Crawford hummed as he wheeled Ben out of the Union's Infirmary on a wheelchair. The brunette haired boy sat with a sad look on his face as he was wheeled over to Isaac, still in Rythmi's body mind you. The blonde turned his head to look at the brunette, smiling sadly as he did so.
"How're you holding up?" the blonde asked as Crawford started to walk back to the infirmary to keep watch over Summer with Luana. Ben looked up, a saddened look in his eyes as he sighed.
"Summer had to be forced into a coma in order to save her life," the brunette answered as he leaned back in the wheelchair. Isaac listened intently as he continued tapping away on the computer in front of him.
The Region Sven and Wendy had been occupying had been wiped out a little over ten minutes ago. The blonde was trying to find some trace of what had happened and how they could stop it in future, but so far had found nothing.
"And you? How are you holding up?" Isaac asked as he looked over his shoulder at the brunette. Ben sighed as he placed his head in his hands.
"My partner's banged up in an infirmary bed after losing too much blood, forced into a coma. I'm sat here useless in a wheelchair with a broken leg and my other one sprained. I can't even stand on my own two feet!" Ben hissed in anger as he felt tears welling up in his eyes. Isaac ceased his typing as he looked at the brunette behind him.
He watched as a stray tear fell down his cheek. Finally, the blonde was getting a good look at Ben. One of his legs were in a cast and the other was bandaged up. His head was bandaged and the rest of him was plastered up.
The blonde bit his lip. If Ben looked like this he dreaded to think what Summer may look like if he were to walk into the infirmary.
"Listen, Ben," Isaac spoke up as he walked over to the brunette. He stood over him. Looking down at the brunette, Isaac pursed his lips together. He knelt down to the brunette's level before placing a hand on his shoulders. "We still have Rangers that can work with this mission. We may be six down but we still have the others," the blonde tried to encourage.
"Six Rangers down?!" Ben asked in shock as his head snapped to Isaac's. The blonde sighed as he ran a hand through his blonde hair.
"Sven and Wendy got captured by the darkness. Kate was taken into the clouds it occupied and Kellyn was turned into a Totodile. Add that with you and Summer having to retreat, that's six we've lost," Isaac confirmed as Ben's mouth hung open slightly.
"And what did you find out about the Regions disappearing. Are the other ones okay?" Ben asked in concern as he gripped the arm rest of his wheelchair.
"I'm afraid the Kanto Region, where Sven and Wendy were is now gone as well," Isaac sighed as he placed his head on his hands, clasping them together in the process.
"What? Then what about Keith and Seren and Kellyn…. Are they okay?" Ben asked as his eyes started to widen. The tears managed to escape the boy's eyes as he tried to blink them away.
"As far as I can tell Keith's working his way up Mount Cornet with Cynthia. As for Seren and Kellyn, I haven't tried Seren's styler, but something's telling me to just give it time," Isaac answered as Rythmi walked over to the two of them. Ben nodded his head at Isaac.
"So, when are you gonna tell us anyway?" Ben asked as he looked between Isaac and Rythmi.
"Tell you what?" Rythmi asked as she folded her arms.
"About what happened to you and Isaac," Ben answered as he looked at Rythmi, who was still in Isaac's body. Her eyes widened slightly as the two looked at each other.
"How did you know?" Isaac asked as he stood to his feet. Ben chuckled slightly. This was possibly the most amusing thing to happen to him in a long while.
"You're both so out of character. It was given away when Rythmi, well Isaac, knelt in front of me to comfort me instead of hugging us, like you usually do," Ben explained as he looked at the blonde.
Rythmi's lip trembled slightly as she smiled a little. The blonde then surprised her friend by enveloping him in a large hug. Ben looked at her in confusion. It was weird to be hugged by someone in Isaac's body, even if it was Rythmi.
Ben quickly pushed the blonde away as she gave him a hurtful look. The brunette sighed a little.
"Don't get me wrong, Rythmi. I love you, you're a good friend, but hugging me in Isaac's body is just weird. So, high five me or something," the brunette ordered as he held his hand out. Rythmi shrugged as she high fived the brunette. "So, have you thought of a way to reverse this?" Ben asked as he turned back to Isaac.
"Honestly no. Besides no one in the Union's been hit by this darkness except Rythmi and myself. In all due honesty we don't even think it's made its way to our Region yet. We don't want to worry anyone with this so for now we're switching roles. I'll do the Operator stuff and Rythmi will be the scientist for now," Isaac explained as Rythmi nodded her head.
"Please, Ben, you can't tell a single soul," the blonde begged as she looked down at her friend.
"Alright, but the minute more things happen we're telling someone, agreed?" Ben bargained as the two nodded their heads in agreement. Ben nodded in reply before sighing.
Crawford walked out of the infirmary and towards the brunette. He placed his hands on the handles of Ben's chair before moving him slightly.
"Ready to go back in?" Crawford asked as Ben huffed in reply. He was exhausted that much he knew, but it must have been harder on Rythmi and Isaac having had switched bodies.
"Yeah, I could do with some rest," the brunette answered with a small smile as Crawford wheeled him back into the infirmary. Once Ben was back inside Luana stood from her seat and helped Crawford lift him into his bed.
Ben silently sighed, trying his hardest not to let him mind wander to the possibility of Summer never waking up. He rolled onto his side, looking at the lighter haired brunette with worried eyes.
Crawford tapped Luana on the shoulder and silently motioned for her to follow him out of the infirmary. The black haired girl nodded and quickly left the room with Crawford as she watched Ben close his eyes.
His dreams were filled of Summer and his friends, before everything had begun happening. Before they were all taken from him. Before the end of the world had started.
And he had to wonder…. Would they all make it out unscathed?
Seren panted as she gulped down the blood in her mouth. She could feel the darkness entering her more and more as her mother continued to swing at her.
She grunted in pain when a fist connected with her stomach. Seren gasped slightly as the air was knocked out of her and she was sent flying backwards. Casting a weakened glance at the exit, she saw Kellyn had gotten her younger brother away.
"I better end this, before the darkness decides to take over," the black haired girl muttered as she stood to her feet. But again she was hit with numerous fist attacks. Sarah was trying her hardest to knock her daughter out.
The more Seren was attacked the more anger bubbled inside her and the more she wanted to kill her own mother. With a growl, Seren finally into her anger. A dark black cloud of mist covered her hand as she upper cutted her mother.
A gasp was heard a moment later from the black haired girl as she looked at her hand. The darkness had seeped inside of her. It was feeding off her anger and Seren had to try to stop it but…. How?
The black haired girl thought back. Whenever she was mad at Kellyn he would always do something to make up for it, and she would always forgive him. But Sarah, her mother, had never done anything to ever make up for what she had done to her and her family.
'I need to get out of here! If Kellyn's left alone in a pokemon form this Region's done for…. But how can I get out of here!' Seren thought to herself as she felt tears start to well up in her eyes. She needed to get out of there. She needed to save the Region. She needed to save Kellyn, her friends, her brother.
Seren hissed in pain as she felt her mother grip her by her throat. Seren gasped as the darkness around her hands began increasing as the hatred inside of her grew.
'No! I can't let this get me! I need to stop this! I have too…. Let go…. Of this hatred….' Seren thought to herself as she placed her hands on her mother's. The darkness around her hands slowly began to subside as Seren thought back.
"You're useless!"
"Pathetic!"
"Weak!"
"You should have never been born!"
"You ungrateful child!"
"I hate you!"
But the most vivid memory in her mind was the day her brother pinned her to the floor and her mother carved a long cut into her back. The black haired girl would always relive that memory, till the day she died, that much she knew.
Seren gulped as her fingers dug into her mother's wrist. A stray tear slowly making its way from her eyes as she gritted her teeth a little. She had to let go of the hatred she felt for her mother. The hatred that had been building up for as long as she could remember.
"Let go!" her mother yelled as she grinned evilly. Seren looked at her. Sarah's eyes had slowly began to turn black. With a small smile Seren looked at the woman.
"I can never give in. I have a job to do. But, Sarah…. Mother…. I forgive you," Seren whimpered as she let go of the hatred she had been holding onto for so many years.
It seemed to rile Sarah even more as she dug her nails into Seren's neck, drawing blood. Suddenly, the woman threw her daughter towards the window. Seren's eyes widened as she felt her body fall through the glass.
A small smirk came onto her face as she fell the few stories to the ground. As she felt she gripped onto whatever she could. Her hands ended up scraping along the side of the building as she hissed in pain before falling onto the roof of the entrance of the building.
"Seren!" Caden called as he looked up at the where she had fallen. Seren hissed in pain as she sat up. Luckily, there were only three stories in the building, not enough to kill someone only injure. And Seren knew she had dislocated her shoulder.
The black haired girl ignored the pain in her shoulder as she jumped down from the roof, hissing as a pain shot through her ankle. Caden quickly hugged the girl as she grunted in pain before looking back at the building.
Kellyn looked up, seeing Seren's mother was standing in the broken window. As she was about to jump as large flash of purple hit the building and suddenly caused it to vanish.
Seren looked at the building space in shock as Caden gripped her tightly, completely confused as to what happened. Kellyn jumped back a little, not sure what to make of the situation in total.
"How did…" the black haired girl trailed off as she fell onto her bottom. Her body shaking in fear as she gulped audibly.
"Hey guys!" a new voice yelled as the three turned to see Flint running over. The red head knelt down next to Seren in concern before looking at where the building used to be.
He had seen it disappear and was now worrying more than ever about the Region and the world. Caden whimpered slightly as he looked at Seren. The black haired girl gripped him tightly in her arms as Kellyn walked over to the two.
Seren bit her lip. If things kept up the way they were. How were they supposed to beat whatever was after them?
Keith doubled over in exhaustion as he placed his hands on his hips, huffing heavily. Cynthia sat in front of one of the cave walls. Her right hand over her stomach as she also huffed.
She had forced her Lucario into its pokeball a while ago to stop it being tainted by the darkness. At the same time, however, something felt strangely wrong. Something was very off and the blonde couldn't determine what.
"Is it just me," Keith huffed as he began to stand up straight. "Or does it feel like we've been running around in circles?" the red head asked as he leaned on a nearby wall, trying his hardest to regain his breath.
The blonde's eyes suddenly widened as she looked around. It did feel like they had gone through more than enough of the necessary floors than needed to reach the top of the mountain.
Standing to her feet, Cynthia took out her small red coloured pocket knife as she looked around, humming slightly. Keith watched as she carved something into a larger boulder in front of them.
He walked over and saw she had carved a large 'C' into the boulder. Looking at her, Keith knew what she was doing. Yes, he was an idiot at times, but he knew when someone was marking where they had already been.
"Honestly, I feel like an idiot for not doing this sooner," the blonde admitted. They had been wandering through a mountain that, she was more than certain now, was the centre of all this darkness and she hadn't been marking where they had been.
"Yeah, me too," Keith admitted as he looked at his styler. He frowned and cursed under his breath. It had completely packed up. It was a black screen, no longer was the time or the date or the option to contact the Ranger Union.
"We're completely cut off," Cynthia noted as she looked at the red head, who nodded. Keith gulped, how were they supposed to know what was happening to the other Regions or to their friends? What if the darkness had reached the Ranger Base? Would there be a Ranger Base left? Or was the Sinnoh Region the only Region left?
Keith shook his head as he hit the wall behind him, frowning deeply as he did so. He couldn't think like that… he wouldn't think like that. As far as he was concerned everyone was alright and everyone who was taken by the darkness would be alright.
Cynthia motioned with her hand for the red head to follow her. Without a word, the two slowly exited the level they were on, marking their way as they did so.
They tread, carefully and slowly. There hadn't been any of the darkness pokemon for a while and it was growing increasingly concerning. The two took their time, walking through and marking their path until Keith suddenly stopped.
"We are going round in circles," he spoke as he looked from a boulder with a large 'C' on it to the woman who had carved it. Cynthia sighed as she sat on the boulder, she was scared of this. What now? They were trapped in a circle.
"How do we get out of this one?" Cynthia asked as she looked at the red head, who leaned on a wall.
"The longer we're stuck here… the longer we don't know what's happening outside," he stated as he looked about the cavern. Cynthia sighed as she rested her head in her hands. A small noise caught the red head ears as he looked around.
An Unown had appeared. He moved slightly, catching the blonde's attention as she looked at him, before turning to where he was looking.
"Unown?" Cynthia asked as she tried to move. She stopped suddenly. Yes… it was an Unown… but it had been captured by the darkness. No longer was it its usual black colour but instead white and where its white eye would be it was completely red.
"We don't have any pokemon to fight anything with," Keith hissed under his breath as he looked from the Unown to Cynthia.
The Unown's eye suddenly began to glow as more of the strange lettered pokemon appeared and began floating around.
"This is bad," Cynthia muttered as she slowly stood to her feet. "If all of them use Hidden Power it'll be enough to bring this mountain down," she explained as Keith walked towards her a little, frowning as he did so.
"I don't think they're going to attack," he replied as he stood next to her. The blonde gave a confused look as she studied the pokemon. "Whoever's controlling this darkness obviously needs this mountain otherwise they would die as well," he added as a small explanation before studying the pokemon further. "Look at what they're spelling," the red head ordered as he suddenly realised something.
"Surrender?" Cynthia asked as her eyes widened. No! If both of them were to surrender then… then the world would be thrown into eternal darkness.
'This is bad. I have to do something… but what? Keith can't surrender. He needs to save everyone but we're wandering around in circles and if we surrender… yes we'll be out of it but we won't be able to save anyone the darkness will consume us… There's nothing we can do' Cynthia debated with herself as she looked between the pokemon to Keith and back to the pokemon.
'Unless…'
"I'm sorry," Cynthia croaked as she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Before Keith could react the blonde had turned to him, gripping him by the neck and pushing him out of sight of the Unown who were watching him.
She forced him onto the ground, straddling his waist as she pulled the pocket knife out of her jacket. Keith's eyes widened in shocked as the blonde held it above her head. Eyes full with tears as she looked down at him. Keith's eyes widened in shock as he looked at her.
"Cynthia! Are you crazy?!" Keith asked in complete and utter shock as the blonde brought the knife down on the red head. Keith hissed in pain as the sharp object pierced his side. His eyes widened as Cynthia suddenly punched him hard around the mouth, causing blood to escape.
The blonde stood up front the red heads waist as he rolled over in pain, holding his side and coughing small amounts of blood up before finally passing out from the pain.
Cynthia turned on her heel, dropping the bloodied pocket knife onto the ground next to Keith before walking away from him. She held her hands down by her sides before reaching out to the Unown pokemon in front of her.
"I surrender," she stated as a darkness suddenly began circling the girl. It got faster and faster as Cynthia's clothes turned from black to grey. Her hair turned to grey as well as her eyes became a beady red colour.
The blonde had been completely engulfed by the darkness. It continued to circle her, getting faster and faster before finally closing in on her.
In the middle of the cavern there was a spinning spiral of darkness. Unown pokemon dancing all around it before it disappeared. Along with the pokemon. The cavern rooms was empty once again.
The only thing that was left, was a lifeless Keith sprawled out along the floor.
The small sound of a breeze filled the room every now and then. But other than that, there was no sound… no pokemon… no evidence of life anywhere.
Giratina growled and began to roar as he flew around the Reverse World. He hadn't found any time to go looking through those clues that he had but he needed to do it now. Even with everything crumbling around him.
The large pokemon flew around, avoiding falling debris as he headed towards a secluded place of the Reverse World. If his suspicions were right, what he was looking for shouldn't be there. If they were wrong then he really had no idea what was going on in this world.
He roared loudly as something clutched onto his tail. Turning around, he saw a large cluster of darkness had attached itself onto him. He growled, trying to fly faster but the darkness was relentless. He couldn't shake it.
Looking around. Giratina saw the Reverse world was coming to an end. It wouldn't be long until the real world would soon fall as well.
The pokemon grunted. All he needed to do was go to this place and as soon as he knew if it was there or not, he could tell Arceus and they would have the upper hand once more.
Giratina flew through the air as the darkness slowly consumed its body. Just before his head was completely engulfed in the darkness, he arrived at his destination.
He's eyes widened when he saw it wasn't there. The pokemon roared in anger and pain as the darkness fully consumed him.
He was too late to contact Arceus and let the pokemon know.
Arceus floated in space impatiently as he looked down at the world he had created. More and more Regions were disappearing. More and more people were vanishing and more pokemon were beginning to turn to the darkness.
The god pokemon studied it all. He had been waiting for a message from Giratina but had heard nothing. A small, high pitched cry came from around him a few moments later.
Turning his head, Arceus saw Mew, Cresselia, Darkrai and other legendry pokemon had gathered to speak with the god that had created them. He hummed, looking between the pokemon and then back to Earth.
"Arceus! We have a problem!" Mew called as she flew around the pokemon's head. Arceus watched in a calm manner as he waited for the pink pokemon to continue. "I went to the Reverse World a moment again to see if Giratina could join us for the meeting…. But it's been completely destroyed and Giratina is nowhere to be found!" the pink pokemon explained as Arceus' eyes widened slightly before looking at the other legendries.
"I hate to admit it Arceus, but perhaps we should call back on Summerland's Gift," Kyogre spoke as he looked at the large pokemon. Arceus sighed slightly before shaking his head.
"Katherine has chosen not to take up the burden of the gift again," the god explained as he looked at the pokemon around him.
"What?! Why not?!" Suicune asked as he looked at the god. Arceus did not explain but merely thought of another way to try and save the humans from certain death.
"I have an idea," the gold pokemon spoke. "But you aren't going to like it," he added as he looked at the pokemon around him. They all looked at one another before turning back to Arceus and listening to his plan.
"No way in hell," Kyogre spoke as he glared at the god. If he had arms he'd be making a large 'X' with them as he spoke. Instead, Groudon did it for him.
"I agree with the water lover for once," Groudon spoke as he uncrossed his arms.
"It's the only plan I have," Arceus sighed. He knew it was a terrible idea, but what else could they do? All the legendries looked at each other before Mew spoke up.
"I trust your judgement, Arceus," the pink pokemon spoke before looking at the god. The other legendries sighed as they shook their heads. They really had no choice in the matter. They would have to trust their creator with everything.
"If we die because if this I'm gonna kill you," Kyogre spoke as each of them disappeared. Mew giggled to herself as she flew off, a small something in her hands as Arceus watched with high hopes they his legendries and the humans of the world would be victorious.
'Kate.'
'Kate.'
A voice… it kept calling her name.
'Katie.'
She knew it… but… where was the voice coming from?
'Katherine.'
It kept calling her. By her real name, her nick names… but who did it belong to?
'Summerland's Gift.'
Who was it?
'It's time to wake up, Summerland's Gift.'
Kate's eyes snapped wide open as she looked around her. Darkness. That was all there was for as far as the human eye could see.
"Time to come with us, Kate," the brunette's head snapped around, looking for the source of the voice. In front of her she saw two glowing figures… two figures she knew all too well.
"Wendy… Sven… you're okay!" Kate called as she stood up. As she took a step she suddenly remembered… her friends were taken by the darkness.
"Come with us, Kate," Wendy encouraged as she held her hand out. Kate took a step backwards.
"N-no," the brunette stuttered as the darkness suddenly started to lift.
"You don't have a choice," Sven spat as he took a step forward. Kate backed up again and looked around as the darkness was lifting.
"Don't do it Kate!"
"Fight them!"
She knew those voices. Turning on her heel she saw the real Sven and Wendy shackled and chained by the darkness.
"They imitate our bodies! This darkness is feeding off people and pokemon! You have you run!" Wendy called as she felt tears brimming in her eyes. Kate felt relief wash through her. Her friends were safe, all that was left was for Keith and Cynthia to-,
"Listen to them Katherine!" Kate's eyes widened as she turned on her heel again. Cynthia was always shackled and chained by the darkness. Kate blinked the tears from her eyes and on closer inspection, she could see cuts, blood and bruises on her friends and family. A black smoke surrounded the cuts and bruises.
"The darkness is feeding off everyone, Kate… you have to run," Cynthia stated as she coughed a little blood.
"You're too late," another voice spoke as Kate felt a cold presence behind her. Turning on her heel, she saw the darkness version of Cynthia stood behind her. The grey haired woman slid an arm around her waist and gripped her chin.
"Kate!" Sven called as he, Wendy and Cynthia watched in fear as the darkness began surrounding the girl.
"Kellyn and Seren are still out there! Keith too! Have faith!" the brunette called as she screamed in pain. Cynthia looked at the spot next to her where Kate's original body suddenly appeared. New cuts had suddenly appeared on her face and stomach as her head hung.
"Kate…" Cynthia whispered as she felt tears brimming in her eyes.
'Please… Seren, Kellyn, Flint… everyone… save this world… even if we die,' Cynthia thought as the darkness versions of themselves disappeared.
Hey guys! So it's been a while. Have you missed us?
Keith: I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU STABBED ME!
I didn't stab you...
Keith: YOU'RE THE AUTHOR!
I still didn't personally stab you...
Keith: STILL!
MOVING ON!
Rythmi: At least we've got it okay for now
Isaac: Why would you say that?!
ANYWAY! I'm gonna take a go at this story solo for a while. Sky still isn't 100% she's had a busy summer and hopefully will get back on her feet soon.
Sky: Children... the children were the devils...
*hands ice-cream* So, for now, I'll be going at it solo and hopefully updating a little more once I've gotten into the chapters.
Keith: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter... EVEN THOUGH I DIED!
Shut up would ya? Please review and I'll update this as soon as possible. Keep an eye on my other stories and I'll try and get around to them as well.
Keith: The girls want me to let you know that they're sorry they haven't updated as much but please understand it's been hard and both girls are now in adult hood. HTF is turning 20 in 12 days the old hag.
Sky: What does that make me then?!
Keith: Gramdma.
Sky: YOU'RE DEAD!
Rythmi: Please review this and let us know what you think and we'll see you soon.
Cast: REVIEW!
