Secrets of the Night

DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokemon!

Chapter 44: The Result

The race was shortly back on. Aeron had finally secured his bearings with the Hoothoot's help and soon he was up soaring over the wide misty forest on his shiny Flygon. After clearing the way with Whirlwind and Foresight, they pushed onward, heading towards the third and final stretch of the sky race with Zircon dutifully following his guidance and the Hoothoot taking point.

All was quiet except for the howling cold gales, the billowing of his black fabric and the sound of wings fluttering and buzzing. For a moment, Aeron clutched his dark cloak closer to himself and Noir who was still nestled between his chest and arm. A pang of guilt continued to gnaw at his insides as the small warm bundle continued to remain ever still except for the occasional breathing sensation. Aeron could only blame himself. His selfishness and recklessness dragged his partner into his situation. Silently, he rubbed the Noibat's head with his thumb and promised that everything will be alright, if not for him but at least for his partner.

Taking in a shallow breath, he gazed determinedly upfront as the illusion-induced haze faded away with every crimson flash of Foresight. Noises suddenly drew his attention. Aeron focused on the scene unraveling in the foggy distance. Out of the mysterious green woodland, he saw several silhouettes fly out in pulses of red light. It appeared that the other flyers have also found their Hoothoots and were now rocketing to the air in an effort to seize the lead which was apparently lost during the whole illusion trap created by the area itself, proving to everyone that Trickster's Labyrinth was true to its name.

"Zircon, go." Aeron strengthened his grip on his Flygon, urging him to hasten.

Sparing a moment to glance back, Zircon took in the boy's concentrated gaze and his tightening hold over the partly hidden purple bat in his other arm. Sensing the rolling off waves of his resolution, Zircon faced front and launched in a burst of speed and a whirlpool of sand.

Rozalia was lucky to have ended up closest the boundaries, giving her a good chance to seize the lead.

It didn't take long for her them to find their Hoothoot. With her Cherrim's Sweet Scent, the owl-like avian came to them. Now, they were headed towards the ragged mountain ranges that divided the dense jungle of Trickster's Labyrinth from the vast savanna known as the Battle Plains of Callan.

With her Hoothoot flapping just in front of her Tropius, the redhead patted her Cherrim partner who squealed on the girl's shoulder with glee. She commended her floral partner before catching a glimpse of a figure zooming behind her. Her mouth curved into smile as she recognized the reddish brown avian and the rider.

Corbin was closing in from the left with the representative from the Gambit division trailing behind him. He remembered being overtaken by the girl and her Crobat during the first area so he was determined not to let it happen the second time. His attention was split between that particular opponent and the one ahead. With sharp ears keeping track of the two-paired wing flutter of the Crobat, his eyes were trained on the Hoothoot who was dispelling the illusion and making sure to stay ahead of the Braviary.

Corbin's Hoothoot was found with the joint effort of his partner Ryu. Being a Riolu, Ryu was able to trace the bird's aura in the trees and Corbin swung up meet it. Then after exchanging small triumphant gestures, Corbin gave Ryu a two-finger salute and leaped back onto his Braviary who was dutifully following them from above.

Corbin banked right and left in a stubborn effort to block off the girl and her Crobat from passing him. Then with smooth coordination, he instructed his Braviary who did a single mid-air barrel roll and launched a a flurry of Air slashes, cutting away the colored particles that lingered in the open airspace.

Meanwhile. Aspen and Corentin were coming in from the right but by the looks of it, the two were still bickering. The girl was yelling death threats while the boy behind him was keeping a safe distance. He had every intention to overtake and grab the lead but at the moment, he knew that he could lose his head if he carelessly got close. Until he was sure that Aspen had cooled her temper down, he concentrated on staying back and following the guidance of the two Hoothoots that flew just ahead of them.

Their two pokemon continued to pursue them from the ground. Kyria, Aspen's Absol was running side by side with Corentin's Linoone, Linnea. They were soon joined by Ryu who jumped from the treetops and started running alongside them. Far behind them was the Gambit representative's Nidorino. The four surged through the narrow forest trail until they caught a glimpse of the borders.

Rozalia was the first to fly over the jagged mountain range. Her Cherrim bid her good luck and jumped off in a flurry of pink petals, only to land on the back of the Hoothoot who was slowing down after accomplishing the task. Rozalia waved back at her partner and set her full attention on Haru who was gliding downwards, just several feet over the dusty plains.

"Give it your all, Haru!" The Tropius let out a deep cry of determination and hastened his pace.

Having flown pass the border as well, Corbin thanked his Hoothoot and closed in on the lead opponent. He tried various tactics but was having difficulty finding an opening to seize the lead. His hazel eyes gazed for a moment at the coliseum that stood grandly in the distance. The race was almost reaching its end. He had to act fast.

Thinking quickly, he shifted into a crouch position and gave his instructions to his Braviary. The eagle-like bird nodded and zoomed as close as possible to the Tropius. Then when the time was right, Corbin leaped up, somersaulting over Rozalia who looked up as a sudden shadow loomed over her. Her rose-colored eyes stared at him in surprise. Locked each other's gaze, Corbin tried not to become frazzled at the occurrence as he fell forward and landed on the back of his Braviary who swooped out from underneath the Tropius.

Rozalia smiled and predicted the reaction of the watching crowd at the moment. "Hey, Mister Fancy Moves! Good luck dealing with your fan girls after that stunt!"

Corbin visibly flinched as he tried not to mind the comment. Although, a reddish hue had begun to streak his dark tan face. He furiously shook his head and fixated his absolute concentration upfront, failing at first but succeeding gradually.

Aspen followed by Corentin were next to cross the grand mountain range, only several seconds after the third racer. By that time, they had quieted down and were solely focused on reaching the finish line at the Coliseum.

Corentin glided to Aspen's left flank and started to overtake her. The scowling brunette glared at him, making him flinch but said nothing as she steered her Skarmory to the best of her ability. Having received the cold shoulder, Corentin sighed inwardly and shifted into a more focused and determined state. Whatever he needed to resolve with Aspen could wait. He had a race to win.

With his Sky division training kicking in, Corentin drove his Staraptor, wings tucked, into a rapid diagonal dive. The act made Ekaitz gain tremendous speed and the lower altitude provided a wider space to fly through, seeing as the rest were still soaring high in the air. With a silent cue from Corentin, Ekaitz snapped his wings apart and glided swiftly onward, passing Aspen and inching away from the third racer as well.

Momentarily distracted by the sudden appearance of Corentin below her, the Gambit unit representative was caught unaware by a silvery gray blur that darted over her. Aspen seized the chance and overtook the girl and her Crobat who unfortunately lost a good amount of distance because of the unexpected turn of events.

Whirling of sand and wind resonated in the air. A sand twister surged past the massive rock formation and instantly disintegrated, uncovering a green form that swiftly pulled away from a small Hoothoot.

Aeron nodded his gratitude to the little brown bird and turned away to study his competitors in front of him. The closest one was the girl with the Crobat from the Gambit unit. Ahead of her was senior Aspen and senior Ren who were directly above and below each other. Just a little ahead of them was Rozalia and the current leader was Corbin from the Warrior division.

"We're almost through, Zircon." Aeron whispered as he leaned his body down, almost lying on the Flygon's back. "One at a time."

Zircon narrowed his amber eyes and furiously rushed onward, ignoring the strain he was causing his wings. The first one was relatively easy, seeing as the girl's attention was locked on the two ahead of her. She didn't notice the Flygon close in and dove in front of her. The next two were going to be a challenge as they were alternately inching away from each other and were completely on guard.

Aeron clenched his jaw. He had a plan but it was selfish. With Noir still pressed against his chest, the weight of his current and future actions washed over him like a bucket of ice. He hesitated. He tasted regret followed by guilt. Regret for hesitating. Guilt for feeling that regret.

As his inner demons raged on, Corentin and Aspen managed to pass Rozalia and her Tropius, making the redhead the next person Aeron must overtake. The raven haired teen cringed at the sight of his close friend just flying ahead of him. After it would all be over, what would Rozalia think of him? What about Kirian? Faye? This was when he realized that he had passed the point of no return. He made his choice and he had to see it through the bitter end. It was too late, far too late.

Steering Zircon close to the Tropius, Aeron waited for the moment as Rozalia attempted to block the potential entry point of her opponent.

Banking left to block off the green dragon, Haru glanced back and much to Rozalia's surprise, he pulled back just enough for the Flygon to spiral pass them and zoom ahead. Puzzled and utterly surprised, Rozalia stared at the black hooded rider and unexpectedly, the enigma looked back at her as well. A hint of recognition passed before her pinkish ruby eyes. Her heart skipped and her breath was caught in her throat. And a cold wave of realization seeped through her skin.

"Ae-Aeron?" she croaked in a barely audible whisper. No. That's impossible! How could he? Why would he?

Aeron turned away and aimed to overtake the remaining three riders. Making sure he was secured on his Flygon's back, he lifted his hand and pressed to fingers in his mouth to create a high pitch whistle. He did it repeatedly until he gained the attention of Aspen's Skarmory and Corentin's Staraptor.

The two birds, as well as their riders, looked back and saw the mysterious flyer from the Black Scythe division. Corentin immediately had a bad feeling in his gut, having recalled the earlier event that suddenly caused his Staraptor to slow down. Aspen, on the other hand, was clueless about that. She merely shot the hooded figure a glare and turned her head in front.

"Ailith, keep going... Ailith?" Aspen suddenly noticed her Skarmory still looking back, dazed and somewhat distracted.

"Ekaitz! Pull yourself together!" Corentin suddenly yelled at his Staraptor who was locked in a similar state.

The Flygon rider rapidly closed the distance between them. Then as if the two seniors weren't trying, he glided pass them and their flying pokemon, much to Aspen and Corentin's dismay. Steadily, he pulled away from them and was left to face the remaining leader and his Braviary.

"Just... what?" Aspen was struck in utter disbelief and turned to face her Skarmory who had just met her gaze at that moment. Ailith showed no signs of rebellion or confusion and just returned to speeding again as if nothing happened.

Corentin had once again gained control of Ekaitz and they flew up to Aspen and Ailith's side. The male teen shot her an understanding look and hastened his partner to make up for the lost distance. As much as it irked him to have been overtaken, he felt more concerned and uneasy about the person who passed him. His grey eyes gazed intensely at the Flygon rider ahead and hoped his suspicions weren't correct. There was only one person he knew that could have done it but it didn't mean that it was the only possibility, just the only one he had at the moment. Dammit.

The Coliseum was just up ahead. Corbin banked his Braviary to a had right in order to close in on the opening that narrowed towards the finish line. His grin grew as his eyes locked unto the goal. After all the doubts about his participation, he had a really good chance of winning the Sky race. That was his initial thoughts until he heard wings buzzing behind him.

Corbin didn't dare look back. His goal was in his sights and he wasn't going to waiver for a second. His Braviary, squawking, shared this notion. After flying into position, Corbin straightened up his flying companion and they rocketed straight towards the finish.

Aeron took in a deep breath and steered his shiny Flygon into a spiraling turn. The maneuver saved them time and now they were closing in on the boy and his Braviary. Suddenly, a black feathered figure shot down out of nowhere and snapped into position just inches between the two riders.

Easing towards their level, Corentin smirked, mostly directing it at the hooded figure. "Can't get rid of me that easily, kiddo." I know it's you, Aeron! Just what are you doing?! He mentally reprimanded his junior and maneuvered closer to the Flygon rider. Just how and why his junior was caught up in this race, not to mention supporting another team, an assassinating one, was beyond him. All he understood was he couldn't let the younger boy win.

Aeron grunted under his breath, noticing the look his senior was giving. He knew he as found out. After all, it's not everyday that someone can look at a branded assassin, smile and be called kiddo, even if it was his senior Ren. Still, he was already caught in an impossibly complicated situation and the only way out was to finish it, no matter what the outcome may be. Presented with no choice and only desperation surfacing in his clouded thoughts, Aeron fixated his gaze at the large ring situated in the middle of the stone coliseum with two blazing torches at either side.

The finish line was in their sights and the last three racers weren't too far behind.

The dominating trio were locked in a close battle. The ring was only small enough for one rider to fly through and each of them was furiously vying for the dead center. Corbin did his best to steer clear of the other two to avoid collision while keeping his eyes locked unto the goal. Corentin, being the literal middleman, balanced out between creating flying space for the three of them and cutting off Aeron's advance. He was in the best position to shoot through the ring but his mind prioritized with keeping his Sky division junior, now a Black Scythe representative, from having a chance at winning.

Aeron could see what his senior was trying to do but he wasn't easily deterred. He guided his Flygon through the air, diving in and seizing any openings no matter how slim his chances or how reckless his maneuvers were. Pressuring the competitors was part of the plan. Unfortunately, his senior was too experienced to be beaten by that. With Zircon growling and twisting in the air and Ekaitz, Corentin's Staraptor, countering his every move with equally complex maneuvers.

Corbin did his best to steer towards the center. His current position was off to one side, making it almost impossible for him to fly in the center. He had to move but being the smaller of the three in terms of flying pokemon, Corbin couldn't overpower the other two. As the ring drew near, all he could do was urge his Braviary to speed up in the hopes that he could outrace two visibly skillful flyers.

Time seemed to slow down. Aeron could feel his heart pump and his breath come out in long and heavy pants. His silver eyes were locked onto the ring while the corners of his vision was filled with the flurry of feathers, mostly black ones coming from the Staraptor. No going back now. He had to win. He had to know the truth that continued to be kept from him. Instincts took over and he yelled out before he realized it.

"Stop!"

In an instant, all three winged pokemon halted in midair, much to the shock of the watching audience. Faye Lin and Kirian held there breath as they stared at the Light Screen displaying Aeron, Corentin and Corbin. None could say a word.

Sensing her sister's distress, Maya placed a hand on Faye Lin's shoulder. The younger girl's body slackened in response but her gaze was glued to the Flygon rider. Maya didn't know Aeron that well, other than he was the son of the Sky division leader but she could tell that he was held dear by her little sister.

Within moments of the occurrence, Lord Altair stood up, sent out his Noivern and flew off without a word or a single glance to his fellow mentors who were just as shock to the turn of events, excluding Lord Tristan who shuffled out of his seat a while later and followed him on a Hydreigon. Given the situation, the remaining three exchanged quick glances and left as well.

oOo

"What the?!" Aspen stared in shock at the rapidly approaching scene. Corentin and two of the competitors from the other divisions were just hovering several feet away from the finish line. Confusion flooded her thoughts before she pushed them back. It was no time to ask twenty-questions. It was her chance and she went for it. "Let's go, Ailith!"

The three leaders and their pokemon barely registered the event, even Aeron was suddenly at a loss. It was Zircon who snapped out of his daze first upon hearing the whizzing sound of metal slicing the wind. Letting out a grunt, he took off towards the ring, gradually gaining his lost speed. Corentin was next to recover from his shock but only after Aspen darted past him and Corbin. Without a moment to waste, he took off again in pursuit of the two. Corbin followed as well just as Rozalia and the other girl from the Gambit division dove into range.

Aeron lowered his head, panic filling his thoughts. It was not like him. He was always so composed and level-headed in the harshest of situations. He was trained to keep his emotions and personal intentions in check, not to mention his strange ability. This time, he couldn't. He had gotten himself too deep into a situation for personal reasons and in return, he had gone behind his friends, his father and even his partner. And now, he had abused his ability.

Zircon could feel Aeron's handle tremble. The grip was strong but the quaking sensation was evident. The resolution before was gone. All that was left was distress. Zircon wanted to comfort him but those thoughts were suddenly shoved back by the flicker of metal. The brunette on her Skarmory was back and was gaining. Zircon growled and looked ahead.

The ring was there. Groups of people, scattered in the bleachers, cheered loudly, their gaze quickly diverting from the floating colored Light Screens to the actual flyers when zoomed over the Coliseum wall.

Over the roaring crowd and howling winds, Zircon straightened out in a determined attempt to gain speed but Aspen and her Skamory, Ailith, were still faster due to their continuous momentum. It happened too fast. The steel-type bird folded her wings and rocketed pass like a missile. They passed through the ring and Aspen's Skarmory leveled out, spreading out her gleaming metal wings and let out a loud echoing victory cry.

The race was over and the victor had been decided.

Aeron and Zircon got second place by a hair's breath. They were followed by Corentin and Ekaitz. And finally Corbin, Rozalia and the girl from the Gambit division. They each passed through the ring and circled around before making their descend unto solid ground.

Aspen was already below, leaping off of her pokemon and staring up at the descending figures in the sky and the scattered handful of people standing and cheering for them, mostly her since it was her victory. Her gaze followed the Flygon rider who immediately went for the shadier areas then she eyed the next figure who was coming her way.

Corentin landed next to Aspen and promptly dismounted. He was panting and his usually wind-blown hair was a mess. Running a gloved hand over his brown locks, he made his way to the girl and extended a hand to congratulate her. "That was great, Aspie! Congratulations!"

Aspen glanced at his outstretched hand before looking up to face him. Corentin chuckled lightly and grinned. Somehow, she felt that the smile he had was forced. Knowing the boy for several years, she had grown accustomed to sensing if he was happy or worried about something. Clearly, he was shwoing signs of the later. Shrugging it off as none of her business, she accepted the hand and shook it. "Sure... Thanks."

"Uhm..." Corentin's demeanor changed. His eyes shifted to one side and his grin grew sheepish. "No hard feelings about what happened earlier... right?"

The moment the meaning of the boy's words had sunk in, Aspen's face darkened, plummeting the atmosphere's temperature several degrees. Those seated in the front facing her felt the chill in the air, enough to make them shudder.

Sensing the danger, Corentin tried to pull his hand back, only to fail as the girl's grip tightened, holding him in place. He was trapped. He gulped and met the girl's menacing glare. "A-Aspen?"

Aspen opened her mouth to yell at him but was interrupted by one of the overseers of the sky race who walked over to her with a Natu on his head and a crystal blue stone carved in the shape of wings in his arm. Internally groaning, Aspen jerked Corentin's hand away and turned to the overseer with a neutral expression. Nodding, she accepted the sky race token and the people around her applauded, even Corentin who stayed close but mindful to keep a safe distance.

On the other side of the coliseum's arena, Corbin leaned against the arena wall next to his Braviary. He exhaled deeply and drank a thermos filled with water that was handed to him by someone from the Warrior division. Fourth place wasn't so bad. It was far better than he expected. Across him was the girl from the Gambit division who sighed at her defeat while swinging her legs as she sat on the wall lining the arena, her Crobat perched beside her.

Nearby, Rozalia tended to her Tropius. The sky race took a toll on Haru, given that heavy pokemon like him weren't exactly fit for long distance races. The redhead massaged the base of Haru's wings to ease the strain that was caused. All the while, her mind was focused on the hooded individual who picked the most isolated spot in the shade. She wanted so badly to come over and confirm her suspicions but she couldn't neglect her pokemon. And besides that, Rozalia could tell by the tenseness radiating from the shadows that the person didn't want company.

Aeron sat on the floor, his back against Zircon's body, the shiny Flygon's tail around him in a protective circle. Exhaling deeply, Aeron pulled his cloak closer as if to disappear in the blackness of the fabric. His mind drowned out the roaring voices and other presences around him.

The result of the race brought a sense of relief but at the same time, a wave of anxiety. He got second, not bad but... He couldn't tell what to expect from that point on. Was the truth that he sought worth the eventual aftermath? He didn't know. He was completely at a loss.

It was at that time, Noir stirred in his arms. Aeron flinched and peered down to meet the big golden eyes of his partner. Noir blinked and took a second to recall the events but just as he was about to voice his reaction, Aeron wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close, his head leaning against Noir's.

"I'm sorry..."

Noir was taken aback by the forlorn tone his human partner was using. Despite missing several facts because he was asleep most of the time, he understood that Aeron needed him. Closing his jaw, Noir closed his eyes and leaned closer to the touch, nuzzling gently in the process. Gradually, he sensed Aeron calm down. He opened his eyes but suddenly his ears perked up as he heard someone approach and Zircon let out a low growl.

Corentin stopped at his tracks and called out in a hush voice. He knew better than to push his luck at a snarling Flygon. "Hey, Kiddo... How're you holding up?"

Aeron didn't reply. He just reached a hand out and patted Zircon to reassure him that Corentin wasn't a threat. At the gesture, the blue and green Flygon settled down but continued to stare at the older teen with utmost discretion.

Corentin let out a sympathetic sigh and stepped closer while glancing the curious onlookers in the bleachers above. Casting a cautious peek at Zircon, he crouched down just before the Flygon's tail and continued to speak in soft tones. "I'm not mad, okay? Just... well, confused." His gaze softened to a brotherly demeanor. "It's not like you. There must be a reason, right?" He waited for a response but none came. He expected as much. "Okay. I'll be waiting for an explanation when you're ready."

Aeron nodded mutely, his hood bobbing slightly was a visible indication.

Standing up, Corentin grinned at the response and returned to Ekaitz, passing Rozalia on the way. He flashed the redhead an optimistic smile which reassured her greatly. "Let's give him space for now..."

Rozalia nodded her thanks and glanced at Aeron's direction, hoping that he was okay.

End of Chapter 44

This took longer than I first anticipated so I needed to extend another chapter.
I'm gonna have a go at being angst-y.

As for the pokemon, it doesn't have to do with Aeron's dreaming. (err... Nightmare)
It's more on what pokemon was in the dream. ('sides, Darkrai is with Ikari)

After that, I'll be writing a summary of the what I've written so far so everyone can keep track.
Thanks everyone for the 190 reviews.

Review~ Please and thank you!