Secrets of the Night
DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokemon!
This was posted less than a hour after the previous one.
Review both if you can. :)
Ready your tissues! Sad farewells (Not Tragic)
Chapter 63: Scuffle of Legends Part 10: New Paths and Farewells
The white mass dissipated. Kiba groaned and blinked away the haze. He then found out that they were now on the rooftop of a building, still probably the hospital's, based on the surrounding skyscrapers. A crash sounded and the pokemon that Leiko used was revealed. It was actually a Cloyster that knew Teleport.
"Well, there' something you don't see everyday," Kiba said looking at the Cloyster suspiciously while Champ clearly didn't like being moved by a psychic ability. "So what was this proposition of yours, darling?" Kiba asked, smiling at the word 'darling'.
Leiko giggled. "Now you're just playing with me. Anyway…" Walking away from Ikari, she reached behind her and pulled out two metal rings with blades and red accents. She spun them around skillfully and eyed Kiba's reaction. "What do you think of assassins?"
"Assassins?" Kiba asked in surprise but showed no emotion as he eyed the rings. "Is that what you two are?"
"Did that turn you off, hubby?" Leiko pouted, spinning her deadly chakrams more slowly.
"Not in the way you're thinking," Kiba added with a coy smile before looking between the two figures with more caution than he had before. "But exactly what would two assassins be doing in Saffron? You'd think with all of the psychic trainers around you'd be put at a disadvantage. Even if you can disappear like in the movies nothing can hide from their sights. Except a Dark-type maybe."
"Well, we're in luck~" Leiko grinned.
"Oh?"
Just then, a black fox-like pokemon with golden rings walked up to them, casting a glare at Kiba before walking up to the redhead. Leiko tucked her bladed rings away and scooped up her pokemon. "This is Yue. Isn't he cute?"
"Uhm, 'cute' isn't really my specialty," Kiba admitted, not wanting to anger the woman holding the bladed chakrams. "But he looks well trained."
"Oh he is~" Leiko confirmed. "Yue has tracked down many prey, just as much as the blood of his victims stained my precious chakrams."
"Senior…" Ikari spoke up. "We're wasting time."
"Right-right~ But I just wanted to get to know my future hubby more!" Leiko whined and placed the Umbreon back on the ground.
"And I want to get to know you better too, darling," Kiba assured her with a smile. "But I am still waiting to hear this proposition of yours."
The woman was about to speak up but the younger boy spoke up instead. "Our master has taken interest in you and wants you to become one of us," Ikari explained bluntly.
"Master?" Kiba asked allowing surprise to cross his face for the first time since their meeting. "There's more of you?"
"Oh, a whole island full!" Leiko beamed and stretched her arms wide for emphasis. "We have an organization that operates all over the world. Though we are mainly based in a separate area entirely."
"Senior. You're revealing too much," Ikari warned and then eyed the older boy. "You want to be an assassin? Yes or no?"
"I don't like your attitude kid," Kiba said looking down at Ikari with a snarl. "Your Senior says she has a proposition and you jump in demanding I say yes or no without hearing anything. Now you clearly know something about me, how I don't know, but if you knew anything about me you'd know I won't agree to anything until I know what I'm getting into."
"I'm doing you a favor," Ikari answered back apathetically. "If you say no but we told you all about us. Then you might not like the consequences."
"I'm not asking for all your darkest secrets," Kiba retorted. "I want to know what it is you want with me. Asking me to be an assassin without a reason why won't make me want to join your little pow-wow."
"Our master is a little eccentric and does things out of whim," Ikari replied. "We are just here to do what he asks of us and that's to recruit you to be one of us…"
"And I'll ask you again, Why?" Kiba asked again getting aggravated with the boy's demeanor towards him.
"Chill hubby," Leiko stepped in. "You don't want to get on Ikari-chan's bad side. He may be young, but he's got talent and a mean arsenal to go with it."
"If you say so," Kiba said turning back to speak to Leiko. "But I'd rather speak to you than the Mareep if you don't mind. I don't like talking to someone who blindly follows orders."
Ikari gave a quiet sigh. "Senior. We don't have time for idle talk."
"Just give me a minute, Ikari-chan~" Leiko winked and approached Kiba. "Like I said and my sweet junior has mentioned, you have perked our interest because of your performance in the tournament, including that of our master's. We want you to become an assassin like us. I for one, think you have the right stuff for it." She titled her head towards her companion. "Don't you, Ikari-chan?"
"..." Ikari shrugged, visibly unimpressed.
"Something tells me your Junior thinks talking to me is a waste of time," Kiba said looking over to Ikari. "Don't get me wrong, darling. Your speech was great, I'm all tingly from it, but if I were to work with an assassin who didn't like me how long do you think I'd last?"
"Why not find out?" Ikari pulled out a black-bladed katana. "It'll be like killing two Pidgeys with one stab. We'll confirm if he does have the right stuff. If not… Then we don't have to trouble ourselves with clean up later."
"Big talk from a little kid with a knife," Kiba retorted, not showing any sign of fear from Ikari's stance despite not having a weapon. "Why don't we make it a little more fair- or are you less confident when your opponents not weaponless?"
"One on one, then?" Leiko suggested, an eager smile plastered on her face.
"If you win you can either bring me to your master or try to kill me," Kiba promised as he looked to Leiko. "But if I win, I'd like a favor."
"Oh sure~ Anything you want, hubby!" Leiko beamed and walked back, recalling her two pokemon in order to give the two boys some space.
Kiba and Ikari walked to separate sides of the roof as the two stared at each other. Champ took his place beside his trainer to await instructions. As the atmosphere settled, Kiba finally spoke up. "After you kid," he insisted with a simple hand gesture.
"If you say so," the purple-haired teen tossed a black pokeball in the air and a shadowy mass emerged, forming into a reaper-like pokemon with cold blue eyes, a jagged blood red collar and a long billowing plume.
"Sweet baby Mew," Kiba cursed as he eyed the Darkrai warily. "They don't give you assassins training wheels or nothing do they? ...Oh well, Bane go!"
From Kiba's pokeball a crimson armored insectoid appeared on the field with its wings flapping quickly and it's pincers clicking clearly ready to battle. Its solid blue eyes were hard and they nearly matched the Darkrai's in sheer intensity.
"Seeing how we're starting out at a disadvantage I think we're going to have to up our chances. Bane! Mega Evolve!"
Touching one of the dog tags around his neck the keystone and the mega-stone on Bane's chest began to glow brightly before the Scizor emerged in its mega form with its extended and sharper claws and thicker armor.
"Wow. That's even more impressive up close," Leiko complimented and glanced over at her companion. "Think you can handle it, Ikari-chan?"
Without caring to reply, Ikari initiated the start of the battle. "Nightmare. Shadow Claw."
The Darkrai shoved its claw into the concrete and it melted into an ominous claw that zigzagged rapidly towards the Mega Scizor. Kiba was silent as the move approached his pokemon and didn't need to issue a command as Bane swatted aside the attack with a perfectly timed Metal Claw attack, causing the attack to fly well over head while also causing Bane's body to sheen like metal. Signaling the attack boost it gained from the attack.
"X-scissor," Kiba said calmly as his Scizor moved.
Disappearing without a trace, the Mega-Scizor made its way towards the Darkrai before appearing directly behind it, where it landed a super effective hit right on the nightmare Pokemon's back. Ikari's Darkrai hit the pavement but didn't collide. Instead, it melted into the floor and surrounded the mega pokemon, forming into a black circle at its feet.
"Shadow Claw," Ikari cued.
This time, instead of one claw, several one shot forth from the floor, some latching on to the Mega Scizor's legs while the rest lunged towards Bane from various angles.
"Knock them back with Sword Dance!" Kiba countered.
As with its fight with Arc's Charizard the Scizor rotated its body at a tremendous speed, not only blocking the Shadow Claws from landing a solid hit but also freeing him from the claws gripping its feet.
"Now counter with Metal Claw!"
Bane immediately finished spinning and lunged violently towards the black circle surrounding him and repeatedly jabbed at the ground, leaving massive indents, until it forced the Darkrai to morph back onto the field.
"Follow up with Dark Pulse," Ikari instructed calmly and Nightmare promptly complied, pitch-black energy forming around both its claws, the Darkrai flew towards the Mega Scizor.
"Grab it with Metal Claw!" Kiba ordered.
As the Darkrai came flying towards Bane the Mega-Scizor took off towards it where it grabbed one of the nightmare pokemons claws, crushing it in its own, and aiming it away from its body. Unfortunately, it was still struck by its freed hand but Bane took the attack without faltering.
"Hyper Beam!"
With an immediate reaction, Bane's free pincer opened up as a controlled blast of energy was launched at Nightmare at close range. Nightmare shifted to the side as the devastating beam shot passed his shoulder, scorching part of his red collar and tearing a portion of the tattered extensions. It didn't faze the Darkrai as much as it should have. Extended his free claw towards the Mega Scizor, Nightmare awaited the signal.
"Dark Void."
A pitch black sphere with glowing purple outline exploded in the middle of the red mantis' chest and formed into a giant black bubble that engulfed them both. Bane's hold on the Darkrai loosened and he fell to the floor with an echoing thud. Nightmare then quietly moved out of the ominous bubble and watched as the form of its opponent disappear in the darkness.
"That's not fair," Kiba argued meaning to sound hard but his voice cracking slightly. "That wasn't a fair fight! You put him to sleep!"
"In a battle, you use whatever you have at your disposal." Ikari then stepped forward, brandishing his black katana as his Darkrai raised his claw, eyes glowing brighter. Translucent tendrils of energy soon seeped from the black sphere and was absorbed by the reaper-like pokemon, healing the damage it sustained from the Mega Scizor. "Nightmare's specialty is just that…"
Kiba stood frozen in place as he watched his Mega-Scizor sleeping soundly and almost peacefully on the ground before the Darkrai. He had spent months perfecting Bane's defense using Sword Dance- but the chances of him fighting a Darkrai and coincidentally knowing the one move that couldn't be blocked was too much for him to fear.
He reached for Arrow's pokeball with one hand, slowly and hopefully unseen by the others, while he and Champ eyed the three figures looking at him expectantly.
Three on three not counting what pokemon the girl has, Kiba thought to himself worriedly. No way I can fight out of here without someone dying, and that brat is going to kill me the first chance he can. Need to make a distraction so I can get away.
Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around him and a warm breath brushed near his neck, making Kiba tense. "Now. Now. Hubby. Don't get so riled up."
A clash of metal sounded just in front of the boy's chest, making Kiba flinch. It indicated that Leiko was holding her razor sharp chakrams. How she managed to sneak up on him so suddenly without him or Champ noticing was something only an experienced assassin was capable of.
"Senior." Ikari stopped in front of them, drawing the older boy's attention and confirming once and for all that he was indeed cornered. "A deal is a deal. Move aside."
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Ikari-chan." Leiko waved a finger at him, her hand now visible to Kiba, showing that she was indeed holding her weapons. "Master said that we take him with us. That was part of the deal right? We can either take him to Master Tristan or you kill him here and now. That was it, right?"
Ikari lowered his blade and met with Kiba's eyes that were hiding all the panic and fear. "You in?"
Kiba looked between Ikari and his Darkrai standing across from him and then to Leiko who seemed to be staring at him like a hungry Liepard waiting for the chance to pounce on its prey. With the clash of the lady's Chakrams echoed in his ears, sending shivers down his spine, did he really have a choice in the matter?
"A deal's a deal," Kiba said with a suddenly friendly smile. I'll take possible imprisonment over insured death any day, he added as an after thought.
Ikari raised his blade and pointed it right in front of Kiba's chin. "Which is it?"
"Come on now, Ikari," Kiba said with a friendly tone using Ikari's name for the first time since meeting him. "Even a Slowpoke knows when he's beat, and I'm nothing if not a man of my word. I'll go with you peacefully and without a fight."
"Yay!" Leiko wrapped her arms around Kiba's neck, jolting the boy to the point he nearly fell over. "It'll be so much fun. You'll see!"
"Right…" Ikari sheathed his black blade and turned around. He then recalled his Darkrai and the black bubble around Bane vanished, leaving the Scizor sprawled across the pavement in its normal form.
"But you know, Hubby…" Leiko whispered into Kiba's ear. "A Slowpoke doesn't feel pain when you cut off its tail at first. Only after sometime, will the realization of it dawn. Take caution. Your tail might have been chopped off without you realizing it." She then giggled and released her captive. "Get some rest. We'll pick you up first thing tomorrow. And don't worry! We'll find you."
After Leiko sent out her Cloyster again, they Teleported away, disappearing from sight and leaving Kiba to ponder on the encounter.
Kiba looked at the spot where they vanished before turning towards the burning red sky. Since he was a young child he had fought with pokemon growing up as a means for survival and thought that he knew everything there was to staying alive, but after meeting those 'assassins' he realized that he didn't know anything in comparison to them.
He walked over to his sleeping Scizor and took a seat next to it, trying to think of some way that they could counter the Dark Void attack. Sword Dance wouldn't deflect it and short of ripping off the Darkrai's arms there'd be no way of keeping it from using the attack. The only way Kiba could think of a way to even stand a chance was if he had a Pokemon that couldn't fall asleep, or at the very least could fight while sleeping.
Pulling out a mini encyclopedia of pokemon he kept on his person he started reading the traits and abilities of specific pokemon and circled several of them promising to somehow catch at least one of these pokemon knowing that he would be forced to fight Ikari and his Darkrai again. Returning Bane to his pokeball, he looked up to the Champ who was looking down at his trainer worriedly.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked the boxing pokemon.
"Chan…" Champ said worriedly as he took a seat besides his trainer.
"Yeah I know, but we'll figure something out. We always do."
Chase walked back to Neo's room an hour later. He had his cellphone in hand as he came through the door. He found Gremio sitting by Neo's bedside. The unchanging sight made him smile but it quickly vanished as he let out a quiet sigh.
"Sir Graceland. Is there something the matter?" Gremio asked in a half demanding tone.
Chase knew better than to shrug off a question with that voice but he didn't have it in him to reply properly. More like, his voice was caught in his throat. He tried opening his mouth but no words came out.
Gremio turned his head and stood up. "This is not about the young master, is it?"
Chase shook his head. "N-No… It's… I…"
It was then that Gertrud came in with Arana and Kashu. "Hey everyone!"
All of them (except Neo) turned their heads towards the source of the telepathic voice. Chase was mildly surprised but he shook his head and put on his signature grinning face.
"Hey Gertrud, what's up? You done talking to Blaze?"
The Roserade shifted nervously on the spot as the other two pokemon exchanging melancholic looks. "I… came to say goodbye."
"What?" Chase was instantly taken aback.
Gertrud tried to form the words in her mind but given the situation of Neo lying in bed, it became really difficult. Instead, Arana flew over to Chase and Gremio and spoke in her place. "Friend. Return. Home."
Chase processed the three words gradually. It was easy to know what she meant but it was hard to actually swallow the realization. "Y-You're going back to Blaze? N-Now?"
Gertrud gave a solemn nod and strode towards Neo's bedside. Chase and Gremio stepped aside and watched her climb on the chair and lean towards Neo.
"Hey Neo, I'm so sorry, but my time with you guys is up…" The Roserade swallowed. She found it difficult to find the right words. "I wish that I could stick around with you and Chase, and especially with Arana, but Blaze still needs me. We've been friends for as long as either of us could imagine."
Her own memories with Blaze overlapped the ones he spent with Neo and Chase and the rest of their pokemon, especially Arana. Looking towards the Chandelure, she smiled and then shifted her gaze down at the Soothe Bell now around her neck.
"I won't forget my time with all of you guys, and I wish that we could meet up again sometimes in the future easier. But I also miss Blaze, and I know he just isn't the same without me. I can't apologize enough for any trouble that me and my loud mouth have caused you, and for leaving while you're in such a bad state." Tears that Gertrud had been holding in since she realised that it was time for her to leave began to come out, one of them hitting the Soothe Bell around her neck with an ominously sweet sound. "Goodbye Neo, I won't forget any of you."
Arana flew over behind her and gently leaned against the white rose petals on her head. She then gave off a sad yet melodic wail. Chase couldn't look at the scene. He turned his head and glued his eyes to the wall while Gremio observed silently.
Gertrud hugged her fellow telepath tightly. "I'll miss you Arana, I won't forget our amazing time together."
Arana merely nodded, unable to use telepathy at the moment.
Gremio made his way over to the two pokemon beside his charge and placed a hand on either of them. He gazed down at the Roserade and smiled gently. "I'm sure the young master would miss you terribly as well. If he were awake at this moment, he'd tell you how thankful he is for all you've done. And that he apologizes for not being able to say it in person."
Tears continued to fall from the bouquet pokemon's face. "Thank you Gremio. I'm sure with you and Chase around Neo will be safe from whatever might come to harm him." Arana floated over and flared her blue flames as if to emphasize her toughness. "You too Arana, always keep Neo safe."
Gremio and Arana nodded and moved aside. A loud thud suddenly jolted everyone in the room. They turned their heads and saw Chase leaning against the wall with a balled up fist.
"S-Sorry..." he muttered.
Gertrud smiled at the silver haired trainer. "I'm sure right now you are the biggest rock the Neo could ever have. I'm sure Neo depends on you just as much as Blaze depends on the two of me and Persephone. I apologize for having to do this to you guys, so much after what should've been a joyous occasion with the Scuffle of Legends before everything slowly went to the Herdiers."
"It's Neo's fault for deciding to sleep in before the after party," Chase chided with a forced smile, his gaze not meeting anyone's. "Anyway, Gertrud… I just wanna say thanks as well. Take care of yourself and your trainer. He's lucky to have you."
Gertrud left Neo's side and silently moved over to Chase. She hugged his waist, jolting the boy slightly. She quickly wiped the tears off her face with her hand so she wasn't crying into him. "Don't worry, I will always protect Blaze."
"Geez, y-you overgrown rose bush…" Chase's voice cracked as a single tear rolled down his face. "Do you have to be all s-sappy? I thought only trees have sap."
Gertrud let go of Chase and smiled. "Please, don't, I don't think this is the right time for poorly executed jokes." She took one final look at the rest of the group. "Well, we should probably get going, Arc and Lily are probably already waiting at the tradestation." Gertrud found the Quilava plush that Arana and Neo had bought for Blaze and picked it up.
"See ya, Gertrud…" Chase almost murmured. "I'd see you off but… I kinda have things to do. Sorry."
For once, Gertrud didn't even think of pressing for details. "Goodbye everyone… I guess someone should come down to welcome Nero back… Arana, want to do the honors?"
Arana eagerly nodded and flew out of the door ahead of the Roserade. Gertrud gave a forced chuckle as she exited the room, giving one glance back at everyone. "If you guys are ever in the Sinnoh region, call and we can all catch up."
"You can count on that, miss Gertrud." Gremio bowed curtly. "Farewell and safe travels."
Chase gave a solemn chuckle. "Right… Sinnoh. We'll see each other there."
Gertrud cast the silver-haired teen a curious eye but didn't inquire. She simply nodded and left, closing the door behind her.
Silence, minus the beeping machine, once again permeated the room. Gremio's soft smile vanished and was now replaced with a stern expression as he stared at the teen standing idly by the door. Chase shifted uncomfortably at the look but didn't say a word.
"Sir Graceland. The other two may be telepaths, but neither one of us is a mind reader. Would you care to share what it is that troubles you?" Gremio inquired with a careful tone.
Chase opened his mouth to speak but hesitated to form words. His fingers fidgeted at his side as his eyes warily scanned the floor. Finally after a long period of silence, he took a deep breath and answered.
"I need to go back to Sinnoh."
End of Chapter 63
Told you it was eventful. Dun dun dun...
1.) Kiba's official integration into the storyline
2.) Gertrud's farewell (And Nero's return)
3.) Chase's departure (Reasons will be after Semira)
You can find Nero's part in Scriffignano's story.
There's a small (yet awesome) surprise from Naomi.
Also since Nero is back, Neo's team is complete: h$ttp:/$/fav.$me/d91vuvj
And that ends Neo's part~
It also marks the end of the Scuffle of Legends arc. (Wow. 10 chapters all in all)
Thanks again Scriffignano, Dead Bones Sam, WrittenWhim and Ramaxy18-chan.
Back to Semira we go but with a twist. (We won't focus on one of the main cast perspective)
The chapters are already written, thanks to Dead Bones Sam (hinty-hint-hint)
Read and Review!