Retribution Chapter 7: Remembrance, a pokémon fanfic

Here we are at Chapter 7. Happy (late) one month anniversary to Retribution! I would have gotten this up sooner, but I spent most of my free time this weekend creating a cover for Retrubution. (I've posted a link for it on my profile)

A big thanks to Galalithial, Laci Cullen, and Shiny Eevee4 for reviewing! One of the greatest incentives I get towards the continuation of this story is the reviews people write. I wouldn't have even bothered to make it this far if I hadn't gotten any reviews. Meaning: if Retribution is to survive, I need reviews!

This story is subject to change. I have an outline that I follow when writing each chapter, but I usually completely change what I had originally planned out. In other words, if something doesn't make sense, or needs further explaining, feel free to mention so. I can easily incorporate the changes into the new chapter.

I'm still looking for some OCs if anyone is interested. Thorough descriptions and/or backgrounds are recommended.

Chapter 7

Remembrance

"He lives here?" Emayla asked, skepticism tracing her voice. The brilliant noon sun bathed the city of Pewter in a flash of gold, dashing the stone walls in a coat of illumination, causing the entire mountainside to be bathed in an aurora of yellows. Flocks of bird Pokemon flew overhead, their calls echoing off the silent stones, unwilling to land their fragile bodies amongst so many of their adversaries. They skirted the occasional cloud that dared penetrate the blindingly blue sky, their intricate dances painting masterpieces across the heavens. An occasional Trapinch would look up from its lair, its rounded head glaring around for its daily meal. Diglett and Dugtrio traversed the barren landscape in massive herds, their bobbing heads sending small shock waves across the desolate land. A Mamoswine sized Hippowdon let out a deep bellow in welcoming of the sun, its dark scaled back stretched out to catch the warming rays.

The despondent Pokemon trainer lifted her head in a slight angle to catch a glimpse of the failing roof, her eyes narrowing in suspicion and worry. The aging walls of the building sagged, their luster long since lost in decades past. Chips and cracks dotted the face of the stone precipice, their jagged lines cutting deep into the structure. The single door creaked openly on its seldom used hinges, its rotting wood melting away. Emayla glanced around at the surrounding areas, noting with some worry that the rest of the city was kept in good care, their stone shining brilliantly in the light, casting this forgotten house into deep shadow.

"I'm afraid so." Kael replied, his ears angled back against his head. His white fur bristled out against the gloom emanating from the mouth of the ragged home.

Emayla took a tentative step forwards, one hand gently trailing against the stone doorway, her red eyes peering deep into the gloom. Rocks cracked and fell away at her touch, clattering loudly against the cobbled roads on Pewter. "Hello?" She called into the din, her feet gently raising puffs of dust into the stilled air with each step. "Jack?"

Thomas looked up at the faces of his guardians, shivering as he did so. The two walked calmly before him, their tails swishing in the previously undisturbed dirt below. The powerful electric Pokemon paid him no heed as they traveled, their focus intent towards their destination on the horizon. Sparks of electricity occasionally lanced off their fur, escaping its temporary storage with viscous anger.

Rowell glanced over his shoulder to the smaller Pichu, a smile slowly materializing. The Ampharos slowed his pace, ignoring the scoff given to him by Keiva as she continued ahead. "Hey," He said calmly to Thomas, his face once again aligned with the horizon. The red orb planted on his forehead glinted in the steely light.

Thomas dared not turn his head in full attention to the Ampharos, fearing some unknown creed that kept the two at close quarters to him. "Hi," he whispered quietly, his ears slanted back in worry.

Rowell smiled again, a small sigh escaping his lips before the could catch himself. The taller Ampharos stopped abruptly, causing the others to imitate his actions with questioning looks dotting their faces. Lifting his head on a higher angle towards the glistening sun, Rowell raised his arms out on either side. He inhaled deeply the untainted air, his fur billowing in the omnipresent wind. "This looks like a good place to start." He commented, a knowing glance shot Keiva's way. The Luxray replied with a swish of her tail, seating herself down onto the beaten turf underfoot, her maw curled up into a shining smile.

Thomas twiddled his fingers in agitation as he awaited his unknown judgment, his shoulders drooped in defeat, his tail deflated against the dirt. The Pichu dared not lift his gaze.

"Thomas," Rowell said regally, causing the smaller Pokemon to lift his head slightly to catch his words. "Keiva and I have brought you here under the orders of our master. The lady Emayla wishes for us to teach you the ways of the electric Pokemon."

The inside of the destroyed building let in choked amounts of light, its bedraggled arms swollen with half-eager dances of dust. Dirt caked the floor in a fine layer of darkness, giving the stone precipice a jagged reach. Opaque windows denied access to their secretive depths, their faces revealing nothing of the illuminated world beyond. Dark stains streaked the walls in random patterns. The destroyed light fixtures swung lightly from their blasted hinges, flashes of halfhearted light flickering as the wires managed to make minute contacts.

Emayla tentatively took another step deeper into the foreboding house, Kael following close by, an aura sphere of illumination already flickering in his paw. "Jack?" Emayla called again, raising her voice as loud as she dared. Her red eyes inadvertently trailed along the splotches on the wall. She held her left arm out to her side, gently stopping her partner. "Be ready." She whispered.

They stood in silence for several long minutes, eying every crevice that the single floor allowed with equal suspicion. Stairs led to either level of the house at the far end of the chamber, their dark belly's allowing no hints to what harbored inside the rest of the abode.

Movement suddenly shifted off to the side; a darker shape against the backdrop. It scurried along the floor, causing both Pokemon and trainer to tense in anticipation, the aura sphere flaring to life. A man sprang out into the light, his face cracked into a wide grin. The sudden appearance of a human froze both companions, whom were expecting the perpetrator of the disastrous house. The man hovered for a moment on the outskirts of the light, a childish smile still splashed across his face. The complete oddity of the man spoke for his level of sanity, allowing Emayla to ease back for further inspection. His cracked glasses were entirely covered in soot, allowing absolutely no visibility past their shield. His crooked nose barely kept his spectacles above the verge of his eyes, causing the glass device to tip precariously every time he moved. His no longer white lab coat was covered in stains similar to those that dotted the walls, though the color was a less menacing deep orange. He wrung his hands in impatience as he watched the two, his wispy brown hair bobbing in accordance with his movements.

"Jack?" Emayla dared ask, leaning forward slightly as though to catch a glimpse of the man's covered eyes. The odd little human shook his head vigorously in recognition, turning immediately on his heel, motioning for the two to follow him deeper into the heart of the building. Without bothering to wait for their reactions, he disappeared down into the lower levels of the rotting home, his coat cutting down the sharp corner in his haste. With a glance towards Kael, who merely shrugged, Emayla followed Jack down into the basement, her hand trailing along the wall to allow the Pokemon trainer to keep her balance in the darkness.

The deeper they traversed into the earth, the lighter the passageway got, until it opened up into a massive antechamber with rows upon rows of laden tables. The unearthly light murmured from the very rocks that lined the walls of the room, its arms reaching every possible nook in the gigantic space. Vials with varying colors of potions covered most of the available surfaces, their own depths giving off a light all their own, the mixtures of lights from the whole collection of jars distorting the very air.

Jack had stopped in the exact center of the room, his childish grin still slapped solidly in place. His knuckles cracked from years of obvious neglect as rubbed his hands against each other.

The room lapsed into silence, the only sounds that dared permeate the gloom coming off the ever-bubbling potions.

Footsteps reverberated off the roof of the stone chamber, causing Emayla and Kael to swerve around to face this new threat, the insane bobbing figure of Jack temporarily forgotten. Another man in a reasonably cleaner lab coat calmly walked down the steps, his nose buried in several sheets of thin paper, his nose scrunched up in concentration. He mumbled to himself for a moment before looking up from his work, his visage transforming immediately from serene understanding to confusion as he saw the intruders in his lab.

He glanced around the two tensed invaders, a single eyebrow raised. "Jack?" He asked the insane human, his eyes narrowing in a parental form of scolding. "What did you do this time?"

Jack lowered his eyes, his head bowed in shame.

The man chucked, his shoulders bouncing quite radically with the movements of his mirth. "I'm sorry for whatever troubles my brother has caused you," He began, walking around the two to stand by one of the various tables, his face once again buried inside the papers. "I know he means well, but it can be a bit hard to understand his motives from time to time."

Emayla cleared her throat in slight annoyance, taking a step towards the newcomer, her arms slightly tensed at her side. "Are you Richard Alumno?"

Richard once again raised his head from his readings, his smile still in place as though their conversation had not been interrupted. "Indeed I am. How might I help you Ms...?"

"Sarah." Emayla casually responded, ignoring the questioning glance Kael shot her way. "I actually came here to ask Jack a few things. I understand he is well educated in the lore of ancient societies?"

"Was. Was well educated," Richard corrected, padding lightly to a yellow tinged jar, carefully swirling its contents with a glass spoon. The liquids spun erratically, their yellow form congealing to a deep brown as their momentum slowed. The human placed the glass spoon down onto the surface of the table, wiping his fingers on the side of his coat. "I'm afraid he's all but lost his mind." Richard lifted his free hand quickly, indicating to the stone basement with a dismissive wave of his hand. "What you see here is the remnants of his house. Something happened a few years back that caused him to become, er," Richard paused, his lips pressed together tightly as he searched for the right word. "Unhinged. I came here to continue with his work and help his wife in caring for him."

Emayla inevitably found herself glancing back towards Jack, who stood wistfully in the center of the room, happily singing to himself, gently swaying in time with his murmured harmonies. "Do you know if he kept any records of his findings?"

Richard cocked his head to one side. "As far as I know, any major records were destroyed in the event that caused his current condition." Alumno squinted at Kael as though seeing the Lucario for the first time as he spoke, his mouth curved in interest. "A white Lucario? That's quite the rare find, Sarah."

Ignoring his latter comment, Emayla turned her shoulder to the working professor, carefully picking her way across the room to the unsuspecting Jack, who was now inspecting a rather vigorous Spinarak that worked in the corner of the basement laboratory. "Jack?" She asked quietly, disregarding the annoying titters coming from Richard as he approached her Pokemon. The insane human turned his head towards the direction of his name, his eyes not catching sight of the trainer standing before him. He still wore his dumbfounded smile as she stopped before him, his arms clasped behind him in a scholarly position. "Jack, it's me."

"Wont do you any good." Richard commented from behind her, now eying their exchange with more than a passing interest. His pen paused from it's notes, the previously unnoticed scribblings silencing the room once again. "I've been trying to get him to talk for years. Haven't succeeded once."

Emayla glanced over her shoulder, shooting a condescending glare Richards way, her eyes narrowed in distaste. She motioned for Kael to follow her lead, who readily obliged, the white Lucario showing obvious signs of relief. He padded lightly to her side, his aura sphere already congealing into several strands of light. "I need you to connect our thoughts," She whispered, her eyes flicking to the inquiring look of Richard beyond. "I don't particularly want Richard to catch wind of why we're here. I don't trust him. Do you think you can do that? Subtly?"

Kael smiled slightly, nodding. He snaked his way between the two, cords of aura already starting their throws of movement. Keeping the angle between Richard and his work in good condition, Kael wormed the cords around the wrists of both humans, the tips of light gently penetrating their skin. Emayla shivered as she felt Kael's aura slowly travel up her body, leaving behind long, thin trails. Jack imitated her movements, his arms jerking rather erratically in discomfort as he felt the unfamiliar aura penetrate his form. Kael eased backwards as he finally connected to their minds, allowing his Psychic powers to take over, penetrating the deepest levels of their consciousness.

A flash of light stole in front of Emayla's eyes, causing the Pokemon trainer to reel back in surprise. She blinked several times as the light dissipated, finding herself verily floating in a different plane, Jack standing far from her across the swirling world. The darkness of the reality twisted and snapped around them, snaking its way around the abyssal pit as a fog.

"Hello?" She called, her voice echoing across the swirling darkness.

Jack twitched madly as her words reached him, causing him to swerve his entire body towards the origin of the sound. "H-hello?" He replied nervously, his voice creaking across the vast expanse of the void.

Emayla lifted her arm slowly, attempting to cross the vast distance between the two. An invisible force stopped her, causing her to rebound backwards, keeping her far from the trembling man. "Jack," Emayla continued. "It's me. Emayla."

"Emayla?" Jack repeated, looking off to the side as though to catch a glimpse of a fleeting memory. His brow furrowed for a moment, his eyes closed in deep thought. "Em... Emayla..." Jack lifted his head, his eyes clear past the dust of his glasses. "I... remember now. Emayla. Amarri."

Emayla nodded. "Yes. It's Amarri." Jack smiled in recognition. "I need to ask you something."

Jack bobbed his head slowly. "Yes, yes. Anything."

"What do you remember from the writings of Anicea? About counteracting forced transformation?"

Jack crossed his arms. "Anicea?" His head once again lowered into thought, his glittering eyes lost to the darkness. "I don't wish to disappoint you, Amarri, but it has been so long since," he paused. "Since I've been able to do much of anything."

"It's alright." Emayla soothed, trying to lower the strain Kael had to endure to keep their varying minds connected by calming the professor. "Just tell me whatever you can."

Only the darkness dared breathe as Jack thought, its arms entangling about one another in its never ending dance. "Forced transformation never has been an exact art. Not even Arceus has totally mastered its implications. To make a human or Pokemon forgo their natural state to come something completely different... The power required to fund such a tremendous feat is well beyond the bounds of anything of this earth. The spirit must be ripped from the body as it is changed, then shoved back into the new shape. If one isn't careful, the spirit could be lost to the nether if not properly tethered during the transfer." Jack glanced to his side towards the vast expanse of abyss, his eyes narrowing sightly. "Once a powerful being has initiated the transformation, nothing can stop them. They cannot stop the process even if they had second thoughts. Reverting one back to their original form requires the same powers."

"Is it possible to mature the requited power over a period of time?" Emayla interjected, her impatience slightly rising as the risk of detection increased.

Jack's gaze immediately shifted back to her. "Mature?"

"Could you put a reserve of power inside a living being and allow it to build on its own?"

Jack's visage darkened. "Theoretically, perhaps. But the influx of power into a single, mortal being could cost the creature it's life, whether in the initial transfer, or in the later maturation."

A javelin found its way into Emayla's heart, images of the small Thomas passing unbidden in front of her eyes. "C-can the power be destroyed?"

Jack lowered his head. "I-"

The connection severed suddenly, slamming Emayla back into reality with a resounding bang. Her head swirled, her focus greatly dimmed. She shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts.

A second explosion ripped the basement lab, slamming Emayla and Kael back into the desks beyond. The impact of the wooden surface sent all air fleeing out the Pokemon trainer's lungs, causing her to cough and gasp for air. Jack cowered on the floor, his whimpers demolished by the resounding bangs.

Kael staggered to his feet against the motions of the blast, his paws illuminated by his aura, his fangs barred in defiance.

"Flame wheel."

An inferno of white hot fire exploded from the stairway, its roaring jaws enveloping the white Lucario with savage force, wrapping him in a burning barrier. The fire's touch stayed just beyond reach of Kael's vulnerable form, hardly harming him but keeping his attacks at bay.

"Kael!" Emayla called, rising to her feet, her hands already reaching for the Pokeballs clipped at her belt.

A heavy body heaved against her, sending the Pokemon trainer ramming against the floor. The Typhlosion growled in her ear, its flames burning fiercely on its back, it's fangs inches away from her neck, promising that it wouldn't hesitate to kill her if she moved.

"My debt it paid!"

Emayla's eyes narrowed in anger as she recognized the voice of Richard from deep within the stairway, his pleading tones slapping against her consciousness.

"I've paid my dues to you! I demand the reward be paid!"

"You'll get your 'reward'," A second voice commented dryly. "When the Masters decide."

A man stalked into the chamber before his words had dissipated against the stone walls, an air of superiority surrounding him as he moved. "Well done, Gambit." He commented to the snarling Typhlosion, eying the trapped Lucario with a steely glint in his eyes. "And Dagger thought we'd have difficulties with this one." Gambit grumbled his reply, his eyes never leaving his glaring captive.

The man smirked, smoothing out the wrinkles that had managed to find their way onto his uniform, allowing the red R emblazed on the front to stand out even more prominently. He easily walked across the room to the trapped trainer, the smell of arrogance cloying with Emayla's senses.

"And you must be the intrepid Emayla." He commented, stooping into a slight mocking bow. Subtly using his upward momentum, the Rocket agent drew out a shining gun, its shimmering barrel pointed directly at Emayla. "Now, be a good girl and do what I say. I don't want to have to explain to the Masters why your brains are part of this pathetic science experiment."

Gambit grudgingly rose from its threatening position at it's masters call, moving back around the Rocket agent to keep an eye on the furious Lucario.

Emayla slowly rose from the floor, her movements fluid and slow. She eyed the gun with a worried stare, knowing full well the potential behind the small metal object.

Dozens of footsteps echoed from the roof above and the stairs beyond, heralding the coming of several more denizens of Tirus. A steady stream of Rocket agents poured into the space behind the first, their eyes holding the same cold, apathetic stare, their own Pokemon tensed and ready to attack at the slightest of provocation.

The first glanced over his shoulder towards his reinforcements, a wicked smile stretching across his face. He motioned with his gun for Emayla to follow, Gambit following closely behind at his back, their worries towards Kael vanished at the sight of their allies.

Emayla glanced towards the swirling inferno that held her partner captive, her eyes trailing over the failures in the firey structure. Only a few moments of life remained for the wall of fire. Kael's eyes caught hers, a silent message traveling between the two. Kael lowered his in a pleading gesture, knowing what she was about to ask of him. Emayla replied with a subtle shake of her head, reinforcing the fact that they had run out of options.

"Hey!" The first called, obviously outraged at being ignored, if only for a moment. The gun rose to a threatening height, his finger tightening over the trigger.

The flame wheel vanished in a flicker of light, its fingers opening up to the power charging within.

"Aura sphere!" Emayla yelled, throwing herself down underneath one of the standing tables in a desperate attempt to escape the oncoming savagery.

Kael reared back on his paws, a mighty roar ripping from his throat. The blue light exploded from his paws, its percussive arms vaporizing anything within immediate proximity, the trailing fingers angrily burning into anything that dared stand too close.

Emayla reached forward in an attempt to further shield herself from the devastating attack, but as she did so, her table slipped from its standings by the sheer might of the aura sphere, exposing the trainer to the full power of the fires.

Kael swooned forward slightly at the climax of his attack, the draw from his ferocious attack tremendous upon his body. Shaking his head to steady himself, Kael rose to his full extent to release the final throws of his aura sphere, blanketing the entire laboratory with an unearthly blue light.

The illumination slowly dissipated from the deadened room, dust pooling from the charred walls, leaving the chamber at the mercy of its natural, however dim, light. The white Lucario let his paws fall to his side, his arms temporarily deadened by the anger of his attack. The bodies of his enemies lay as charred husks at the far end of the room. Not a single one of them moved, smoke trailing slowly from their burnt flesh in a testament to their devastation.

Kael sighed, lowering his head in silent respect for the spirits of the departed. After a moments pause, his ears flicked to the side in worry at the absence of any other sounds. "Emayla?" He called quietly, his gaze slowly trailing over the decimated room.

No response came.

Fear slammed its oppressive grip on the white Lucario's heart. Kael rushed towards the spot where he had last seen his master, his pulse pounding in his ears. Several overturned tables, all severely burnt from his attack, lay piled in a heap at his destination. Throwing the splintering bark aside, Kael dug deeper into the wreckage, ignoring the gashes torn into his paws.

At the very bottom of the pile lay Emayla. The skin all along her side and back was burnt and bleeding. Her arms twisted at odd angles, both completely shattered. She lay there, unmoving, her posture indicative to the fact that all thirteen of the Pokeballs remained intact and undamaged.

Kael stooped down beside her, his paws hovering over her decimated body. "Emayla?" He whispered.

His heart nearly failed him when Kael saw Emayla slowly rise as she inhaled.

The Lucario carefully scooped her into his arms, a tormented gaze following her agonized movements as her wounds were inevitably aggravated.

Kael couldn't see Jack or his traitorous brother, but he didn't bother to care, all his attention focused on his master. He slowly padded out of the destroyed lab, skirting over the blackened bodies of his enemies without a passing thought, determined to get Emayla to the hospital before her time ran out.

Emayla blinked slowly in the soft light, her eyes adjusting to the gentle glow that quietly flowed in from the window. She didn't recognize the room she now occupied, but she strangely wasn't worried. The very air in the polished chamber had a breath of serenity to it, calming her before fear even had the chance to rear its ugly head. A soft whispering issued from all around her, speaking in gentle murmurs of peace and healing.

Emayla attempted to shift around to catch a better glimpse of her surroundings, but was stopped by a gentle tugging on her elbow. She glanced downwards with a curious glint in her eyes. Her eyebrows shot up on her forehead in surprise as she found a small, clear tube penetrating her skin, small drips of liquid trailing down into her veins. Not only that, but her entire body was covered in thick bandages, rendering her almost completely immobile. Pain slowly began to creep into her consciousness, its touch returning with vigor after having been suppressed by the medicines. Emayla cringed as she once again felt the sting from Kael's powerful attack.

The soft ticking of the clock on the far wall slowly gave an indicator of time, slowly throwing the Pokemon trainer into a sleepy daze. Her eyes subtly closed a few times, though Emayla stubbornly kept herself awake, waiting for someone to come and explain where she was.

Footsteps echoed loudly in the silent hall beyond her whitewashed door. Through the semi-transparent window Emayla could see a faint, human outline, easily allowing the assumption that a doctor had come to check on her. Her question immediately died in her throat as the man entered the room, however, shivers crawling up her spine.

Tirus easily stepped over the threshold of the door, gently closing it behind him without making a sound. He smiled gently at the immobilized trainer, unclasping the white coat from his neck as he moved towards the desk at the far end of the room. Still he said nothing as the coat was laid down neatly onto the top of the desk, a clipboard placed squarely on top the fabric. Running his fingers through his dark hair, Tirus turned lightly on the spot, holding Emayla's gaze with his thirsty red eyes.

"Amarri," He began, his arms spread out on either side in a gesture of goodwill. "It is so good to see you again." Tirus took a step towards her. "I've missed you so."

"Stay back!" Emayla called with as much force as she could muster, her side aching from the effort. "Don't you come near me!"

Tirus stopped at her bidding, his arms falling to his side. His face never lost its gentle caress. He waited patiently for Emayla to make the next move. Several moments ticked by in silence, neither opponent gaining any leeway in the others eyes. Tirus sighed. "I came here to see you, dearest Amarri. I heard about your incident in the outer reaches of Pewter, and I came to see if you were alright."

Emayla scoffed at his notions. "Those men that attacked us belong to your cult, Tirus. 'See if I'm alright'? You were probably the one behind the whole incident."

Tirus' face darkened momentarily, but he quickly caught himself, replacing the glare with his calming smile. "I'm afraid you are mistaken, my love." He took another step forwards, his hands still pointed downwards. "Kyron controls most of the outer fleets. The attack was his call."

Emayla's scowl deepened.

"Believe me, Amarri. I don't wish any harm upon you." Tirus was merely a foot away now, his bloody eyes burning Emayla. "Kyron is..." He paused. "Rather enjoying his time as a human. He's beginning to try anything to remain that way."

"Go back," Emayla growled. "Go back to the pit that you crawled out from."

Tirus did not relent. He stopped at the head of her bed, bending down to make his face level with hers. "I have ever desired for things to be as they were." He whispered. "Ever since the Fall I have sought a way to retain our former lives." Tirus inched forward, a small smile curving up his face as Emayla offered no resistance. "I have come so close. I am almost to the solution." He stopped mere centimeters away, his breath fanning her face. "Everything will be as it was."

Emayla's arm lurched forward, her burnt and bandaged hand gripping Tirus tightly around his neck. She tightened her grip, causing Tirus' breath to stop short. "Nothing can ever be the same." She snarled, her blood-red eyes flaring with an inner fury. "Nothing."

Tirus sighed, his eyes downcast. Without a word, his shape suddenly vaporized, leaving Emayla clutching the empty air.

Pain lanced up her arm with sudden ferocity, causing the Pokemon trainer to cry out in pain, her hand falling heavily back against the bed. Biting her lip to fight the moisture brimming in her eyes, Emayla looked away from the spot Tirus has occupied, silently fuming. "Nothing can ever be the same, Tirus." She repeated, her gaze trailing off to the small trails of light coming from the glimmering window, the ticking of the clock continuing in the background.