-Chapter X: A Ghastly Rescue-

-Roy-

When he came to, a blinding light was shining on him. He squinted while his eyes dilated, and sat up. Or, at least, he tried to. When he moved, shadowy chains became visible and tightened against the wall he was propped against, holding him down and disappearing when he stopped struggling. He tried to phase into the wall, but it crackled with a black electricity and shocked him on the spectral level, similar to Magnezone's containment facility. He grunted and looked around further. He was tied to a barren stone wall, underground, with a dirt floor and heavy condensation on the ceiling. Water dripped to the ground every so-often, making him kind of paranoid. Dusknoir was nowhere to be found. He almost called out, but something in his gut told him that it was a bad idea.

Think, Roy… How did I get here? He tried recalling what had happened, but, much to his surprise, he remembered nothing. His jaw dropped slightly. "What…? Why don't I remember?"

He struggled against the chains, and when they revealed themselves, he used mystical fire. The flames turned purple once they hit the chains, and they snapped, freeing him. He fell to the ground, unable to float. "What is this…?"

The ground seemed to be sapping his energy, making him unable to move. He soon collapsed entirely and remained there until a pokémon picked him up and held him against the wall. Once his vision cleared, his anger flared up again.

"Mordred!" He tried to use nightmare, but Mordred opened his mouth, revealing a crunched up chesto berry. "Surprised to see me?"

"Not really." Roy glared at him and tried to use mystical fire, but Mordred pressed his blades up to Roy's neck, making him stop. "One night slash is all it will take. Do not test me."

"Wh-what do you want?" Roy demanded. "How did I get here?"

Mordred seemed confused for a moment before he began laughing. "Ha-ha-ha-ha! I knew they were good, but I didn't know they were that good!"

Roy tilted his head. "Who?"

"Nobody." the Bisharp snapped. He grabbed Roy with one hand. "Follow me, unless you want to die."

Roy smirked. "I'm already dead, thank you. Killing me again would actually be doing me a favor."

Mordred's blade turned pitch black as he slashed across Roy's chest in the blink of an eye. His entire body exploded in pain, the black tendrils of dark poison coursing through his spectral skin. Mordred humphed and began walking. "Now, follow me. The antidote is located where we're going."

Roy fell to the ground, his vision red and his entire spirit corroding away. Mordred rolled his eyes and threw Roy over his shoulder. "Arceus, this is annoying…"

His consciousness was waning, but he was suddenly thrown to the ground and stabbed with something else. As soon as the stabbing pain stopped, his vision cleared and his energy returned. Mordred lifted him up, and Roy stared at him, slack-jawed. "You helped me?"

"I'm not through with you." Mordred used dark pulse to slam him into the wall, then held Roy to the wall by digging his hand into his chest. "Now answer this. A Ralts. She's smaller than most of her species, and she's really powerful. I heard that you were seen with her."

Roy's eyes widened slightly, but he did his best to sound oblivious. "A Ralts? In case you've already forgotten, we've been too busy staying on the run from your group after you killed half of our team to pick up any new recruits."

"Actually, only a third." Mordred corrected. "And I know you're lying. You were talking about her to a Dusknoir near Apple Woods."

Roy shook his head, his panic building. "I don't know what you're talking about. What does a Ralts have to offer you? Shouldn't you still be hunting Vulcan or Connor?"

"Yeah, I forgot to mention that, didn't I?" Mordred mocked. "Of course, I'm not telling you anything. That would be stupid. And you don't want to talk. But sadly, I need you alive."

Roy relaxed slightly. He won't kill me.

Mordred's eyes narrowed as a cruel smile appeared on his face. "But there's nothing about your Dusknoir friend that makes him special. If you don't talk, I'll kill him. Slowly and painfully. And you'll get the front-row seat!"

Dusknoir was dragged in by a Banette, bound by multiple translucent shackles and chains. He was beaten and bruised, shadowy blood dripping from several dark gashes across his stomach and arms, which were bound behind his back, and his stomach mouth had been stitched shut with a indigo needle and thread. He looked up with pain in his eye, but his message was clear. Don't tell them anything.

Roy shifted his gaze between the two of them, his face contorting to give off a perplexed vibe. "I'm confused. Who's that supposed to be?"

Mordred narrowed his eyes and extended his arm blade. "...Hmph." He turned to Dusknoir and waved the Banette away. "Thank you. I'll take it from here. Be on standby in case they try anything."

The Banette nodded and phased into the wall. Roy's mind began working overtime. Stupid, stupid, stupid… I don't even remember anything recent… How long has it been since we've been in here? Is Connor looking for me? Surely it's daytime by now...

He looked around frantically for anything to use psychic on, but it was a barren, stone room, with a simple table bolted to the ground. The shackles binding him were far too strong to be broken apart with his own strength. He scowled as Mordred began. "So… What do you know, Roy?"

He looked up. "I know a lot of things. You'll have to be more specif-gak!" Mordred thrust his hand forward into Roy's throat. That shouldn't have done any physical damage or caused asphyxiation, but he gasped for air and would have vomited if he had a stomach.

Mordred turned away with a glare and extended his arm blades again, a pitch black shadow layering over it like a fresh coat of paint. He stepped towards Dusknoir, who had been pummeled and beaten almost beyond recognition, and thrust his arm forward. Roy winced and let out an almost inaudible whimper, and Mordred stopped the blade centimeters from Dusknoir's head. He chuckled and turned back to Roy. "So… You do know him."

"No," Roy said. "I don't. It's just that primary Ghost types are typically not fond of one of their own being killed, even if they're complete stranger."

He threw his head back in laughter. "Ha-ha-ha-ha! You don't seriously believe that I'm buying that load of tauros, right?" He kneed Dusknoir in the head and slammed him into the ground. Dusknoir groaned, but said nothing. Roy winced as Mordred knelt down to Dusknoir. "What's the matter, big guy? Can't talk? Huh?" He kneed Dusknoir's temple, and the giant ghost went limp. Tears began falling down Roy's face, but he drew them into his skin, since they were technically shadows. "Alright… I'll talk."

Mordred nodded and stepped forward, looking Roy in the eyes only a few inches away. "What do you know about a little Ralts that is as strong as an alpha?"

"That she's about to kick your butt!" A female voice called out. Mordred turned and used dark pulse blindly, but Dawn teleported right above him and used magical leaf. He crossed his arms and deflected the attack. Dawn teleported again and used psychic to send half the wall flying at him. He grunted in surprise and used rock smash, crushing the boulder into rubble. Dawn's arm glowed blue as she tried to punch him. Roy rolled his eyes as Mordred sidestepped and countered, kicking her to the ground. Ralts aren't meant for hand-to-hand… combat?

She stumbled backwards, and when Mordred stepped forward, she swept the ground out from underneath him with psychic and teleported directly onto his chest, catching him off guard. She coated her fist in blue energy and punched straight down. He moved his head to the side and her fist went straight through the stone. As if that weren't enough of a shocker itself, she didn't even wince.

That should have broken her entire arm!

He kicked her off and rolled backwards. She stood and faced in his general direction. "You're the one that sent those pokémon after me."

He nodded, not even out of breath. "You're not surprised… You're powerful, for a psychic type. But against a dark-type like me, you don't stand a chance. We're simply not in the same league."

Dawn's eyelids glowed, and Mordred smirked. "Psychic doesn't work on me, sweetheart. Dark types have that distinct advantage."

Then another familiar pokémon materialized right in front of Roy, behind Mordred. Vulcan grabbed Mordred's shoulder and threw him to the ground. "Remember me?" His mouth spewed a column of white-hot fire that instantly made all his previous flamethrowers seem puny by comparison. Mordred uncrossed his arms after the firestorm died down, a blue protect barrier dissipating. "Vulcan." He sneered as he rolled backwards and stood up. "I didn't expect to see you so soon."

"No?" Vulcan clenched his fists, radiating a fiery orange aura that made Roy want to shy away, even though he was on the opposite side of the room. "Honestly, I'm glad to see you."

Mordred growled and extended his arm blades, but the ground around him cracked as thick green vines snaked upwards through the bedrock and snared his legs. He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. "What in Arceus-"

"You didn't think I'd come alone, right? I'm not getting kidnapped again." As Vulcan said this, a large cocoon of vines rose from the ground, splitting apart the stone, and Grovyle extended his leaf blades as he stepped out of it like a pod, of sorts.

Mordred sliced the vines and stepped backwards, but found himself against a wall. Dawn glided over to Roy and broke the pulsing chains. He fell to the ground and she tried to catch him, but he was double her size, so he just floated upwards with a smile after a moment. "Thank you, Dawn."

She smiled and turned back to Mordred. "You're my friend. It's what friends do."

"Friend?" He found himself smiling at that word. It had a pleasant ring to it. Nobody had ever called him that before. Not Vincent, or Nocturne, or Atlas… Not even Vulcan or Connor. Maybe it was a small detail, but he kept going back to it these past couple days after his first encounter with her. Besides his conversations with her, he was just… there. Nobody ever paid him much attention, and even when he did something as incredible as revive a dead teammate, nobody except Amber, the one he revived, even gave him a simple 'thank you'.

His thoughts were cut short by Vulcan nearly flattening him. Mordred had used dark pulse to send him flying, and Roy dove to the side as the Charizard was slammed into the wall and rubble rained down on him. Grovyle threw several seed bombs around him, but Mordred held his breath as the paralyzing spores floated around his head. He sprinted out of them and tried to use fury cutter on Grovyle, but the grass-type's eyes flashed turquoise and he vanished. Roy was just as surprised as Mordred. "Huh?!"

A blur of green zipped by him and threw him to the ground. Mordred righted himself with a growl, but was knocked flat on his back again, then pinned down with vines. Grovyle reappeared next to the Bisharp and knelt down. "Listen, Mordred… I've spent more than enough time fighting you already. If it were up to me, I'd put you out of your misery now, and save us all the trouble later." He stood up with a displeased look on his face. "But, unfortunately, that's Connor's call."

Roy glanced around, but the Swampert was nowhere to be seen.

Dawn cursed and clasped her hands together hastily. Connor appeared in a flash of white and charged forward, fists swinging. He stopped after seeing the subdued bad guy on the floor. "...What the heck?" His arm started glowing white as he wound up for a focus punch. "Uh… okay. This works."

Mordred's skin glistened silver, and Connor's focus punch was stopped cold against his unrelenting iron skin. Roy heard something in Connor's body snap and he grunted in pain as his arm bent at an unnatural angle. "Hnngh!" Mordred sliced the vines with the blades lining his body and pulled an escape orb seemingly out of midair while simultaneously using dark pulse to knock them all away and push himself to his feet. "This is only the beginning." He threw it down and vanished.

Vulcan roared and punched the wall with a power-up punch, nearly shattering the stone. "AGAIN?!" He turned on Grovyle. "Why didn't you just kill him when you had the chance?!"

Grovyle glared at him. "There are certain rules that I have to follow, Vulcan."

Vulcan gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "What rules? Wait, let me guess: one of those rules is that you can't kill any pokémon while you're here?"

"I can't kill any of the Mafia group." Grovyle corrected.

"That specific?! Then what's the point of you being here?! That does us absolutely no good!"

"If that's the case, perhaps I should leave-"

"No!" Connor winced and kept his broken arm off of the ground. "Don't go, Grovyle."

He narrowed his eyes, but nodded. "...For you, Connor. Until Vulcan gets his priorities straight and realizes that I am here to help, I am here solely for you and my group."

Dusknoir groaned, just now regaining consciousness. Grovyle gasped and ran over to him. "Dusknoir!"

The heavyset ghost tried to speak, but the stitches on his stomach mouth seemed to hinder it. Grovyle nodded and extended a leaf blade, except this time it was pitch black, seeming to draw in the shadows around him. He sliced straight through the stitches on Dusknoir's stomach and the large golden mouth twisted into a pained smile. Dusknoir breathed heavily. "Hah… Thank you, Grovyle... That was horrid."

Grovyle stared at the stump at the end of his arm."Dusknoir, your hand-!"

"It's nothing spectral healing can't fix. I will be fine."

Their conversation was cut short when the entire chamber began rumbling. Connor cursed and used Ancient Power, his head fins glowing purple and lining the stones in the same aura. "He rigged the whole place! We're gonna be buried alive!"

Roy used psychic alongside Dawn to support the ceiling in their chamber, but he heard the rest of the underground base caving in around them. Even if this section managed to remain standing, everyone besides he and Dusknoir would run out of air in a matter of minutes, and he didn't know how far underground they were. They could be a few feet, or a few miles. And the walls were enchanted to prevent shadow-traveling. For the first time in his life, he was completely trapped and helpless.

No… The second time. But what… where did that come from? That memory?

Connor turned to Roy. "Roy! You're gonna have to shadow-travel us out!"

Roy shook his head free of any thoughts unrelated to keeping them all alive. "I can't! This whole base is sealed off with spectral energy!"

The ceiling above them continued to crack and fall apart. Vulcan did his best to hold a section of the ceiling up, but since he couldn't exactly fly due to his wings being torn, he used flamethrower to try and melt the stone together. Grovyle tried to grow vines to support the roof, but after the cave began collapsing, all the ambient lighting that had illuminated the place had gone dark. It became pitch black in a matter of seconds, making it impossible to grow any plant life, even for Grovyle.

Dawn's voice spoke up. "I think I can get you all out!"

"Do it!" Connor demanded.

Roy braced himself as a set of eyes began glowing in the darkness, and he was suddenly above ground. No side effects or smoking skin. I guess it only applies to large distance teleportations...

Vulcan appeared in a flash of light, followed by Connor, then Dusknoir, then Grovyle. The ground was shaking beneath them, almost like an earthquake, but soon afterwards it stopped, but not without heaving the ground out from underneath them and making a ravine where the base was. "Come on… Where is she?" Roy looked around frantically. "She'll be here in a moment, I'm sure of it…"

Dusknoir pushed himself upright, and Connor called out after standing up. "Everyone alright?" He eyed each of them, mumbling numbers to himself. "Five…" He looked around frantically. "Where's Dawn?"

Roy stayed silent. He waited a while longer for any sign of the Ralts. Then a brief flash of light came from above him, and she fell to the ground, hard. She shakily stood up, but toppled over again, rubbing her temples. "Man… This rescuing stuff is hard..."

Roy nodded and suppressed a grin, then a surge of anger came to him. "Why did you have to go and scare us like that?"
Dawn smiled slightly. "We didn't die, right?"

Roy glared at her, but she didn't seem fazed in the slightest. "Relax, Roy-boy! We're all okay!" Then she frowned. "Well… Except Connor… But I think I can fix that."

She floated over to him and asked if she could attempt to heal him. He nodded. "Give it a shot. If not, Amber can probably- Ow!" She gently grabbed his arm, which looked kind of funny since it was bigger than her entire body. "Hold still. Amber isn't the only one that can heal people." A golden light pulsed from her head crest, through her arms and into Connor. The glow intensified when it reached where his arm was bent, and it slowly returned to a normal angle. The skin seemed to heal itself where the bone had jutted out like an oversized lump in his arm. The pain in his expression lessened as he sighed with relief. "Wow… You know heal pulse…"

She nodded and set his arm down. "Try putting pressure on it."

He gingerly put his hand to the ground and immediately picked it up again. "Nope."

"...Broken bones can't be entirely healed without time," she replied. "You hit Mordred so hard that your entire forearm snapped like a twig in two different spots. How'd you even stay conscious?"

"I've been through worse. When I was a mudkip, I had a hole straight through my chest for almost two days before Vulcan got me some help from the guild." He smiled wistfully. "I wonder how they're doing… I wonder how many of the others have graduated and evolved."

"You had a hole straight through your chest?"

"From Darkrai." Grovyle blurted out.

Dawn's eyelids glowed dimly before she collapsed to the ground without warning. Connor tried to catch her with his non-broken hand, but his other arm gave out and he ate the dirt. Tears streaked down her face as she sat up and turned to Grovyle. "Arceus… What was that place…? So dark and cold..." she shuddered.

Grovyle instantly tensed up. "How did you-"

She shook her head quickly and slung the tears off with psychic. "I don't do it on purpose, I swear! It just happens sometimes!"

He scowled at her and narrowed his eyes. "...What did you see?"

Her mouth opened slightly and choked back a sob. "Darkness… And pain… Death… Betrayal. Dusknoir, he… he killed..."

Grovyle looked visibly stunned, but neutralized his expression. "He killed me, yes." Roy's jaw dropped as Grovyle quickly added on, "But he's changed, and we're all here to help. That's all that matters right now."

He doesn't look dead… and his spirit is his own… how did he come back from the distortion world? He gasped internally. If he could come back, it might be possible to bring the others back to life. Perhaps-

His thoughts were cut short by Grovyle, who was obviously trying to change the subject. "Let's get back. It's almost sunset."

Roy hadn't noticed, but the sun was almost touching the horizon. "How many days were Dusknoir and I in there?"

"Just one day," Vulcan said. "But we got here just after sunrise."

Roy tried to put together the picture. "So wherever we were… Time was sped up… It was a mystery dungeon?" His eyes widened. "Dusknoir! Do you remember how we got there?"

Dusknoir shook his head. "I remember departing with you last night, then… it's a blur. I recall flashes of light and fire. Then nothing. I woke up in a chamber, proceeded to be interrogated by a Banette, then dragged into the same cell as Roy and beaten unconscious. That's it."

Grovyle looked up at him. "You remember nothing else?"

He shook his head in response. "Nothing." He slammed his fist into the nearest tree, nearly breaking it in two. "Why do neither of us remember anything?!"

"Hey, relax, big guy." Roy tried to calm the ghost-type down. "Like Dawn said, we're all alive. That's all that matters right now. We can figure out how we got there later."

Vulcan and Connor both went to say something, but Grovyle put his hand out. "Don't force recollection. If they don't remember, they don't remember."

Dusknoir planted his left hand on the ground, drawing in the shadows cast by the evening sun. As they seeped into his skin, his other arm elongated, and the nub at the end sprouted into five fingers. He moved the newly formed hand experimentally and grunted in approval.

Connor eyed him warily, but Roy's attention was on Dawn now, who was still visibly trembling. What has Grovyle been through that was so bad it reduced her to tears?

Grovyle sighed, catching everyone's attention. "Dawn… What you saw… that was only the surface..." He got up and began walking. "I'd suggest not doing that again."

Dawn took a shaky breath and stood up. "Don't count on it."

Connor raised the section of earth beneath him and floated after Grovyle, making sure not to put pressure on his broken arm. He called back, "Let's go guys. We've got some work to do."

"Understatement of the year," Roy grumbled as he drifted along after them.

Alright! They rescued Roy and Dusknoir with minimal injuries! Even though Connor broke his arm... Meh. And how about that shadow healing, huh? I think it's pretty neat! What do you guys think? But now there's a problem... Apparently the Insurgo can't kill any mafia members. That's kind of an important thing to say when you first arrive, isn't it?

So... That's chapter ten! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! What did you think about Grovyle's awesome entry and kick-butt skills? Go ahead and leave any questions, comments, concerns and theories about future events/characters in the form of a review or PM! It's always appreciated, and it helps me keep writing!

If you guys want to read the files that Victor gave the Assassins, go ahead and click on my profile and go to Victor's Files! It has everything there is to know about the characters, minus personalities.

Also, the next Battle for Firestorm Battle Royale is Rose Vs. Nagini in a Swamp Biome. It is scheduled for Monday, so try not to miss it!

Okay, last thing. I am in need of at least two more OC characters to interact with Team Firestorm that aren't members of the Mafia. So far, we have a Pikachu, a Farfetch'd, Weavile, a Delphox, a Venomoth and a Beedrill, so those are exempt, as well as most pokemon that are on any other teams in my stories. PM me if you have any questions about character choices. Also, if you're interested in seeing your character in the sequels to Blazing Hearts, go ahead and read the guidelines on my profile and submit your character ideas to me via PM! Much Love!

-PL