half a second, undeterred to take his eyes off the monster again. Boris stopped just next to the little glaceon. He seemed furious.

'Is that it?' he demanded, pointing at the unown and three pokémon in the circle.

'I-I think so, I don't know!' squeaked Glim.

The pansear slowly stood and turned to look at the two far behind her. her eyes were still pitch black and she looked like she had difficulty standing. The combee was also waking up again.

'Save us.' whispered the pansear, magikarp and combee, still in their very loud echoing voice.

'What?' replied Glim.

'We pleaded. We wailed. We died. We are Martyr. Revenge be ours!' they said, getting angrier by each statement and making the unown glow red.

'Let's kill it!' said the scrafty.

Suddenly, Boris and Glim were pushed back by a wave of energy, which sent them to the floor. When they looked up, they saw another strange being, standing between them and the unown circle. It was only five and a half foot and in what appeared to be a green farmer's jumpsuit, sage green wellington boots. It had short black hair, pale white skin and like the little pokémon, it had completely black eyes. Seeing the creature made Boris' eyes widened.

'A human? But-' stuttered the scrafty, who was interrupted by the human suddenly appearing before him and with a furious expression blasted a bright white ball of energy through Boris' head.

The scrafty's body was projected back, bouncing off the floor until it hit the Coronet.

Glim screamed, as the human faced the little glaceon and pointed at the unown.

'Return!' commanded the human.

The unown immediately vanished, bringing the three wounded pokémon away. The glaceon took steps back, hoping the human would leave him alone.

'There will be no survivors.' said the Martyr remnant, charging the same attack he used on Boris.

Out of fear, Glim went straight to using Signal Beam, while the human fired his Aura Sphere, which exploded with the beam of rainbows, pushing the glaceon back slightly.

Martyr paused for a few seconds and then took a few steps closer, while Glim took steps back. Very swiftly the human raised its arm, firing another ball of light at an instant and the glaceon almost cowered, only propelled by his will to live which forced him to counter with Signal Beam again. The Aura Sphere exploded almost in Glim's face. Suddenly the human leaped incredibly high into the air with its arm pointing up and formed a huge ball of shadows, which pulsated like a heart with electricity bursting from it. Martyr suddenly disappeared, only to reappear right behind his Shadow Ball and kick it down to the little glaceon, who again resorted to firing his beam of rainbows. The human's attack that time exploded much closer to Glim's face, forcing him back into a tumble. Black clouds had spread around the path from the Shadow Ball, hiding the glaceon and the human who landed far from Glim.

'What the hell was that!' called a deep voice.

The human twitched, responding to the call and hissed.

'We shall meet again, glaceon.'

'Who are you?' asked Glim, whose sweet innocence only made the remnant pause, glaring at him longer.

'We pleaded. We wailed. We died. We are Martyr. Revenge be ours!'

The human suddenly vanished, the same way the unown did.

When the fight was finally over, the huge dark clouds dissipated and Glim sunk to the floor, trying to take in what just happened. He could see Boris' headless body just lying on its back. The frightening images of the multiform creature slowly floating towards him, trying to save Shadow from the xatu and the deaths of Charles and the scrafty was flashing in his eyes, overwhelmed him as he began to breakdown.

Seconds later, a houndoom shot passed the side of the Coronet, spotting Glim just before he was about to rocket down the hill.

'Glacia!' he gasped, scuffling with the floor, changing his direction. 'What hap- Boris!' shouted Shadow, stopping between the corpse and the crying glaceon.

Soon afterward a big garbodor rushed out from where the houndoom had appeared.

'Oh my God, what happened?' cried Ben.

Shadow rushed closer to the frightened glaceon who was covering his head with his paws. Glim could feel the nose of the houndoom nuzzling him, not in the way that meant he was safe, but more in desperation for an answer.

'Glacia, are you alright? Glacia!'