Conquering the Dark
Chapter 7: The Price of Disobedience
"Do you have the plans to attack the Canalave City base complete? And how is your new Rayquaza soldier fairing along?"
Lord Cyrus was on his throne, asking Commander Aaron these questions.
The Lucario gave a confident smirk. "Indeed I do, my Lord. My team should be able to carry out the operations this afternoon. As for Rayquaza, he's already working up the ranks. His conversion has turned out to be quite beneficial, being just as ruthless as Zekrom is now."
Cyrus chuckled. "Well now, that's a pleasure to hear. I leave the attack in your capable hands."
Commander Aaron bowed, taking his leave. He laughed a bit darkly to himself as he talked to himself quietly.
"Truth be told, he's still got just a little rebellion in him. Mostly obedient, but I still need to completely break his spirit. Of course, that's my favorite part."
He walked over to the training area inside the grand castle, where a few Pokémon were already practicing against each other. A Machamp had an Alakazam in a tight headlock, while Zekrom was practicing against Rayquaza. Mewtwo was in the corner, in charge of keeping an eye on everybody.
"You're weak. Pathetic. You hesitate to attack. How can you help Lord Cyrus if you show such weakness?" Zekrom insulted the green dragon, spitting in his face.
"I don't hesitate to attack." Rayquaza replied angrily, wiping the saliva off. "I look at the situation to analyze it before I make a move. How is blindly attacking showing 'weakness'?"
Zekrom frowned. "You still hesitate to follow Commander Aaron's orders. Don't lie to me. I saw you briefly debate it when he gave you the order to attack and destroy everyone in Floaroma Town. And you almost didn't. And like a coward, you spared that last family! I had to finish your freaking job!"
Flashback
"Rayquaza, this is your first mission. Are you ready to accept it?" said the Commander, with himself, Rayquaza, and Zekrom on the edge of Floaroma Town.
Rayquaza nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Zekrom, you assist Rayquaza with this. Your mission today is to absolutely annihilate every single living thing in Floaroma Town. Let that stupid 'resistance' show that we aren't taking things lightly."
Zekrom nodded while Rayquaza looked at the town. It was so peaceful and even happy, not yet touched by the war. He even saw a family having a picnic in the flowery fields of the town.
"Commander? I… I don't mean to question you, but… why do we need to destroy this town? The resistance already knows that we mean serious business, and destroying this town wouldn't accomplish anything. There's not even a headquarters for the resistance here."
The Commander scowled. "Slave? Did you just question my orders? I hope you didn't."
Rayquaza cowered. 'Slave' was a word the Commander used when he was very displeased with a soldier. It meant that you just pissed him off big-time, and you better make it up to him ASAP.
"N-No, I didn't question you, sir. Zekrom and I will be right on it."
"Good." The Commander stated simply. "Glad I heard you wrong. Now have fun."
"Yes, sir." Zekrom and Rayquaza said, one more enthusiastically than the other.
Zekrom spared no time, rising into the air to charge a Bolt Strike. Some of the citizens, seeing him charging up the move, started to run inside their houses for cover. The screams of horror were deafening.
"Ah, beautiful music to my ears!" Zekrom laughed, launching the attack at the town's Pokémon Center, completely obliterating it. He flew around, zapping several people with Thunderbolts. "Come on, Rayquaza! Join in!"
"Y-Yes. O-Of course." Rayquaza summoned a Draco Meteor, dropping it onto the town's Pokemart. At the moment of impact, two conflicting feelings fought inside of him. The first side said that he was doing great, and to keep up the chaos. Destroying and killing felt good… but why? The second side, fainter but still there, told him to stop. To run. To get out of here. Find Xerneas. But those were only brief and fleeting thoughts that vanished as his far more evil and powerful side took over.
Smirking, he now truly joined in the chaos, firing off Dragon Pulses at trees, grass, and flowers, destroying the very nature that he once held dear. Within just a few minutes, the town went from a peaceful, beautiful place of nature into a desolate wasteland. He had seemed to be fully enjoyed the carnage when the sound of sobbing entered his ear.
Rayquaza turned around to see that same family who was on the picnic now crying over the state of their hometown. It was just a mother, father, and their 10-year-old girl. They were defenseless. There was nothing they could do. A feeling of success came over him as he started to charge a Hyper Beam in front of the family.
But… the young girl… she was clutching her Teddiursa and crying, saying her last prayers. Rayquaza wouldn't forget what she said.
"God… I know I'm going to die here. I know I'll join you soon. But please… help these Pokémon to stop their destruction. Help him." The girl said, referring to Rayquaza. "Please have mercy on him. I see it in his eyes. It's not his fault…"
For some reason… for some unexplainable reason… Rayquaza stopped. He stopped charging his Hyper Beam and looked at the family. Looks of terror from the parents, and just crying and praying from the young girl.
Rayquaza's second and locked-away side started to come through. He was no longer deriving joy from the misery and death of others. He felt… bad, as if an iron fist had punched him in the stomach.
"Why?" he whispered to himself. "Wasn't destruction supposed to be good? Isn't that what Commander Aaron wanted? Isn't that what Lord Cyrus wanted? …Is that what I wanted?"
Before Rayquaza could think on the subject anymore, Zekrom looked on him, seeing that he didn't finish off the last survivors. He groaned, flying over.
"Oh, come on. It does not take fifteen minutes to finish off three weak humans. Seriously, you're hesitating?"
"N…No." Rayquaza stuttered.
Zekrom groaned. "I've got to finish the job, don't I?"
The black dragon started to charge up a Bolt Strike, with powerful waves of electricity glowing from his hands. Four words came from the little girl, four words that would haunt him.
"May God help you."
As the powerful move hit the family, the smoke cleared and nothing remained aside from ashes.
Zekrom looked at Rayquaza with disappointment. Commander Aaron, who had been observing the two, did the same.
Commander Aaron huffed. "We'll deal with this later, slave. We're going back."
At that, Rayquaza followed the other two back, her words still haunting him…
Rayquaza stuttered. "Y-Yeah, w-well… there was no point to killing that last family. What benefit did it give us?"
Zekrom spit in Rayquaza's face again. "As I thought. Weakness."
Commander Aaron spoke up, watching the whole fight. "And weakness will be punished. Poor Rayquaza. It seems that you aren't quite 100% obedient. More like 85%."
The Commander smiled darkly once again. "That won't do at all. Let's leave to the dungeon for some more… reinforcement." He said, grabbing Rayquaza's neck with an iron grip.
"N-No, Master! Please don't! I-I am obedient! Really, I am!"
Those words were met with a Metal Claw to Rayquaza's face, leaving him bleeding.
"Shut up." Commander Aaron scowled. "Take your punishment obediently and without protest."
"Commander."
The Lucario turned to hear the voice of his faithful second-in-command, Mewtwo. He was just at the entrance to the dungeon, looking at Rayquaza.
The Commander smiled. "Ah, Mewtwo. My most trusted general. What can I do you for?"
Mewtwo was deep in thought for a moment before he answered. He could use this opportunity to get info out of Rayquaza. "May I do the torture, sir? I have never had the chance to do so before."
Commander Aaron chuckled. "Well… sure. I've got to share some of the fun with you."
Mewtwo took a psychic hold of Rayquaza, taking him away from the Commander. He led him into the dungeon, still as dark and black and cold as ever.
Rayquaza gulped. "P-Please have some mercy."
Mewtwo looked behind him, shutting and locking the door to the soundproof dungeon.
"Good. Now nobody can hear us."
Mewtwo approached Rayquaza, whip in hand. It seemed as if Mewtwo was about to strike, but…
The drop of the whip echoed around the soundproofed room loudly. Rayquaza looked at the whip with intense eyes, before looking back at Mewtwo.
"You're… You're not going to…"
"I have some questions I need to ask you."
"Umm… OK?"
Mewtwo took a deep breath before facing Rayquaza. "How did you break free of that bastard's mind control?"
"That bastard? You mean…?"
"I mean 'Commander' Aaron, yes. I've never seen one brainwashed Pokémon break free of it. It's incredibly deep and powerful."
"What do you mean, 'break free'?"
"I heard that conversation you had with Zekrom. Floaroma Town was destroyed, yes. But you hesitated to kill that last family. Nobody here would've done that."
"Well… it didn't feel right." Rayquaza confessed. "I know that destruction and killing is supposed to be good and all… but then why did I get this horrible feeling inside my stomach when I saw that little girl praying… for me?"
Mewtwo thought deeply for a while. "Is it possible…?" he muttered quietly to himself. "…Could those brainwashing powers have a spiritual weakness? I've never seen anything like that before."
Mewtwo's voice returned to normal volume. "Rayquaza? Do you remember who I am?"
"Umm… Aaron's second in command, right? But… there's more to it than that, right?"
"That's correct. But do you remember anything else? About your life prior to you becoming one of Aaron's soldiers?"
Rayquaza closed his eyes, searching his brain. He tried to delve deep into his thoughts, but the memories were incredibly cloudy. He searched and searched, but nothing turned up.
"No… I can't say that I do. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Knowing that Commander Aaron's brainwashing has a weakness is incredibly valuable information. But…"
"But what?"
"Well… as much as I hate to do this, I still have to torture you. The only reason why I requested to torture you was to get info out. If I come back and you don't have any scratches or whippings, Aaron will get on my back."
"…I understand, Mewtwo. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble."
"Thank you." Mewtwo nodded. He psychically lifted up the whip again. "I promise, I'll try to make this as quick as possible."
Pokémon © Game Freak / Nintendo
Well, I'm back. I know, I didn't post anything in the whole month of September and this is a short chapter to come back with. But we did establish the important plot point of Commander Aaron's brainwashing not being as powerful as it first seemed to be. In any case, college and drama kinda kept me pretty busy. Nevertheless, I hope to get back into the swing of things.
As always, read and review.