Chapter 16

Touching the Heartless

Sam practically spilled from the car. The gunshot had come from just up ahead, through the trees.

"Oh, Arceus, please don't let me be too late."

The tree limbs grabbed at her clothes, trying to stop her, but she ran on, letting her clothes tear. She didn't care. She only cared about getting there.

She had to save him.

She burst into the clearing and slammed into Braun before she knew he was there. He quickly caught her. "Sam? What's wrong?"

Her eyes didn't give him a passing glance. They only scanned the forest. Wasser was there too, but Luca wasn't. "Where's Luca?"

"We've been looking for him," Wasser said. "What's wrong, Sam?"

"We have to find him."

A moan reached her ears. And then it quickly changed to a bloodcurdling scream. In an instant, she was tearing back through the foliage, Braun and Wasser close behind her. She could just make out his blue fur through the green, locked onto it, and ran.

She pulled up when she broke into the space. There was an area of fewer trees, but the treetops covered it, creating a shady grotto. On the far side, Luca was facing away from them almost doubled over in his Riolu form. His hands were clutching the side of his head. He was screaming, but more softly.

Her pause to take in the scene to a moment and then she was rushing towards him. "Luca!"

"NOO!"

She froze. He hadn't moved as he spoke.

"DON'T…" His words were through clenched teeth. "STAY BACK!"

As she watched, she could see parts of his shaking body change. The silver nubs on his hands lengthened, forming sharp points, while blood seeped from around them into his fir. The hanging clefts of black fur lengthened and slowly tore into two sections each. He was becoming a Lucario-morph, she realized, and quite forcibly. "AAAHHHH!!!" He gave on final scream to towards the sky and fell to his knees, the changes finished.

The horror abated momentarily, and she started towards him again. "Luca!" She got halfway across when a sound stopped her. It sounded like laughter, dark laughter. And it was coming from Luca. "Luca?"

"Hehe. Hehehe. Haha." He began to laugh louder, until he threw his head back and released a sickening cry of ecstasy. "AHAHAHAHA!!!" For a moment, Sam caught a glimpse of Luca's eye. His look was filled with pure madness.

His laugh faded and he stood, strangely strong for just suffering extreme pain. "Ah, that's much better."

Any desire to embrace him faded from Sam's body. A dark cloud had noticeably come over him, and it wasn't the shade of the trees. His very voice sent a shiver down her spine.

And then he turned and pierced her a cold stare that drilled into her soul and she knew.

She was too late. Her body went numb.

Braun reached for his pistol as Wasser took a step back. "Luca? What's gotten into you?"

"Your friend isn't home. He was quite a fighter, but I'll be using his body from now on."

Now Braun drew his pistol and leveled it. "Who are you?"

Luca smiled wickedly. "Don't you recognize me? It was only a few days ago we met."

His pistol arm remained tight, but his face began to shake. "Roth?"

"Oh, so close. Yes, I am Roth. I am also Fena, Yung, and Shlërin. And now I am Luca."

Wasser made the connection first. "Eldryn!"

Luca pointed to the Buizel. "Bingo. Two points for the stupid one."

Sam still hadn't moved from her spot. She simply stared on at Luca with empty, crying eyes, her soul lost in sadness.

Braun reset his face. "You get out of Luca's body now."

"Or what? You'll use that peashooter? I think not." He started to walk forward.

"Don't move!" Wasser breathed in and shot an Ice Beam, careful not to hit Sam. But as the beam approached Luca, a bluish aura appeared around him. The energy struck, but spread around him, chilling the air and creating a mist. Luca remained untouched.

Braun adjusting his aim and sent a bullet towards his shoulder. Luca's shoulder twitched visibly, like a horse twitching at a fly, but that was all. He didn't slow down or scream in pain. Casually, he brought his hand up and dropped something. The bullet fell to the ground with a soft clink.

All the while, he kept his eyes on Sam. She stood like a statue. Inside, she was weeping uncontrollably. Luca was gone. Feuer was gone. Everyone she loved was gone.

He reached her and stopped. His hand came up and gently brushed her cheek. "And you, fair Shaiya, are the one responsible. If it weren't for you, the world would still be peaceful."

The voice broke her from her trance. She slowly looked up. The eyes were still full of madness, but she couldn't see it. The emotions suddenly came over her. She reached up, grabbed him by the head and pulled him down and kissed him.

Eldryn became pleasantly surprised, so he just let her go.

She broke away and pulled his body closer to her, the tears coming faster. "Please don't leave me, Luca. I love you. You can't go. Please."

Eldryn wanted to laugh. The mighty Shaiya was reduced to dribbling. How pathetic.

"I love you, Luca. Please come back."

Something hot probed the back of Eldryn's mind. Luca was trying to fight back. He squashed him back with barely a thought. But he retaliated, coming back even stronger. Then Eldryn felt another heat, burning just as bright but a completely different essence. This, too, he tried to press back, but it broke through his hold and grew stronger. The two flames stretched for each other, pressing in on him. Eldryn fought back, trying desperately to maintain his control, but they quickly overwhelmed him. They touched and a radiant light spilled over him, burning his skin. He forced himself to withdraw.

Luca's body suddenly convulsed. A dark shadow fell from his fur. For a moment, he went limp, but then he caught his feet. Luca leaned into the contact, returning her comfort. "It's ok. I'm here."

She whimpered. "I don't want to lose you."

He kissed her head. "I love you, Sam. I'm not going to leave you."

Braun and Wasser were now thoroughly confused. "Will someone please explain to me what's going on?!"

Something flashed above them. "The bond between you is strong." They all spun, Braun training his pistol, but relaxed when they saw Mew. "That is good. You will need each other to stop Eldryn."

"We stopped him already," Braun said, sliding his pistol back into the holster. "Just how many times do we have to 'stop' him?"

"Eldryn cannot be truly killed in this realm. You must go the Void and finish him for good."

"Right. So take us there."

"I cannot. There is but one that can get you there. You must seek Rayquaza, Guardian of the Sky. Shout your name to the Heaven's Winds. He can help you." Mew vanished in another flash.

After a moment of silence, Wasser laughed and sat down. "This just gets crazier and crazier."

"Tell me about it." Braun sat next to him, leaning back against the tree.

Wasser gave him a sideways glance. "What happened to that emotionless assassin?"

Braun thought for a moment. "I think he died with Roth."

Luca kissed Sam again. "So you love me?"

She looked up at him. "Yes."

"What about Feuer?"

"I love him too."

Luca just gave a silent nod. He understood if she still loved him. But he was happy that she could love him as well.

She held him tight, enjoying the silent calm.

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Eldryn floated at the treetops, looking down on them, invisible to the world. He knew they would come for him. Arceus's pets always did. But he was more than ready. The Void was his realm.

"Come and get me, Guardians. I'll be waiting."

He faded away with a slow lingering laugh.

A/N: Wow. I really liked this chapter. But it's not over yet. This would be a good place for a section break, but I'm not going to. We're just going to power on through to the end. So stay tuned.

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