Ehh I'm incredibly sorry about the major updating delay. There's no real reason for it besides being lazy and busy with school. So yeah I hope everyone enjoyed the Darkrai movie and whatnot.
Oh and thanks to Cyst, SaruwatariAsuka, highturo-kun112, KisaraCrystal, Solo Rider, and Damned Lolita for reviewing last chapter!
Disclaimer: Isn't it obvious I don't own Pokemon?
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Facing the Darkness, Part II
Hikari awoke slowly, her face steadily rising from off the dirt path. She blinked and looked around at the trees surrounding her. The terrain was also slightly rocky, with boulders strewn randomly between the masses of trees. Hikari could tell she was by the shore – the sounds and smells of the sea greeted her as soon as she came to. Brushing off her outfit, she got to her feet.
This must be... Darkrai's home, Newmoon Island, she thought. Somehow I must of ended up here...
Hikari examined her person, confirming that this was actually real. That somehow, she had managed to escape the clutches of Darkrai's nightmare realm. After double-checking the presence of her three Pokemon – who weren't chasing after her in a bloodthirsty rage – Hikari followed the dirt road past an enormous boulder that blocked her sight.
Around the bend, the trees parted and the path led between them, eventually being swallowed by the shadows. Tentatively, Hikari walked amid the looming trees and into the darkness.
When she emerged, she found herself in a dimly lit clearing, treetops obscuring any sunlight. In the center of the area, hovering over a dark, almost black, puddle was Darkrai. Hikari's body shuddered involuntarily as she took a silent step forward.
Its obsidian, ghostly body and pure-white "hair" billowed gently in a breeze unfelt by the blunette. Dark eyelids currently shielded its intimidating blue eyes. Clawed arms were folded across its chest, situated below the skeletal crimson neckpiece. Hikari took a deep breath and exhaled silently before taking another step forward. She could hear Darkrai's ragged breathing, steadily growing louder.
But oddly, the Pokemon looked almost at peace. Like it was vulnerable, or maybe even lonely. Hikari was compelled forward, this time taking more steps and reaching her hands out to Darkrai.
Suddenly, Darkrai's eyes shot open, the girl set it its sight. It charged forward, clawed hands outstretched towards Hikari's neck. She screamed as Darkrai's ghostly form passed through her, sending pulsations of fear through her veins. Hikari could have sworn she felt her blood turn to ice.
Darkrai came to a screeching halt and spun to face Hikari once more. The girl was frozen and unable to evade as it darted forward again. Hikari gasped as a red light suddenly appeared, forming a barrier between her and the Pitch-Black Pokemon. From the light, a Vespiquen materialized, summoning a buzzing army of insects with her.
They created a blockade from Darkrai's attack before disappearing completely. Hikari stared at her partner with wide eyes, snapping out of her trance. She took a moment to process her situation before gathering the courage to act.
"Thanks Vespiquen!" she shouted up at her Pokemon. "Now use Power Gem!"
The Bee Queen Pokemon raised her hands high over her head, a shimmering boulder between them. She forced her arms forward, hurling the rock at Darkrai. It swiftly dodged to the side, but was too slow and was hit sharply on the arm. It snapped backwards sickeningly and Darkrai roared in pain.
Its ice-blue eyes flashed dangerously as it glared at Vespiquen. Dark energy began to gather between its palms, swirling ominously. Once enough power was collected, Darkrai fired and the Shadow Ball hit Vespiquen square in the chest. Hikari's Pokemon was clearly in pain, her face contorted into a grimace.
"Attack Order Vespiquen!"
Through the pain, the Honeycomb Pokemon was able to send another swarm of insects as Darkrai, this time, attacking it. The Pitch-Black Pokemon attempted to swat at the bugs, but it was to no avail. Vespiquen slowly hovered back into the air and watched victoriously as her minions took Darkrai down. But it wasn't long before it was able to rid the air of all the insects surrounding it. Noticing Hikari was an open target, Darkrai lunged for her.
Using all the speed at her disposal, Vespiquen rammed into Darkrai, pushing it away from Hikari at the last second. The nightmare Pokemon managed to grab hold of Vespiquen's shoulders and throw her to the ground.
It slowly moved it, looming over its pray with a malicious look in its eyes. Shadowy hands reached towards Hikari's immobilized Vespiquen, about to pull the Pokemon away into Darkrai's nightmare realm. In a final attempt to save herself, Vespiquen shot purple sludge from her mouth, the acidic substance burning Darkrai's face.
The Pitch-Black Pokemon recoiled, clawing at the toxic substance. It managed to clear its vision, but was already badly poisoned. Its last nerve already snapped, Darkrai vanished for a moment, before reappearing right before Vespiquen. It attacked the Bee Queen with hypnotic waves from its eyes, making her become drowsy. Without hesitating, Darkrai dragged Vespiquen away into its world of eternal nightmares.
Close to defeat, Darkrai hovered away from Hikari and her fallen companion to rest. In tears, the azure-haired girl ran to her Pokemon's side. Vespiquen tossed and turned, her eyes clenched shut.
"I'm sorry this happened Vespiquen. But you did great. And I swear, I'll rescue you." Hikari recalled Vespiquen back into the safety of her Pokeball before turning to the injured Darkrai, hatred and anger clearly reflected in her eyes.
"This ends now Darkrai!" she yelled, all fear suddenly dissipating. "Let's finish this Infernape!"
Hikari's Starter Pokemon didn't miss a beat and launched right into a Flame Wheel attack. The flames surrounded its spinning body incinerated the grass and trees in Darkrai's dwelling, but were doused were Infernape tried to roll over the dark puddle in the center of the clearing.
Hikari was almost certain she heard Darkrai chuckle. "It's okay Infernape! Use Close Combat!"
The fire monkey pummeled Darkrai relentlessly with a series of blows from the fists and feet. The Pitch-Black Pokemon grunted loudly every time one of Infernape's powerful and agile limbs came in contact with its body. Infernape leapt in the air and spun, a foot swinging out to deliver the final blow. Infernape's flaming foot landed right on the side of Darkrai's face, and it was thrown back against the trees on the far side of the clearing.
Infernape jumped back panting, the attack taking a lot out of it as well. Darkrai forced open one piercing blue eye to gaze at Hikari once more.
Hikari…
The expression on its face was pained as it attempted to choke out its final message.
…This… isn't over…
Those words echoed all around Newmoon Island as Darkrai's figure slowly disintegrated into dark particles, which were swept away with a passing breeze.
Hikari dropped to her hands and knees, breathing heavily, but not before recalling Infernape. Taking one last look at Darkrai's disappearing form, she felt a powerful urge to sleep overtake her body. Hikari slid further to the muddy ground before her eyelids drooped shut and she was thrown into a deep slumber.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOh dear, this story is just full of cliffhangers isn't it?
But as Darkrai said, this isn't over just yet. Things wrap up in the next chapter, which should be up over the weekend. Which marks the beginning of spring break! Wooo!