Ch.23: Dealings with the Wicked! Doubts Lying Beneath the Shadows!

"Ow…ow…ow…OW!" Pinsir shrieked as Dusclops applied ointment to his severed hand wound. "Ugh! Can't you be gentle?!"

Dusclops rolled his eye. "Quit whining. You should have been paying more attention. It's almost shameful that this was inflicted by a sick Raichu."

It has been over three hours since they committed their dark deed on the Sapienti household. They haven't got a word in on their target, who their boss expected to arrive eventually for the antidote he had. The thief will be so desperate for the antidote that he'll join without a second thought, provided the fire they started didn't change the deal around. It may have been an easy way to draw his attention, but…it was also the easiest way to lose their only hold against the Dewott. Hopefully everything went as expected.

Dusclops wrapped bandages around the stump and tied them up. "There, you're good now."

Pinsir groaned. "I'm like a pain magnet whenever I'm near those rotten scumbags. I get shot in the pincer by that lousy thief, I get my hand blasted off by a frail woman, and I got bitten by that stupid little girl."

"Wait, when did you get bitten?" Dusclops asked, unable to recall the Pikachu fighting back through the use of such an underhanded tactic.

"It was from a while back. Point is…that family is going to KILL me at the rate I'm losing blood. He might as well just walk right on in and snap my arm while they're at it. Maybe tear off part of my leg, too, before punching through my chest and ripping out my still beating heart, crushing it in my face!"

Dusclops blinked, then patted his back. "Have you considered seeing a therapist?"

"Yes, several times, actually."

One of the thugs, who was waiting like the rest of them, groaned aloud. "Ugh! When is Sapienti getting here? The boss won't be happy if we don't get his prized thief!"

Pinsir scoffed. "Be patient, ingrate." He then chuckled lowly. "That fool will be eating out of the palm of our hands now that we have the one thing in the world that'll keep his precious family on this earth."

"Is that a fact?"

The thugs gasped as a beam of electricity shot through the hut. They ducked their heads as the beam made contact with the walls and blew a hole through it. They stared at it for only a moment before turning to the front entrance, greeted by the calm, yet vengeful stare of Tony Sapienti.

Pinsir shot to his feet. "Sapienti! So you finally came!"

Tony narrowed his eyes. "Yes…I have." He took note of his bandaged hand. "The heck happened to you?"

He growled. "Your devil of a mother shot my hand off, that's what!"

"Is that so?" He held his hips and lowered his head as he laughed. "Oh man, I knew she would use the emergency guns, but I didn't expect something like this."

Pinsir's head pincer snipped angrily. "Don't laugh at me, boy!" He then blinked. "Wait…why are you laughing?"

Tony grinned causally. "What do you mean?"

Dusclops stepped back cautiously. "You do know that we poisoned your family, right? And set your house on fire?"

"Ooohhh, that." He rubbed the back of his head as he walked over to them. "Yeah, I was pretty upset when I found out about that. Boy, oh boy, was I in TEARS. I actually thought I was going to lose them for a moment. Now they're clinging to their lives as that stupid curse eats away at their health."

Pinsir darted his eyes around, heavily confused. "I'm sorry, but…aren't you mad?"

"Maybe I was a little upset, but not anymore." He placed his hand on the stag beetle's shoulder and gave him a gentle pat. "No, I'm not mad. That'd be ridiculous. This isn't something to be 'mad' about."

Pinsir's eyes widened as Tony turned him around and forced his damaged arm backwards against his back. The swift, merciless motion snapped it out of place, making him scream in pain.

The thugs backed away as newfound rage formed in Tony's eyes, as he gave the beetle an angry, irritated smirk. "Pissed, however, perfectly describes the hate I feel for each and every one of you lowlife, sad excuses called Pokémon. You have NO idea how much I'm gonna look forward to beating each one of you punks to near death for what you've done."

Dusclops held his hands up, trying to calm down the enraged Dewott. "N-Now hold on a minute, this wasn't our call! It was the boss'."

"He gave the order…but you pulled the trigger." He kicked Pinsir into the group.

Pinsir weakly stood up, then gasped as his right arm was not only handless, but also hung loosely by his side. He couldn't move it without cringing in pain. He growled angrily at the Dewott. "What is with your damned family and injuring me?!"

"Shut up," Tony spat venomously, freezing the beetle in fear. Some of the thugs who could sense magic could feel the overwhelming potency of his magic aura as it flared with his rage. "I'm already angry at myself for LETTING this stupid scheme of yours happen. You've already put them on their deathbeds. If you dare make any other harsh remarks against them, it'll earn you a heaping pile of hot ash being pressed against your eyes while I repeatedly smash your face in with a slab of concrete. Is that clear?!"

Pinsir gulped, stepping behind Dusclops. "Crystal…"

"Good." He held his hand out. "Now, give me the antidote."

"We don't have one."

Tony blinked, then chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry, let me rephrase that." He charged up a Lightning Shot with his index finger. His expression became more furious. "Give me. The antidote. NOW!"

"What he means is," Dusclops interjected, "that WE, specifically, don't have the antidote. Our boss knew you would try and take it from us if we had it, so he refuses to give it until you agree to join."

Tony glared. "Yeah, so…here's my issue with that demand." He sprinted at Dusclops, sweep kicked him, and smashed him into the ground. He pinned him down and said darkly, "I can't join an organization if all its member are unable to continue their jobs."

"You're not seriously thinking about killing us, are you?!" Dusclops cried in shock.

"Kill? No. Mortally wound you with the chance of disabling your ability to ever move? Don't have much problem with that option." He pressed his finger against his forehead, lighting it up with his Lightning Shot spell. "If you don't have the antidote, then I would like to speak to your boss."

Dusclops calmed tried to ease him, if only to save his own skin. "Okay, okay, chill!" He pointed to a Nidoqueen. "Get the mirror set up and contact Count Aeternus." She nodded and raced off to the other room.

Tony lightened up, but still glared at the ghost as he took his finger off his forehead and deactivated the spell. "You better keep to your word that he has an antidote. If that's a lie…well, you know what comes next."

Pinsir gripped his broken arm as he glared at the Dewott. "Believe us, we know you're not joking." He chuckled. "Funny, considering it was your own pride that got them into this mess. We know why you didn't save them in time. You were too busy having the time of your life with those travelers from yesterday."

Tony glanced over his shoulder, his glare becoming furious. "Hot ash…in your eyes…still want to mock me, idiot?" The beetle gulped and held his tongue. "That's what I thought."

Nidoqueen poked her head from behind the curtains. "The boss is ready to see you, Sapienti."

Taking a deep breath, Tony marched into the room, pushing the Drill Pokémon out of his way. Upon entering the room, he was meant with the wicked grin of the sinister Mr. Mime, who was enjoying a glass of wine and sitting comfortably behind the glass of the spatial mirror. He sat in his chair the same as last time: standing on it while squatting.

Aeternus swirled his drink around. "Tony Sapienti…I had a feeling you would return." He looked like he was having trouble holding back an intense fit of laughter, seen by his twitching grin. Already the thief knew why he wanted to release those evil cackles. "I take it you enjoyed my little surprise after you walked out on me."

Tony pointed accusingly at the creepy mime. "Listen to me, you motley dressed clown, I want that antidote in my hands, now."

The mime chuckled. "My, my, you're much feistier than from earlier. Clearly you didn't enjoy what I've done for you at all."

"Of course not, you sick freak! What you did was not only horrendous, but downright vile. I swear, if I can get my hands around your neck, I will personally take you out of this world until you see the horrors you put me through!"

Aeternus smirked wider. "Violent, too? You really are angry." He sipped his drink again before sitting down normally in his chair. "Well, I can't play this game forever, I suppose." He reached behind his back and pulled out a dark purple vial, shaking it a couple of times. "I believe this is what you desire?"

"Give it to me. Now!"

Aeternus sipped the last of his wine. "What do you plan to do about it? Shoot me?" He chuckled. "This is why I love handling all my important meetings behind the safety of a mirror. Not that I'd have any problem meeting you in person." He smirked sinisterly. "We'd have SO much fun together."

Tony growled. "I don't care HOW it gets in my hands, but I want it this very moment."

"And I'll gladly give it to you…if you follow up on the other end of the bargain."

He shook his head. "I'm not joining your organization. You may be too crazy to get the point, but I don't listen to freaks who would gladly murder others just because they're bored."

The Mr. Mime sighed, then snapped his fingers. "You're making such an obvious decision feel so tedious, dear boy." A Roserade wearing a maid outfit walked up to his side with her eyes closed. The count held his wine glass out as she poured him a second helping. "I've placed you into a position where you can't refuse my offer." He held his hand up, ordering the maid to cease pouring. She bowed obediently and stepped out of view. He swirled his drink around and took a light sip. "I'm well aware of what condition your mother was under before I had that curse placed on her. Fuego Village is one of the poorer areas. The frail thing's probably dead now."

The thief tightened his fist. "She, along with my sister, are being taken cared of by a really good doctor. He'll make sure they live, just until I get that antidote from you."

"I hear words coming out of your mouth, but what I personally hear is a thief without an actual plan. Did you just assume that if you begged and cried loud enough that you'll get the medicine they need without me getting what I want in return?" He smirked. "You're a good thief, but clearly not skilled in the art of business." He sipped his drink again.

Tony scoffed. "If you don't hand it over, you'll be losing valuable members to your organization."

"Losing members? Probably. But valuable? You're speaking to highly of them, my friend." He dipped his finger into the wine and stirred it around. "What use do I see for members who I stuck in the Fire Zone, especially in a dinky little village such as yours? They're expendable. Their point for being there is to gain more control over the land. That's it. I wouldn't spare a bit to save their sorry carcasses. Frankly, they know the position they're in, too. I'm the top dog, they're the runts."

The thief clenched his teeth. "You're not making this any easier. I can very well track you down and steal that antidote back!"

"With what time? By the time you even find me, both your loved ones will be dead." He ran his finger along the edge of the glass. "Quit stalling and just accept my offer."

"I said NO deal. You're giving me that antidote."

"Must I point out again that you're in no position to be threatening me? A thin sheet of magical reflective glass separates us. You can't lay any bodily harm to me, much less touch me." He carelessly tossed the antidote up and down in his hand. "I can transport this to you, but only when I'm given a reason to."

The thief narrowed his eyes. As much as he hated to admit it, he had him cornered. The count won't give him the antidote until he took up his deal. If he did, he gets it, but also becomes a part of his organization and ruin other peoples' lives. The last thing he would ever want to do was take away others' homes and force them onto the streets like him. One would say he could betray them, but he would very likely end up back in this waiting game with the count.

Threatening him won't work because there was nothing he could do to make him cough up the antidote. He clearly didn't care for his lower ranking members and said they were expendable. Finding his location and taking the antidote by force was not only nearly impossible, but a severe waste of time. By the time he found him, a funeral would already be planned for his mother and Cheri.

He crossed his arms and concentrated, trying to come up with a plan to swindle his way out of this predicament. The mob boss was clearly brilliant and intelligent, so playing up a ruse or trick wouldn't likely work. Trading won't work because he was obviously the only 'item' willing to be traded for. Money? The man was clearly living the high life. Any money he offered him was chump change.

Tony tapped his chin contemplatively. He used his brain to go over his target. Arrogant, but highly sophisticated. Intelligent, crafty, and clever. He has me pinned. I can't offer him anything or give something else of equal exchange. Let's see…he's also very crazy…or insane. Probably insane. He's a vicious murderer and has a sadistic mind. The Dewott held his head. Good grief, I'd have an easier time figuring out the murderer in a mystery novel.

Now he was wishing he didn't stop to fight Wes and the others. All they wanted was their key back. He could have done so and went on with his day. He wouldn't have to put up with this nonsense or this crazy count who would grin with glee at a bloody massacre…a bloody massacre of ORPHANS!

As he recalled the battle…an idea bubbled in his mind. Ella's advice was to take any means necessary to get the antidote back by his own merits. Use any trick or gamble he had at his disposal.

He was dealing with a man who loved violence and conflict. Bloodshed and destruction. Well…Tony may have found the weak spot in his tightly packed, fool proof plan. He may be a genius mob boss, but his sadistic behavior left one personal weakness that would make it impossible for him to refuse.

Aeternus sipped his drink. "So, dear boy, shall we stop this little game of ours and get on with it?"

Tony held his hips and chuckled, making the count raise a brow in curiosity. "Oh yeah…I think we should stop playing THIS stupid game." He smirked. "I'm proposing a new one that'll benefit us both."

Aeternus rubbed his chin. He didn't know what scheme was cooking in that mind of his, but he allowed himself to take the bait for his own amusement. "Oho! What are you proposing?"

A trade won't sway him. Money won't persuade him. Threats won't discourage him. There was one thing, however, that no madman as messed up and crazy as him could resist.

With his smirk growing, he asked, "How about a little wager?"

"The Four Heralds of Darkness?" Flint repeated, baffled by the new term never before introduced to the group. "I don't remember learning about them back in class."

Ella scratched her head. "Yeeeah, I'm drawing up a blank, too. I remember some of the major battles during the Grand Imperium Age, but nothing revolving around four heralds."

Jonathan sighed. "Well, this is news to me, too. These aren't details professors like to focus on for class. Heck, I've just now learned about this, showing WHY this is information best kept to curious and intensive readers."

"But who are they?" Wes asked.

"And why are they all named 'Harold'?" Gwyn asked curiously.

The three Eeveelutions, plus Jonathan, face-faltered at her remark. The professor stared at the Mew, completely baffled. "I beg your pardon, but…what?"

Wes chuckled sheepishly as he patted the naïve Mew's head. "Sorry, professor. She's been living on her own for quite some time and doesn't know a lot of things."

Flint placed his paw on Gwyn's shoulder and explained, "A 'herald', in the context of a person, is someone or something viewed as a sign that something is about to happen, whether it be good or bad."

"Ooohhh!" she sounded, then laughed. "That makes WAY more sense!" She deadpanned. "I should REALLY start skimming over that dictionary I have…"

"Y-Yes, well…" Jonathan cleared his throat as he continued to read out of the book. "You are correct, Flint, as these heralds weren't your typical messengers sounding for the arrival of royalty. No, they were harbingers, bad omens to the Pokémon, that disaster was around the corner. If a village, town, or city was greeted with their presence, they would face tragedy in the coming hour."

"So…they were the first wave of the shadow army?" Wes guessed.

"You're half right, my boy." Wes took a minute to pump his paw in the air in victory. "The heralds were a sign that the shadow army might come. However, they were simply meant as the Shadow King's enforcers of the land. With the war having just begun between the two sides, they served as a forewarning of their king's great strength and power."

"How so?" Ella asked cautiously.

"Remember that one shadow? The one who leads them for their king?" She nodded. "Imagine his power is the size of a fairly sized boulder. Not too big, not too small. Now…placed that boulder next to the largest mountain in the world, with that mountain representing the power of EACH herald."

Their eyes widened. "You have GOT to be joking."

"If I was, I wouldn't bother bringing this up. Compared to the shadow army, the Four Heralds of Darkness are the strongest of them all, only bested by one individual: the Shadow King."

Gwyn gulped. "Oh…Oh boy…"

Wes grinned uneasily. "I take it there's more to this than just a power gap, right?"

Jonathan narrowed his eyes. "Documented records of the four heralds."

"I was afraid you would say something like that."

The professor sighed, then scratched his head. "The Pokémon forces fought back against these four terrors, but their armies fell to their strength. While there was never a clear image of their appearance, one key bit of information was confirmed by a spy they sent to get intel on their next attack. He almost died getting his hands on this valuable information, despite its minor impact.

"The four heralds were ALL Pokémon."

Silence filled the room for a moment. The air went cold as the travelers stared into the crystal ball with disbelief. Several questions popped into their minds. Who were they? Why were Pokémon working alongside with the shadows? Why betray their own kind?

"I…I don't understand," Flint admitted. "Our own kind turned against us and became the Shadow King's knights or something?"

"Their motivation is unknown, as well as their true appearances. All the spy could confirm was that the heralds didn't possess the amorphous, ghostly appearance of the shadows. They weren't possessed, either, as the actual possession changes the Pokémon's outer appearance."

Gwyn scratched her chin. "Kind of like that Floatzel. His fur turned black and he had this skull tattoo on his face. He turned normal the moment the shadow was expelled from his body."

"Precisely, my dear," Jonathan confirmed, making the Mew smile happily. "The spy concluded that they willingly converted to the side of the shadows, giving up their mortal form to become followers of the Shadow King."

"So…who were they exactly?" Ella asked.

"Well, along with the spy's reports, there is documented records of these heralds. While names were never found, they were classified based on their tactics and positions on the battlefield. Might I say…these four were deadly in their craft." He turned a page and read off the first description:

"The Witch of Darkness. Witch Class: Ritualist and Spirit Summoning. This type of witch was known for capturing Pokémon and placing them in horrifying rituals that required a living sacrifice. This particular one specialized in making contracts with demonic forces, using her body as a medium to bridge the gap between the Underworld and the Mortal Realm. With her vast number of sacrifices and contracts, she can call upon various demons to aid her in battle, making her a dangerous and unpredictable foe. When the shadow army was not needed, she provided the army to tear away at Pokémon soldiers."

First of the heralds and, already, everyone was feeling uncomfortable chills. Not so surprisingly, Gwyn was the most terrified. She hid herself behind Flint's bushy tail. "W-W-Well, that's…really messed up…"

"No kidding," Wes agreed. "I knew witches were insane, but…actually sacrificing someone for a ritual? Now that's just wrong."

Jonathan sighed. "Trust me, there are far worse. That's just ONE witch class. There are multiple different types. Their methods are cruel and unjust, but they're also terrifying and formidable opponents when under the right circumstances. Now, the second herald…" He flipped to the next page:

"The Strategist of Darkness. Known primarily for his well-executed plans and maneuvers, this vile foe could outthink and fool the enemy lines with his numerous fake out strategies and well timed commands to his fellow heralds. He worked best from the sidelines, giving instructions on how to breakdown the enemy's weakness and beat them down until they're dead. Despite his position on the sidelines, witnesses who lived to tell the tale recalled the strategist going into battle himself. The witnesses described the scene as him…shifting and controlling the land, bending it in such odd and mysterious ways. One witness even believed he could turn his victims into dust simply by touching them…"

Flint narrowed his eyes. "So this guy was the brains of their four man teamwork?"

"From what I've read, he brought some of the brightest strategists to shame by breaking down their every move," Jonathan explained. "He was the most mysterious of the bunch, but his position as their strategist was well earned. It's what made him a feared threat during that time."

"I'm almost afraid to ask about the other two…" Wes admitted, a look of worry clouding his face. "Yet, at the same time…" He smiled brightly. "I'm actually quite interested!"

Flint sighed. "If course you would be…"

Jonathan cleared his throat. "Yes, well…continuing." He flipped to the next page:

"The Assassin of Darkness. Most notably one of the deadliest enemy assassins ever to be recorded in history. He successfully tracked down and assassinated generals and soldiers without being seen or caught. He was an elusive target, capable of avoiding enemy fire with little effort. His assassination techniques were considered brutal and horrifying. One instance of such deadly executions was when he assassinated Colonel Hemmingway, a respected Breloom who helped succeed in some much needed victories that pushed back the shadows' forces a bit enough to allow townsfolk to escape. He was found dead with all his bones slashed and shattered with no visible markings in the skin."

"An assassin…ooh boy, that sounds FUN!" Ella sarcastically cheered, giving a mocking fist pump in the air.

Gwyn raised her hand. "Uh…excuse me, M-M-Mr. Jonathan? H-How exactly did he…kill the colonel without breaking his skin?"

"I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. "Frankly, I'm still new to all of this myself. I'm sure they have medical records on the cause of his death and HOW it happened. It's not something they show off in textbooks." He sighed. "And last but not least, this brute." He read the final description:

"The Warrior of Darkness. A skilled swordsman and a dangerous tank. His purpose was to charge at the head of the army and mow down the enemy line efficiently and with deadly precision. Many Pokémon fought for their lives to kill this monster, but he was unstoppable. Records show that he wore a strange armor that bounced off all enemy attacks without placing a scratch against it. Studies from the decapitations he has done on his victims shows the great strength he carries behind his blade, affectively giving the enemy line an air of unease. He was the unstoppable tank meant to wear down the lines and push them back so his fellow heralds can finish the job. Oddly enough, there have been claims of Pokémon challenging the warrior to a duel, where he accepted with honor and respect. Some claims even state he fought without his armor, but no challenger lived to identify the man underneath."

Jonathan closed the book. "The Four Heralds of Darkness. These four were the Shadow King's harbingers of doom. Once the Pokémon saw what was coming, all that was left to do was pray to Arceus so that they could be spared."

Ella crossed her forelegs. "So…his four heralds were a witch, a strategist, an assassin, and a warrior." She groaned. "Good grief, as if nothing else would make this whole quest complicated."

Wes rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So…why tell us this? I get they're a major threat and all, but shouldn't they be dead?"

Jonathan shook his head. "I wish I could believe that, but…well, here comes the reason WHY professors refuse to talk about them. The thing is, despite the large gap in time, they are believed to be immortal."

Flint's eyes widened. "Say WHAT?!"

He nodded. "After their master was defeated, they likely disappeared from the public eye. They vowed to keep the mythos of the shadows alive. Their influence throughout Mysto history has led to the creation of the Shadow Cults, a group of Pokémon who worship the shadows and the Shadow King. While we don't know where they are today, they are very much alive."

"How is that possible?" Gwyn asked. "They're still Pokémon."

"They were Pokémon, until they gave up their mortality. Along with stripping themselves of their mortal forms, they were granted immortality and increased magical power. Their abilities are far too dangerous to take on in a head to head conflict, thus making them a danger to the public. They may have been lying low for quite some time, but there's no telling where they might be."

"You mean to tell us that, not only are we looking for a mystical item that grants the user reality warping power and being chased down by the shadows, but we also have to worry about what is essentially the Shadow King's secret service?!" Flint shouted.

The professor sighed. "I was afraid you would act like this." He narrowed his eyes. "While I do believe you can combat the shadows decently, fighting the heralds will mean certain death. I advise you NEVER fight them, no matter the stakes or circumstances."

"But how would we even know who the heralds are?" Wes asked. "They may not be mortal anymore, but they still have to be Pokémon, right?"

Jonathan nodded. "That is correct, Wes, and there is actually a way to identify them." He stepped out of view of the crystal ball for a moment before returning with a different book. "See this symbol right here?" he asked, pointing to the symbol for the Tribe of Shadows. "When someone gives up their mortality to the Shadow King, this symbol is place somewhere on their body."

Ella scratched her head. "Wouldn't the Shadow Cult members have something like this on them, regardless if they meant the king or not?"

"Very astute thinking, Ms. Cipher." He tapped on the symbol's pupil. "If you see this symbol on someone marked by the Shadow King, it will glow blood red from the eye contact. That is your ticket to knowing it's the real deal."

"I see…" Wes mumbled. "We need to keep an eye out for those guys."

"With any luck, being out of touch with their master for five centuries could mean they aren't aware of his rising. Or, at the very least, they've never made contact with each other." He closed his eyes thoughtfully. "Even so, it's imperative that you do not, no matter the circumstances, EVER fight these guys. We don't know what they're truly capable of doing if placed into a life or death situation. This would be nothing more than a game to them. If you posed a threat, though…" He opened his eyes. "I…I don't want you four to get hurt…that's all I'm trying to say."

Wes nodded. "We'll be fine, professor. Don't worry, we've made it out this far. We still have quite the journey to take, but we'll make it through."

Jonathan smiled. "I don't doubt you for a second, Wes." He looked to the others. "That goes for all of you. If you can see this entire ordeal through, we will never have to worry about the shadows again."

"Right!" they shouted, raising their fists.

Hal stepped into view of the crystal ball after exiting the back room. In his hand was a small blue book. He stopped in front of the ball and coughed, pounding his chest. "Ugh! Man, I need to clean out that back corner! It's dusty!"

"Did you find the antidote?" Ella asked.

He held his finger up, letting out the last of his coughing and giving his chest one last hit. Once he was under control, he stood up straight and said, "Aye, I did." He presented the book to them. "One of me old crewmen was a skilled potion maker. We've had our fair share of witch encounters, so he made it his top priority to write down the counter potions to their weaker curses. One of them so happens to be the Curse of Sickness."

Wes smiled. "That's great!"

Gwyn reached into her bag and pulled out a pencil and notepad. "Show me the recipe and I'll copy it down."

"Can do, lass." He held the book open to the recipe page. Gwyn wrote the recipe down quickly with her tongue sticking out. Her eyes darted back and forth with quick glances so she didn't have to stop writing. She wasn't really paying attention to WHAT she was writing, more so just copying down the text and symbols present on the page. She'll make a full analysis of what she needed once she finished transferring the details.

"Annnd…done!" She put her pencil away. "Thank you, sir!" She stepped away and began to analyze the recipe.

Hal tucked the book under his arm as Jonathan asked, "You sure she'll be able to get that antidote you need?"

"Yeah mates, I've seen that potion being made before. It's not an easy process," Hal added.

Flint nodded. "We're confident in Gwyn's skills. Like we said, she helped with the map. She can surely wrap her head around this."

Hal smiled. "That's all I needed to hear."

Jonathan narrowed his eyes. "And remember, do not engage the Four Heralds of Darkness in combat. Avoid them as best as you can."

Ella nodded. "Don't worry, Professor G., we got this ALL under control," she assured coolly.

He sighed. "I hope so."

Hal picked up the crystal ball. "We'll leave ye be. If ye do figure out the potion, make sure those two Pokémon get lots of bed rest. The after effects of the Curse of Sickness can leave ye weak kneed for a few days."

"We'll make sure of that. Take care, Hal. Goodbye Professor Geno," Flint said.

"Tell our mom we said hi!" Wes requested with a bright smile.

Hal nodded. "I will. Call back anytime." He tapped the top of the crystal ball and their image faded out.

Wes set the crystal ball down, then sighed with relief. "Good, now Angel and Cheri have a chance out of this."

"I knew you four were up to something." Wes, Flint, and Ella jumped in surprise and turned to Morgan, who was leaning against the stair railing. Gwyn was on the couch, minding her own business as she studied over the potion recipe. "Though I didn't expect something like this." He crossed his arms. "Four Heralds of Darkness, eh?"

Wes raised his paws and shook them wildly. "I-It's not what you think! We were just talking about…a fantasy novel!"

Morgan shook his head. "Can't fool me, boy. I heard every word."

Flint gulped. "Uh, well…"

"What's all this talk about shadows and a Shadow King?" He raised a brow. "Sounds to me you were talking about old history. Care to explain?"

The Eeveelutions looked at each other for an answer. Was it really wise to be telling this guy about their quest for the idol? Hal made it clear that this information had to stay under wraps from as many people as possible.

Morgan sighed, then fully stepped downstairs. "Listen, you three, you must have known full well that I could hear you from upstairs. You could have easily taken this conversation outside. Meaning, you weren't thinking…or you wanted as few people as possible to know about your little plan." He leaned against the front counter. "If it's something your concerned about, I need to know."

They took a moment to respond, as he was catching on. Discussing this outside could have led to panicking from the villagers. It may be a small village, but that type of information could spread fast across the Fire Zone, maybe even the whole region of Mysto.

Flint and Ella pushed Wes forward, much to his annoyance. He adjusted his hat and said, "Okay…so…we're kind of on this important quest that needs to stay quiet to the public. We can't have anyone knowing about it, especially about the item we're looking for."

Morgan nodded. "I see…and these…heralds you were discussing?"

"They're apparently warriors brought in by the Shadow King, the same Shadow King that attacked the land during the Grand Imperium Age."

Morgan narrowed his eyes. "And this item you're looking for is?"

Wes rubbed the back of his head. "Kind of secret. But…that key Tony took from us is REALLY important. We need ten of them to get the item."

He nodded. "I see." So, I was right. They're looking for the Idol of Origin. He secretly clenched his teeth. That would also mean the Shadow King is reviving his sealed away army…and planning to reassemble the heralds…crap.

"We found the map to it in our home village, so we've been traveling for quite some time. Little under a month."

"We're on our way to Scorch Grave City from here," Flint said.

Morgan whistled. "Scorch Grave, eh? That's almost a month of walking."

"We know," Ella said. "But the succession of finishing this quest is our top priority. So, we can put up with a little walking." She smirked and glanced at Gwyn, who was still absorbed into the potion recipe. "Well, most of us, at least."

"Tall order for you kids, don't you think?" Morgan asked. "Why would you risk your life over something like that?"

Wes narrowed his eyes. "If we don't, the shadows will get to it before us. They could doom the entire region, maybe even the planet, just so they can find the keys and the artifact." He then grinned cheerfully. "Besides, it's the adventure of a lifetime! Why would I turn down something as awesome as this?!"

Morgan smiled. He's definitely Garret's kid. He narrowed his eyes. Should I tell them about my involvement in all of this? If they're really part of that prophecy of Cielo's, it could put a lot of pressure on them. They know the risks and consequences if they fail, but knowing that the universe is counting on them to succeed…I'd faint if I had that news dropped on my head.

His eyes widened as Flint groaned loudly, slapping his forehead. "Gosh dang it! We forgot to get the key back from Tony!"

Wes patted his back. "Relax, bro. I'm sure he'll appreciate us helping his mom and sister out enough to give it back. Seems like a fair trade. Magical key for…two lives saved."

Flint narrowed his eyes. "You sure about that?"

"Still don't trust him?" Ella asked.

"I feel sorry for him, but…" He shook his head. "I-I don't know. Thieves always make me uneasy."

"Hey, it'll work out. Besides, the key's worthless out here. So he can't sell it," Wes reminded.

The Flareon sighed. "True."

"Okay!" They turned around as Gwyn rejoined the conversation. "I think I managed to wrap my head around this formula!"

"You think you can make it?" Ella questioned.

"Err, it's a little more advanced than what I'm used to…but I should be able to create it. Might take some time, along with LOTS of trial and error." She grinned at Flint. "And I'm going to need a lab assistant~!"

His eyes widened. "Oh crud…"

She hooked her arm around his neck. "Oh, don't worry, Flinty! The initial explosions only LOOK like they hurt!"

"Explosions?!"

"Come on, let's find some space to work!" She dragged him out of the building.

Morgan cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "You can work behind the building if that'll help!"

"THANK YOU!" Gwyn shouted back.

The remaining Pokémon glanced upwards as they heard coughing upstairs, followed by the sound of vomit hitting the floor. Morgan pinched between his eyes. "Annnd, Angel missed the bucket…again."

"Need some help?" Ella asked.

"I could use some extra hands…or paws. Follow me." He led them back up.

"A wager, you say?" Aeternus repeated, rubbing his chin with curiosity brimming from his eyes. They glimmered with delight. "How intriguing. What do you propose?"

Tony crossed his arms and smirked proudly. "Well, to be frank, you're treating this whole exchange like I'm worth something. You want me simply for my thievery expertise. That doesn't show you think highly of my talents. I'm much more than a thief. I'm also a skilled magic user and fighter."

Aeternus set his drink down on his armrest and folded his hands together, drumming his fingers against the back of his hand. "So you want to prove your worth?"

"I want to show you that I'm not a prize to be taken." He narrowed his eyes. "I'm challenging the Anguis Organization, all the members stations here in my village, to a battle."

"Ooh?" Aeternus sounded with delight. "Quite the weighty challenge, boy. You sure you don't want to think this over? In numbers, my men can be formidable."

Tony shook his head. "Nope, this will be an all-out stakes battle to settle this deal. It's a simple wager that we both can enjoy."

"I see." Aeternus grinned wickedly. "Any rules I should be wary of?"

Tony raised a finger. "One, this battle must take place outside the village limits. I don't want anyone getting hurt in the crossfire. Two, I expect ALL of your members to participate."

"And why is that?" Aeternus asked.

The Dewott glared. "It's to show you fools that your numbers don't frighten me. I'll gladly take on all of them if it'll get my point across: I may be a thief, but I'm no murderer."

"Noble, but I don't intend to lose." He grinned eerily. "Any rules against weapons?"

He shook his head. "Nope." He cracked his knuckles. "Not like your armory of guns will save them."

"I'll keep that in mind." He tapped his fingers together, leaning back in his chair. "So, what does the victor receive upon victory?"

Tony pointed at himself. "When I win, you'll give me that antidote without complaint. AND, I want your organization to be evicted from the village as soon as possible. They are to never set foot in this village EVER again."

Aeternus scratched his chin. "I see…and when I win?"

Tony stuffed his hands in his pockets, lowering his head. "IF you win, you give my family the antidote and I'll come along quietly. I'll join the Anguis Organization." He looked up with a determined glare. "But I WON'T lose!"

The Mr. Mime tapped his chin, thinking the bet over. "Hmm…I'm almost tempted to say yes."

"Almost?!" Tony yelled angrily.

Aeternus shrugged lightly. "Don't get me wrong, I'm more than okay with what I receive upon victory, but…it seems you get the better payoff in the end." He dangled the antidote in front of the mirror. "I was going to give you this antidote once you joined to begin with. You, however, are adding a bit more to your side of things. It's an uneven balance if you ask me."

"Are you saying you don't accept?!"

He bounced the antidote in his hand before tucking it under his sleeve. "Sort of. Unless you can provide me with a prize that balances out my side of things, we'll just have to go back to our previous negotiation." He grinned evilly. "Should I send roses to their inevitable funerals?"

Tony growled under his breath. "Okay…what do you want, then? Money? If so, I don't have much to give you."

Aeternus waved his offer off. "Please~! I'm already swimming in wealth. No offer of bits will satisfy me." He sipped his wine. "You'll just have to bet something else up."

Tony dug through his pockets in frustration. He didn't have ANYTHING significant to bet. Anything he could bet with was, sadly, burned up along with his freakin' house! Unless this crazy goblin like madman wanted a toasted fridge or charred wood, he had nothing of value to give.

His fingers did, however, wrap around something in his pocket. "Huh?" He pulled it out.

Aeternus chuckled. "What is it? Pocket lint?" He sipped his wine.

Tony examined the object, then sighed. "Nope." He dangled the glowing orange key. "Just this stupid thing I stole from some travelers."

Aeternus, uncharacteristically, jumped up in shock with his eyes bulging out, almost ready to pop out of his skull. He swallowed all his wine down the wrong pipe, causing him to cough harshly. He pounded his chest, trying to get his breathing under control. His Roserade maid hastily ran to his side and tried to calm him down as he flailed his arms in hysterics.

Tony, who had his back turned and, somehow, ignored the count's mad antics, spun the key around in his hand. "Not much I can do with this. It's completely worthless out here. You wouldn't believe how many people turned me down for this thing." He stopped twirling it and caught it in his hand. "I should probably return this to them. They're already helping out my family, so…"

Aeternus finally coughed out his drink and swallowed it down the right pipe. He breathed deeply with comedically large eyes. "Th…Thank you, my dear…" he acknowledged his maid. "That'll…be all…" She nodded and stepped away from him. He cleared his throat, adjusted his clothing, then grinned slyly as he stared at the orange key. "Actually, Sapienti, I've changed my mind."

Tony looked at him, baffled. "Wait, what?"

"Oh yes, I accept your challenge under their current parameters and winnings!"

Tony smiled in relief. "Really?! Haha! Great! In that case, we-"

"IF," Aeternus interrupted, raising his hand before pointing at the Dewott's hand, "you throw in that key for my table of prizes."

Now the thief stared baffled for completely different reasons. "You…changed your mind…because you want THIS?!" he asked, holding up the key. "I know you're mad and all, but have you completely lost it?"

"Not at all!" He smirked creepily as he leaned toward the mirror. "I've NEVER felt more sane! HAHAHAHA!" He cleared his throat, then said, "I happen to like the elegant shine and beauty of that key. Such a magnificent glow that I can't take my eyes off it." He chuckled. "It's the perfect wager."

Tony seemed rather unsure. In fact, dare he say he was flat out suspicious. Wes and his friends went out of their way to get this key back from him by any means necessary, even as far as fighting him. Now this guy wanted it all because it was shiny?

He gripped the key tightly. "Don't you have other trinkets that glow like this?" he asked with a suspicious tone.

Aeternus shrugged. "I have been labeled as an art collector in my time. What I see before me is art. Beautiful, amazing art." He licked his lips creepily, sending shivers up Tony's spine. "Such wonders waiting to be unfolded deep within that key."

"Oookay, don't want to know what ELSE you do in your free time." Tony glanced at the key again, before asking, "You'll seriously accept my challenge if I throw the key?"

Aeternus grinned toothily. "You have…my word." He laughed to himself.

Tony still found it strange how this loon changed his mind so quickly, over a dumb key. Something about his interest in it rubbed him the wrong way. Aeternus looked crazy, but he didn't look like someone fueled by greed. He may have to finally get some answers out of Wes and make him explain what's so special about this key that it's making a rich, insane count so giddy.

Even so, it was his only chance to getting a definite antidote. He was making a gamble, but he'll accept the odds.

He pocketed the key. "Alright…it seems we have a deal."

Aeternus clapped giddily. "Ooh, perfect! When shall we commence the challenge?" he asked.

"Tomorrow night. Give both of us plenty of time to prep." He smirked and glanced at the curtain behind him. The subtle shifting of feet told him the thugs were waiting on the other side, eavesdropping. "But I wouldn't hold my breath. I know pretty much all your tricks. Bring any weapon you like. I intend to counter it."

The count laughed. "I look forward to it. Until then…" He smirked wickedly. "Best of luck, Tony Sapienti."

Tony parted the curtains and exited the hut, pushing aside thugs.

Pinsir, Dusclops, and a few other thugs entered the room to speak with their boss. "Count Aeternus, sir," Dusclops started, "please forgive my ignorance, but…are you sure this was a wise decision? Sapienti isn't exactly an opponent we can simply gang up on. Plus he's far too fast to hit with our guns."

"Not to mention SOME OF US," Pinsir complained, "are in heavily injured states."

"Why would you risk our base of operations like this, sir? And why for some glass key?" the ghost asked.

Aeternus folded his hands together. "Do you all read up on legends?" They blinked in confusion. "Legends that have spread across countless centuries that it makes you…question the very nature of myth?" He chuckled lightly. "I've seen many, many things in this world and I never believed in legends. They were nothing more than fairy tales told by crazy people, and that's coming from me.

"But…a legend can sometimes take you by surprise and…show the world just how mad you really are." He grinned evilly. "Oh yes…that key will take me to new heights. It'll be the start of a brand new future molded in the image I was tasked to make!"

"What…do you mean, sir?" Pinsir asked cautiously.

Aeternus folded his arms behind his back, stepping out of his chair. "That is none of your concern for the time being. I suggest all of you prepare for tomorrow night. You have a battle to win in MY honor."

"But sir," Dusclops objected, "Sapienti is superior in magic and is far faster than any one of us. How could we possibly compete?"

The count grinned slyly. "Well, if it's speed that's giving us trouble, we'll just have to counter it with strength." He snapped his fingers.

"I'm not following," Pinsir blatantly stated.

His maid came to his side with a tray in hand. Sitting on top of it was a jar of black sludge. The thugs gulped as they saw the sludge violently thrash from within the glass. Aeternus, without hesitation, picked the jar up and annoyingly tapped on the glass, irking the sludge to attack where his finger was tapping.

He laughed cruelly. "Oh yeah, you're real agitated now." He twirled his finger in the air and created the yellow horizontal disc of smoke before setting the jar down. "This will assure our victory and give Sapienti a taste of my resources."

Pinsir laughed nervously, still quite unsure what he was planning. "And…what exactly is that?"

Aeternus turned towards the mirror as he tapped the jar, encasing it in a bubble. "Oh…why spoil the surprise? Besides, if I told you, you wouldn't be as willing to drink it." He flicked the bubble, making it ripple before popping into nothingness.

"Drink it…?" His eyes widened. "Wait, I have to drink it?! Me?!"

"Don't you feel honored?!" Aeternus asked, his voice turning demonic for a moment.

"Not when I'm being forced to drink something against my will! What even was that stuff?!"

Aeternus turned his back to them. "Boys, make sure Pinsir is restrained before he drinks the sludge. He's going to need time to adapt to some minor changes. He also might be slightly unstable when he wakes up."

"WHAT?!" Two thugs grabbed him from behind. "Hey, let me go!"

Aeternus grinned. "Don't feel ashamed, Pinsir. You've been through enough trouble as of this week. That little concoction of mine will liberate you from all your earthly woes. The pain you've felt, the limbs you have lost…they'll all vanish and you'll be transformed into something…greater!" He threw his head back in laughter, cackling at the sky.

"W-What does that mean?! I-Hey, let go! I said, no, I…AAAHHHH!" He was dragged out of the room.

Aeternus' mad laughter echoed through his hidden base and the Fuego Village base, his madness radiating throughout every inch of space that was within range of his malevolent voice. The spatial mirror rippled before his image faded away, with rings of his haunting laughter lingering after, striking an uncanny terror into the hearts of the thugs.