Chapter 7: Justice, Vengeance, and Farewell

Gastly was starting to become unsure as he floated down the grass path. He had specifically gone around the entrance to avoid Espeon's dead body. He just didn't want to see her yet; else he'd fly into a blind rage. The teen knew he didn't need that. He had to keep his thoughts clear for concentration on what was to come next.

His scent was easy to follow. He must have been bleeding a lot.

The ghost was partially grateful Eevee was able to do such significant damage.

Probably because Espeon weakened him.

He growled, concentrating on something he's never really thought of before, nor ever wanted.

Revenge.

Soon, he could feel his presence. Turning invisible so he wouldn't be seen right away, Gastly continued along the path.

It wasn't long then before he heard angry huffing and muttering. Tensing up, the invisible sphere floated slowly towards his target.
In the darkness and the rain, he could see the hulking hunched over figure of the Nidoking.

He was clutching his bleeding right eye, growling and whining. He was bloody, and to Gastly's horror the blood on his horn wasn't his or Eevee's. He knew who else it had to be, and it angered him.

Carefully and slowly, he floated every closer to the adult Pokémon. He was close enough to hear him mumbling to himself over the rain, "Ugh, this wasn't worth a meal!"

That statement got him mad. The thought of his friends being considered just a MEAL to someone was hurtful and outrageous. Even if it was how life went, to end up on the other side was no fun.

He didn't like all of this anger, it scared him. He wouldn't lose himself, no, he had to stay focused. The last thing Eve needed was him to go over the edge.
He knew when a spirit loses itself in vengeance; they become hostile to every living creature. He wasn't a REAL ghost, but he was a ghost-type Pokémon and had connections to the dead like any of his species.

Was it possible to lose himself in vengeance too?

He didn't have time to contemplate further when the Nidoking spoke again, "That little brat. When I recover, I'll hunt her down and break her!" he didn't just say that in anger, it was mixed with delicious vengeance.

His words angered him more at the thought of him hurting Eevee again.

He now knew Nidoking's goal went beyond satisfying hunger anymore. It was more than that now. He was looking for revenge against his friend! His friend who was only trying to defend herself!

I'll never let you touch her! I'll never let anyone touch her!

Gastly couldn't stop a menacing growl escaping his throat. The Nidoking spun in his direction, looking straight at where the ghost was supposed to be, "Huh? Who's there?"

His left eye looked confused; his right eye was just a bloody mess. It almost scared the teen, but he held firm. Even though he couldn't see him, Gastly made the most horrifying, furious face he could at the grownup.

You'll pay for what you've done!

If Nidoking recovered he'd just hunt Eve down and kill her. He knew it.

No, he wouldn't let him. He had to stop him. There was no other way, and Gastly was done listening.

Calming himself and using the darkness as a cover, he let himself become visible under the storm. Nidoking blinked a few times with his left eye and squinted. His damaged vision coupled with the moonless stormy night did nothing to help him see the black round figure floating in front of him.
He took a step towards Gastly, and the teen only looked on with hate. Squinting even more, he stumbled towards him closer, moving at a Weedle's pace. Gastly was patient though. He had done this a thousand times with prey.

When he got close enough, Nidoking could finally smell Gastly over the blood in his nose and see the large narrow eyes staring back at him.

He bared his teeth, "Who are you?" he tried to sound as threatening as he could, but Gastly could sense he was unsure. He was hurt pretty badly and was in no shape to battle again.

Gastly didn't answer him. Instead, he only stared on, the rain taping his body and causing the purple haze around him to flicker.

He knew that being a poisonous type, any poisonous attacks Gastly used against the older Pokémon wouldn't do too much damage, and then it would give Nidoking time to retort. Though wounded, if you corner a hurt Pokémon they're unpredictable.

Annoyed by Gastly's silence, Nidoking angrily motioned at him to leave, "Go on, scram. I'm not in the mood to fight."

Eyes slitting in anger, Gastly finally responded in his deep, ghostly voice, "You killed an Espeon tonight, did you not?"

He seemed startled by his sudden voice and how cold it was, but regained his composure and asked, "I did?" his lips slowly twitched into a sneer, "She died huh? Heh, good. At least I got one of them."

The haze around him exploded like flames, fury building to a point it would blow.

He was happy? No, joyous that he took her life?

This was no longer just a matter of revenge. Now, it was a quest for justice!

Nidoking sensed Gastly's hostility and took a step back, "Hey?" He seemed surprised, "What's it to you?"

Practically bellowing, Gastly yelled, "She was my friend!"

Nidoking didn't seem interested in his yell and only shook his head, "Like I care."

Gastly growled, and he looked on. In a flash of lighting above them, he could see the much smaller and less intimidating Pokémon. He wasn't sure what he was, but he knew it was a young Ghost type and was no longer cautious.

Instead, he only laughed and mocked, "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt your feelings, kid? Get out of here before you end up like that Espeon."

That tore it.

Snarling, Gastly turned into a puff of haze and glowed a bright purple. The Nidoking's eyes widened in surprise, but not fear. It wasn't good enough.

He was going to MAKE him fear him!

Within the mist, his eyes flashed red and he hurled a powerful Shadow Ball at him. It hit his plated chest, but only made him mad. When it faded, Nidoking took a swing at Gastly. But his arm only fazed through the purple haze and did no damage whatsoever, "What the-" was all he managed to say before Gastly screamed at him.

It hurt his sensitive ears and they folded, causing Nidoking to back away. Gastly's scream turned into an angry wail as he suddenly turned into his physical form again and lunged forward. He tackled the Nidoking in the stomach as hard as his smaller body could propel.

Nidoking made an 'oof' sound and fell onto his back into the wet grass after the impact.

Before Nidoking could pick himself up, Gastly flew right into his face, fire in his eyes.

Nidoking snarled and was going to head butt the younger Pokémon, but Gastly screamed again. He winced back in numbing pain at the howls, and that gave Gastly an advantage.

Screaming louder, he looked right into him, into his very soul and wailed, "Do you fear me? Do you fear me now! Scream?! Scream damn you!"

The adult didn't scream, but his eye widened in pure cold terror, like none he's ever felt before. It was so horrifying it paralyzed him in place.

Now that his prey was incapacitated with terror, Gastly opened his mouth. In one swift move, he licked the side of Nidoking's face.

He tipped his head back and let out a blood curdling squeal. All his muscles locked in place and his mouth was forced open to the sky. A white, misty substance rose from his chest and out of his jaws. His soul was pulled out of him by some kind of unknown force.

Inhaling deeply with his maw opened wide, Gastly breathed the white mist into his lungs, consuming it and devouring it. It was a huge meal, and Gastly coughed and almost spat the soul out.
Determination winning over indigestion, he forced himself to adapt. It was a painful process, but once he stopped shaking he was able to absorb and swallow his food without further difficulty.

The Nidoking only convulsed and twitched a number of three times before he fell back into the ground, limp. His last breath wheezed out of him and he became an empty shell. His single eye looked into the sky, the light in it fading away and finally absent of any life.

Gastly growled at his dead body in disgust. He didn't feel good about having to kill in such anger, but this was more than just his feelings.
He had gotten justice for Espeon's death, and he ensured that Eve would be safe.
It was a horrible thing, having to eat a soul. When someone dies, their souls are free and pass into another world. When it's devoured, however, it's like eating food. It's gone forever, in this life and the next. A fate far worse than death.

Even so, it was justice that caused Gastly to eat his soul in just one swoop. He could have taken little at a time, made him suffer and convulse for hours. If he was evolved, he could have made the pain last for days or maybe a week.

But he didn't, he couldn't. Despite his appearance he wasn't a complete monster, he wouldn't cause suffering. Even though eating souls was a horrible thing, once it exited the body it was painless and quick.

The Nidoking should be grateful for his act of mercy. It was far more than he deserved for what he did to Espeon.

Gastly felt some regret, but no shame or anger at what he had done. He knew that not all Nidokings were like this, and even this one wasn't EVIL per se. Just primal, just like Gastly would have been if he was hungry. He was hateful though, and would have pursued that hate, and that was something the young ghost couldn't allow.
He held no grudges though. The deed was done, justice was served, and his friend's mother was avenged.

He turned and left the Nidoking's shell in the woods. He killed him quickly, but that didn't mean he was empathetic enough to bother burying him.

He did, however, go back for Espeon's body…

He waited at the base of the tower in the gentle sprinkling rain patiently for Eevee to awaken. He'd only used a minor Hypnosis attack on her, so she should have only been asleep for an hour.

He could sense dawn was approaching, and he knew he had to get in the Bell Tower soon.

In the meantime, he had already carried Espeon's body back to the graveyard and buried her near the tower. He had no tombstone, and he didn't know how to write, but he placed a small white flower on it as some kind of memorial mark. Ghastly knew it would have torn Eve apart to have to bury her own mother.

Finally, Gastly heard the door behind him open. He turned around to see Eevee drowsily emerging from the tower. Blood was still mixed into her messy damp fur, but the rain had washed most of it out. Her brown eyes dim, she wobbled towards him, woozy from the forced deep sleep.

A twang of guilt passed over him at the sight of her weary form. Even a mild Hypnosis had its negative side effects.

Eve moved to him and spotted the fresh grave with the flower on top to his side. She didn't have to ask where it came from or who it was.

Instead, with her eyes half open and not saying a word, she stumbled to Gastly and pushed her head against him in an affectionate nudge. He remained still and leaned into her, giving Eevee his version of a 'hug', what with his lack of hands and arms.

They stayed like that for several minutes until Eevee asked without moving away, "What happened?"

Warily, unsure how she'd react, he quietly said, "You don't have to be afraid. The Nidoking that killed your mother will never hurt you again."

For a long time she didn't say anything, and didn't even react. Slowly, she let out a long sigh as if she understood and pushed harder against him. He was cold as ice and the longer she stayed against him, even with her fur, it hurt, but she didn't care. She really needed some support right now.

After a long while, she pulled away and looked to Espeon's grave in more silence. Gastly turned with her and stayed there, side by side, looking down to the grave in sorrow.

No longer would Eve feel the warmth of her mother's fur on a cold winter night, or hear her melodies lull her to sleep.
No longer would Gastly see her kind smile towards him, or watch the amusing similarities she shared with her young daughter.

She was gone, and they could never bring her back.

After sitting there for a very long time, Gastly turned his eyes to Eve. She was sitting in silence, but there was odd look on her face. Hidden underneath a blanket of sorrow and drowsiness, he could see the slightest hint of deep thought.

He was no mind reader though. What could she be thinking?

Eevee felt his eyes on her and turned her eyes to him without moving her head. He held his gaze still, slowly finding his words, "For what it's worth, Eve, I can sense her soul out there. I know she must be with your father and looking down on us. They will always be here with you. Don't forget that, okay, Eve?"

She gave a sad, but content, nod and sighed, "Thank you…" she leaned to her left and against him again. He was starting to get uneasy with all this physical interaction. He just wasn't used to it.

They stayed in silence once again longer than before. After another hour, the dark sky started to turn grey with the rising sun. Knowing it was time to go inside, without words Eevee and Gastly went into the bell tower and to the top.

Eve sat next to the bell and stared onto the graveyard she had spent so many years playing in. As the sky brightened, it lit up the damp cemetery and covered it in a misty aura.

Gastly could tell she wanted to say something, but had no idea what. He floated next to her and nudged her shoulder with his forehead, "Eve?"

Without looking at him and keeping her eyes locked on the graveyard, she whispered, "I'm leaving."

He gawked at her, his heart sinking, "Wh-what? Why?"

"Gastly." She said quietly and turned her head, dead serious, "I can't stay here. I can't stay in this place or go back to the forest. I have nothing to go back to. It's too much, too painful. I have to go away for a while."

"B-but Eve!" he flew up into her face, "You promised you wouldn't go! You promised you wouldn't leave me alone again!"

She let out a solemn sigh and looked away from his teary gaze, "I did, but Gastly, we all knew this day was coming. Sooner or later, I would have had to go off on my own to find my place and evolve from a stone. It's an Eevee's destiny, and we all have to do it. It's just too bad it had to be sooner rather than later."

He frowned, "Let me come with you. We can go together!"

She shook her head, "No, Gastly. This is something I have to do on my own. I have to explore and get away to be by myself. Please, understand this is something I need to do; else I'll never be happy here. Do you…understand?"

He looked at her in conflict. He wanted to beg and cry for her to stay or to make her take him too. Yet, he also knew it was what she wanted and had to do to recover and find her evolve form.

It was a passage into adulthood, and who was he to deny her happiness?

Sadly, he moved his body up and down in a nod, "I…I understand Eve. I'm sad, but I understand."

She smiled at him, the first she had all night, and said, "Thanks…"

Eve looked back to the graveyard and Gastly quietly asked, "Will you come back? You won't forget me will you?"

She snapped her head back to him in a broader smile, "Of course I will. How can I forget about you? You're my best friend Gastly. Even if you're a pain."

She shoved him with her paw and it caused him to giggle despite everything.

"I'll miss you…" he said softly, looking to the ground.

Her smiled faded and she quietly responded, "I'll miss you too."

"But you will come back?" his eyes widened a bit, "Honest and for truly?"

"Honest and for truly."

She left the Cemetery in an opposite direction of the forest path this time, heading off into the plains and into the unknown.

All she could think about was what she would find on her travels and the promise she made to her only friend…

Cue flash forward!

lol, yeah, sorry if I made Ghastly seem a little scary there in the beginning, but what can you expect? Being scary is part of his name after all. :)