A/N This is a sequel to the story, "Chain of Souls" that my friend and I co-wrote. She, RosesnWater, made videos on YouTube, and I wrote the story based on those videos. That's how this story is co-written right now.

I don't own anything except an OC characters you see (Almira, Alexandra, Victor, etc.) All characters are owned by their respective companies; the plot was written between RosesnWater and I, so she partially owns the plot.

RosesnWater: Me neither; it was both cool and unusual when I found that out. Thanks :)

Devilgirl123: Well, they ARE the star pairing of the story :D

With Eyes Wide Shut
Chapter 2

As Thrax sat cross-legged at the table, Belle was reading her new book on the sofa nearby. Almira was stretched out in a patch of sunlight that came in through the window. Since she and Thrax weren't on the run and having to sleep wherever it was available, usually outside, the hyena had gotten a bit lazy, preferring to sleep in the sunshine in the daytime. This didn't mean she didn't like walking around outside, sometimes chasing a stick or ball Belle or Thrax threw her. No, she still liked to run around, sniffing out rabbits to chase. She also liked her R&R every now and then.

The Pokemon were outside somewhere; probably practicing their moves and battling skills. Even though there were only five Pokemon in the area, there were also dangerous animals and people, and the Pokemon wanted to be prepared for any attack. They owed it to themselves to protect their new home and family; they liked calling themselves bodyguards.

"So, how was the town visit today?" Thrax asked out of the blue.

Belle sighed, turning a page in her book. "Well, I was able to count at least seven whispering insults before losing count today."

"Heh, a new record." Thrax chuckled. He stopped when Belle gave him a look.

"Thrax, I don't like how they treat you."

"I just ignore 'em, baby. After all, I've had that treatment my whole life; who's to say it won't last the rest of my life?"

"I know. I just don't like it."

He nodded solemnly. He didn't like it either, but he didn't make a big fuss about it. And he never liked it when someone made a crude comment about Belle, whether it was about how odd she was, or how she was crazy for marrying a monster. When someone insulted his wife, all it took was a glare and his glowing burner claw to make them shut up. He rarely had to get physical.

"I guess we'll have to accept that we're the odd ones out of the town." Thrax said. "An' if they don't like us, well, we ain't goin' nowhere, so they'll have to accept us."

"I've heard of people doing nasty things to people they don't like in other towns," Belle remarked, closing her book and putting it away. "Like spitting on them as they go down the street."

"If they spit at us, just spit back." Thrax grinned. "I could teach you."

Belle laughed, patting his shoulder. "Thanks, but I'll pass."

He shrugged. "Mh, suit yourself, baby."

Almira had woken up, and was looking out the window. Suddenly, her ears perked up, and she started barking. "What're you barkin' at, Baby Girl?" Thrax muttered, standing and looking out the window.

"What is it?" Belle asked.

"I don't see anyth-wait, there's a hawk flyin' close by."

"A hawk? What if it gets the chickens?"

"I'll go out an' scare it away." Thrax walked to the door and stepped outside; Almira followed close behind.

To his surprise, as he approached where the hawk was circling, it came for him. He stretched out one arm to protect his face; the hawk landed on his forearm like it was a trained bird. It had something in its hooked beak. It looked like a rolled-up piece of paper.

Curious, Thrax took the paper easily from the hawk. Once he had it, the bird flew away until it disappeared into the clouds.

Almira cocked her head, whining in confusion. "I don't know what that was about either, Mira." Thrax said. Shrugging, he and the hyena walked back into the house.

Belle had a confused expression as well. "Why did it land on your arm?" She asked.

"It had a paper in its beak."

"Do you think it was trained to deliver messages?"

"It looked wild. Then again, I ain't too educated in domesticated birds." He unrolled the paper and read it. As his green and yellow eyes scanned the paper back and forth and down, they narrowed angrily.

Belle was started to get worried. "Thrax?" She spoke up.

"To hell, I will!" He snapped, crumpling up the paper and throwing it on the table.

Belle's mouth fell open in surprise. "Thrax?"

He didn't answer; instead, he stormed out of the house, his black cloak flowing behind him. Almira trotted after him with a confused expression.

Belle stood where she was for a few minutes. Something on that message had upset Thrax. But what? She knew it was considered rude to read another's letter, but she was very concerned for her husband.

Alexandra, Francis, and Victor walked into the house, all looking bemused. "Is everything okay?" Alexandra asked. "We saw Thrax storm out of the house. What happened?"

"He got this letter via hawk, and something about it upset him." Belle explained, picking up the crumpled paper from the floor.

"Ooh, read it!" Francis hopped onto the table and sat down with an eager grin.

"Francis, we can't just read other people's letters." Victor sighed.

"I agree, Victor," Belle said, smoothing out the paper. "But I want to know what upset Thrax, and I have a feeling he won't just tell me. You all know how stubborn he is about these things."

The Pokemon all nodded.

Once the paper was smoothed out, Belle began reading,

Dear my son, Thrax,

I do hope you've received this message. I've been searching for you, and have finally found out that you are living in a village close to the mountain where I live. I've also learned of your past life, growing up in a biased environment. But I won't go into detail about what you already know.

I am writing you this letter because I wish to meet you. I've only seen you once when you were but a newborn when your mother tried to give you to me. I had to refuse; even though I was no longer part of my former pack, Daemons never raise their hybrid young. But, after twenty years, I confess that I am quite curious about you. So, I wish to meet you.

My home is about a day's journey from your village. I've included another paper, detailing as best directions as I can write to get to my home. I really want to meet you, my son.

Sincerely, your Daemon father, Draconis

Belle was silent for a few seconds before Francis pawed at her arm. "Belle?"

She blinked. "It's from his father." She said quietly, wondering if they heard her.

"His father?" Victor asked, proving that he at least heard her.

"His father is a Daemon; he wants to meet Thrax."

"Why would that get Thrax upset?" Francis wondered out loud.

"Francis, his father refused to take his own son in when his mother didn't want him." Belle said. "And Thrax has never heard anything about him, save for that he is a Daemon, his whole life. I doubt Thrax would want to get to know his father."

"She's got a point." Alexandra agreed.

"Well, his father obviously wants to meet him, even though Thrax wants nothing to with him," Victor said.

"Yes, he does. He even wrote directions to his home." She handed the other paper to Victor after skimming it. "The only problem is I don't think Thrax will even go."

"Do you want him to?" Francis asked.

"Well, I think it would be nice of him to know his other parent. How bad could he be compared to Melissa?"

"Well, it'll take a lot of convincing to get Mr. Stubborn to go." Alexandra remarked.

Belle nodded, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "Maybe I should talk to someone about the situation, and see what they think of it?"

"I don't see why not." Victor shrugged. "But who?"

"Someone who might know how to deal with stubborn people." Belle opened a cupboard and took out a small chest. She opened the chest and took out a small, black mirror. This mirror didn't have a reflection; it was as though black paint had been painted over it. Clearing her throat, Belle held the mirror so it was facing her and said, "Ariel? Can you come over? I need to talk."

Ariel was once a mortal young woman, who Thrax had fallen in love with. However, she was never in love with him, and instead fell in love with the God of Dead, Hades. She eventually went to live with him in the Underworld; this was possible because during a struggle against Ursula, a former goddess, over the Trident of Mortality, an object that could turn gods mortal, and turn mortals into immortals, Ariel's hand had brushed against the trident. Even with that small touch, and even after the trident was destroyed, Ariel became immortal, and thus was able to marry and live with Hades. She wasn't a goddess, per say, but she did over see the aquatic souls that came into the Underworld.

Thrax and Hades never quite got along, whereas Belle and Ariel were good friends. They often got together, whether on land or in the Underworld, to chat about "girly things," as Thrax called them, and about their husbands and such. Belle was able to communicate with them via the black reflection-less mirror she had.

In an explosion of blue and black bubbles, Ariel appeared in the living room. She had long red hair tied in a high ponytail, blue eyes, and wore a black dress with two gray skull pins holding it in place and black sandals. As she was born a mermaid, but turned into a human, when she was in a body of water, her legs turned into a sea-green mermaid tail.

"Hi, Belle," She smiled, sitting on the sofa. "What do you need?"

Belle sat down in the armchair and explained what happened, from Thrax receiving the message to when she found out what it was about.

Ariel was silent the whole story with a pondering expression. "Why didn't Thrax's father raise him? He's his son, after all."

"He said in the letter that Daemons never raise hybrid young." Belle answered. "That may be a good reason for Draconis, but not for Thrax."

Ariel nodded in agreement. "What should I do?" Belle fell back against the chair with a groan. "Part of me wants to not bother Thrax about it, but the other part wants to convince him to go and at least get to know him."

"Well, I think you should do what you think is right. If it was me, I'd want him to at least meet his father, and, like you said, get to know him."

"So you think I should convince him to go?"

"Sure." Ariel shrugged. "What harm could it do? You know he'd never hurt you on purpose."

Belle nodded with a smile; she felt much better. "So, how's life in the Underworld."

"Different," Ariel remarked, stroking Francis, who had crawled onto her lap. "But I'm getting used to it. I'm glad I'm able to swim as a mermaid; if I didn't have that part of me, I don't know what I'd do. Besides today's event, how's your life?"

"Same old," Belle shrugged.

The women talked some more before Ariel had to leave. As Belle waved goodbye to her, before she disappeared in black and blue bubbles, she felt more confident about confronting Thrax about the situation.

A/N Well, this was quite a bit longer :)

Can I just say how much I loved the scene in the vid where Belle was placing a book on the table, and Thrax looked like he was sitting at the table? RosesnWater is a genius at video making! And here I am, feeling like a meager amateur XD Ah well, I have my own talents too.

It felt like Thrax to be humorous, rather than hostile, when the townsfolk are insulting him behind his back. He's been treated like that his whole life, so he's used to it. The only difference now is that he has some friends, including his wife, who don't do that; they accept him for who and what he is.

As a kid growing up, Thrax never knew his father; Melissa only had bad things to say about him. When he was old enough to understand more, including that Daemons don't raise their hybrid young, Thrax didn't want anything to do with him. That's why he's upset about the letter from Draconis (I don't know where I got the name; it just fit)

I decided to make Ariel immortal (she's NOT a goddess; just immortal) so she could live with Hades. Her dress is kinda like Meg's, but it's black, doesn't have the ribbons, and the buttons are gray and shaped like skulls (think Hades' chiton pin) It just fit that when she appeared, she appeared in an explosion of black and blue bubbles; she also turns into a mermaid in water. And after the whole events of "Chain of Souls" was over, she and Belle became good friends; Hades and Thrax, mmm...not so much.