A few days had passed since Aries had "talked" with Dante. Since then, Dante had been secretly training Takuya on how to control his Shadow State: How to call upon it, how to channel its power, and how to use it sparingly and keep Aries contained. Takuya wasn't sure how it all worked, and he couldn't really understand a lot of what Dante was referring to right away. Takuya had an especially difficult time figuring out one piece of advice: Harness your rage, and coexist with your persona.
The only ones who really knew about this secret training was Avery, Kasi, the other Balancers, and the legendary Pokemon that were keeping an eye on all of them. Other than that, this training was kept hidden from everyone else, even the professors.
Takuya walked up to the lab with Dante after another training session, walking past Mewtwo, Mew, Oak, and Giovanni.
"Just what is it that you are teaching him that we can't?" Mewtwo demanded, patience thin.
"Something vitally important, Mewtwo. That's all you need to know right now." Dante said.
"I don't buy it." Giovanni growled. "And lately, me and Mewtwo have not been able to agree on anything, but this is a clear exception. Just what are you up to? You don't even share your thoughts on this with Mewtwo, or the other psychic Pokemon-"
"For the last time, Giovanni: Drop it!" Dante growled, giving Giovanni a leer. "That is the last time I'm going to tell you."
"But-"
"Mew!" Mew hovered in front of Giovanni's face with tiny arms folded, giving the human a clear look of irritation that got him to shut up.
Mewtwo tried again to probe Dante's mind, but didn't have any success. Dante's psychic powers, as well as his skill and resolve made breaking into his mind nearly impossible. It was like trying to break through solid granite.
"Why are you keeping this hidden?" Mewtwo asked quietly through his psychic link.
"Because I'm trying to keep everyone safe." Dante replied. "Takuya has revealed an ability and power that requires meticulous training and practice to maintain and keep under control. If he doesn't know how to control it, Takuya would be even more dangerous than you."
"I see. You are afraid that the humans would reject Takuya and his friends if he revealed this… Power, and lost control of it." Mewtwo deduced.
"They wouldn't just be shunned by humans, Mewtwo." Dante said flatly as they both hovered into the lab. "Pokemon would shy away from all of them as well. They would be left alone, and helpless in this world. They wouldn't have anyone else to turn to, and that would make them even more venerable to Team Midnight."
Mewtwo was now even more confused. He was about to ask just what made these Pokemon-Human splices so dangerous when there was a loud explosion from outside!
# # # # #
"Seviper! Poison sting!" Jessie yelled.
"Carnivie! Assist with Bullet Seed!" James yelled.
"Volt Tackle, Pikachu!" Ash cried out.
"Quilava! Hold 'em off with Flame wheel!" Tyler shouted.
At the moment, all of the trainers and Team Rocket members were trying to fend off a surprise attack by Team Midnight, being led by Reaper and Sparta! Trisha, Mary, and Arkham were having Venin, Avery and Kasi hunker down inside the lab if Team Rocket and the trainers failed! So far, the resistance to the assault was failing!
Sparta then fired a Hyper Beam from his mouth, cutting through the remaining grunts in their way! Jessie, James, Ash, Tyler, and their Pokemon barely had time to jump out of the way, and were hurled by the force of the shockwave several yards apart!
"Sad. I expected more." Sparta sighed.
Suddenly, a Fire Blast appeared out of nowhere! Sparta and Reaper barely had time to dodge the fiery blast's explosion as it impacted the ground!
"You want more?!" Takuya yelled, jumping in front of them from atop the lab's roof. "Well, you're gonna get more!"
Takuya then triggered his Shadow State, right in front of everyone! His body was engulfed by the purple aura once more, but his eyes remained the same!
"The Shadow State?!" Sparta exclaimed. "How in the hell has he learned to harness that power?! Master Denzel said he wouldn't be able to control it!"
"He had a little help." Dante said, walking out from behind one of Team Rocket's jeeps. "Be warned: Back away now, or end up in a helluva lot of pain later."
Reaper and Sparta quickly got their bearings. "Very well. Show us what you have learned, Takuya!" Reaper challenged, extending his bladed claws.
"I won't disappoint you!" Takuya then charged at them, full-tilt! Sparta was completely caught off-guard by Takuya's speed, and strength! After a rapid series of punches and kicks, Takuya used both hands balled-up and slammed Sparta hard in the stomach with an Axe-Handle hit, sending the Machamp splice flying through the air and into one of Team Midnight's Hummers!
Reaper quickly went on the offensive, but immediately had to fall back on defense from Takuya's speed and power! After managing to block most of Takuya's hits, Reaper slipped up: He stumbled backwards on a bolder, leaving himself wide open! Takuya did not show any quarter, no waste any words! He slammed his fists into Reaper's gut a few times before clothes-lining the Scyther Splice in the nose! Reaper's body spun around a few times in the air before he landed flat on his stomach, blood running from his nostrils.
"Wow! Go, Takuya!" Kasi cheered.
Takuya paused for a moment, looking over Reaper and Sparta. "It's unbelievable." He whispered. "The strength… The power… I could have ended all this before it even started! Why did I hesitate to use this? Why didn't I just break out with the Shadow State before?"
(Is it not obvious?) A voice echoed in Takuya's ear, followed by splitting pain through his head. (You were afraid.)
Takuya fell to his knees, gripping his head as he grimaced loudly from the pain. "No…! Not again…!" His aura began to spike and surge, as he struggled to keep it under control, Aries now fighting against him for control and power.
(Oh, Takuya… You are so naive.) Aries whispered in Takuya's ear. (Did you really think you could just keep me locked inside forever?)
"No! I'm… Not letting you… Take over!" Takuya growled, shutting his eyes tightly. "Get out of my head…. GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
(Quit resisting me, boy!) Aries snapped. (You are in the fight of your life, facing down two opponents that out-class you in your original, fragile state! The state you are in when you are not using my shadow energy!)
Takuya then felt one of his eyes open against his will, as Aries forced him to look at his battered opponents. (Reaper and Sparta... Just look at them… Such idiots! They continue to follow that twit, Denzel, without question! They do not have a drop of willpower in their souls… I can help you fight them… Let me out, and I will tear them apart limb from limb! Let me kill them!)
"No…! Stop it… STOOOOP!" Takuya gripped his head tightly, throwing his body back as he let out a pained scream.
(You cannot deny me any more, boy!) Aries growled. (Let me out! RELEASE ME! I AM NOW A PART OF YOU! A PART THAT YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM THE WORLD, OR YOUR PRECIOUS FRIENDS ANYMORE!)
Takuya was so preoccupied with trying to contain Aries and his newfound strength that he did not notice Reaper stand back up until it was too late. Reaper threw a hard punch into Takuya's torso, knocking the wind out of the Entei Splice.
"Damn you, Takuya! YOU MADE ME BLEED!" Reaper then delivered some rapid punches and kicks of his own, his hands and feet a blur before sending Takuya flying into the lab's wall with a roundhouse kick! Takuya fell from the indent he left in the wall, landing on his hands and knees.
"TAKUYAAA!" Avery ran forward, Dante unable to intercept the Raikou splice before he was in arms' reach. Avery grabbed Takuya by the shoulders. "Takuya, are you alright?! Oh, for god's sake SAY SOMETHING!"
Takuya then started to let out a soft, creepy laugh. Avery froze in place, noticing that the vocal octaves were not of his friend. This voice was far more menacing, far more dark and sinister… Avery froze in place, realizing who it was after the voice came from Takuya's throat:
"No… Takuya isn't here right now…"
The Shadow aura around Takuya then exploded, spiking up to unimaginable levels! Avery felt like his body was being permeated by fire, he was barely able to breathe as the voice made it's name and presence known.
"ARIES HAS COME OUT TO PLAY!"
Before Avery could react, he was punched hard in the gut by a fist! Takuya's fist! Avery looked at Takuya, breathless, losing consciousness fast as he saw that Takuya's eyes had changed: From the soft hazel irises with the normal slcera, to blood red irises and a black sclera that made it look like Takuya's pupils had over-dilated, going back beyond his eyes and into his brain!
"That was for locking me away the first time, Avery… Now we're even." Aries spoke.
"No… It can't be…." Avery gasped before passing out.
Reaper looked on, dumbstruck as Aries stood up to his full height, showing his malicious grin with intent to harm.
"No… What in the hell?!" Reaper exclaimed, a tinge of fear going through him. "What the hell is this?! Who are you if you are not Takuya?! Where did you come from?! How did you come into being?!"
"Is it not obvious?" Aries asked coolly, motioning to the scar on his chest. The scar that Reaper had left weeks ago. "I was born when you left Takuya with this scar… This mark of pain, so that he, as you put it, "Couldn't forget his treachery." You should know after all, my father. You are the one that created me, the one that brought me into this world, and for that I thank you Reaper. But that is as far as my thanks goes. Despite you being my creator, I bear no gratitude towards you."
Reaper looked on in fear, before his face faded to a scheming confidence. "Well, in that case, why don't you come and work for us, Aries? Team Midnight could use someone of your… Expertise, and we can make it so that Takuya never surfaces again. His body would be yours, and yours alone. Not only that, but we can also reward you handsomely. Master Denzel didn't build this organization on just donations and hedge funds, after all."
Aries then let out a loud, insane cackle. "Oh, Reaper… You are a fool if you think all I care about is material needs and riches! Those things don't interest me in the slightest. The only thing I desire is a challenging fight. The only thing I respect is battle prowess…" Aries then ignited some Flame Wheels in his hands, and threw them across the battlefield, lighting the grass and shrubbery aflame, cutting off Team Midnight's, and everyone else's escape! "Which I must say, you have not impressed me with at all. Your strength and cunning are not catching my attention. You actually are proving to be nothing more than a bore…"
Aries then stood in front of Reaper, arms open and challenging him to fight.
"...So come on! Entertain me!" Aries finished, letting out a mad and psychotic cackle.