Chapter 70: Apologies

Shadow had left Pyre alone with Chansey days ago, despite how he looked the Darkrai was worried for the Charmander.

But now he had more important things to worry about.

"We've managed to gather all of the survivors of your wrath." Kecleon stated, bowing to Shadow. "But I'm…our trackers brought more news of your partner…."

"And?" Shadow gave a patient tone.

"Those humans exiled him from that false paradise…." Kecleon was hesitant. "And has since been captured by a human. Though the last anyone saw they were separated. One of our scouts….died…" Kecleon looked sad.

"How did it happen?"

"According to our scouts a monster devoured them, flames bursting from it's body and limbs, it flew through the air… they said it was a terrifying sound, and a worse sight, this beast, shaped like a human rocket….it tore one of our scouts apart."

"Shaped like a rocket you say?" Shadow was curious, but his body was tense. "And what of Blade?"

Before kecleon could continue a familiar voice called out. "That beast, was called Celesteela." Shadow turned to see a blue haired man in a long white coat.

"Lyte? What brings you here?"

"Well, I see rumors of your death were a bit exaggerated." Lyte said as he examined Shadow more closely. "Though judging by how you carry yourself something did happen."

"Too much happened. But for now, what happened to Blade?" Shadow believed the human had answers, he'd been working for Aether after all.

"Well, that's a story that I'd rather not tell, but you'll find out regardless." Lyte stepped back from Shadow. "From what I saw, from hacked security footage. Blade snapped." Lyte didn't hesitate to continue. "One second he was sitting by the artificial lake in Aether Paradise, quiet, broken, empty. Then a few pokemon approached him. Tried to cheer him up and help him. He slaughtered them. From what I saw his face was twisted in a sickening pleasure when he did it….but there was nothing in his eyes, it was as though…"

"He was empty inside." Shadow finished the thought for him.

"Yeah, so Lusamine had him thrown out of Aether for the safety of the other Pokemon." Lyte looked sad. "I was fired just before then. She found out I gave you information on those trainer's and decided I had no place in Aether for endangering them and their pokemon. Even though she had you working with Aether."

"That wretched woman is of little consequence to me." Shadow spoke plainly. "Though I am sorry to hear you lost your job with Aether. Now, tell me about Celesteela."

"Unfortunately I don't know much, it was listed as an ultra beast in Aether's database. And in all honesty had I not known what it looked like before, I wouldn't have been able to recognize it. I am happy to say, that it failed to kill a Sneasel recently."

Shadow sighed in relief.

"But Shadow, you know Aether is looking for you right?"

"Looking to finish the job no doubt." Shadow said coldly. "It matters not. They could never do the job themselves. It took several battles and constant strain before I was weak enough for that lowly bitch Zacian to defeat me." Shadow seemed suddenly irritated.

"Shadow, I know you're busy, I'm sure you intend to find Blade, but I need your help."

"I feel Blade may be better off without me, so until I feel otherwise I will not be returning to him…" Shadow sounded, sad by his words. "What do you need?"

"That boy that you were following, Ash, he and his pokemon are in danger." Lyte hesitated a moment waiting for Shadow to lash out in anger. He never did, he waited patiently for Lyte to continue. "The reason you were dispatched originally was to find the pokemon Cosmog, hidden among one of their pokemon. Aether has narrowed down the list, they know it's one of his pokemon, and I don't know how they intend to extract Cosmog from within, but something tells me it isn't going to be safe for them."

"It's almost humorous, you were fired for helping me knowing fully well I intended to torture one of them to death, but this is drawing the line?" Shadow asked simply.

"That was different, that was a pokemon and a pokemon pitted against each other over personal issues….this, this is a human putting a Pokemon's life, several pokemon's lives on the line for her own personal gain. That I can't abide."

Shadow looked stern for a moment. "Kecleon" he addressed his minion. "I have a new, very important mission for you." Shadow turned to Lyte. "And you will be a part of it." The Darkrai grabbed Lyte by the coat and began tearing it in places. "You will return to Aether, with a group of homeless, abandoned pokemon, and beg them to give sanctuary." He turned back to kecleon. "You will bring the entire cult. And you will follow him to whatever Aether facility he chooses. From then on, you are to sow the seeds of chaos, convince the pokemon within that they are prisoners, and then, when the time comes, when Lyte tells you to. Riot."

"Shadow?" Lyte looked at him.

"This is a longshot, but it's all I can do, Aether cannot confirm I'm still alive, the idea alone scares them, but we need to ensure they never know for sure." Shadow hovered away. "Now, I must go." He floated further away, taking a moment to probe Kecleon's mind for the location of his previous victims. He prepared to leave.

"Shadow, wait…." Lyte was hesitant. "Cleave is alive. I don't know where, but I know he is alive, and he's in the care of someone Lusamine holds dear. A boy named Gladion." Lyte lost his serious tone for a moment. "I stole a lot of information before I left! Wow!"

Shadow gave a swift nod and left, bursting forth into the sky.

*Later*

Shadow found himself on an island, a rather familiar one. He doubted kecleon had brought them here on purpose. He hovered down the path along the coast, taking several twists and turns until he saw it, a large treeline, almost circular in shape, tainted with an almost nightmarish black smoke.

"I haven't been here since my first memories…" Shadow stood still for a moment. "New Moon Island." After a moment's hesitation he made his way inside, toward the island's center.

Once he arrived he found several dozen assorted pokemon. Charmeleon, totodile, Sneasel, mightyena, mamoswine, and Meowth to name a few.

Shadow halted himself as he saw them all suddenly filled with fear and anger, ready to defend themselves. Shadow, seeing their faces and only now fully understanding them, felt shame, and self loathing fill him.

"The monster!" He heard one small totodile shout as he hid behind Charmeleon.

After a few threatening and hurtful comments Shadow lowered his body, then his head to the ground, bowing to the group of pokemon completely. After a moment he lifted himself back into the air. And he spoke. "I am, aware of how you all feel about me."

"Fuck you!" One voice from the crowd called.

It was followed by "You sick twisted bastard!"

"And you have every right to feel that way." He continued slowly. "I've recently felt something similar, but nowhere near comparable in magnitude." He hesitated. "After experiencing a mere inkling of that which I gave you….I wish I could take it all back."

"Liar!"

"Bullshit!"

"Shut it ya cock knob!"

Shadow gave a frown. "I am…sorry"

The sudden roar of angry hateful statements struck Shadow hard. And yet he did nothing to stem the tide of their hatred.

"I can do nothing to change that which I've done to you all." Shadow stated sadly, tears welling into his eye. "I'm not asking forgiveness, we all know I don't deserve to be forgiven."

"Damn right you don't!" The Charmeleon called out. "You killed my big brother!"

"You took my daughter from me you bastard!" Another voice called out.

Finally that small totodile spoke up. "You took mama and papa away…"

Shadow fell to the ground at the child's words. "You deserve more than an apology. I've felt only a fraction of your pain, and that little bit has shown me so much, that I deserve no less than I gave, so…" Shadow pulled himself up hovering to the center of the opening. "Take your veng….no, take your justice. Though you may not forgive me…" Tears streamed from Shadow's eye. His mind on Blade and how he'd let the poor sneasel down, how he'd hurt Blade more than anyone else by failing to save him. "I beg you, please understand that, if I could, I'd give my life to bring them back. It may not bring them back, but if it helps you, you may destroy me, make me suffer, I will do nothing to stop you." Shadow landed in the center.

They all stepped back, except the child totodile. He stepped forth standing in front of the darkrai. "Do you remember my mama and papa?"

"I am sorry little one, but no, I do not." Shadow's tears landed before the water type.

Totodile hugged Shadow.

"What the hell are you doing!"

"Don't hug him!"

"He killed your parents!"

Totodile shook his head. "No…mama and papa always said not to hate people, even if they hurt you, because…" he looked at Shadow, straight into the sorrowful red eye "they could be hurting more than you." He hugged Shadow. "Mama and papa would want me to forgive you, so I do."

"Your mother and father, were very good parents….you should hate me" Shadow spoke his deep voice breaking "I don't deserve forgiveness."

"No you don't, if that kid won't end you, I will!" Charmeleon yelled stepping up.

"Noooo!" Totodile yelled standing between them. His childish innocence only making Shadow feel worse. "He isn't bad anymore!"

"Kid he's taken almost everything from all of us, so we don't believe he isn't bad anymore." Sneasel called out. "He slaughtered my entire family! Everyone I loved!"

"You can't see it?" Totodile asked looking around. "I remember him, when he took my parents he had this glow to him a really dark angry red, but now" totodile smiled at him "it's calm, and lighter."

"I see it" another pokemon called out, a Lucario. "His aura, that's what you see, And it has changed. He has changed."

"That doesn't change anything, he still killed so many! It doesn't matter if he's a better person now, it's too late!"

Shadow looked around, not for sympathy. "Which is better, to be born good. Or to overcome ones evil through overwhelming effort?"

They sat silent, most of them swayed by the child's words. The rest following the Lucario's.

"I forgive you, mister Darkrai, even though you hurt me, because you were hurting too."

A child's innocence, having that made Shadow feel better. "Thank you, but you don't have to."

"Look, we aren't going to kill you, but we won't forgive you, some of us might, but you've taken too much from us."

"As I said, I don't want your forgiveness, I don't deserve it, I just wanted you all to know that, if I could change the past, I would." Shadow floated into the air. "If you'd like I can assist you all in returning home."

"Better than nothing."