Secrets of the Night

DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokemon!

Chapter 17: Uncertainty

The serene melody of the calm waves filled the sea-salted air with music. The amber sky was painted in a canvas of golden yellow streaks, with the waters mirroring its beauty and the sun disappearing in the distant horizon. Amidst this picturesque scenery, a couple stood by, watching their child play with the water at the edge of the boat.

"Be careful, sweetie…" a tall elegant woman cooed, with an arm wrapped around her husband's.

"Yes, mommy!" The child answered back with an innocent smile as he continued lean over and splash the water around with one hand. Alongside him, were his two pokemon; one was a cautious candle-like being that hid behind the little boy's leg in fear of getting wet, while the other was a playful purple ball of gas with a vampire grin.

"Neo, that's enough. It's getting dark. Time to go inside. You don't want to catch a cold, now?" His father called, gazing at the boy's shadowed frame with the backdrop of the darkening sky behind him.

"Coming, daddy …" His son stood up, whisked the water off and trotted over to his parents. And with a joyous face, he wrapped his arms around his father's leg.

The couple laughed softly, as the raven-haired gentleman placed a tender hand on the boy. Truly, it was a picture of a beautiful loving family with many hopes for the future. But as they say, the future is always uncertain.

The sun had set and the moonlit night had begun.

Neo and his parents were having a peaceful dinner inside the yacht. Everyone was all smiles and the room was filled with light and laughter. But all of a sudden, the mood shattered when a shrill cry pierced the air. Everyone froze and exchanged worried looks. Then the vessel shook, knocking over and shattering glasses and plates. Neo rushed to his mother and clung to her for safety, while his father rose and went outside to investigate with his Dusknoir.

A long minute passed.

Then the heavy silence was soon followed by explosions, screeching roars and more shaking. Neo's mother wrapped her arms protectively around the child and shielded him as much as she could from the various falling debris in the room. Nero and Arana, the boy's Gastly and Litwick helped by firing Nightshade at the incoming objects as they remained by the side of the mother and son.

The situation was turning for the worst. Neo started gasping and trembling. "M-mommy… I…"

"Sweetie… Hold on. Your father will be back soon." The lady brushed her son's hair and softly kissed his forehead to calm him down. "For now, you have to be strong… Understand?"

Neo nodded and buried his head against his mother. Loud noises and piercing shrieks continued to rain outside, but he did his best to muffle it as much as he could while thinking of his father. He knew his father was a talented pokemon trainer with a knack and expertise for ghost-types. It was for that reason, he started raising a Gastly and a Litwick.

"Arrghhh!..."a sudden cry jolted the mother and son. The familiarity of which instantly filled dread within their hearts.

"Mommy! M-Mommy! That was daddy!" Neo tugged his mother dress with tears trickling down his face.

"It's alright sweetie… Daddy is fine…"His mother pulled him closer and nestled her forehead against the child's to reassure him. She tried to stay calm but even she could feel something was not right.

The ominous silence came back. Suddenly, a howling whoosh passed, settling a dark chill in the air. Neo's mother raised her head and saw a large shadow zoom across the window of the room. Fear flashed before her eyes as the winged entity loomed outside with a green aura accumulating above its head.

The next moment, the windows were shattered by an earsplitting screech. Neo's mother shielded him as pieces of glass flew throughout the room. The child sobbed and looked up to meet his mother's gaze.

"M-Mommy?"

"It's alright Neo…" The woman lowered the boy's head to avoid him from seeing her injuries.

*crack* *crack*

A stranger's footsteps drew close, breaking the shattered glass spread all over the floor. Neo felt his mother flinch. He could hear her heart was racing almost as much as his. He raised his head to see who it was, but once again his mother drew him away from the sight.

"Let's just make this quick, okay? I have somewhere to be…"

Neo trembled. It was a man's voice. Definitely not his father. Who was he? Before he try and take a peek, his mother stood up with him safely in her arms.

"I won't let you hurt my son…" The lady's voice resonated with resolve and conviction. She shot a look at Neo's two pokemon and called out to them, "Nero, Smog! Arana, use Ember!"

The Gastly released an ominous purple haze as the Litwick ignited it into an explosion. The stranger shielded himself as his winged pokemon flapped its large wings and blew the fire away from its trainer. A moment later, the unknown man opened his eyes, to find the room in flames and the two targets gone.

Under the light of the thin crescent moon, Neo's mother rushed to the upper deck to search for her husband. When she arrived with her son, she saw a person slumped against the steel railing of the sun deck, and an unconscious ghost pokemon on the other side.

Instantly, she placed her son in a safe corner and told him to stay put, while she rushed to her husband's side. The man was heaving heavily with his clothes ripped and drenched in blood. Neo's mother tore part of her dress and wrapped it around her husband's torso to slow down the bleeding.

Meanwhile, Neo stayed in his spot, gasping and clenching his clothes as his chest pains continued to throb. His two pokemon remained closely at his side, brooding over what they should do to help while keeping wary of their surroundings.

"Honestly, you all should just stay still. It'll be less trouble for everyone…"

Neo flinched. The stranger had returned. Trembling, he crawled out of his hiding place and took a peek. What he saw, scarred his young mind with never-ending nightmares. His mother was struck back with swing of the man's long Katana blade, while his father was struggling to move as a tall creature pinned him down with a claw as it screeched and stretched its wings outward.

The child's eyes shifted back to his mother, sprawled motionlessly in a pool of red liquid. "M-Mommy?"

"Oh? Did I miss one?" The man's voice sent a chill down the semi-conscious head of the Takamoto family.

"N-No… Leave him alone…" He pleaded, desperately trying to break free from the winged pokemon's sharp claws. "Y-You can't t-touch him… He's a contractor."

"Is that so?" The stranger walked back and waved tip of his second Katana in front of the other man's face. "Sorry, that only applies if you show proof of it."

Despair and fear overcame him. Neo's father struggled frantically, but to no avail. His strength was rapidly fading from the blood loss. He clenched his teeth and looked up at the assassin who gave his pokemon a signal. On cue, the creature roared and dug its claws deep into the flesh of its prey, forcing a blood-curdling scream from the victim.

"Daddy!"

Neo ran out of the corner and laid eyes on the mysterious stranger. He was tall, clad in a long black cloak, with long twin blades, dripping with blood, in his hands. The child froze in fear and slumped to the surface of the deck. His heart raced erratically and with each throb dealt a stabbing pain in his chest.

"…M-Mommy? …D-Daddy?" Neo called out as he looked at his parents, silent and still on the crimson-dyed floor. They didn't answer and he couldn't move anymore to come to them. He could barely breathe or focus his vision. Everything was growing blurry and all he could hear was the throbbing of his own heart. His consciousness was fading into the dark He brought his knees up and buried his head in between. He didn't know what else to do.

His Litwick and Gastly rushed over to his side but was forced back by the stranger's pokemon who instantly took to the night sky with a thunderous beat of its wings.

The assassin walked closer and loomed over the fragile frame of the child. He could hear the boy heave and sob. He could also tell how much he was trembling. But it didn't matter to him, as long as his target wasn't going to escape. He stretched out his blade drenched in blood and took one last look at the child.

Neo embraced the silence and raised his head to have one final look. Through his blurry eyes, he etched the shadowy figure of the stranger in his mind as well as that of the pokemon flying above them. The last sight he saw was the glint of the blade in the man's hand as it swung towards him. He closed his eyes as his remaining strength vanished.

"…Nnghh."

Gremio could only watch as Neo quivered in his bed, sweat running down his pained face. He knew the boy was having another nightmare, but he couldn't wake him up, even if he wanted to.

Hours ago, they had arrived in Floe Island, the fourth island of the Sevii archipelago, located at the south of the Kanto region. After Neo passed out, Gremio immediately rushed him to his quarters and attached an oxygen tank. Then he drove the back to Kanto because he was unsure how far Unova still was. On the way, they passed the famed archipelago. When pokemon center came into view on one of the islands, Gremio could no longer wait, knowing his charge needed immediate attention. He pulled over at the beach and brought Neo in.

Now it was late morning. Gremio had not left his charge's side even though he was very exhausted. Nurse Joy came in before, advising him to rest, but he refused. He knew when Neo would wake up, he had many questions in mind. Most he feared he couldn't answer.

Nurse Joy came in again and brought a cup of warm tea for the man. She looked at him worriedly and persuaded him to rest. She had already prepared an adjacent room for him. Gremio thanked her, but shook his head at the proposal.

Just then, three ghost-types phased through the room and settled at either side of the patient's bed. On the right, Arana, the Lampent, moved closer to comfort Neo with her ominous yet warm blue flames, while at the opposite side, Nero and Novus took turns keeping the nightmares at bay with a harmless Dream Eater. At their gesture, Neo's expression grew more tranquil and peaceful.

Nurse Joy smiled and said that the boy had enough company, counting also the Gallade that stood by at the corner of the room.

Understanding her point and knowing his own limits, Gremio gave in and took his leave. He brushed Neo hair for a moment and whispered, "I'll be in the other room, young master. We'll talk again when you wake up... For now, I bid you pleasant dreams."

Residential Area of Nimbasa City, Unova

Faye Lin opened her eyes and remembered where she was. With a stifled yawn, she gazed at the room which was now well lit by the morning sun. The paint was peeling off the walls, the shelves were barren, and the wooden floor was cracked and dusty with a few imprints of footsteps that she left during the night.

As her eyes panned the room, she noticed the door was empty. Noir was no longer there, which lead her to question if Aeron was still around. She cocked her head to one side and peeked at the end of the bed. And as she expected, he wasn't there anymore.

"Aeron?" Faye Lin called.

Hearing no answer, she got out of bed and stepped on a flat object. She looked down and saw her sister's journal on the floor. Her heart missed a beat as she picked up the brown leathery book and stared at it in her hands.

"…Shouldn't you be looking for her instead of sulking around, feeling guilty?" Aeron's voice echoed in her mind, encouraging her.

With renewed resolve, Faye Lin sat back down and opened the pages. Her fingers trembled unconsciously as she skimmed through entries. She noticed that instead of writing Dear Diary, the entries were addressed to their mother.

…I wish you were still alive, mom.

…If only I could turn back time.

…It's lonely, but I'm used to it.

The few phrases caught her eye and pained her heart, but she moved on, determined to find answers as to her sister's whereabouts. Tears welled in her eyes but she held them back. When she reached the final page, a folded up piece of paper fell out. Curiously, she picked it up and shifted her attention back to the journal to read the final entry, which was dated six months ago.

Mother,
I'm going away for a while. I have a feeling this new path will present me with better opportunities for my future. I know you will continue to watch over me from wherever you are. Wherever I am. I'll always think about you. I love you, mom. -Maya

Nothing. There wasn't anything about where she was headed. Did she miss an important part? She turned to the previous pages and scanned the entries. Then she remembered the separate paper that fell out from the pages. Taking a deep breath she unfolded it and stared at its contents.

There wasn't any wordings, only symbols. Six of them: a crimson sword, a green shield, a yellow web, a pinkish-red rose, a black scythe and a blue wing. The last two insignias were familiar. Faye Lin knew them. The black scythe was the same as the one on Aeron's black cloak, and the blue wing was at the end of the ocean blue scarf that he lent her.

So it means that Maya headed to the place where Aeron came from? Where those three merciless assassins also are from? Why? What kind of place was it? Faye couldn't understand on her own. She needed to find Aeron.

Route 16, east of Nimbasa City

For a small breather, Aeron took an early morning stroll with Noir just outside of the house, but then the Noibat wandered off, unconsciously leading to their current location.

The forest park was empty. It was too early, let alone cold for anyone to be around. The morning mist still filled the woods lingering with freshly formed dew. And the sky was much cloudy for the sun to fully warm the land.

Despite that, Noir was up in a tree, munching away any fruits that he could find. Aeron was standing by on the ground, silently observing after refusing a half-eaten fruit from the cheeky purple bat. He glanced at his belt and wondered if he should let Vivi out. Perhaps the Snivy was also hungry for some fruit.

He tapped the pokeball's side and was about to open it when a whirring noise drew his attention. Aeron turned around and saw a vivid pink stream of energy coming his way. He reacted quickly jumped out of the way, only to bump into something… or someone.

"Didn't I say to report back to me immediately after talking to Lord Tristan?"

Aeron jolted and locked gazes with the man before him. "Father…"

Along the empty streets, Faye Lin hurried with her Fennkin on the ground, following closely and Espurr wrapped in her arms, helping to track. In her bag, she brought along her sister's journal and the piece of paper with the six insignias.

With Freya assisting with her psychic powers, it was only a matter of time before they reached Route 16.

At first, no one was in sight. Faye Lin and her two pokemon ventured further and came across a newly formed crater on the ground. It appeared that a battle had just occurred. Fearing of what became of Aeron, Faye Lin ran farther and ahead.

There she saw a man clad in billowing desert-brown cloak. He walked up to a blue and white dragon and laid something on its back. Faye Lin's eyes widen when she recognized it was Aeron. He was unconscious and someone was taking him.

"Aeron!" Faye Lin rushed over with her Fennekin in front, ready for battle.

Lord Altair turned about and studied the unfamiliar girl who called his son's name. He assumed that she was someone Aeron met along the way during his unscheduled time away from Semira.

Faye Lin met the man's cold gaze and glanced back at Aeron. He didn't seem hurt but what did the man want with him?

"State your business and leave," Lord Altair said directly.

Faye Lin snapped her attention back to the man and furrowed her brows. "I should say the same about you. What do you intend to do with Aeron?"

"Simple. I'm taking him back…" Lord Altair replied, shrugging off the rudeness that the girl displayed.

Taking him back? Does he mean the place that Aeron is from and one where Maya went to? Is this man from there as well? Faye Lin questioned herself.

Looking at the situation, it seemed like whoever goes to that place, can't easily leave. Faye Lin felt the people there were prisoners and in the future, they will become assassins like those three that murdered everyone aboard the cargo vessel. It was fearful conclusion. Her sister was there. And Aeron, who became her first friend outside of her aristocratic society, was forcibly being taken back. She needed to do something for them both.

"I won't allow it!" Faye Lin protested.

Lord Altair was somewhat taken aback by the girl's courage. She pictured her more fragile, but there was more to her than meets the eye. Then again, she didn't know whom she was dealing with. "I don't care about your objections. I'm taking my leave and I'm bringing Aeron back with me."

Faye Lin studied the situation. The man was surely a strong trainer to have taken down Aeron. There was no way for her to win and escape, given her current power. All she had left was to try and persuade him. "Why are you forcing Aeron to go back?"

Lord Altair stared back at the girl as a pang of guilt settled within him. "Because… That's where he belongs."

Faye Lin shook her head. "Aeron can decide that for himself. He may appear quiet but he is a strong and kind-hearted trainer. He doesn't want to kill anyone. He's not that kind of person and you can't turn him into one."

Lord Altair grew interested when the young blonde mentioned the word kill, leading that she was probably involved in some way with the mission assigned to the Black Scythe unit. But overall, she wasn't that knowledgeable of Semira, so Aeron must've kept most of it a secret from her.

"Aeron… He should be free to do whatever he wants…" Faye Lin felt a bad taste in her mouth as she said those words. Perhaps, it was the fact that she wanted her father to hear those words too. Before, she never had the courage. But little by little, she was growing strong. Someday, she was going to say it to him without fear or hesitation.

"It seems you think you know all about Aeron," Lord Altair commented.

"He's… an important friend of mine," Faye Lin answered.

"I see." Lord Altair studied her more closely. "Would you care to come with us?"

Not expecting that question, Faye Lin flinched and met the man's gaze. "I-I…"

Suddenly, a fuzzy purple bat flew out of the woods with a mouthful of berries. Noir's face lit up at the sight of the blonde girl and her two pokemon. He flew over to Isis first and handed a Kelpsy berry to her. Then he flew up to Freya and dropped a similar one in her outstretched paws. As for the Faye Lin, Noir gave her a Magost, which he remembered was one of the berries that she ate for yesterday's lunch.

"T-Thank you, Noir." Faye was a bit at a loss due to the appearance of Aeron's partner. Noir was acting all happy-go-lucky while the boy was unconscious and on the verge of getting kidnapped.

Oblivious to the bewildered expression the girl had, Noir accepted her thanks and flew over to the man in the brown cloak, furthering Faye Lin's shock. Even more so when the Noibat was petted by the man before it flew over to Aeron's side, on the back of the blue dragon pokemon.

"…W-Who are you?" Faye Lin stuttered.

"My name is Altair Zenith, Aeron's father," the man replied.

The shock hit critical mode. Faye Lin bowed her head deeply. "I sincerely apologize for my rudeness. I was unaware of the circumstances."

"I understand." Lord Altair answered. He looked over at the girl once again. Judging by the accent, she was of noble blood. It made the situation a bit more interesting. "Now, about my proposal…"

Faye Lin raised her head and recalled what the man said about coming with him and Aeron. If she said yes, where would she go? What kind of place was it? Would she be able to see her sister?

End of Chapter 17

Off to Semira! :D
Ikari's art is done. Link is on Chap1.
We'll be seeing the other OCs again. :)

As for any new readers, I can still accept OCs on request.
I still have a few roles that I need.

Neo's part took me a few days so it's detailed
While Faye Lin and Aeron's part was rushed in a single day so...

Review! Please and Thank you!