Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. I only own the characters and story, unless otherwise stated. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Kira yawned loudly as she ran across the water of the dungeon. She wasn't exactly sure if it was even a dungeon anymore, as everything was practically empty or void of life. Sure, there was the occasional plant or small bird, but there was nothing else that could really be seen. Even then, Kira was sure that there had to be something somewhere around here - this place had to have what she was looking for if Houndour had told her, right?
Now that she was acutally here and thinking about it, she hadn't really seen a single sign of Pokémon life apart from the cries. When Houndour had told her that there were some powerful Pokémon here, she had actually been expecting some powerful opponents to face along the way. Instead, she was just walking here trying not to fall asleep out of boredom or something.
To keep herself distracted, although only for a moment, she raised a hand to the opal around her neck, feeling the cold and soft stone as it kept close with some sort of power she couldn't really comprehend. She was debating to ask Ragnarök about it, but she was sure he would have the same response to it. Actually, she was completely sure of it. Even with how different they were, they were still one person overall.
"So you really think there might be some sort of special power that the stupid necklace has?" Ragnarök mumbled from within her head. "Why don't we just drop that subject and look at something else for a change? Maybe something like that second flame we were able to detect during our training. I wonder just what they might be."
"True, but I say we just let flames be flames and only expect them when we get back into whatever it is we are supposed to be doing these days," Kira responded, holding her hands behind her head as she looked for the Harmony Lily. "For now, instead of worrying about whoever that was, let us focus on finding a flower that sounds like it was made up thirty seconds ago."
Ragnarök was silent for a moment before chuckling lightly. "That's because I think it was," he said, growling lightly as silence echoed around them. "The only flower I can recall even remotely close to a Harmony Lily would be the Water Lily, which looks nice. A black bud, according to my guess if it's right, would be like a poison to anyone who even so much as touches it. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but that's what I believe. Just a random guess from a person who doesn't even like to read books or remember what can be what."
"You sound like Sage in that matter," Kira chuckled, only to earn a growl from Ragnarök. "Sorry, but you both hate reading and do things your own way." She was silent for a moment before shaking her head. "I should shut up now. Talking to myself like this isn't exactly healthy for the mind."
As Ragnarök fell silent, Kira continued on her trek through the dungeon, glancing around for any sign of the Harmony Lily, which she was now having doubts about. Kira continued to walk until she could do so no longer. The Pokémon in the dungeon had started to appear, which took a lot of energy out of her for some odd reason. Even then, she was a lot more exhausted due to how many detours she had to take and how often she would have to run from an opponent she couldn't beat without tapping into her flames. But this wasn't even the end of the dungeon, and Kira was sure that there would be much harder opponents to face through the journey to come.
Catching her breath from the nonstop running and battling, Kira noticed that she was starting to get lost from all the running around. Nothing really looked familiar to this point, and even the sun above her seemed to have been staying in the same place since the beginning of her journey. No matter where she looked, nothing looked like it could give a hint as to if it was the right way out. Maybe if she reached the end of the dungeon she would be able to escape? At least, that's what she hoped would happen.
As she was about to continue on the trek, an odd chill washed over her. She froze in place, quickly glancing around for any sign of a possible attacker, but there was nothing around her. The only things she could see were the reeds that grew around the dungeon, as well as the clear water and solid stone beneath her feet. Otherwise, there was nothing for her to really notice. That was right up until she was sent flying high, something slamming into her from below.
Caught off guard, it took a moment for Kira to right herself and use her vines to set herself on the floor, barely avoiding a crash landing with the ground. She shook and looked at where she had been attacked, then noticing a Pokémon that looked something like a flounder, although its body was sparking with an intense electricity.
'So this thing must be Stunfisk, right?' she thought to herself as the Pokémon floundered around, giant bolts of electricity launching in every direction. 'Why does it look so agitated? I'm sure I would have felt myself step on it, so why is it acting this way?' Kira was about to call out to it, only to stop as she noticed a black flower latching onto its underside. It looked like a water lily, even though the bud was... black.
"That's what we're looking for?!" Ragnarök screamed from within her head. "This is even worse than what I had thought it would do! The flower is driving that Pokémon into a Hyper-state! Why would they need that kind of flower if they just need to heal their pack leader?!"
"That's because that flower wouldn't just heal it," Kira responded as her vines quickly extended, preparing for her attack. "That flower would drive their leader into a rage that could possibly destroy the whole forest. With that much power, they wouldn't have any reason to run. They could just kill whatever and take over from there. Even then, we need to get rid of this thi-"
Kira yipped as she was sent flying once more. This time, though, she was a lot more prepared, and fixed herself much quicker, splashing heavily before shaking and looking at the massive amount of Pokémon that had come from the water. Each of them had the Harmony Lily attached in some way or another, and they were all focusing on her.
"This does not look good for either of us," Ragnarök whispered from her head, her eyes turning red as their flames became one. "I think it'd be best if we take them out before they can get any plans. What do you think, Kira-chan?"
Kira nodded before she quickly jumped, barely dodging an attack she hadn't seen. She smirked before turning, her vines lashing out quickly, knocking many of the Pokémon away. Even with her type advantage over most, she was sure that they would make a rough opponent. But they weren't too bad, yet. They were probably warming up. Either that, or the flower was just waiting and tiring her out. It seemed like it could do that, possibly.
As she was thinking, Kira and Ragnarök both failed to notice another attack being launched right at them. Kira was only just about able to block the attack, even though it still launched her backwards and through the thick bark of a nearby tree. They hit the ground roughly, pain coursing through them as they tried to stand once more. There was no doubt at least a rib was broken from the attack. They were quick to shake it off, though. The amount of sun and their flames together healed them incredibly fast, although the damage would remain until they got proper healing items.
A sudden beam of energy slammed into them from behind, shocking them but also knocking them forward, where they were met by another beam of energy. The attacks met with the weakening Snivy in the middle, tearing her apart from the inside and out. Kira could feel her consciousness fading, only to then feel as energy began to course through her. A familiar flame met with hers, giving her hope.
"I'm afraid I can't let you die just yet," a sweet voice whispered, power surrounding her and tearing away the pain. "Protective counter! Full force strike!" Energy flared out from all directions, completely overpowering the beams that were crushing her. "Don't let me see you giving up just yet, Kira-sama! Our job is too important to give up! Kick these Harmony Lilies back to the ground where they came from!"
Kira nodded as her vision returned. She was on her knees, glaring at charred ground as water slowly trickled back into its spot. She hurriedly stood, looking around at the massive damage that had been done to the surrounding area. Most of the trees had ben burnt to a crisp, and even the water that had covered the floor was struggling to flow back into place. Overall, the damage that had been done could have been compared to about fifty or so pounds of dynamite at once. It wasn't bad, but it was harsh.
Kira quickly noticed the Pokémon coming back around her, although there was significantly fewer Pokémon than there had been before. She quickly shook it off and clenched her fists as she tapped into the flames that were coursing through her being. That new voice seemed to have left a bit of flame there, although enough for only a single massive attack. Ragnarök's flames had disappeared, although she could still sense him somewhere. She hurriedly shook her head and focused on the Pokémon. She had one strike, and then she was on her own.
Jumping up, Kira felt her vines extend, making an idea to come to her head. She glanced at each of the Harmony Lilies, time seeming to slow as she locked on to each of them. Without even thinking of it, her vines lashed out, the green flame entering them and allowing them to extend, slamming into the lilies swiftly and without mercy. By the time she landed, almost every single lily had been taken out; most Pokémon rushed away once the lilies had been knocked into the water.
She collapsed to her knees as she regained full control, exhaustion hitting her harder than Marowak had ever done to her. She raised a hand to the opal, chuckling lightly before she collapsed to the ground. She tried so hard not to black out, but she was eventually consumed by the darkness, falling limp as she lost control of everything.
As she regained consciousness, Kira confusedly looked around to find herself at the entrance of the dungeon. She hurriedly sat up, gasping as pain tore from her waist to her lower chest; she froze, the pain eventually receding and allowing her to stand once more. After a moment of trying to catch her breath, she looked around for any sign of Pokémon who could have helped her - there were none.
"What even happened?" she groaned loudly rubbing the side of her head as she sat down, trying to recall the events of the battle. Everything had become a blur after she had been knocked through the tree, but she could recall a voice and the calming yet powerful flame that had become a piece of her. "Who was that anyways? It wasn't Ragnarök's for sure."
As she was trying to think, the sound of paw-steps slowly reached her. She quickly raised her head, almost lashing out at Houndour as he pushed from the undergrowth, which had almost scared her to a heart attack. They glared at each other for a moment before Kira actually attacked, slamming him into a tree out of fear.
"What were you thinking when you told me to go in there?!" she screamed at him, anger ripping through her like a flood. "Do you even know what that Harmony Lily does to Pokémon?! I almost died because you want your leader to become some sort of powerful monster! What that hell, Houndour?! You're insane!"
"I'm sorry," he groaned as he stood, only to be slammed into the ground. Blood seeped from from his maw, showing a sign of weakness. "I... didn't think you'd come across the dungeon Pokémon under its influence." He coughed as he forced himself to stand, luckily not being hit again. "That flower, feeds off a Pokémon's fighting spirit. That's why I needed them. It'd heal our leader, but the effects of violence would be much, much weaker. He doesn't want to fight others. We're peaceful, unlike those you met."
"There were other ways to heal your leader," she whispered. "You called me over and almost got me killed for a flower that can control hundreds of Pokémon at once. I'm lucky to even be alive, and yet you're trying to say that flower won't do the same thing to your leader as it did to those Pokémon? I'm sorry, but I don't think I can trust you, especially after what just happened. I said I'd help you, but... I can't believe you after that."
Houndour was silent before he lowered his head. "I figured you wouldn't, but I guess maybe I was having my hopes up when the only human I knew said she'd help me." Kira, in shock, backed away. "You didn't know? I knew you were human from the very beginning, Kira. You reek of them. It took me a while, but I figured it rather quickly. You haven't heard the rumors of humans coming to save the world yet, have you? I figured you'd know by now, but I guess I still had my hopes too high."
'He's lying,' Kira thought, clenching her fist as she tried to think. She tried to be angry at him, but she couldn't with how hard she was trying to think. "You can't honestly think I'd believe you, do you? You sent me there to either get killed or turn your leader into a monster. Now you expect me to believe that I'm here to save your world from possible destruction? Houndour, as much as I'd love to believe you, I don't. You lost my belief when I was an inch away from death."
Houndour nodded before flames erupted from around them, surrounding them quickly and burning the trees close to them. "Then I guess I'll have to make you see the truth." He raised his head, his eyes blazing with blue fire. "My name is Houndour of the Alpha Pack. I challenge you, Kira of the Human Realm, to a battle of the heart and mind."
Kira flinched as she felt flames licking at her body, filling her with pain and fear. She didn't know what to do anymore, and she wasn't even sure if she could fight him. With his type advantage and how weak she was, she knew she would be absolutely destroyed by Houndour. Even then, she knew she wouldn't be able to run away from him.
"Please, reconsider this, Houndour," she whispered, barely standing against the flames as they burned her. "I don't want to fight you, please. I just wanted to do what I could to help, but I can't do anything like this. Please, I beg of you!"
"It's too late to reach him," the voice from before whispered in her ear. "The rage that keeps him standing it starting to overflow like a river after a storm. You have to battle him, Kira-sama. Even I know that we have to beat him before we can go back."
Kira shook her head, denying it; she was going to lose no matter how hard she tried, even if she did access the flames within her body. "I can't fight," she whispered, collapsing to her knees as tears fell to the ground. "I don't want to hurt him. It's my fault for failing, even if I don't believe him. He did nothing wrong, at all. He only wants to protect his leader, and I messed that up. I'm sorry, but I don't want to fight."
As she felt the tears slide to the ground, the flames slowly began to fade away. Houndour chuckled lightly and began to back away. "As I said before, I knew you were a human from the very beginning. Instead of fighting like any Pokémon, you gave in and surrendered, begging not to fight like the humans in our books." He turned away from, now padding away. "You should probably rest up. This isn't the only thing you have to do here, Kira. Rest up, for the journey will continue tomorrow."
As his footsteps became next to nothing, Kira raised her head, her cheeks stained with tears. She could barely register anything now, but she was sure that whatever it was, it wasn't something she wanted to care about. For the first time in her time here, she had felt genuine terror course through her.
After several moments of silence, Kira noticed an odd mist starting to form around her. She was sure that it was real, but there was also a mythical feeling about it. She stood, starting to walk until something grabbed her arm. She turned, jumping back as she saw an exact replica of herself being formed from the mist, albeit with green eyes and a powerful flame.
"My name is Leaf," it explained, its sweet voice a reminder of the battle and challenge to fight. "You did well when you resisted the urge to fight right there, Kira. Every other person I've challenged with my flame has usually charged right into battle." She laughed lightly before turning her head. "It seems we have a visitor. It's been a while, Ragnarök."
Another replica of Kira formed, albeit with an aura that almost consumed them all and with bright red eyes. "You speak to me as though I haven't been having to deal with you talking to me forever now," he growled in return. "Besides, when did you learn this neat trick? I feel almost... human... again."
Kira felt a bit confused before she shook her head. Perhaps now was the best time to ask. "What do you mean by human?" she asked quickly, earning confused glares from Leaf and Ragnarök. "I mean, I know what a human is, but what do you mean by 'feels human'? I'm not a human, am I? Houndour said I was, a-and now you're saying that you feel human... again."
"In truth, Kira, we were once all humans, but we fell to the curse of Necrozma hundreds of years ago," Leaf said calmly, sighing before turning away. "Back when humans could use the attacks of Pokémon for themselves, me and Ragnarök were the two strongest mages in the world, although Ragnarök is much, much stronger than me in every possible way, except maybe in mentality."
"Thank you for bringing my pride down, Leaf," Ragnarök mumbled, forcing his flame to slowly die down, although it could still be felt burning around them. "But otherwise, what Houndour said was indeed true, although I'm sure Leaf can explain why he wanted to fight." He hurriedly shook his head before chuckling. "Before that, though, I should explain why you were chosen to be our host. We've been jumping from host to host for the past century, but none of them were capable of holding onto our flames, which ended up burning them from the inside-out. We were going to give up, but that was when we came across you. Your flames were so powerful that you didn't notice any of us inhabiting you body."
"That was until we met Xatu, who drove you to access your reserves, which dragged Ragnarök out of his sleep-like state and allowed him to fuel you with his own form of power," Leaf interrupted. "And today, you revealed me, the Pokémon known for her countering style of battle while having a powerful offense as well. That was the only way you managed to survive those Hyper beams with how powerful they were."
Kira was silent for a moment before she lowered her head. If this was true, then maybe what Kiminari had told her was true as well. Was she destined to take down the one who ruled the Infection? Wasn't that Pokémon supposed to be Necrozma? She felt so unsure now, but perhaps that was what was happening. Maybe that prophecy would come true soon, or so she hoped.
"Maybe we should head to Esperanza Village," Ragnarök suggested as the mist began to thin out. "We still have a mission to complete here, so I say we get some food and rest. I miss Swanna's cooking, although we've only really had it once!"
Kira nodded, chuckling lightly. If she was being honest, that one night in Esperanza Villgae had made her feel truly safe. She was sure it wasn't because she didn't really have nothing to fear there, but because there were Pokémon she could trust with her full heart. Shaking her head, she began her trek all the way to Esperanza Village. She hoped she would at least be recognized there.
"So you really think that Houndour will be able to tap into her final form?" Duke growled under his voice, flames making his shadow dance as he followed Sage through a familiar tunnel. "I know she had that weird flame when she battled Kiminari, but it was only for a second, Sage. She can't do what your friends can do. She isn't a god."
"I know that, Duke, but you told me that he would be the best one to train her," Sage responded, licking his lips as familiar symbols began to appear along the walls. "You asked me what I thought, and I said that it was a fine idea for if we want to see her full power. Besides, he said he'd message us as soon as he was done with their first day of training. And you lied to her as well, saying that he needed help when he clearly didn't. They can take care of themselves just fine."
Duke nodded lightly as they continued on. After a moment, a flash of light came from Sage's bag, which Duke looked at confusedly. Sage calmly pulled some sort of disk from the bag before throwing it ahead of them. It expanded quickly, now showing Houndour as though it was some sort of illusion.
"This is a hologram," Sage explained as he noticed Duke looking at it confusedly. "Back where I came from, these were used to talk between people who were long distances away without a phone or whatnot. But apart from that, I was lucky to find what I needed to make some here. You Pokémon sure are behind on times."
"And right you are to say so," Houndour then said, his voice scratchy as he wrapped bandages around his paw. "But that isn't what I want to talk to you about. As promised, I've come in to give you my report on what I could find out about her in her basic state." He sighed lightly before flames escaped from his maw, burning the grass beneath his paws. "I tried to see how much she could stand, but there was something wrong with the testing. The Harmony Lily made the dungeon Pokémon insanely aggressive, which it's never done before during these tests. I think something about Kira is triggering this massive spread of aggressive and violent Infections. But, there's another thing that I have to tell you about." He was silent before chuckling. "Kira is able to access a limit-breaker without so much as blinking. I felt the rage in my system as the flames persuaded me to fight. As you suspected, Sage and Duke, she is no normal human. She's a human mind and soul in a Pokémon's body of instinct. She's a perfect blend between the two."
"So you're saying that we have a problem even bigger than just the normal Infections?" Duke groaned loudly before raising a wing and rubbing his head. "I hate to say it, but I think we can't hide it from her for much longer." He looked up to Houndour, nodding lightly. "What are we going to do now? We have to find Necrozma and take him out before this gets any worse."
"It won't be so easy," Sage whispered, his eyes glancing at the symbols, most of which were old or worn out. "According to this, Necrozma is no longer able to control the Infected Pokémon. There's something else keeping them in line, and I'm admittedly terrified to find out just who it is. They must be powerful if they're controlling them all at once."
"I wouldn't worry about it for much longer," Houndour said, a light chuckle escaping him as he stood. "For now, I need to find something to help my leader, so I'll leave you two to try and figure what we have to do next. I'll call you as soon as I finish with Kira tomorrow. See you both later!"
The hologram then collapsed, rocketing back to Sage's bag once it had turned off. Duke had to say that the hologram had shocked him, but he didn't really bother to stand on it long since it would just get in the way of their mission. He looked at the walls, but the flame was getting too dim for them to see any longer.
"We should get out of here," Sage mumbled as he dropped the torch and started to head back towards the entrance. "For now, we have to allow time to catch up to where we are. If Wave did as he said he would, then I'm sure time needs to heal up."
Duke nodded in response. Sage was right when he said that time needed to catch up. Sometimes, even Duke wondered when they'd be able to rest, but now was not the time for that, no matter how badly he wanted it to be. For now, more research had to be done.
Input: Hello. If you are reading this, then it means you have finished Chapter 7: Corruption P2. I hope you have enjoyed another flame. Also, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. If you notice any errors, please inform me and I will fix them as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please ask me and I will try to explain them to the best of my ability. Thank you for reading.
Edit: As I said, time needs to heal up. This is sort of a forth wall break, meaning I need time to catch up with what I've been doing and will do. Thank you, and see you all in a while.