Seren frowned as she pulled her hand down. Flint and Caden had managed to escape, which she was thankful for. Now all that was left was her being surrounded by lots and lots of darkness.
"Kellyn," Seren spoke as she turned around. The blue pokemon looked up at her as he clutched her leg slightly. He hated this, he was so small, so weak so helpless and he couldn't help his partner with anything.
"I don't know what's going to happen now, but whatever it is you need to figure out how to get out of that damn pokemon form and help the others," Seren stated as she looked around the darkness, so far there was nothing she could see.
"I figured, maybe, I'd be able to see what happened to the people of Hoenn at least," the black haired girl muttered as she knelt down, picking Kellyn up and began walking around. The light clicking of her heels on the ground seemed to echo around the area as she continued to walk.
"I don't understand. This is very weird," Seren muttered as she stopped. Originally she had thought that if people were taken by the darkness they would be living in it. Maybe she was wrong.
The black haired girl looked up, standing straight as she listened. A strange noise had caught her ears and she didn't like it. There were no people or pokemon in here that she had seen so what was it?
Without warning, a long, sharp piece of darkness started zooming towards Seren, a figure stood behind it with a large, psychotic grin on their face as they watched the darkness get closer and closer.
Seren's eyes narrowed as she heard something approaching her. Kellyn looked around in confusion, not sure what it was. It wasn't until the girl moved her head but a fraction to the left that the boy saw the darkness, almost like a lightning bolt, zoom passed the girl's head.
Seren released Kellyn from her grip. He easily jumped and landed on the ground before turning around. Seren balled her fists, going through this again? She was already bandaged and exhausted, someone had it in for her she was sure of it.
"I know you're there," Seren spoke as she slowly turned around. Kellyn looked between the girl and the darkness as Sarah Redfern stepped out. Her body had become completely grey and her eyes a complete red colour as she stared down her daughter.
"Kellyn, run," Seren ordered, but instead she was shocked to see a water gun shot towards the woman in front of her. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at the blue pokemon. Kellyn had balled his paws and was staring the woman down with an icy glare.
"Kellyn," Seren muttered as she looked at the blue pokemon. He began speaking in his pokemon tongue that Seren couldn't understand, but she was sure it was him trying to be protective.
'Seren's injured, her mother's been taken over by the darkness and I can't do much. But I'm still her partner, I won't let anymore harm come to her!" Kellyn thought as he stood in front of the girl.
Seren smiled slightly as she cocked her head to the side before frowning. Kellyn wouldn't be much use, not against someone who was about ready to kill the two of them. Plus, it wouldn't be any good if the both of them were to die here.
Sarah growled as she shot another bolt of black lightning from her hand, heading straight towards Kellyn. Seren quickly, picked the pokemon up and rolled out of the way with him. She grunted slightly, feeling the wounds on her side reopen as she set Kellyn down.
"Listen to me. I'm injured and beaten, you are fine. You cannot stay here," Seren ordered as she looked at the pokemon. Kellyn's eyes filled with anger as he shook his head at the girl. Seren grabbed him by the head as she felt a sharp pain in her back.
"I will be fine. I am always fine," Seren whispered as she kissed the pokemon on the forehead and stood to her feet. Kellyn watched as she turned around and walked towards the woman, who had darkness circling around her hands.
"Bring it," the black haired girl ordered as lightning shaped darkness was shot towards her. Kellyn watched in awe as Seren dodge and took attacked head on. Despite being exhausted and beaten already the girl wasn't giving up, she wasn't giving in.
The boy frowned, at this rate she would be scarred from head to toe. Seren's beautiful body would be permanently scarred. The thought of scars normally made Kellyn's stomach turn and he wants to vomit. But with Seren it was different.
'Then you must think I'm ugly.'
The thought came back to Kellyn's mind as he frowned. Seren had a huge scar from Operation Brighton and not once had he ever considered the black haired girl ugly. Scar or not… Seren was… perfect.
He couldn't understand why. Some of his own family had scars of their own and he considered all of them ugly. He hated it when his family would show the scars so why was it different with Seren?
Seren huffed as she felt her blood becoming less and less in her body. She found it ironic, her mother hated her and wanted her dead and now, whether this was her mother or not, she was about to die by the hands of something that looked like her mother.
With a grunt, Seren started running towards the woman, throwing punches and kicks to the person who was trying to kill her. Maybe she should have told the Union to make everyone start carrying their own weapons.
"A gun would be useful right about now," the black haired girl muttered as the woman continued to dodge her attacks. Seren gasped in pain as she was hit with a black lightning bolt to the face. Blood began to trickle down the girl's face as she held her head, feeling dizzy from the contact.
Sarah quickly reached out and grabbed the girl by the throat as she hoisted her into the air. Seren gripped her mother's hand, gasping for air as Kellyn watched on in horror, feeling more and more helpless as the time passed by.
He was aware he had a small crush on Seren in the Ranger School, but now, seeing the girl in danger, his heart was breaking, all he wanted to do was help her. Why couldn't he? Because he was stuck as this stupid, worthless pokemon!
Tears formed in Kellyn's eyes as he watched the darkness began to surround Seren, who's movements became slower and slower the longer she was held in the air. Kellyn stood straight, he needed to make Sarah release Seren. So, he did what any pokemon would, he unleashed another water gun attack.
Sarah turned her head, looking to the side, face a little wet as Kellyn seemed to freeze under her stare. Seren looked at the blue pokemon, coughing blood slightly as she felt a sharp pain in her stomach.
Seren let out a blood curdling scream as she looked down to see the woman carving into her stomach with the darkness. Kellyn finally let the tears from his eyes as he watched his partner suffer the pain.
He didn't care anymore. All he wanted was Seren to be okay. For her to be happy. To be alive. Be by his side for the rest of their Ranger Days and after that.
Kellyn knew he loved Seren, that much was clear. He looked up again, the girl was beginning to cough blood up. He knew she would be scarred for the rest of her life and now and probably wouldn't even want to talk to Kellyn again because he couldn't help her. He couldn't save. He was useless.
'I'd rather my entire body be scarred for the rest of my life than seeing Seren like this.'
The thought surprised Kellyn, he'd never considered scarring any part of him for anyone. But it seemed like Seren had a different effect on him. Kellyn just wanted to protect her but he couldn't even do that.
"Kellyn, listen to me," Seren spoke. Her voice was hoarse as she looked to the side, she could see the little blue pokemon who had fallen to his knees. "You are going to fine. I need you to go and find Keith and Kate. Save our Regions and our home. You will be scarred by the end of this but I hope you realise now that they don't matter!" the black haired girl practically yelled as tears started streaming out of her eyes.
She continued to cry and whimper as she was carved into more and more. Forcing a smile onto her face, she turned to look at Kellyn.
"I'll be fine. I always am," Seren stated with a small laugh as the darkness finally swallowed the girl up and Seren was gone from Kellyn's site.
"Seren!" Kellyn yelled as he reached a paw out towards where the girl had been as the darkness began to lift around them. The Region was still in tack which was a shock.
Kellyn sobbed as he looked at the ground, all he wanted was his best friend back. He wanted Seren back. How was he even supposed to start trying to find Keith and Kate with the Darkness trying to take over everything? There's also the fact he was an Arceus damn pokemon!
Unbeknownst to Kellyn, as he sobbed his heart out, his entire body began to glow. Suddenly, the fire Kellyn had felt once before began to ring throughout his body. It felt like he was being burned alive as he let out an ear piercing scream. If there were people passing by they would have stopped and watched in fear as something started happening to the blue pokemon.
He started to grow taller. The small stubby arms and tiny legs suddenly began returning to their normal human size. Five fingers and toes grew from his hands and feet one more.
The blue skin that he once had in his Totodile form was beginning to disappear. It was slowly replaced with his slightly tanned skin he had before. He continued to grow until he was back to his normal height.
His eyes shrunk back to his natural human eyes and his snout began to shrink in as his lips returned to normal. He continued to scream as the fire burned throughout him. His Ranger clothes returned and his styler was placed back on his arm.
The tail completely disappeared and as quickly as it came the fire burning throughout the boy had gone, just completely vanished.
Kellyn still felt tears running down his face as he wiped them, looking at shock in his hands. His Ranger Uniform was completely tattered and torn but other than that he was fine, there wasn't a scratch on his.
Kellyn punch the ground beneath him, feeling some bones crack and blood began to pool onto the floor.
"How could I be so stupid?!" Kellyn asked, anger getting the better of him. "I couldn't help her! I couldn't save her… Seren… forgive me," the brunette muttered as he stood, well staggered, to his feet.
It left like a millennium had passed since he was back in his own body. Anger burned inside of Kellyn, as blood dripped from his hand. He couldn't save Seren, but now, to get her back he wouldn't care if his entire body was scarred from head to toe or if he died. All he wanted was Seren.
"I swear by Arceus I will save you, Seren," the brunette whispered as he looked around. Now the only question was.
How the hell did he get out of the Hoenn Region?
Luana huffed as she looked around. All the pokemon were starting to rampage in the areas near by Barlow had made his way over to Boyleland to try and stop the pokemon rampaging over there.
Elaine had even taken up a styler in her mechanic state with their operator Amina. The two had gone towards the Haruba Desert. While she was looking after Vientown, Chicole and Vientown Forest.
Crawford had been sent over to Pueltown and was looking after things from there up.
Luana panted as she leaned on a tree. She hadn't faced anything this hard, or annoying, since Operation Brighton. Even then she had been shot out of the sky.
A month had only passed since it. She wasn't fully recovered, her injuries were a lot worse than she had told everyone. She had been having dizzy spells since. Course she wouldn't tell them because her career as a Ranger would be over then.
Luana pushed herself off the tree as pokemon appeared around her. They weren't normal pokemon. They were grey in colour, some black and their eyes were a piercing blood red colour.
With a frown, Luana readied her Styler. She easily captured the pokemon with no trouble and, as she had expected, they turned to dust and were blown away.
"Voicemail, voicemail!" Crawford's voice came from Luana's Styler, she quickly answered it.
"Crawford. How's it going?" the black haired girl asked, but her eyes widened when she saw Crawford's face. He had blood gushing down it from a large gash on his forehead.
"It's worse than it looks, I swear," he quickly defended with a small smile. "Everything over here is bad. People have kicked the pokemon they live with out of their houses in fear they'll turn into these things," he frowned.
"Over here is the same. No one's letting the pokemon in their home. What do we do?" Luana asked with a worried lip bite, looking around she couldn't even see anyone. Every human had barricaded themselves in their homes and were waiting for the Rangers to save the day, just like they had with Operation Brighton. Only this time, the Rangers weren't sure they could save everyone.
"We have to go to the Union. Group there and see what's happening. Things are getting dangerous. I haven't seen this 'Darkness' yet, but if it can do to us what it's doing to the pokemon… I don't want to see it," Crawford stated Luana nodded her head.
The two had deemed what was happening to be 'Darkness'. Since they didn't know what was causing it, and it was pitch black in colour it was the only thing they could call it.
The Rangers were in fear as well. They didn't know if this 'Darkness' could do to them what it did to the pokemon. They just assumed and none of them wanted to find out if it could.
Luana looked around. Something felt off. Everything was too quiet. She hummed, pursing her lips together and looking around. Her eyes widened when she saw a familiar figure.
"Barlow!" she cried in joy, a large smile on her face. "Arceus, I've-," she cut herself short when she looked at the man in front of her. He was grey, all grey and when he turned, his eyes were red.
Luana's eyes widened as she looked at the man. This was not Barlow. The 'Darkness' it must… it must be able to do to humans what it did to the pokemon!
Everything happened so fast to Luana. Before she could register anything, Barlow, or the thing that looked like Barlow, had its hand around her neck, lifted her into the air and was growling.
She placed her hand on its, trying to get it to let you. She choked, feeling her air supply running dry.
"Darkness shall rule!" the thing said as it glared at Luana. The black haired girl coughed, feeling her own saliva run from her mouth. She couldn't breathe, she needed air. She knew this wasn't Barlow and, if she did die, she would never hold a grudge against him.
"Flareon use Flamethrower!" a young voice suddenly yelled. Luana gasped, feeling air return to her lungs as she was dropped hard on the ground. Something in her leg crunched as she landed on it in a funny position.
"Are you okay?" a female voice asked. Looking up, Luana's vision was slightly blurry, but she could make out the figures of Adir and Freya, Kate and Crawford's parents. But… who had controlled the Flareon?
"Now, Flareon, Flame Wheel!" the voice yelled again. Walking in front of them, Remi stood. Her eyes were narrowed, a deathly aura was spewing from the girl. Her fists were balled and… she was wearing clothes similar to a ranger attire.
Red shorts, a black shirt, red trainers and one of Kate's jackets were placed around the girl's shoulders as she stood in front of the three. Flareon obeyed her every order and soon the Barlow figure disappeared.
"Luana?" Freya asked in concern as the black haired girl watched the young blonde with a small smile on her face.
"I'm fine," she spoke quietly as she wiped her mouth, standing to her feet. A sharp pain shot through her leg as she almost screamed but kept it in, breathing heavily.
"You're hurt," Adir spoke with worry. Luana laughed as she looked at the two.
"This is nothing compared to being shot from the sky," she answered as she stood to her feet. A determined looked filled her eyes as Remi looked at her. The deathly aura still spewed from the girl but she was still Remi.
"What do we do now?" Remi asked as she looked at the black haired girl. Luana seemed shocked. Her entire childish demeanour had disappeared and she was completely serious.
"We need to go to the Union. Regroup with Crawford in Pueltown. He's injured," the black haired girl spoke as she looked at the family.
"Then let's go," Adir ordered as he looked at the group.
"Flareon return," Remi ordered as the pokemon returned to its pokeball.
"You're… not scared?" Luana asked as she looked at the three. Adir and Freya took each other's hand and Remi gripped Luana's, much to the girl's surprise.
"We're terrified. We won't lie," Freya admitted as Adir nodded his head.
"But you and the other Rangers saved us only a month ago," the man stated as he smiled at the recalled memory.
"We want to fight. To help you save the world this time. It's not an easy job," Remi replied with her own smile as she looked up at the woman. Luana smiled sadly at the three of them before nodding.
In a short time all of them found themselves in Pueltown. They had ran their way there in order to get to the Union as fast as possible. Luana's leg was throbbing with pain, but she ignored it as she looked around.
A dark mist had covered the town, making it hard to see as she took a step forward. Remi gripped her hand, pursing her lips together.
"I'll find Crawford," Luana spoke as she turned on her heel. "The three of you need to get through Pueltown. Join hands, do not let go and run if you need to. Don't wait for us," the black haired girl ordered as she looked at the three. Adir and Freya gave her a doubtful look, she frowned in frustration before kneeling down.
"Remi listen," she whispered to the blonde girl. "Your parents are too stubborn. You have to get them to the Union safe. It's what Kate and Crawford would want. Please do your best, Little Ranger," she smiled as she hugged the blonde haired girl, who nodded her head.
"Mama, Papa," she spoke. "Let's go," Remi ordered as she took their hands and began leading them through the town.
Luana sighed in relief before turning on her injured leg. She took off running down the streets of Pueltown with a frown on her face. She had to find Crawford.
"Crawford! Where are you?!" Luana called as she leaned on the wall for support. She was sure if he was near he'd be able to hear her calling his name. Suddenly, the girl's lungs felt like they were on fire.
Looking around, Luana saw the black mist had turned an ugly purple colour as she coughed heavily into her hand. Looking at it she saw a small puddle of blood.
With wide eyes, Luana stood to her feet and started running towards the exit of Pueltown, she prayed Crawford had gotten out of the town.
As she passed a large, tall tree, a hand shot down and gripped her arm, pulling her up quickly. Luana screamed as she was hoisted onto a branch, glaring at her captor with murderous eyes.
But the glare instantly softened when she saw Crawford leaning against the trunk of the tree. Blood dripped from his head as he smiled slightly.
"Glad to see you're okay," he spoke. His voice was hoarse, like he hadn't drank in moths.
"Are you okay?" Luana asked as she took her Ranger jacket off. She used it to wipe the blood from Crawford's head and analyse the wound he had. The afro boy was telling the truth when he said it wasn't as bad as it looked, but nonetheless she was worried.
"I'm fine. Listen, this mist thing turns to poison when people are in it," Crawford stated. As he opened his mouth to say something else, Luana gave a terrified glance. "What is it?" he asked in concerned as he looked at the woman.
"Your parents and sister went through to get to the Ranger Union," she whispered in fright. Crawford's eyes went wide as he stood to his feet, hissing at a pain in his ribs as he did so.
"We need to go and make sure they're okay. Make sure they got out okay," the brunette whispered as he looked at the ground below them. The mist had turned black once more. Luana frowned.
"We could die in this," she whispered as she felt herself welling up with tears.
"We won't die. We'll be injured, poisoned even, but we will not die," Crawford whispered as he gripped the girl's face, looking into her eyes. The brunette looked into her eyes, the worry was immense in them. He couldn't help but smile at girl in front of him.
"This isn't funny, Crawford!" Luana yelled as she looked at her partner. Crawford frowned slightly before he smiled again.
"Sure it is, I guarantee that Remi got mum and dad out alright. Kate and Keith are probably wrapping up this mission as we speak," Crawford smiled as he looked at the girl. Luana doubted his words as she frowned, looking at the man in front of her.
"And if they aren't?" she asked, fear evident in her voice.
"Then we all had a good run. Now come on," Crawford ordered as he jumped from the tree, dragging Luana with him. The two landed on their feet and quickly took off towards the exit of Pueltown.
Remi looked around as she tried to see if Luana or Crawford were coming out of Pueltown, her mum, dad and she had only just made it out. Blood stained the corner of the younger girl's face as she looked around.
"Remi, we need to go," Adir spoke as he laid a hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"Not without Luana or Big Brother!" Remi ordered as she glared at the city that was coated in a purple mist.
"Luana told us not to wait," Freya reminded as she looked towards where the Ranger Union was.
"Kate wouldn't leave them and neither am I!" Remi yelled as she glared at her parents. The two adults looked at her in shock before smiling, she really had taken after Kate with her bravery.
"Alright, we'll wait," Freya smiled as she looked at her daughter.
"Hey!" a voice called a few minutes later. The three turned to see Crawford running over with Luana, who had started to limp.
"Are you two okay?" Adir asked as the two stopped. They nodded their heads and together the group started walking towards the Union.
They didn't get very far before Crawford collapsed onto the floor. He had been in the poison longer than Luana and it was starting to take a toll on him now. It was getting painful for him to breath.
"Crawford!" Luana called as she looked at the boy next to her. Adir, Freya and Remi turned, their eyes widened at the sight of their family member on the floor.
"Crawford!" they yelped as they rushed to the boy.
"Go on," the afro haired man ordered as he coughed, bringing blood up as he did so.
"No, we'll take you back to the Union and-,"
"Luana!" Crawford glared, stopped the girl in her tracks. "I was in that mist longer than all of you. You need to go to the Union, help with whatever you can. I have faith in Katie and Keith that they'll finish the mission. I will be fine," he tried to reassure but everyone gave him doubtful looks.
"But… what if you're wrong?!" Luana asked as she began to cry. "What if Kate doesn't make it in time?! What if Keith's been injured?! What if both of them have been injured?! What if they don't make it?! We have to carry on to fight this!" the black haired girl cried.
"Luana… you don't understand," Crawford muttered as he looked at the sky, which was slowly becoming an eerie black colour. "If they don't make it… this 'Darkness' isn't coming from Almia. It's coming from somewhere else. Have faith they will beat it," the afro haired boy ordered, but it didn't stop Luana's tears from falling.
"But… we need you to fight as well," she whispered, closing her eyes. Freya placed a hand on Adir's shoulder, he nodded his head as he lead Remi and Freya away from the two.
"I've gone as far as I can in this mission, Luana," Crawford whispered. Luana whimpered as she wiped her eyes. She went to try and lift the boy, but he refused.
"Luana, please," he looked at her with desperate eyes. "You need to carry on," Crawford ordered. He could feel his own tears start to well up. He wasn't oblivious to his feelings of the girl. Crawford knew he loved her, he admitted it to himself.
"I can't," the black haired girl whispered, gritting her teeth as more and more tears fell from her eyes. "Not without you," she added, barely above a whisper, but Crawford caught it.
"I'll be fine. You watch, I promise you I will be," the brunette smiled as he looked at Luana, who glared at him.
"How?! How can you promise me something like that?! You're poisoned Crawford and you could die!" the black haired girl growled as she gripped the grass beside her.
Crawford frowned as he made a move to sit up. He grip her shoulders, but Luana wouldn't looked at him. Quickly he made a move to grip her face, forcing her to look at him.
Slowly, the afro haired brunette leaned into the girl. Their lips inches apart, giving her a chance to tell him to stop. Luana's breath hitched as she looked at Crawford, gulping audible as she did so.
Crawford smiled at the girl, slowly pressing his lips onto hers, giving her a passionate kiss as he did so. Luana kissed the boy back, feeling tears streaming down her face as she did so.
Crawford broke the kiss a few minutes later. He smiled at the girl, Luana looked at him in shock before smiling herself.
"I promise I'll come home. I can't live without," the brunette smiled as their foreheads touched. He looked in her eyes. Love, compassion, care, every emotion Luana could think of filled them.
"I love you."
Luana's heart skipped a beat as she listened to Crawford. He closed his eyes a moment later, feeling his world becoming dark.
"I love you too," she whispered as the afro haired boy fell to the floor beside her, looked at him in shock and made a move to shake him.
"Luana… go… please," the boy begged as he coughed, bringing more blood as he did so. Luana looked at him in shock, then frowned, furrowed her eyebrows in determination and stood to her feet.
With fists balled at her side she took one last look at her partner and love, who was barely conscious.
"Don't you dare die on me, Crawford!"
Those were Luana's last words to the boy as she took off running towards the Union. Re-joining with Remi, Adir and Freya as she did so.
Hey guys! Happy New Year! Really sorry this story hasn't been updated in a while. Good news is I'm going to work until this is finished now. Bad news is Sky may not be co-writing with it anymore. She's got too many things going on, but she is doing better which we're all proud of.
Rythmi: We're hoping to finish this story in about 5 maybe 10 chapters.
Depending on how things go.
Isaac: HTF also takes requests for one-shots with pokemon couples. So if you want to see anything just ask.
I tend to write them in my spare time. These chapters take a while to plan out and write.
Luana: But.. she'll try her hardest *bawls in corner*
I'll update as soon as I can. I won't make any promises but I'm going to try my hardest as I have work and stuff to do in my own life.
Isaac: We'll see you guys soon!
In the mean time, please REVIEW!
