Kari's dreams stirred in her mind, a kaleidoscope of color and sound. The colors shifted from impressionistic strokes of light to a blurry lense. The sound, however, remained distant and muffled. Kari tried to regain her senses and hone in on the noise, but it was useless. No matter how hard she tried, the sound remained unintelligible as if her head had been trapped under water. While her focus was strained, she could faintly make out a table in front of her. She was sitting among a dozen silhouettes or more, yet no faces revealed themselves. Some were short, some were tall, some sprouted unique frames she had never seen before. A sound was echoing within her mind, which Kari still couldn't quite tune in to, but it sounded like a name. Over and over the voices chanted out to her, but she couldn't understand a thing.
"Ka-".
The noise ringing in her ears became clearer. Kari strained, reaching out with her mind.
"Kari…".
The voice was calling to her. Kari perked up, it sounded like Willow.
"Kari!"
Like a bolt of lightning, pain streaked across Kari's face. She jolted awake, the feeling of a slap stinging her cheeks. Kari was met with South, the medicham, standing in front of her. Behind South was Delli, who looked at Kari angrily. She must've been the source of the voice. "You're finally up mutt, shame I had to speak your foul name, hopefully it will be the last time I must do so," Delli goaned.
"Where's Willow?" Kari roared, lunging forward. She didn't get more than a few inches forward before chains sharply pulled her back into the wall. Kari frantically flailed about, trying to free her bound hands and neck. Nothing would budge.
"I wouldn't bother," Delli said with a grin.
Kari didn't listen. Her mind was focused on one thing, Willow, and she would rip the chains off the wall if it meant she could save her. Kari's mind searched through idea after idea, desperate to come up with some way to free herself from her bindings.
"I'm getting impatient, mutt, strike her again South."
Without a second of hesitation another blow impacted Kari's cheek at full force. Kari immediately went limp. Her vision blurred and her mind went numb as Delli took a step forward.
"It's time to listen. Willow is being pampered in my mansion. As long as you stay obedient and serve this coven well, she will continue to be treated with the highest respect." Delli raised a hand to Kari's chin, gently cupping it. "That means no escape attempts, speaking out of turn, or fighting back. Do you understand?"
Kari could only let out an incoherent mumble.
"Normally I'd be much more strict, but given that it's your first day here, I'll consider your answer tolerable. South will come fetch you for the ceremony later."
Delli then turned and left the strange shack, South in tow. Kari was in disbelief. Questions filled her mind. Where was she? What state was Willow in? Her thoughts wandered, but she couldn't find an answer in the dimly lit shack. She turned her head to both sides, scanning for information. To the left was the exit, where Delli and South left. Across from her were more sets of chains and ragged beds. To her right, a scarred absol was lying chained against a wall looking Kari right in the eyes.
The absol spoke first. "Do not let her break you. Fighting with your claws is useless, but your spirit can resist her."
Kari blinked. "What?"
"Surely she hasn't taken over your mind already? You looked promising, but I suppose I thought wrong".
"Who are you? Why am I here?" Kari croaked, tearing up.
"We're in the field behind the mansion. It's the storage room for Delli's servants, like you and I. My name is Juno. You are?"
Kari blinked away her tears. "I'm Kari. Do you know where they took my friend Willow? She's a braixen, she was with me when we got knocked out."
"A braixen? Delli was probably telling the truth for once. Psychic types are adopted into her coven, the rest of us stay here. Willow is likely in the mansion, and mostly unharmed."
"Mostly? I have to get out of here, she can't beat Delli alone. Please Juno, I have to save her-" Kari spoke frantically.
"I understand how you feel Kari, but there isn't anything you can do. Even if you got out of those chains somehow, you'd have to walk past a dozen other servants. Each one of those could snitch on you. Once you're out, there'll be a guard to deal with who will certainly raise an alarm before you get far. Best wait for the ceremony".
Kari took a moment to process it all. "There's more servants than just you and I?"
"As I said, about a dozen. They're mostly kept in the front and middle sections, depending on their 'behavior'. I say behavior, but the truth is that each and every one of them are brainwashed slaves to Delli."
"And what of the ceremony? Where am I being taken?"
"Best guess is they're going to bind you into a pact to serve the coven. That's when the brainwashing usually starts. Don't let it take you, I've resisted it for this long, so can you."
"How long have you been here, Juno?" Kari's eyes widened in fear. She didn't really want to know the answer.
"A few years", Juno muttered after a brief hesitation.
Kari broke down again, sobbing onto the floor below her. Juno stayed silent, giving her room to take it in. After a few minutes, Kari stabilized herself.
"Well then Juno, how do I get out?"
Juno stayed silent for a moment. After taking her time to think, she finally spoke up. "I have ideas. Not many, I know more plans that won't work than plans that will. I've tried rebellions, but the servants are too broken to turn against Delli. I've tried playing along, waiting for a chance to assassinate her, but she always gets a read on me before I can get close. Running won't work, she can track you down from miles away."
"Which leaves what options?"
"Waiting for our chance. She will slip up, we will just have to see when."
"I can't wait, Willow needs me."
"Look, Kari. Is Willow strong?"
"Very much, she's stronger than me."
"Is her mind strong?"
"Yes."
"Then don't worry. From what I know, Delli doesn't like to brainwash her coven. She tempts them with prvilllage and power. Willow just needs to play along, and so do you. If you can get her to trust you, then maybe we can find a chance to strike."
Kari didn't respond. She had no more questions to ask. Or at least none that would provide any meaningful course of action. She waited, chained to the wall, hoping for an idea to come. After a few hours of silence, something did come – South. She walked through the door straight to Kari and began unlocking the tether on her neck. To Kari's dismay, she left her hands bound.
"Come. The ceremony begins soon." South said bluntly.
Kari followed South out the door and into a new section of the cramped building. This area held bunk beds, dressers, and a few more chain posts. Kari's thoughts circled around escape. Could she find a way to take down the medicham with her hands bound? Kari begrudgingly dismissed the thought, even if she could beat South she wouldn't be in any state to save Willow.
The next door they went through took them into a much nicer part of the building. This part held individual rooms and beds, basic decor, and most notably, no chains. Kari assumed the sections were divided by the trust Delli had in each of the servants. The pair didn't stay long in this section either though, as South marched straight to the entrance solemnly. The two passed the threshold into the moonlight and into the field between the mansion and the servant quarters.
In the field were roughly two dozen pokemon, separated between the psychic types making up the coven and the servants. In front of them all was Delli and Willow standing by a large bonfire. Kari perked up at the sight of Willow's unharmed figure. South led Kari past the audience and beside Delli. At this point, Kari was certain there was no way she could take Delli down and survive with so many witnesses.
As Kari was paraded in front of the audience, the groups of pokemon began to focus their chattering onto her. She heard quips of several conversations. Some calling her fur beautiful and exotic, some calling her wild and threatening, and some just staring at her in fascination. Aa a zoroark, she was used to the attention. This time, however, the attention felt different. Once Kari took her place next to Delli and across from Willow, Delli caught the audience's focus.
"Hello everyone!" Delli said cheerfully to the crowd. "I know today is exctiting, it's rare we get to see a union between two members so soon after their arrival, but we must stay respectful." As she spoke, the crowd went dead silent. "Now, today we are both celebrating the admission of our newest member Willow into our coven, and her bonding. As Willow has already chosen her bondmate, we are going to have a double ceremony today!"
The crowd clapped and cheered. Kari couldn't make sense of it all. She turned to Willow for support, but she was staring off into the distance with a regretful expression.
"Now Willow," Delli continued, "give me your paw."
Willow obeyed while Delli lifted a small knife and held it against Willow's paw. Kari gasped as Delli quickly slashed Willow. Willow winced in pain and held in a shout. Delli put a finger onto Willow's wound, letting the blood pool around her. Once satisfied, she moved her finger over the fire and let a droplet of blood plunge into the flames below. The crowd cheered as the fire flashed blue.
Once the noise settled, Delli wiped the blood off of her finger with a rag. Next, she grabbed Kari's paw and sliced it open with the same knife from before. Kari let out a small yelp of pain as blood trickled out of the wound. Delli grabbed both Kari and Willow's paws and held them together for a few seconds. Then, she placed a finger and swabbed the shared blood. Delli moved her hand above the fire once more and let the blood drip into it. The fire roared with a white glow for a moment.
The cheering resumed. People were clapping, jumping up and down, some even crying with joy. Kari felt no cause for celebration, only a deep confusion and fear. People ran up to Willow, hugging her, congratuating her. No one approached Kari, except South, who stood a few feet away while glaring at her. Kari remained standing motionless until the crowd died down and parted ways. Some went to the servant quarters, and some, like Delli, returned to the mansion. Willow turned to Kari with tears in her eyes and locked her in a tight embrace and whispered in Kari's ear, "I'm sorry. I'm going to get us out of here, I have a plan you just have to play along".
Willow slid back away from Kari, and made her way into the mansion. South approached Kari and beconed her to follow, leading her into the mansion. South continued to take her through until they arrived at the same dining table she was at yesterday. Sat at the table was Delli, Willow, and a few other members of the coven.
"Sit," South commanded.
Kari sat at an empty chair across from Willow. South stood behind Kari, which she assumed was to prevent her from attacking. No one spoke until plates of food were brought to the table from the kitchen and in front of every member, even Kari. Once everything was in order Delli cleared her throat.
"Before we eat today, I want to congratulate you again Willow. You've jumped onto the opportunity to participate in our traditions. I see in you a limitless potential, and I'm so glad you found your way to us today," Delli said, smirking.
Willow nodded. Everyone began eating, and so did Kari, albeit cautiously. The food was as great as it was yesterday. Even still, Kari struggled to enjoy it. Every bite filled her with a growing anxiety and fear. Throughout the dinner many participants held their own brief conversations, or questioned Willow on her past life. Not one addressed Kari, but she knew better than to speak up herself. Once everyone's plate was finished Willow excused herself. She sat up and looked Kari in the eyes.
"Thank you everyone, but im tired out now. Kari, follow me to my room," Willow stated with an unfamiliar authority.
"Ah, wait a moment," Delli interrupted. "That mutt can't stay out of her cage tonight. She isn't house-trained yet, love."
Willows eyes widened.
"What do you mean? This is the deal we made. I'm only joining you if Kari stays with me at all times. What was the point of the ceremony if you seperate us?"
Willow's voice was growing louder, Kari could hear her choking back tears. A subtle anger bubbled in Delli's face.
"Your pet isn't trained Willow," Delli retorted with gritted teeth. "You may have bonded her to you, but she is not fit to stay in my mansion at this time. She will return to the quarters and once she proves herself you two will be reunited."
"You never told me that it would be like this!"
Willow started sobbing. The other pokemon looked between the two vixen awkwardly. Delli started picking up on the tension and attempted to de-escalate.
"Honey, honey, look. How about I give you two some private time alone. It is the night of your bonding after all, it's special. After you two are done, she goes back to the quarters. If she causes no trouble this week we will move her up."
Willow rubbed her eyes, considering the deal.
"Okay, thank you," Willow said with teary eyes.
"I'll have someone sent to pick her up later."
With that, Delli and the rest of the crowd departed, all sneaking off to their own corners of the mansion. Willow approached Kari and grabbed onto her wrist. She pulled Kari through hall after hall until they finally made their way to a quaint bedroom. Willow quickly shut the door behind her. Kari noticed there wasn't a lock, as expected. Once the pair were fully inside the room Willow wrapped her arms around Kari and buried her snout in her fur. Kari stood there in silence, holding Willow back. After the moment passed, Willow reluctantly receded from Kari's warmth. Willow looked up at Kari with teary eyes.
"Hi, Kari," Willow said softly.
"Hi Willow. Are you okay? Have they hurt you?" Kari responded, gently caressing Willow's fur on the top of her head.
"Yeah, I'm fine. They're crazy, but they don't want to hurt me. Once they knocked you out they made me join. No matter what I told them they wouldn't take no for an answer. They said they had you chained up somewhere, I had to play along. I'm so sorry-"
"No, don't be sorry," Kari interrupted. "We're doing what we have to do to win. We need to focus on taking Delli down. She has brainwashed pokemon everywhere. Once she's knocked out, we can free everyone."
Willow looked up to Kari with a soft smile, the first smile Kari's seen since they left for Driftwood.
"There's no opportunity to knock her out though. She's always surrounded by the strongest members of her coven. Plus, she knocked us out in one shot, remember?
"Which leaves us with a sneak attack."
"Hold on Kari, there's another way. We can sneak away and get help. The guild isn't too far."
"And leave the trapped pokemon here? No way. I can take her out, I just wasn't ready last time."
"Kari…" Willow spoke softly. "You can't solve everything with a fight. And I won't let you go back to the quarters just to get chained up again. We have to play it smart."
"Smart. Yeah, I get it, I guess. But under no circumstances will I run. Even if we do escape, I can't bring myself to leave anyone under Delli's control. Plus, she would send the whole coven after us the second we left the area."
"I get it. You're brave, way braver than me. I'll do everything I can to help. Delli should start giving us more time together. We can come up with a good plan."
"I'm not the brave one, Willow," Kari laughed. "And what do you mean, plan? I'm not waiting for a plan. I'm waiting for an opportunity. The second she lets her guard down I'll strike. After all, she's a psychic type. If I strike first, it's over."
"Kari, you can't be reckless! I won't let you die here."
"Relax, Willow. I know you're scared. I am too. That doesn't change the fact we have to try. She can't break me, no matter how hard she wants to try."
Willow grew frustrated. She turned away and sat on the bed and went silent. Kari's ears went warm as she thought of what she said wrong. She crawled onto the bed next to Willow and embraced her.
"I'm sorry Willow. I promise I won't be reckless. I'll take her down only when I have the best chance."
"Thank you Kari."
The two sat together, comforting one another for a few more minutes. Kari enjoyed every second of she could get, until a knock sounded on the door. Kari sighed, she knew her time was up. She walked to the door, took one last look at a teary Willow, and turned the handle. On the other side was South, who was once again silently staring, ready to walk her back to the quarters. The two went on in silence through the mansion. Kari kept her head down all the way out the building, through the yard, and into the quarters. She shuffled her way to the back room, with South following behind. Once she was in the deepest chamber, South chained her neck to the wall once more. When the medicham was confident the bindings were secure, she left.
Kari lied down and curled into a ball. There wasn't a blanket to sleep on, but at least there was a floor. Despite the desperation of the situation, the burning resolve to break out still warmed her.
"Welcome back," Juno said with her raspy voice. "I sense your spirit is still intact. How was the ceremony?"
Kari spoke gently while curled up, "I had no clue what was going on, but it didn't take long. They let me see Willow. She's doing okay."
"Oh? Did you two have a bonding ceremony already? Willow must be quite the clever girl then."
"You know about the bonding ceremony?"
"Oh sure, I know of every procedure that Delli made up. Delli might be horrible, but she has to play by her own rulebook. If not, her followers would lose faith. The bonding ceremony is when a member of the coven claims a servant as their own. That would give Willow the right to have you by her side whenever she pleases. Yet, you're still here somehow."
Kari took a deep breath in and thought about Juno's statement. If what she said is true, then Willow played along with Delli in order to keep Kari close.
"Delli said that I can't be trusted yet. That's why I'm still here. I have to prove I won't resist."
"Of course she said that. Though, she's not wrong. I can see your intentions from a mile away."
"Someone has to take her down," Kari growled.
"That's what I thought too. But if I can telll your goal clearly, she is able to as well. There's nothing stopping her from swimming around in your head."
"Aren't dark types resistant to mind reading? I'm sure I can shield myself just enough that she can't get a clear picture."
"I can't say you're wrong, I've been doing the same. Still, she will break in eventually."
Once Kari heard those words her eyes widened and her ears perked up. In that instant, she recalled why she came here in the first place. This all started because Kari needed Delli to probe her mind and find out what was wrong. If a gardevoir needed so much focus to probe a mind, Delli would likely need to do the same. If Kari could get her to enter her mind, it could give her the chance to strike Delli down.
"Juno, I have a plan. Well, kinda."
"... sure you do. Fine, let's hear it."
"I came here to have her look into my mind. It's a long story, but she thinks I'm cursed. If I can convince her to do so, her psychic energy will be focused on me alone. I can take her down then," Kari commented enthusiastically.
"That's it? Kari, how are you going to attack her? You'll both be incapacitated if I understand this right."
Kari pondered the question for a moment. "Um, well. You or Willow can attack at that time."
"Willow can't get her down in one shot. And who is going to unchain me?"
"Maybe Willow can. She could probably break those chains with her mind."
"And how do I get close to Delli? Your plan makes no sense."
"Well…" Kari thought about this one for a short while as she tried to draft a passable response in her head. "We can bring her here?"
Juno sighed. "Look Kari, if you can get her in here, distract her, and unchain me all at once, I will help fight her. I just don't see it happening though. Why would she bring Willow with her anyway? Why would she do it here? There are too many variables to rely on your plan."
"I get it, you've tried everything you can too, and you're still here. Regardless, I also have to try my best. If it fails, I'll try something else. And I'll keep on trying until something works."
"Have it your way. I wish you luck."
With that the room fell silent. Kari slowly drifted into a deep slumber. Her dreams were invaded by thoughts of defeating Delli. No matter what, Kari swore to herself she would take Delli down.