Sorry for the long wait - I wasn't in a writing mood - but anyway, the 5th chapter is now here! And things have spiced up since we last saw these pokemon. Will they catch the shady Zoroark? Or will the legion of shadow pokemon stop them? The answer will be found when you read the chapter… enjoy!
Hah! This went better than I thought! The Zoroark thought gleefully. Those dim-witted pawns bent to my will easily! Although she was running, she was very relaxed.
Even dumb… she thought, They can still get a job done! She continued until she reached a clearing in the path. She then took out a bunch of supplies from a bag she was carrying and set to work on a nearby tree. It's best to be prepared for the worst though… she thought with a smile. Those villagers won't interfere with my plans… She stared at the purple gem admirably. And yours…
"There's to many!"Darren cried out. Zephyr hated to admit it, but it was true. Him, Darren, Kate and Darkrai still were to small a group to fight the large mob of shadow-turned pokemon.
"We have to try!" He answered back. Kate knocked down a charging Pawniard.
"He's right!" She said, "We can't just stop here!" Darkrai looked at them.
"I'm afraid the problem at hand is to much for the four of us. We must retreat."
Kate tried to protest but the look on Darkrai's face stopped her. Then she saw something behind him.
"Darkrai!" Kate warned.
Darknrai turned just in time to block the sharp blades of the attacking Pawniard. But the rest were beginning to advance and began to attack non-stop at the four. Zephyr and the others managed to block most of the sharp blades, but some managed to get past their defences, and they soon became tired.
There's too much… Zephyr thought, We can't take them all! But just when he was about to lose hope, he heard a roar, then saw an army of villagers charging down the path into the pawniards. The pawniards managed to register surprise… right before the villagers attacked. Zephyr saw a green blur rush past him and realized it was Ivy, moving through the pandemonium with super speed. Petal was on a Pawniard, whacking at it's poor head. Even Furnanzo was swiping at oncoming shadow pokemon. The ones absent was Rex, Calyton and Molan.
Where are they? Zephyr thought worried, their village is under attack, and it's not like them to miss a fight. His thoughts were then interrupted by a voice.
"Zephyr!" He turned to see Ivy running toward him and the others.
"You go and find the Zoroark, we can take care of this." To prove it, she slammed an enemy to the ground with her tail.
Zephyr nodded, along with the others, and together they ran to the forest. But what they didn't know was that the general of the pawniards, Sharp, was given a message.
Go to the forest. I am in need of your assistance. The general then walked toward the forest, ignoring any hit to himself from the others.
I must follow all orders… his sick brain told him. At any cost…
The first thing Zephyr noticed about the forest was the smell. It was a horrible stench, and was like a cloud that made it hard to breath.
"This is Oozem Forest." Darkrai said to explain, "Known for it's large amount of poisonous goo everywhere"
"I suggest you watch your step…" He said warningly, and when Zephyr saw the sinister puddle, he didn't need telling twice.
"We still have to walk in there." Kate said without a trace of fear. "The Zoroark is out there somewhere, and we have to find her." Zephyr knew that, but couldn't help but have a sense of dread in this terrible place. But they continued walking anyway, ready to face any danger in the trees that challenge them.
After a few minutes of walking Zephyr began to feel a little dizzy then becoming a complete headache. He found himself groaning and walking more sluggishly, but tried to stay on course. He tried to endure it for a while but it was too much a pain that he nearly fell down. He then wondered if anyone else had this feeling.
"Erm… is anyone else feeling weird inside?" He heard Kate groan.
"You too?" she exclaimed woozily, looking for something to balance on. "It's been like this forever! But what about you, Darren?" She was answered when she heard a crash on the ground, and saw Darren face down in the dirt.
"Ooooh…" Darren moaned, his voice muffled by the dirt. He then painfully stood up again. "I'm not sure I can continue onward…"
"What about you Darkrai… Darkrai?" Zephyr couldn't see him anywhere, and when he asked the others if they saw him, they were gone too! He began to panic.
Where are they? Are they lost? Did something happen to them? All these thoughts appeared in his head at once, making him oblivious to his surroundings, and stepped on a puddle of poison. He felt a burning sensation, then it got worst, making him scream in pain.
C'mon Zephyr! He thought through the pain. Pull yourself together or you'll end up melted by ooze!
Fortunately the pain seemed to have cleared his mind of the headache, allowing him to walk past all the obstacles and deeper into the forest.
I must find my friends! was the thought that lead Zephyr on. I can't leave them here. I only hope their alright…
After what seemed hours Zephyr came upon a large clearing and saw a devastating sight. There was a giant pool of venomous ooze in the centre that was giving of the worst smell in the forest… and his friends were tied in ropes above it.
"Darren!" He cried out to them. "Kate! Darkrai! I'm over here!"
"Zephyr!" Darren shouted back. "The Bisharp grabbed us when we were walking!"
Zephyr then realized that there were only two ropes hanging above the pool.
"Where's Darkrai?"
"…Over here…"
Zephyr turned around in time to see General Sharp ready to slice him in half. He then moved away in time before he could get skewered.
"Let them go!" He said, trying not to tremble.
"I'm afraid your talking to the wrong person." It was the voice he heard before. He turned again to see the Zoroark, one foot on top of Darkrai.
"W-What have you done with him?!" The Zoroark looked at Zephyr, amused.
"He refused to be tied up like your friends, so I decided to knock him out for a bit. Oh, look! He's waking up!"
Darkrai began rise only to be brought down by the Zoroark's foot again.
"Z..Zephyr…" "Darkrai!"
Zephyr's fright turned into rage.
"Let them go!"
The zoroark smiled.
"Oh I'm not releasing them… unless you stop following that dream's advice."
"W-What dream?" Then he realized she was talking about the voice in his dreams. She saw the look on his face and smiled.
"Yes, that dream. Don't listen to it, don't trust it. Instead… join us. Join our army. Together, we will be unstoppable" She said it with so much strength even the General was trembling slightly.
Meanwhile Zephyr thought what she said was eerily similar to another dream he had.
"Your working for the shadow…" He realized. Then he knew what he would do. He glared at the Zoroark.
"I will NOT trust you or the shadow. I will follow the voice, and stop the wrong you've been doing; forcing pokemon to be your slaves, creating havoc and deceit everywhere! I will not follow you, so give up, and leave my friends.
There was silence, then the Zoroark spoke in an icy voice.
"If you will not join us… she pointed to Darren and Kate. "They die."
Zephyr looked at his friends in horror.
The Zoroark continued. "If you attempt to attack me, I will order Sharp to slice the ropes and drop them into the pool.
Darren and Kate looked at Zephyr, beckoning him to leave them and run. He looked back and shook his head.
I have a plan. And he charged… but not at the Zoroark. He made contact with General Sharp, sending him flying into the forest. The shock made the Zoroark lessen the pressure on her foot, allowing Darkrai to free himself and blast the Zoroark into the trees. Zephyr then broke the ropes, letting Darkrai catch Darren and Kate.
"Zephyr, you did it!" Darren said relieved. Kate smiled.
"Yeah, great job!" Zephyr grinned, but it melted when he saw that the zoroark was rising, fury in her eyes. She eyed them menacingly.
"You may have won this time…" She said quietly, "But I will have my revenge…" She began to leave, then turned to Zephyr.
"You better listen to the shadow Zephyr… it's already told you of doom."
Zephyr lowered his head. "Leave."
The Zoroark ran into the shadows. Zephyr looked at the others.
"We need to leave now." Before he could move, Darkrai put a hand on his shoulder.
"No. It's been a tiring day for all of us, we should stay here and get rest. I trust that the Zoroark won't come here again."
"But what about the village?"
Darkrai looked to the stars "We can only hope they have the situation under control."
Zephyr began to say something, then stopped and decided to follow his advice. He lay on the ground, sleep taking over almost immediately.
But while they slept, a pair of eyes watched them. But these eyes were kindly with a bright energy in them.
These fella's sure look dark and sad. They need some fun! And I'll certainly cheer 'em up, or my name ain't Zeke!
Looks like our four heroes are in for some fun! And what of the village? And the Zoroark? Stay tuned for the next chapter! Also, please vote on the poll, it's needed for the story!