(With apologies to those with weak stomachs.)

...

(No seriously, Shadow Snivy, don't read Keski's dream!)

Chapter 14

Twa Corbies

"If nothing else, there's comfort in recognizing that no matter how much we fail and sin, death will limit our suffering." –Chuck Palahniuk

"So, this is the capitol market."

Mist examined the stalls with an air of bewilderment. She tried to act as if she knew what she was doing and where she was going, but it was pretty much useless. She looked around nervously. So many people…guess those Pokémon Lord Sable employed knew what they were talking about… an islander who'd only spent a few months on the mainland was really not ready to be out in the city by herself… She sighed.

But! This opportunity shouldn't go to waste! Sneaking out had been difficult, after all. Time to see what there was to see in this city, such as she could. She nodded to herself and strode purposefully up to the nearest stall.

The merchant, a shabby bayleaf, looked up in surprise as she approached. "Oh! G-good afternoon, ma'am! How…how may I help you?"

Mist blinked. "I'm really just taking a look around…may I ask what you're selling?"

The bayleaf blushed. "Er, the latest news and gossip from around the kingdom, Ms. Mist."

"Oh." Mist smiled apologetically. "I don't really…how did you know my name?"

The stand owner reluctantly held up a printed magazine titled 'Seafoam with a picture of her on the cover. Mist's mouth opened wide and she blushed. "Oh…I didn't realize they drew me like that…"

"Well…the issues do sell very well…" He studied the picture. "It's not indecent. You're just lying down and stretching. And it's just the culture magazine…Not a publication of ill-repute, if you catch my meaning."

Mist frowned. "Ill-repute?"

"You know…" the bayleaf prompted. Mist tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Wow. You really are from the islands, aren't you?"

"Yes…"

"I'd rather not explain it then," he said.

Mist sighed. "There's a lot of stuff I don't know…"

The bayleaf glanced between her and the picture. "You know, I'd be willing to help you learn few things. If you wanted."

"That's very nice of you!" Mist smiled.

He nodded and took a quick look at the crowd. "Right. We can arrange to meet later. However, if I was you, I wouldn't stick around here for very long. Liable to be an incident."

"Incident?" she repeated.

"Well," he chuckled grimly, "some here aren't too fond of those who live under the nobles' protection. Me? I just sell the news, take what comes my way, and try to keep my head down."

Mist's head spun. "Um…I'm in danger? From who?"

"Well…" the bayleaf began.

"Hey! You!" a voice called from behind. Mist turned in alarm and found herself staring up at a very rough and grim machamp.

"People like him," the bayleaf squeaked.

"Shuddup, Oliver," the four-armed Pokémon snapped. He leered down at Mist. "Well, well, well, if it isn't one of Lord Sable's pets."

Mist took a step back. "I think I'll be on my way now…" She moved to step by him, but one of his arms reached down and snatched her into the air by the scruff of her neck.

"Not so fast, little darling." He gave her a disconcerting grin. "Why don't ya do a few poses for me, like you do on the magazines."

"You have three seconds to put me down or I will personally lay you flat on the ground," Mist warned.

"An' how do you plan to do that, little girl?"

Mist smirked. "Watch." She took a deep breath. "Storm's…STRENGTH!" Electricity crackled through her body and she swung her hind-legs forward in a powerful kick. Both slammed into the Machamp's stomach. A rush of wind left his lungs. He dropped her and clutched his stomach.

"Why you little…" he grunted. Mist charged forward and head-butted him in the chin. He reeled backwards and fell flat on his back. "Owww…you little…bitch…"

Mist tilted her head to the side. "Is that supposed to be an insult? Because I don't think that's what that word means…"

"Shut up!" he shouted, rising slowly, "I'm going to grab you and…"

A loud whistle blew. Alarm and fear appeared on his face and he recoiled. "No…no!"

"Make way!" a loud voice ordered. The crowd parted like water before a very fast ship and an erect and proud manetric strode through, eyes stern and flashing. "What's going on here?"

The square lapsed into silence and his eyes flashed. He strode up to Mist. "You. Explain this disturbance immediately!"

"She attacked me!" the machamp shouted.

"I wasn't asking you." The officer fixed his eyes on Mist. "Please, Miss. What happened here?"

"Self-defense," Mist replied, "He tried to kidnap me."

"Oh did he now?" The manetric raised an eyebrow. "Well, what do you say in your defense, scum?"

"I didn't touch her! She attacked me out of nowhere!"

"Likely story." The officer turned and bowed to Mist. "Inspector Fulmine, Miss, at your service. I'll take care of this cur. You can be on your way." The crowd glared at Fulmine, though none were ready to step forward and defend the machamp.

"Wait, wait, wait." Mist frowned. "Is that it?"

"Is that what?" Fulmine asked.

"I mean, aren't you going to ask any more questions?" She tilted her head to the side. "Back home, even if the situation seemed obvious, Father always refrained from passing judgement until he had all the facts."

"And where was your home, Miss?"

"One of the islands on the Great Sea…"

"Ah, that explains it," Fulmine said, "Here, there are so many more cases and crimes than you have at your home. You are the more trustworthy source, therefore I hold your statement of the situation to be of greater weight."

Hesitantly, the machamp tried to sneak off, but a glare from Fulmine stilled him. Mist swallowed. "I…suppose that makes sense…but it's not quite fair, is it?"

Fulmine's eyes narrowed. "Is there a reason I should trust him over you that you would like to share?"

"There is!" the machamp shouted, "She's a spy!"

"No she's not!" Oliver the bayleaf called from his stand. He held up the magazine with her picture on it. "She's a respectable model for the Redfield Report!"

Mist frowned. "What's an spy?"

Silence fell over the square. Even the angry mutterings of the crowd grew still. Fulmine cleared his throat awkwardly. "Traitors to the kingdom. It's a nagging problem that the police can't seem to get rid of."

Mist's head spun. "That's not helpful either. What's that word mean?"

"Clearly nothing you need to worry about at the moment!" Fulmine glared over his shoulder at the machamp. "As for this lying scum…"

"Officer, please…" the fighting-type pled, "I don't want to go to prison!"

"Then you shouldn't have broken the law! Now, march!" Fulmine nodded to Mist. "Have a good day, Miss."

"Yeah…you too, officer…" Mist shook her head. "Why is this world so confusing?!"

Oliver trotted over to her, a look of concern on his face. "Are you okay, Mist?"

She smiled weakly at him. "I'm not hurt, if that's what you mean." She started. "Oh! I have to get back before they realize I'm gone!" She took off running. "See you soon, Oliver! I'll come back here this Wednesday, okay?"

He blinked, but then a grin spread across his face. "I'll be waiting for you!" he called. She threw a smile back at him and disappeared around the corner. The instant she was gone, Oliver let out a whoop. "I can't believe she likes me! Does she like me? Oh, I hope she likes me…"


(Warning: More so than normal, some may find this disturbing.)

Darkness…darkness and wind. Keski felt himself adrift in the air. He couldn't remember why he wasn't on the ground anymore, but he had the vaguest impression that something hit hard in the head. But his eyes saw nothing. All was black and dark.

He struck the ground and rolled, limp as a doll, and lay still. A chill gust passed him by and his mind faded away.

"Forward, soldiers of Northmarch!"

Once again, he stood on the battlefield, a sword of pure golden aura clutched in his paws. The army of the Midnight Kingdom sprawled out before him, numberless and endless. But he was not afraid. He dashed forward to meet them, a beacon of light amidst a writhing mass of shadow. Left, right, up, down, his golden blade flashed in the gloom. None stood before him. None could.

He let out a wild laugh, riding the storm of battle. This, this place where life and death stood arm and arm, this was where you were fully alive! Working a field? Reading an empty book? Where was true life in those things? Not even the rapturous embraces of a lover could compare to the fire swelling in his chest at this moment! Life was a battle, this truth he accepted. No, more than accepted; relished!

Pound, heart! Blood, race! Arms that were strong, feet that did not falter, eyes that no enemy could escape! The cavern of his chest resounded with life: great, gusts of wind! Alive. Alive! To dance with Death and come out unscathed! To tread just on the cliff's edge and not fall over! Alive! In that dark, bloody shroud of ruin and battle, he knew himself.

He let out a roar and plunged into a new clump of enemies. In flashing arcs of strobing light, his blade lashed out and slew them left, right, and center. And after them…there was no one left around him. He took a deep breath and laughed.

Pain slammed into his shoulder and almost made him fall. He whirled, fire in his eyes, but it paled before the might of the being before him. His eyes were pools of magma, his wings stronger than the mountains themselves, and the strength of his aura flooded Keski's senses as if the entire ocean had been dumped onto his head at once. The being opened his mouth and spat forth an arrow of darkness. It pierced Keski's chest all the way to the other side. The lucario staggered and fell backwards. And there he lay for what seemed ages, unmoving, staring with empty eyes at the sky.

Two winged forms, much lesser and fouler than the one which struck him down, circled overhead. Slowly, ever so slowly, they descended and landed on a dead tree-branch nearby.

"Where shall we go and dine today?" the first asked.

"On a battlefield, not far from here," the second said, "There lies a new-slain knight. A lucario with golden fur. His friends and family search for him, yet cannot find where he lies. He's ripe for our feasting."

Their eyes fell on Keski. They took wing once more and landed on either side of him. "Go away," Keski growled, "I'll get up any moment now. I'm only resting."

They appeared not to hear him. The second clacked its beak. "Hahahaha! Yes! Fresh still. Just look at those eyes. Still clear, even though he's dead."

"Yes…" the first agreed, "and his fur will mend our nest and keep us warm."

"I want to peck them out. I always like the eyes best."

"We'll get as much of his pelt as we can back to the nest, then we can gorge ourselves on a very sweet dinner with his meat."

The second hopped up onto Keski's chest and stared at one of his half-open eyes. It clacked its beak again. "In a minute. I'm dying for a taste…"

"I'm not dead!" Keski growled, "Leave me al—"

Searing, white-hot pain lit up his skull. His body remained paralyzed, arms limp at his side and unable to defend himself. He let out a silent scream.

Through the haze of pain, he heard a gulping sound. "Delicious!" the second bird declared, "Say, how'd this one die?"

"He relied too much on his own strength and the god of war laid him low," the first replied. Keski felt a stabbing pain in his arm. "Mm! But in the end, all his strength could do was carry him to a lonely grave."

"Please…" Keski cried, "Stop…"

The second one hopped over to his remaining eye and stared into it. "Mmm, now or later?"

"Later, idiot. Help me get some of this pelt off him. It'll keep the nest warm in the winter."

"Coming, love." The bird hopped away from his face and sharp, near-unbearable pain shot up from his arms. "Good find, this one."

"Yes, isn't he?"

"We shall strip his bones bare."

"He shall lie naked on this hillside."

"Unmarked."

"Unknown."

"Forgotten."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

Keski let out a scream which shattered everything.


"Is he going to be okay?"

"Shh! Quiet please," a female voice said, "I'm trying to sew up this gash in his forehead."

Keski groaned as a sharp pain lanced through his head right above his eye. He instinctively tried to strike the person responsible, but biting chains pulled his arms short.

"I told you he'd do that," the female said with a chuckle. Keski forced his eyes open, or one of them anyway. The other refused to so much as budge and a searing pain shot through it when he tried. He growled. "Oh be quiet. You're lucky he didn't kill you."

Slowly, his vision focused. "R-Roa?"

The zoroark grinned toothily. "The one and only! Now hold still while I finish sewing you up." Keski gritted his teeth as she repeatedly poked the needle through his skin and drew the stitches tight. He didn't have the strength to resist and just lay still instead. "There! All done!" Roa stepped away from him, a smile on her face. Keski once again tried to lift his arm, but the chain cut the movement short.

"Why am I…?"

"Didn't want to get clobbered if you woke up. Turns out, that was a wise decision," Roa responded. She held up the key and twirled it around her finger. "Think you're able to stand?"

Keski's only reply was a low groan.

"I'll take that as a 'no'." Roa shook her head. "At this rate, I don't think you'll last the remaining nine days…" She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. "And seriously? 'Do your worst'? How stupider can you get?"

"Why do you care?" Keski murmured, "You want me dead too…"

Roa blinked. "Now when did I ever say that?"

"You didn't say it. But you do. I'm right, aren't I?"

"Oh please, Keski, don't…"

Keski rose slightly. "You want me dead too, I know it. Everyone here wants to see me suffer. I…" He winced and fell back.

Ryke clambered up onto the table so Keski could see him. "Keski, Roa's been nice. She's fed me and she even played games with me while we were waiting for you to come back…" He touched the lucario's fur softly. "And when you do, your fur is orange instead of gold because of all the blood! If she hadn't been there…She helped you, Keski. She doesn't want you to die… I don't want you to die. So please don't talk about it like it's inevitable!"

Keski coughed. "I can't even tell if I'm in pain or not…"

"You are," Roa said lightly, "I drugged you. You won't feel it for another couple of hours, but you definitely are." She hesitated. "Who…who was it, by the way? Who did this to you?"

"Tyrone, and your wonderful father, who else?" Keski growled, "Your father's back may be broken, but his claws are very sharp."

Ryke looked confused. "Who's your father, Roa? If you mentioned it before, I forgot…"

Her expression turned grim. "Alzam, High Priest of Darkrai."

Ryke's eyes opened wide. "Oh…"

"Yeah…" Roa chuckled grimly, "We're not in a 'speaking relationship'. After he tried to get me to drink the blood of a 'sacrifice', I just gave up on talking to him."

Ryke looked a little sick. "B-blood sacrifice?"

"What? Does this look like the land of happy, happy nice people to you?" Roa said with a smirk, but it quickly faded. "You know, Northmarch was right about many things. They may be a bunch of stuck-up, arrogant, racist bastards, but they were kind of right. It would be a better world if Tyrone did not rule the Midnight Kingdom."

Keski examined her face for any sign of a joke. "You're…you seriously think that? You know that's considered treachery, right?"

Roa gave him a saucy grin. "Of course. But I also know that no one would believe you if you told them. My father would make sure that, even if they did, they really didn't. It's amazing how easy it is for him to change people's minds about what they do and don't believe by threatening their children." Ryke and Keski shuddered.

"I don't want to be here anymore…" Ryke muttered, "I didn't want to in the first place, but now I really want to leave!"

"Well, isn't that an interesting proposition!" Roa declared. She leaned over Keski's body and looked him directly in the eye. "So, I guess this next question is very important, right? Keski, are you sorry for what you did to me?"

"What did he do?" Ryke asked.

Keski's hackles rose. "I could ask you the same question…" he growled, "And why does it matter?"

"Because." She poked him in the shoulder and he hissed. "Er, sorry. It matters because I'm not helping you if you haven't changed. Now answer me."

The lucario hesitated. Finally, he slumped backwards and sighed. "Yes…" he said, "Yes, I'm sorry…"

"Sorry for what?" Ryke held his head. His mind felt like it was spinning round and round.

She stared into his eyes for a long moment. Then, she nodded. "Welp, I guess there is no better chance than now."

"Chance for what?" Ryke asked, "I'm so confused…"

Roa patted him on the head. "Getting out of here, of course!" Her face adopted a more pensive expression. "Hmm, yes, getting to two of you out shouldn't be too difficult."

"The two of us?" Ryke asked in alarm, "But what about everyone else?"

"Does it matter? If you stay here, you'll die a horrible, horrible death," Roa answered.

Ryke stamped a paw on the ground. "Yes it matters! They're our friends! I'm not leaving them!"

"Stay then!" Roa pushed him aside and bent over Keski. One of her claws traced the outline on his chin and a slightly crooked grin spread over her face. "What about you, Keski? Want to escape all this and leave it behind? Come with me and it can be just like when we were kits."

Keski glared at her. "I'm not leaving Bolt."

Roa's smile faded a little. "Why not?"

"I was charged with protecting him. And he's my friend," Keski answered, "I'm not leaving without him."

She sighed. "Fine! We'll bring the idiot jolteon with us!"

"And he won't leave without everyone else," Keski said. Roa rolled her eyes. "So you see, if you want to save me, you'll have to find a way to take everyone else with you."

Her eyes softened. "Keski…have you seen yourself? A stiff breeze would knock you over. You can't push yourself forever just because it's your duty. Just…can't you ever think of yourself for once? Don't you deserve to be happy?"

Keski's expression turned somber. "I…honestly don't know," he muttered, "But running away and leaving Bolt and the Starchasers behind would ruin whatever chance I had at it. It's one of those annoying things about having a conscience."

"Says the one who wiped out entire villages without remorse," Roa scoffed, "Some conscience you got!" Keski went stiff and his face turned cold. Roa clapped a paw over her mouth. "I…I didn't…Keski, I'm sorry…I didn't mean it like that!"

"What did you mean then?" Keski growled.

She winced. "I just meant that this is a bad time to start acting morally…"

Keski half-rose into a sitting position, fury building in his face. "You think I have no morals?!" Golden light appeared in his eyes. "Let me tell you something, friend, I've always acted according to what I thought was right! I was wrong, and now I know that! And it's the knowing that is the greatest torture of all, more than whatever demented things Tyrone can do to me! You, on the other hand, have always done what pleased you most. I guess I should count myself fortunate that I please you, but I will not leave them behind."

"You're an idiot," she said.

"Well, that's an improvement then," Keski growled.

"You aren't changing your mind on this, are you?"

"Nope."

Roa bowed her head. "Well then…if it will satisfy this 'conscience' of yours, I'm going to have to make a few visits. See what we can come up with to help them. I'll be back later. Don't open the door for anyone but me, you hear?" She stepped into the hall.

"We…won't?" Ryke promised, "But, if you're going down to the prisons, would you…um, see the thing is, I have a friend named Mina. She's a zigzagoon. I…I want to make sure she's alright." Roa smiled at him and nodded. Ryke locked the door behind her. The riolu sat cross-legged in front of it and rested his head on his paws. "She's strange…"


Roa hummed very softly to herself as she padded silently through the darkened halls of Tyrone's palace. Silence and stealth were her best skills. Not even the subtle tune escaped the confines of her closed mouth. She blended into the shadows, moving easily between them so that an outside observer who happened to spot her would think she was merely taking a leisurely stroll. Yet whenever a guard came by, she always managed to be hidden in the shadows. None saw her stalk right past them and into the pens of the slaves.

"Hmm…hmm…" She tapped a claw to her lip. "Which one was it? Ah! Here we are." She snuck up to an iron reinforced door with a tremendous lock on it and placed an ear against it and peered in through a small crack. If she remembered correctly, this was where the eeveelutions were locked away. Oh! Looks like that was right. The jolteon and a female glaceon were talking while the other two appeared to be asleep. Well, the glaceon was talking. The jolteon seemed…distracted.

"Bolt…are you listening to me?"

Bolt's head snapped up and his eyes met Cia's. "Oh! Sorry. I…well, I wasn't paying attention…"

"I asked if you're okay," the glaceon said quietly, "You, um, have been very quiet since yesterday…"

Bolt blinked. "Really? Hmm, I guess that makes sense…I haven't been feeling well since then."

A look of alarm came across Cia's face. "A-are you getting sick? If we asked nicely, the guards might give us some medicine."

"No…" Bolt sighed. "I suppose you could say it's my soul that sick."

"Oh…" Cia didn't quite know what to make of that. "Um…can I help? What do you mean your soul is sick?"

Bolt hesitated. "Well…when someone's soul is sick, it means something's causing them great pain, but on the inside. I…well." He smiled, but his paws trembled. "I suppose you could say I wasn't prepared for…this."

"None of us were." Cia laid a sympathetic paw on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. "But we're here for you, Bolt. Like Skipper said, we'll protect each other." Bolt looked down. "Um…did I say something wrong?"

"We'll protect each other, eh?" Bolt sighed. "And what good are songs and stories, then? They can't stop fire or ice. They won't form a shield to protect us against snapping jaws of slashing fangs. But they're all I know. So what good am I then?"

Cia shrank back a bit. "Bolt…you're scaring me. What…what happened? You're always so…happy?"

"They hurt Keski," the jolteon replied, "They hurt him badly. And all I could do was…" He swallowed. "I just stood there, watching with very wide eyes, as they did things to him that I didn't know anyone was capable of. I…I should have tried to…to stop them. I did try. I tried to catch their attention with stories and songs, but…I should have fought to save him, but in the end all I could do was stand there. Stand there and watch."

"What did they do to him?" Cia asked timidly.

"I…I won't describe it," Bolt said grimly, "But his fur was dark orange, almost red, from all the blood. And his skin is very hard to break. Tyrone…that miserable old…" He clenched his jaw. "I swear, by the life my father and Arceus himself, that I shall see the end of that Pokemon. He is so purely evil that nothing can save him."

"Will…Keski be alright?" Cia asked tentatively. She did not like the subject of 'ending' Pokémon, no matter who they were, and was eager to change it.

Bolt sighed forlornly. "I couldn't say…I just hope that someone in this place is looking out for him, because right now…" He tapped the cell door lightly. "I sure can't…"

Roa took a step back. "Well then…" she muttered, "I suppose it's time to begin." She bent down to the keyhole and whispered. "Hello. Can you hear me?"

"I hear a voice!" Cia gasped, "Bolt, what should we do?"

"Ask it to bring us Razz Berry tarts?" he suggested.

"My name is Roa," she said, "I'm here to help."

Cia and Bolt remained silent for a moment. "Cia, I think Cyon and Yuki will want to hear this…" Bolt suggested.

"I'll wake them up," she said.

"Good idea." Bolt rose and trotted over to the door. "Hello there, oh mysterious voice! How are you doing today?"

"Very well, and you?" Roa replied.

"Oh, as well as can be expected," Bolt said cheerfully.

"So…not very well at all?" Roa hazarded.

Bolt chuckled. "You got it…"

"Then let's see if I can't brighten your day a bit." Roa cleared her throat. "My name is Roa. I'm Keski's caretaker. I hate this place, I don't want to see Keski die, and I'm going to get you all out of here."

Bolt eyes narrowed. "Really? Cool. Tell me this, though: how? How are you going to do that?"

"Simple," she said, "I'm a member of the court. I just have to say I'm taking a carriage out for a morning jaunt through the mountains. If everyone can cram inside, there should be no problem."

"Not everyone's going to fit in one carriage," Cyon protested, coming and sitting next to Bolt, "Try again."

"It's a big carriage," Roa countered.

"How will we get past the guards?" Cia asked.

"I'm a zoroark. Illusions are my thing. They won't even know you're there," she said proudly. She heard strong whispers from inside as the four debated with each other. It made her nervous, standing there outside a cell she wasn't supposed to be visiting. Anyone could come along right now and, even if they only saw the wall thanks to an illusion, the four prisoners in the cell might give her position away regardless. Seconds ticked by and became minutes, minutes became a quarter of an hour, and then finally she heard one voice speak from inside the cell.

"Alright," Bolt said, "You might be tricking us, but any chance of getting Keski and the rest of us out of here is better than none."

Roa let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. I will make all the arrangements and come for you tomorrow morning before the sun rises. Be ready."

"We will," they answered.

Roa rose and quickly padded away from their cell. Next was the main group of Starchasers, down in the pens. She managed to catch both Skipper the floatzel and Slicer the kabutops on break and explain her plan to them. They were even less trusting than Team Snowpaw or Bolt had been, but when she spelled out their options for them (and none of them were good) the begrudgingly agreed to her help.

"Iffn' ye betray us…" Skipper threatened.

"We'll find a way to get to you," Slicer finished.

She huffed. "Everyone has trust issues today it seems…"

"With good reason," Skipper countered.

She shrugged. "Granted. But I am your best chance."

"And it's in your best interest to stay that way," Slicer said with menace in his voice, "We won't risk our friends' lives needlessly."

"Speakin' o' that." Skipper cleared his throat. "How fares Shadow?"

Roa blinked. "Darkrai?"

"Shadow," Skipper insisted, "The Guildmaster trusted him enough t' make him a Starchaser. Don't know why he didn't introduce us t' him, but that's not important. He be one of us. We aren't leaving him behind."

"Your friend is evil incarnate," Roa said flatly.

"Not if we can get him away from here," Slicer snapped, "And if you can't manage that, then forget the whole thing!"

"We all leave or none o' us," Skipper agreed.

Roa put her head in her paws and ground her teeth. "You idiots! Keski will die if he doesn't get out of here soon! And what do you think will happen to the rest of you if he does, hmm? I wouldn't count on the King's mercy or understanding!"

"We know," Skipper said calmly, "But we are not willing t' leave him behind without at least giving him a chance to escape with us."

Roa clenched her paws into fists. "Fine! If not for Keski, I'd just leave you here to rot if that's your attitude. But if he betrays us, because he will, it's all your fault!" She rose in a huff and stormed out.


"Out…out, damn you!"

"I cannot leave. You and I are one."

"You're a monster! Get out! I command you!"

"If I'm a monster, what does that make you? A hero? Ha! I should hardly think so."

Shadow wrapped both paws around his ears, trying to drown the voice in his head out. But it was useless. "Leave me be…"

"You are me, fool! I don't properly exists at all. If I am 'bothering' you, then you have only yourself to blame. Quite the quandary, isn't it?"

Shadow clenched his jaw. "Yes…I suppose it is…" He rose from his position curled up on the ground. "In that case, I will simply think no more of you and you shall be driven from my mind."

"Can you?"

"Can I what?"

"Can you 'think no more' of all the memories you now have? Is it really that…simple?"

"I…" There was a knock at the door. Shadow snarled. "Go away, Alzam! I don't want to hear any more of your nonsense!"

"Well then!" a bright and cheery voice replied, "Be glad I'm not Alzam!"

Shadow frowned and went to the door. He opened it cautiously. "Hello there!" There was a female zoroark on the other side, "My name is Roa. May I come in?" Shadow wordlessly held the door open. "Thanks." She bounded in and sat upon a couch.

Shadow approached her and crossed his arms. "If this is about Alzam's offer to provide me with 'female entertainment', I'm still not interested."

"Oh, this is nothing like that." Roa chuckled. "Besides, Lord Eon has them all 'occupied'."

"Eon? As in, Eona's brother? A Latios?"

"Yep! That's the one!"

Shadow's shoulder slumped. "So…he's been captured. I do not look forward to telling Eona or Master Majyk…"

"Not captured."

Shadow blinked. "Explain."

"He came to us. To help with the war," Roa answered, "And once you're back to normal, we'll have two gods on our side."

In a flash, Shadow had her by the throat. "I see what this is," he hissed, "Alzam got tired of talking to me himself, so he sent a little acolyte! Well let me tell you something, cultist! I AM NOT DARKRAI! If you want your damned god of nightmares, you won't find him anymore! He's going to stay dead, locked up inside me forever!"

Roa choked and kicked at him, but he only tightened his grip. "You…are you…serious?"

"As a six-inch dagger through the heart." Shadow slowly set her down and shoved her away from him. "Now go."

Roa massaged her throat and stared at him. "Keski's dying," she blurted out.

"Yeah. I know. Alzam keeps me 'updated'."

"I'm getting him out of here," Roa said, "And…the others. Since he refuses to leave without them…I can get you out too, if you want."

Shadow growled. "Please don't lie." He flexed his claws and bared his teeth. "I really hate liars…"

"You may not be Darkrai, but you sure are scaring the crap out of me…" Roa held her paws up. "Look, you don't even have to believe me. Just be ready. Soon, I'll be knocking on your door again, and then I'll have all your friends with me and the key to freedom in my hand."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

She shrugged. "Well, then be happy, because you won't be waiting long."