A lot of emotion in this one.

The Tale of Twin Hearts

(Chapter 3) Into the Abyss

[Page 4] Find Him...

No where we went, no matter how fast we ran, she was always behind us. Shortcuts, behind trees, over gaps large and small, she was there.

Out of everything we went through from that point onward, the Gardevoir transforming into that abomination was the scariest and most unsettling thing. No Pokemon should ever be able to do something like that, and yet, there it was. Cackling, hunting us down. Getting ever so closer.

Every time we thought we got away form that thing, it was always manages to find us.

The shadows of leaves from the moon casting it's light through the openings in the woods seem to shift the moment she got near; That's how we knew to keep running. It's also how she found us. Any shadow she passed by seemed to transform and try to grab us any chance it got. Thankfully, it never did.

Getting impatient with the situation, I decided to address the Donphan in the room.

"May, what the living heck is that!? Who is Satchel? And why does she know you so well? We need answers here!"

"Now is not the, dear. Keep running!" She panted, scanning the woods for place where we could find safety. I know we were in a dire moment, but I also wasn't having it with the secrecy. I was already tired of it when Chatot pulled that same stunt.

"The heck, it is! You obviously knew that thing back there and now Pumpkin is missing. We want to know what made her decide to come after us. You owe us at least that!

May went quiet for a moment. Quickly she pulled us behind a large tree, covered our mouths. The Gardevoir, with her Ariados-like appendages, crept slowly past the trees we were hiding. Seeing her lifeless eyes and twisted, serpent-like tongue hanging out her mouth with black liquid dripping from it made me want to scream, but May held on tight. It was apparent she was blind, but had ways of sensing her surroundings. When the thick liquid pour out onto the ground from her mouth, the shadows of trees and bushes suddenly came to life, turning into what look like tentacles. Whenever it touched something, she would turn in that direction. The moment I saw it, I started shaking, not wanting to find out what would happen if it reached our shadows.

As she approached our location, May with quick thinking, kicked a stick across the wooded area as it landed with a *snap!*. The nightmarish Gardevoir hissed and charged in that direction. As she left, the shadows around us turned back to normal, but May continued to hold on to us, breathing heavily.

"...Her name is Satchel. Her, A friend of mine, John, and I were all adventurers centuries ago, back when the Human world and Pokemon world were connected," She whispered. "May was such a sweet Kirlia. Always practicing new moves and inventing ones that no one has ever heard of. We were such great friends...at least until May betrayed us during our final mission together, siding with the Pokemon we vowed to defeat. Despite what happened, John and I succeeded but we went our separate was after Satchel was banished. There were times over the years I would run into her and we would fight for hours on end until one of us retreated. We would train ourselves to find ways of defeating each other. Now that she's evolved, It looks like she finally bested me.
May looked over to the left side of her body. For a while, I thought she was whole again after transforming until I realized she was still missing a hand. I guess when those feathers melted off of her, it was permeant, unlike the gash the Gardevoir created from earlier which miraculously healed itself.

"It's been years since I've last seen her, but one thing I can tell you is that move she used to become that thing isn't foreign to me nor John. She'd been perfecting that move for a long time. A move that, if she used it, would kill her after a while, but anyone who touched the liquid coming from her body would eventually die. I can't believe such an innocent girl such as herself would turn into such an monster...
Dears, I gave my word to my mistress that I'll make sure you'll make it to your destination my any means possible and never turn back from a promise."

Finally, May let go of us and set us down on the ground. "Knowing these woods, your friend might be along the path near the heart of the woods. The more you fight your way towards the exit, the closer it takes you towards the center, trapping you. Find him and get out of here, quickly."

"B-But, what about you?" Miya said, concerned.

"I'll hold off Satchel until you all escape. I won't be coming with you."

"What!? Why!?" Miya questioned. Realizing she raised her voiced a bit too loudly, a loud hiss followed by sinister laugh filled the woods. She was coming.

"There's no time for any more questions! Just Go!"

"But-"

"GO!"

Taking out her sword, May swung the flat part of it towards us, blasting a gust of wind so powerful, it lifted us off our feet towards a clearing that looked like the exit. As we got near it, our vision shifted and the area became more dense than before, just as she said it would. Looking back, the nightmarish gardevoir began charging towards us until May stepped in front of her and slashed at her, cutting one of the legs. Immediate, the appendage grew back, only causing the Gardevoir to grow angrier. Seeing this, May raised her sword up to the moonlight. Just as she did, the sword began glowing and she took another slash at one of her appendages, cutting it off once more. This time, I didn't grow back. The Gardevoir's horrific face to twisted in bewilderment.

"Alright Satchel, It's time we settle this once and for all."

I wanted to stay and watch, but Miya frantically tugged on my arm, yelling "Come on! We need to go!". She was right, there we no time to waste. May was giving us the opportunity and we needed to take it. After I scrambled to my feet, we headed towards another clearing in the woods, leaving May behind.

The woods seemed to change ever so often the further we went in. One moment there's a clearing, the next moment, denser, darker trees loomed overhead, even though we rarely changed directions. The place was like a maze, but it was surprisingly called "Home" to the Pokemon that lived here, and rightfully so. Murkrows, Haunters, and even the occasional Drowzee could be spotted as we cut sharply passed trees and bushes. What wasn't a surprise was that none of them attacked us. They didn't want to be caught and neither did we. It was already bad enough that I was tired, hungry, and had short legs with unusually big feet. It's a mystery how I was able to outrun the Gardevoir the first around.

Continuing deeper into the woods, the sound of shrieking and hissing, followed by an occasional explosions sounded itself in the distance. Was May alright? Was she winning? I couldn't help but to feel worried, but we had our own to find. As my mind raced, thinking about all the things that has lead up to this moment, I heard Miya gasp before suddenly outpacing us. Looking past her, I saw a bright blue and yellow Pokemon slowly limping along the path, breathing heavily. It was Pumpkin.

Noticing him too, both Lave and I raced towards him, following Miya. Once we got to him, we noticed there was very something off.

"PUMPKIN!...P-Pumpkin?" We stood and watched as he continued limping passed us. Confused, Miya tapped him, but nothing happen, not even a wince. Miya tapped him again, still, nothing. It wasn't until Miya grabbed him that he jumped and started hyperventilating, looking around frantically with sparks flying off of his body until suddenly collapsing a few moments later. Catching, him Miya held him in her arms. He was unconscious, but his eyes were still open. He was also barely breathing. Chills went down my spine as I looked into his eyes. They were pitch black, the same way the Gardevoir's was. On his body, a dark patch was slowly spreading to the rest of his body. There was no doubt about it, Pumpkin came in contact with the liquid. Miya started to sob.

"...This is all my fault. I should have looked after him, just like I said I would, but no...I didn't... and now he's dying. I should've never made this team..."

"No, he shouldn't have ran off like that. It's his own fault!"

"NO IT'S NOT! We didn't look after him!"

"Who would look after a Shinx as useless as him?! He hasn't done anything since joined you three! Besides it wouldn't be the first time I've seen someone just up and leave."

At that moment, I was already on thin ice with Lave, but after hearing him say that, my blood started to boil. "We might as well cut our losses and forget about him! Honestly if it wasn't for him running off-"

"No." I said cutting Lave off. "If it wasn't for YOUR HOT HEAD charging at the Gardevoir, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS MESS! You've done nothing but sit and COMPLAIN. "

Without giving him a moment to speak, I shoved him, knocking him into a nearby tree. My hands began covering itself with ice. All I could feel was anger and resentment, resentment of the fact that my own friend, my long lost friend who I search high and low for YEARS to turn out to be such a heartless piece of crap. During those years, all I could think about was us being together again, enjoying ourselves like we use to. All of that is gone. At that moment, I no longer who him. All that anger I had started welling up inside me until it became painful and bitter. Slowly my vision started to fade. Then, without warning, small fragment of memories fill my mind as I stared Lave down...But those memories weren't mine. And lave? Was that even him Infront of me? Further and further as my vision kept fading away, every time I blinked, the Ralts, now angry with his fist covered with flames, kept changing. One moment it was him, the next moment I was in the air, face-to-face with another Pokemon, clashing swords. Who was it? Thunder and Lightning struck around us as I held my position, unwilling to yield. Fire covered the ground as muffled cries filled my ears. Waves of different emotions mixed in with the anger until I was suddenly crying. I couldn't explain it. As my vision nearly went away and as I prepared my final strike, a sudden cry sharply filled my ears.

"STOOOOOOOOP!"

Suddenly my vision came to. The anger I once felt, gone. The resentment, gone. The memories, vanished. Blinking, I looked over at Miya. She looked at us horrified, almost as if she came face to face with her worst nightmare. Around us, trees were on fire, bushes frozen solid. Looking over at Lave, a sword was held up to his neck; mine as well. In a flash, the weapons fade away like petals in a breeze, leaving nothing behind. Awkwardly we looked away from each other. There was so questions yet nothing to say. Miya spoke for us.

"What...the heck...was that...? You two looked...different. And the swords...what the heck are you two?"

"I-I don't know what happened, all I remember was-"

SCREEEE!

That sound. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Without another word, Miya threw pumpkin over her back and yelled "RUN!" as a flaming tree went sailing passed us. Leaves and debris flew into the air until suddenly large disfigured abomination launched itself at us, narrowly missing as it slams into a tree, toppling it over. I thought that thing couldn't get any worse, but I was horribly wrong. Whatever May did to her, it showed as the Gardevoir's shadowy body was missing most of it's appendages, but enough to move. Cuts littered the body causing more dark-shadowy liquid to drip from it. As for her face? still as ugly as ever as she shrieked and laughed. It felt like I was in a nightmare. I had to been in one. there was no way I wasn't.

"Fiola and Des, ALIVE! THEY'RE STILL ALIVE!"

I didn't look back, there was no reason to. Scared for my life, I continued running, keeping my eyes on Miya as she guided the way. All I could think about at that moment was getting away from that monster and May, poor May. What became of her? I couldn't bring myself to think about it.
Just as soon as our surroundings changed, Miya immediately run towards what looked like the center. Slowly, the trees above started to give way to more moonlight. The glow of fire, the same fire we were once encircled by, slowly fade. Before we knew it, a clearing was up ahead. Our way out.

"We're almost out! Just keep-AHHH!" Looking back, the abomination had grabbed Miya by the leg, throwing Pumpkin off her back and onto the ground. In a panic, Miya repeatedly kicked the Gardevoir's Ariados-like leg in attempt to let her go, only to be slammed straight into a tree, knocking her out cold. Before I could charge forward, Lave grabbed me by the arm, keeping me from getting any close.

"She'll grab you too! There's no reason to put yourself in danger!"

"MIYA IS OUR LEADER! WE NEED TO SAVE HER!" I yelled, trying to get him off of me.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the appendage that was holding her up was suddenly cut cleanly in two. Infront of us, a glow feather-like steel sword was firmly planted in the ground. IT WAS MAY'S! SHE WAS ALIVE!

As Lave and I picked up Miya and Pumpkin, May walked passed us and pulls her sword out of the ground. She was covered in metal-like gashes with part of her metal dress scorched and covered in black tar-like liquid. Despite how she looked, she managed a smile.

"I see you've found him, but looks like he's in bad shape. Go, take him out of here and head towards the hill. You're not too far from your destination. I'll deal with Satchel once and for all.

Without debate, we threw Miya and Pumpkin over our shoulders and headed out the woods and for the hill. As we ran, my ears suddenly picked up May's voice, almost as clear as day.

"I'm sorry you all, I wasn't able to fulfill my duty in full, but I'm glad I was able to meet you all. Please, whatever you do, Find John and tell him I'm sorry for everything and that I couldn't save her. Stick with him and he'll show you the way. Don't fall for the lies and deceit of the ones watching. Trust your heart and let it be your guiding light!"

Behind us, a bright aura engulfed the area. Looking I watched as May raised her sword up once again complete shrouded in light as the Gardevoir hissed at the sight of it. Before the Gardevoir could lunge at her, she stabs the ground and the light collapsed in on itself then-

*BOOM*

Despite how far we were, the explosion threw us forward. My head spun as I laid on the ground. My ears rang and my vision started to blur. I had no energy left in me to continue moving. Before I knew it, it all faded to black.