So! I got the green light for working part-time about mid-January and I have been hard at work writing this since then. Took longer than I'd wanted due to a couple life issues but hey, still way better than my usual update schedule!
As always, big thanks to LugiaMoon for betaing this.
But let's not forget those of you who chose to support me in my endeavor! BlackjackPershing, Aeden Emrys, Phil Meyering, Pbc98, and OmegaDelta. You all have my utmost gratitude for your patronage.
And now, onward with the show!
"War is hell. It is cruelty, and you cannot refine it.
These words, told to me by a woman young enough to be my daughter, if not my granddaughter, cannot encompass the entirety of what defines war. Yet, as one who has lived through war himself, I find them fitting enough.
I know there are still people, especially those who have never seen conflict with their own eyes, who think war to be all glamour and glory. And I feel compelled to tell them -and you, who read those pages- it is all moonshine. Only those who have neither fought another to the death nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded, of they who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation, can consider war to be glorious.
But I know. I have seen cities and homes in ashes. I've seen hundreds, if not thousands, of people and Pokemon alike lying on the ground, their dead faces looking at the skies. And so, I can tell you: war is hell.
I am not ashamed to say I came to Orre to escape war. To escape what it had done to my family, to the region I used to call home. There are many of us who live in Orre who will tell you a similar story if you ask them, I'm sure.
War is a terrible thing. It is all folly, madness, a crime against civilization.
On that day, five years ago, war came to threaten that which I hold dear again. It came to Orre from within, and it came to Agate Village.
And it brought hell along with it."
From The War in Shadow by Eagun Logan.
It starts with an Absol pup suddenly going from sleep to alertness without any apparent reason.
The young dark type, who had been curled up on a cushion with her nose buried in an old shirt Aileen had given to Sheryl, looks around wildly. Her wide eyes seemingly staring at something only she can see.
A whine of distress rises from her throat.
(Can you feel it?)
Marina, who had been saddled yet again with the duty of taking care of the younglings, turns at the sound. She doesn't notice the way the older Pokemon around the daycare, particularly those belonging to veteran trainers, tense as they also look at the pup.
"There, there." The young woman says comfortingly as she gathers the distressed Pokemon in her arms. "Did you have a bad dream?" She asks, trying to calm the pup.
Yet her efforts are for naught, and the small Absol squirms in her hold, her whine rising in volume before she starts yapping.
(The wind carries with it the scent of danger.)
"Marina? What's going on?" Sheryl asks, stepping into the room.
The young woman gives her grandmother a helpless look. "I don't know, grandma. She was sleeping just fine and now she's like this." She replies, trying to keep a hold on the restless dark type.
The old woman's eyes narrow as she approaches. "Have you-"
A knock on the daycare's door interrupts her. "Madam Sheryl, are you there?" The voice of the town's Elder asks.
Blinking, Sheryl turns away from her granddaughter, muttering something under her breath that Marina doesn't quite catch as she goes back the way she came, leaving the young woman to struggle with a squirming Absol.
"Calm down, little one." She tries yet again to soothe the young Pokemon to no avail. "What's got you so spooked all of a sudden?"
(It's a sign. A portent of things to come.)
There is a muffled exclamation coming from the daycare's front, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
"Marina."
She turns, the question on her lips dying at the sight of Sheryl's grim visage. She's only seen that expression on her grandmother's face twice in her life. The first time had been when her parents had left a pre-teen Marina with Sheryl after explaining to her that she'd be living with her grandma for a while. The second time...
"Grandma?"
The old woman glances between her and the still whining Absol in her arms for a few seconds. "Head to the Pokemon Center. And take the pup with you. I'll take care of things here in the meantime." She says at length.
Marina feels herself swallow nervously. "What's going on?" She asks apprehensively.
Sheryl looks at her gravely.
"It's Aileen."
(What will you do?)
Marina barely remembers exiting the daycare or passing by Elder Eagun, who'd hastily stepped aside to avoid her, in her rush to get to the Pokemon Center, Absol still in her arms. Before she knows it, she's inside of the healing facility and standing in front of a bed with a single occupant.
Her friend looks... terrible. The respiratory mask that covers half her face, coupled with the gaunt quality her already pale skin seems to have taken, only reinforces the picture that Aileen has managed to evade death's grasp only by the skin of her teeth. The only sign she's alive is the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
Marina doesn't dare look at the patient chart clipped to the bed's frame, for she fears it might break the tenuous hold she has on her emotions. Without a word, she sits down into one of the chairs, her grip on the small Absol in her arms unconsciously loosening.
The dark type slips out of her hold, landing softly on the bed. Slowly, almost apprehensively, she paws at the sheets, sniffing first at the medical equipment and then at the human it is attached to. With a small whine, she starts licking Aileen's cheek.
"What happened to you, Aileen?" Marina asks under her breath.
"From what we were able to deduce, she was subjected to a ghost's Curse. One specifically tailored for humans."
Blinking, the young woman turns to see a nurse with pink hair styled in very distinct pigtails looking at her with a compassionate expression and finds herself inhaling sharply.
"They called in a Joy...?" Marina breathes out. "Was it that bad?"
The nurse gives her a small smile. "Not as bad at it could have been, but certainly a close thing. It was just as well that they asked for additional support." She says, stepping closer. "Your friend here was very lucky. So long as she gets plenty of rest, and that there aren't any sudden complications in her future, she should be alright. She might feel physically weak for a while, but it will pass."
Marina feels herself relax at the Joy's words, relief flooding her. "When do you think she will wake up?"
This time, the nurse grimaces slightly. "That... is hard to say. Even without the damage the Curse did, her body has been under a lot of stress in a short amount of time." She sighs. "We've healed what we could, but physical trauma can easily lead to psychological problems due to shock, as I'm sure you know. Add in the fact that recovery periods differ between individuals and... well, she could wake up as soon as tomorrow or stay unconscious for weeks, if not months."
"I... see." What else can she say?
Looking back at Aileen, she can't help but smile a bit at the sight of Absol curled on her friend's stomach. "I guess the only thing to do is wait and hope for the best then. Is it alright if Absol and I stay for a while?"
"Of course." The Nurse Joy nods. "I'll be back in a few hours to check on her. Don't hesitate to call for me or one of the other nurses if anything changes." She adds before leaving the room.
Marina doesn't know how long she sits there, watching over the sleeping forms of her friend and the cub that imprinted on her. It could have been minutes, it could have been even hours.
Because of her parents' lifestyle, she's never had many friends, let alone close ones. Never staying in one place for long isn't exactly a contributing factor to forming relationships, after all. Even after she started living with her grandmother that didn't change, what with most of the folks in Agate being retired trainers who aren't even close to her age. And of the few who were, most have left to pursue their dreams.
Marina doesn't blame them. As peaceful as Agate is, a little island of paradise in the tumultuous sea that is the rest of Orre, it is also a very monotonous place with very little to offer in terms of prospects. Even Rui, Eagun's cherished granddaughter, had eventually left to follow her own calling. But that is something Marina herself cannot do. Sheryl isn't getting any younger and someone will need to look after the daycare once she cannot do it herself anymore. It might not happen for a few years yet, but it's only a matter of time.
Or at least that's what she had believed. Until Aileen came along.
At first, Marina had thought her to be just another trainer looking to cut her teeth against the veterans that live in the village. Which, in hindsight, couldn't have been farther from the truth. And sure, she'd helped at the daycare, but this wouldn't have been the first time someone did so to try and score some good points in an attempt to woo her.
But the more they'd talked, the more Marina found that they both... clicked. She'd found a sense of kinship with this woman who, for all her confidence, seems utterly lost and unsure of what to do at times. For the first time in a long while, Marina had found someone she could truly call a friend -a best friend, even- besides Rui, who had become more like a little sister to her at this point.
It is a friendship that she has no desire to let go of so quickly.
Aileen had told her from the beginning that her presence in Orre was an unwilling one. That, once she'd have repaid her debt to Pom and gotten enough money, she'd leave the region for greener pastures. Of course, the situation now is more complicated than it had been back then, but Marina is under no illusion that her friend will extend her stay much once this nasty business with Cipher and Snagem is over.
And Marina is seriously considering going with her.
Taking care of Pokemon will always be her passion, but only recently has she begun to grasp that working at a daycare is only a single facet of what that truly encompasses. She wants- no, she needs to see more of the world than this desert, its volcano, and the pockets of civilization that inhabit it.
She had raised the subject with her grandmother one evening. Sheryl's response to that had been to simply smile at her, commenting that she is 'finally ready to leave the nest and spread her wings' along with 'about damn time'.
With a sigh, Marina stands up. As much as she'd like to stay longer, there is work to be done, and taking care of the younglings will at least distract her from worrying too much.
"Come on, Absol. We need to go back." She murmurs to the cub as she picks her up, chuckling at the sleepy whine of protest she gets in response. Just as she's about to push the switch to open the door, it opens seemingly of its own and Marina finds herself staring at... a wall?
"Oh, hello." A deep male voice says, causing the brunette to look up, and up until she's craning her neck to properly look at the face of the dark-skinned man with greying hair who'd just spoken. "Didn't think there'd already be someone here. You're.." He snaps his fingers a couple times. "Marina, right?"
"Yes, that would be me." She replies, taking a step back. "And you are?"
"Wulfric." He gestures beside him, drawing Marina's gaze to the blonde woman at his side that she hadn't even noticed. "And this is my wife, Rebecca. We're friends, although I'm not sure if Aileen's ever mentioned us before."
The young woman's eyes widen in recognition. "Oh! You're the owners of that shop that was on the news a couple months ago. The one where..." She trails off, looking back at her bedridden friend.
"Yeah, that'd be us." Wulfric says. Turning his head to follow her gaze, he sighs heavily. "How is she? Becca told me it was bad."
Marina bites her lip. "I wasn't given too many details. Just that it was... a close call. Too close, really. B-but the nurse told me that she'll be alright, she's out of danger now. Well, if there aren't any complications that is."
She can see the couple slumping slightly in relief at her words. "Thank heavens." The woman, Rebecca says tightly, eyes shimmering with tears. "I was terrified I hadn't managed to get her here in time."
Marina looks between the husband and wife. "If you don't mind me asking, how did this happen?"
The two exchange a look before Wulfric speaks again. "We don't have all the pieces. I got our mutual friend into Gateon Port and Becca got her out, but as for what happened in there? We don't know. There's been talk of warehouses burning down or collapsing, but that's about it." He huffs. "The whole thing was a trap, that much I can tell you. And Aileen still went in despite being of the same opinion. Because-"
"Because she's a sentimental fool who thinks risking her life is fine so long as there's a chance she can save Pom's Pokemon!" Rebecca exclaims, tears dripping down her cheeks. "That idiot! You can't do anything if you're dead!"
Wulfric's eyes, who had widened at his wife's outburst, soften at her words. Wordlessly, he wraps an arm over the blonde's shoulders and draws her against him in a comforting gesture as she starts sobbing.
"Not like it matters anymore." Marina hears the man mutter, a somber expression on his face as Rebecca's sobs intensify at his words.
"What do you mean?" She asks.
He sighs, drawing his wife into a tighter embrace. "We found an Aron's headpiece inside Aileen's backpack." He eventually says.
Marina gasps, hands flying to her mouth as horror and grief swell up inside her. "That's- I knew those people were horrible, but still."
"I think we all knew that. But there is a difference between knowing and knowing." Wulfric replies grimly.
"Such is the difference between knowledge and wisdom." An elderly voice joins the conversation and Marina looks past the couple and into the hallway to see Elder Eagun walking up to them, accompanied by the Nurse Joy she'd seen earlier. "Just as learning about Pokemon from books cannot replace meeting or caring for one of your own."
"Elder." The young woman moves around Wulfric's massive frame, with the man taking a step back, to greet the aged trainer with a respectful nod. "Have you come to check on Aileen as well?"
The old man shakes his head. "I have been apprised of her condition by young Joy here. I trust her judgement, and will visit our mutual friend once she has awakened." His gaze sweeps over the three of them. "But until then, someone will need to look after her Pokemon. More to the point, her Poochyena. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be an issue. And, indeed, her other Pokemon will remain in the Center's care until their trainer is given a clean bill of health. However, as I'm sure you know, that Poochyena is a... special case."
"You're worried she'll attack other Pokemon, or even people if Aileen isn't there." Marina says, eyes widening in realization.
Eagun nods. "She's being kept in stasis for the moment. But that is a temporary solution at best."
"That's a problem alright." Wulfric scratches the back his head, frowning thoughtfully. "I guess Sophia could take care of her? Aileen's been crashing at her place, so it should be fine." He pauses. "Maybe-"
"I'll take her." Marina interjects, drawing all eyes to her."I don't think her being so far away from her trainer is a good idea. Also," She looks at the bundle of white fur in her arms. "Absol's presence might help. A Poochyena's pack instincts are strong and, from her behavior, she clearly considers Absol a part of the pack. And there isn't much that's more important to the pack than the safety of their young."
The Elder hums thoughtfully, stroking his long beard, before nodding in agreement. "I can find no fault in your argument. Very well." He reaches into his robes and presents a pokeball to Marina. "I leave her in your care."
"Thank you." Marina says quietly, putting the pokeball inside her pocket. "Was there anything else?"
"I might borrow our friend's Electrike for training once he's back to full strength, but I believe that is all." Eagun says, turning to the Joy. "Unless you would like to add something?" The nurse shakes her head. "Then I bid you all a good-"
He is interrupted as the young Absol cradled in Marina's arms wakes up again with a start and starts yapping in distress, squirming in the arms holding her while looking around with fearful eyes.
"Oh for the love of- again?" Marina says incredulously, trying to keep the dark type from falling. "What is going on with you today?" She grumbles. "I'm sorry, she's been having-"
"Miss Marina."
The brunette instinctively straightens at Eagun's tone. Raising her head, she sees the Elder staring unblinkingly at Absol with trepidation on his face, his body tensed.
"Elder?"
"How long has she been displaying this kind of behavior?" He demands.
"Huh?" She blinks. "I, well, this has happened only once earlier today." She answers, eyebrows furrowing. "Although she's been acting anxious for a few days now. Why?"
Eagun stays silent for a moment, still staring at the young dark type, before his head snaps to the nurse standing beside him. "Miss Joy, I believe it's time for you to go back home."
"P-pardon?!" The nurse stutters in shock. "I'm not abandoning my patient! What are you saying?!" She looks between the Elder and Absol a couple times and her eyes widen. "You don't mean-"
"I'm afraid I'd rather not take the risk. If something were to happen to you while under my protection, I would never forgive myself. Please make ready to depart as soon as possible." He cuts her off, his voice brooking no argument. He then looks at Wulfric and Rebecca. "It might be preferable if the two of you left as well. Especially with you still wearing those garments." He adds with a gesture at the blonde, who is still wearing Aileen's Huntress outfit.
Marina can see Rebecca's eyes slowly widen in horror as the meaning of Eagun's words dawns on her. "You think they're coming. Here." She looks back at Aileen's room. "To finish what they've started."
The old man nods grimly and Marina feels the blood drain from her face at his next words. "Absols typically aren't in tune with their foresight abilities until they start entering adulthood. For this young pup to react so strongly... the danger must be grave indeed. And very close, I suspect." He turns around. "Make your preparations without delay. I-"
There is a roar from the outside, shortly followed by a crashing noise and accompanied by screams, causing all of them to freeze.
"Too late for that now, I suppose." Wulfric mutters sombrely. "What should we do?"
Eagun stays silent for a moment, fists clenched and his entire body tense. "I must face our assailants and lead the defense. Miss Joy, please depart with haste." The nurse nods and, with a soft 'good luck', swiftly jogs away. "Young Ma-."
"I need to get to grandma!" The young woman exclaims, rushing past him and sprinting down the hallway, drawing a surprised yip from the young Pokemon still in her arms.
She doesn't hear Eagun calling after her as she turns around the corner and makes a beeline for the exit, almost bowling over a confused nurse and barely slowing down to let the automatic doors open wide enough to let her slip through.
She has to make it in time!
"Young lady wait!" Eagun calls after Marina, but Sheryl's granddaughter has already rounded the corner and disappeared from view by the time he finishes his sentence. "Oh dear. Today's youth is too reckless by half..."
"I'll go after her." The burly mechanic, Wulfric, says. "I'm not a battler anymore, but Conkeldur will make anyone think twice at least. Should make things safer."
"No." Eagun shakes his head. "You, my big fellow, need to take our bedridden friend to the Relic Cave. It will be the safest location to hide her in until the danger has passed."
The husband and wife pair exchange an uncertain look. "But what about-"
"Madam Sheryl will protect her charges. With her life if need be." He cuts Rebecca off. "But there is no doubt in my mind that this is an attack aiming to remove Aileen from the board. Can I count on you to make sure they do not succeed?"
The burly mechanic nods. "Of course. Me and Becca will help, you don't even need to ask."
Eagun's lips curl down. "I'm afraid I have a different task in mind for miss Rebecca. One she's... uniquely suited to."
The blonde woman takes a deep breath and her posture straightens. "What do you need?"
He tells her.
"No! Absolutely not!" Wulfric nearly roars in protest, not that anyone would blame him. "Do you even realize what you're asking?! The danger she'll be in?! You-"
"Dear." Rebecca interjects, cutting off her husband's tirade with a single word. Wulfric's head snaps toward her, an indignant expression on his face and another objection on his lips, but the look on the blonde's face stops him in his tracks.
A wordless exchange passes between husband and wife. After a moment, Wulfric gives a defeated sigh, followed by a resigned nod to which Rebecca responds with a wry smile before turning back to Eagun with a determined expression.
"I'll do it."
Wes' face is blank as he stares at the chaos that has taken hold of Agate Village. It's a sight he's witnessed many a time since Gonzap recruited him into Snagem. Well, he says 'recruited' but coerced would be a better word for it. After all, when presented with the choice between death and joining a criminal gang most people would argue there is no choice at all.
The ashen blonde youth has never bothered to count the number of raids he's taken part in, nor has he kept track of how many Pokemon he's snagged across the four years since his induction. What he remembers very well, however, is the way people's reactions changed when faced with Snagem.
At first, most of them had fought. When faced with the prospect of losing their Pokemon, almost all trainers had fought tooth and nail, no matter the odds stacked against them. Heck, even those who hadn't been trainers had fought. Unwilling to simply surrender their companions.
However, slowly but surely, that had changed. As Snagem's notoriety had risen, from a no-name gang to the prominent gang of Orre, so had Gonzap gathered more people and resources to his side even as he'd refined their approach and methods.
Examples of what would happen if you do not give Snagem what they want had been made. Trainers who'd fight back would get beaten within an inch of their life, sometimes even killed if they'd proven to be particularly troublesome or deemed a threat by Gonzap, and their valuables taken while those who hadn't would only lose their Pokemon and what cash they had on hand.
And so the people's reaction had turned from fight to submission or flight. Aileen's stand at the mechanic shop had been the first time in a very long while that someone had thumbed their nose at Snagem like that. Which explains why Gonzap's retribution had been especially brutal.
"If there's one thing the boss hates more than traitors, it's when something challenges his authority." Wes muses, watching Gonzap's Hariyama and Pinsir tag team an old Machamp. The four-armed fighting type is strong, but clearly in its twilight years and it doesn't take long for it to go down under the two-pronged assault. "Still, Gonzap always considered Agate more trouble than it was worth, though he never told anyone why. For him to have suddenly switched his stance on the matter... Cipher must have given him something big in exchange for getting rid of Huntress."
The question becomes: what?
Danger!
The hair on the back of his neck rise at the same time as Bright's mental voice rings in his mind. "Helping Hand! Light Screen!" He quickly shouts to his partners.
The shield materializes a split second before it happens.
There is a flash, brilliant and blinding, accompanied by the deafening sound of a thunderclap. Despite his eyes being protected by his visor, Wes has to blink the spots out of his eyes for several seconds after it's over to clear his vision. And once he does he cannot help but gape.
Of the half dozen Snagem Pokemon who'd been fighting, only Gonzap's Hariyama is still standing by virtue of the Protect it had formed around itself and its master. Even Gonzap's Pinsir, vicious thing that Wes knows it is, has been reduced to a barely breathing black husk.
"In a single attack?!" Wes blurts out with a strangled voice. "The boosted Light Screen wouldn't even have mattered if we'd been closer to the center of whatever that was."
Affirmation. Bright sends him, audibly strained. Outmatched.
"Bit of an understatement right there, buddy."
"So he finally shows himself." Gonzap rumbles, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. "I was starting to get impatient, old man! For a moment I thought that you'd gone and died of old age!" He shouts, his booming voice cutting through the silence left in the wake of the... Wes hesitates to even call it a Thunder. That had been more like an actual lightning strike than a move.
"And I see you're still the same impatient brat that you were last we met." An elderly voice calmly replies. Looking up the hill, Wes spies an old man with a long grey beard and flowing violet robes looking down at Gonzap. At his side is a Raichu who, despite looking about as old as its trainer, Wes doesn't doubt for a single second could destroy him and his partners without even trying.
Behind them are several other elderly people, all accompanied by their own Pokemon.
Suddenly, the reason why Gonzap has avoided targeting Agate until now becomes very clear. Wes doesn't know who this guy is, but he's clearly on a whole other level.
"B-boss, are you sure about this?" He hears one of the grunts say quietly, a tremor in his voice. It's obvious that he's shaken by what just happened. Not that Wes can blame him.
"Small fry should scram." Is all Gonzap says, hand moving to one of the pokeballs at his belt.
Wes doesn't need to be told twice and slowly slips away from the battlefield. As strong as Bright and Lucky have gotten since they've evolved, this is so far out of their league that it's not even funny. That kind of battle can only be watched from a safe distance.
Besides, he needs to find Aileen before anyone else does.
"Bright, did you find her yet?"
Negation. Interference.
He frowns in confusion. "What do you mean 'interference'?"
Uncertainty. Unknown. A pause. Powerful.
"Great." Wes grumbles internally. "Off the frying pan and into the fire, is it?"
A metallic screech rends the air, causing him to briefly turn his head back to the fight just in time to see a Skarmory cloaked in a familiar shadowy aura brutally slam into the old man's Raichu.
Wes knows that Skarmory. After all, he'd snagged it himself about six months ago at Gonzap's personal request. Something that rarely happens these days.
He also vividly remembers the boss loudly complaining about the pain in the ass the steel-flying type had turned out to be. Proud and unwilling to simply bend to Gonzap's will, it had defied him at every turn until he'd finally got fed up with it and Wes had never seen it again. Until now.
He'd assumed at the time that Gonzap had simply sold it to one of Snagem's black market contacts but it seems he couldn't have been farther from the truth.
"It's the same as Ailleen's Poochyena. A Shadow Pokemon." Wes realizes, a shiver going down his spine as he watches the Skarmory try to peck the Raichu's eyes out, not even flinching as the electric type retaliates with a Thunder Punch that, no doubt, would have knocked any other flying type Pokemon on its ass.
Urgency.
Snapping out of his dazed state with a start, Wes sends Bright a mental 'thank you' and starts running.
"And where do you think you're going, sonny?"
Only to stop again almost immediately as an old woman steps into view, flanked by two similar-looking bug types that Wes recognizes as a Ninjask and a Shedinja.
"Well shit." He mutters under his breath. At his sides, Bright and Lucky tense in preparation. Bug types are a bad matchup for an Umbreon and an Espeon, but that's never stopped his partners before. "I don't suppose you'll just let me pass, old lady?" He says with a roguish smile.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." She replies, giving him a cold smile in return. "You and your band of ne'er-do-well need to be taught to respect your elders. Silver Wind."
"Helping Hand, Light Screen!" He cries out as both bug types release a torrent of silver-colored wisps of energy at his partners. The reinforced shield materializes and, for a moment, Wes fears it will break as cracks rapidly start to appear on its surface. Yet it holds, the gem on Bright's forehead glowing intensely as he pours more psychic energy into the protection. Eventually, the Silver Winds' currents stop.
"Shadow Ball on the Shedinja!" He orders, hoping to quickly get rid of the Shed Pokemon. Lucky bounds past his sibling and quickly fires a dark sphere of energy at the Shedinja, only for a shell of green energy to appear around it, shielding it from the attack.
"You think it'd be that easy? X-Scissor."
Wes blinks and the Ninjask is suddenly there, its arms glowing green as it slashes at Lucky in a cross-shaped pattern. The Umbreon has no time to react, letting out a yowl of pain as the super-effective attack sends him reeling.
"Bright!" He shouts and the Espeon doesn't hesitate, lithe body tackling the bug type away from his brother before unleashing a Psybeam at point-blank range. Only to miss as the Ninjask blurs from view and reappears beside its trainer in the fastest display of Agility Wes has ever seen.
The old woman clicks her tongue in disappointment. "Such a shame. You have plenty of potential, sonny." Her sharp gaze sweeps over him. "But you won't ever see it realized if you keep living as a thug. Ominous Wind."
"Helping Hand, Snarl!" An empowered blast of dark energy meets a wailing wind that seems to distort space itself and triumphs, slamming into both bugs and knocking the Shedinja out of the fight. "I don't need advice I didn't ask for, old lady. Worry about yourself and I'll worry about me."
"Quite the impudent youngster, aren't you?" She clicks her tongue again as she returns her fallen Pokemon to its pokeball. "Silver Wind."
"Light Screen." Once again, silver wind currents batter at the psychic shield. However, without its counterpart to provide additional firepower, the Ninjask cannot break through it. "Swift, both of you!"
A swarm of star-shaped projectiles is launched by the two Eeveelutions at the Ninja Pokemon and Wes is sure that, if the bug type had the facial muscles for it, its expression would be very comical at the moment. It blurs from view again, using its extraordinary speed to try and avoid the shooting stars chasing it but Swift would not be denied, the projectiles' trajectory curving to follow their target. And while some end up hitting the ground or the buildings around them, most of them end up slamming into the Ninjask.
The bug type crashes into the ground, out of commission.
"Plenty of potential indeed." The old woman mutters, recalling her Pokemon. "I hope you'll heed my words, young man."
Wes' eyebrow twitches as he crouches to spray a super potion on Lucky's flank, where the X-Scissor hit and left a nasty cross-shaped gash. "Yeah, whatever." He scoffs. "Now get out of there. And you'll stay out of sight if you know what's good for you."
She huffs in disapproval, but he manages to spy a small upward curl on the corner of her lips as she walks away and disappears from view.
"This is why I don't like dealing with old people. So quick to judge when they have no idea of the circumstances." Wes grumbles internally. Giving a satisfied nod at Lucky's now healed wound, he throws the empty super potion away and stands up. "Now to find Aileen."
If she isn't at the forefront of the defense, he figures that's because she's either injured or defending another important place. Which means... either the Pokemon Center or the Daycare. And of the two the Center is better defensible, so probably the Daycare.
Hopefully he can make it in time.
Marina arrives just in time to see Occa, her grandmother's Tauros and daughter of her first one, slam a Nuzleaf into the ground with a Double Edge before proceeding to throw it at a Marshtomp with a powerful heaving motion. The water-ground type barely has the time to brace itself by crossing its arms that its partner's comatose body collides with it and almost bowls it over.
"Grandma!"
Sheryl's brown eyes snap to her for a split second, briefly widening in surprise before narrowing again and returning to the fight as Occa barely avoids a Mud Shot to the face. "Marina. Why are you here?"
The young woman splutters at the question. "What do you mean? I'm here to help you!"
"You should have stayed at the Pokemon Center where it's safe. Especially for that youngling you're still carrying in your arms." Her grandmother replies chidingly.
At the words Marina looks down, finding red eyes looking back at her in clear irritation, and curses under her breath. In her haste and panic she had just... forgotten about the pup.
"An Absol, eh? Now that's a fine prize you got there girl."
Instinctively Marina turns sideways, hiding Absol from view as much as she can while she glares at the bald man who'd just spoken and his equally bald friends.
"Yeah? Well you can't have her." She all but snarls, one hand going to her waist and grabbing the pokeball there. With a press of the button Bayleef emerges from the ball, her leaves quivering warningly.
"Oooh, a Bayleef. Not bad either." The man comments with a smirk, not fazed in the slightest by her Pokemon's threat display. "Always a lot of demand for regional starters."
The words send a chill down her spine even as Bayleef bristles in response.
"Over my dead body." Her grandmother cuts in. Her Tauros paws at the ground, ready to charge at any moment.
The man gives them a sinister smile. "That can be arranged. Been a while since we had to put someone six feet under. Nowadays people know better than to say that kind of stuff." He takes a pokeball of his own and releases a Machoke from it. "Boys, the girl's all yours. I'll handle the old crone."
All three other men release their own Pokemon. A Sandlash, a Sableye, and a Persian face off against Bayleef who looks nervously at her opponents.
"I can do this." Marina psychs herself up. "If Aileen can fight, then so can I!"
There is a brilliant flash not too far away, shortly followed by the sound of a thunderclap. All eyes turn to the light show, shocked mutters rising from the Snagems, and Marina remembers what Aileen had told her once, during one of their late-night chats.
'Some people say life is a fight. Even outside of Pokemon battles, people compete with each other just as much as they come together for the sake of a common goal. And just like in a fight, you must always be ready to seize every advantage and opportunity that presents itself to you.'
And now is as good a time as any for her to put those words into practice.
"Sleep Powder!" Marina orders.
With a start, Bayleef promptly obeys and blows a cloud of soporific spores at their foes. It catches most of them unaware, though the Persian nimbly manages to jump away before it can breathe in too much of the Sleep Powder. But with the Sandlash and Sableye now fast asleep, she can focus on a single target.
"Zen Headbutt!" She hears Sheyl call. Glancing, she sees Occa charging at the Machoke, eyes glowing as her entire head becomes shrouded in a field of psychic energy, and slamming into it with enough force to make the fighting type stagger back a few steps. Looks like her grandmother can handle things on her hand.
"Vine Whip!" Two vines shoot out from between Bayleef's leaves, coiling around the Persian and lifting it into the air with a surprised yowl that turns into a pained grunt as it's slammed down onto the ground. Bayleef lifts the normal type again, intent on repeating the process.
"The heck you doing, Persian?!" The Snagem grunt shouts. "Use Fury Swipes!" The Classy Cat Pokemon's claws effortlessly cut through the vines, causing Bayleef to wince. "Now get in close with Quick Attack!" As soon as its paws touch the ground the Persian dashes at the grass type, closing the distance between them in but a couple of seconds.
"Use Body Slam!" Marina shouts in response and Bayleef throws herself at the Persian, hoping to make use of her bigger bulk to overpower the normal type. But the Classy Cat Pokemon knows better than to meet Bayleef head-on and makes good use of the speed boost granted by Quick Attack to easily evade her Pokemon's charge.
"Slash!"
The Persian swipes at Bayleef, claws glowing white and scoring a trio of gouges on her flank that cause her to recoil in pain.
Marina bites her lip. "Come on Bayleef, get it off you! Use-"
She's cut off as a bolt of dark purple light slams into her friend from the side, making her cry out. Turning, she sees that the Sableye is now awake, its gemstone-like eyes gleam wickedly at her while its mouth stretches into a malicious smile. Beside it, Marina can see the Sandslash also stirring awake and she feels her heart dropping into her stomach.
Bayleef has never been a fighter. The most she's used Sleep Powder for was to make younglings drowsy, so of course it wouldn't be very potent but Marina hadn't thought they'd be able to shake it off so easily.
She briefly looks back at her grandmother's side of the fight, hoping that maybe Occa might help. But the Tauros is still locked in combat with the Machoke and, judging by the way it's dancing around the Wild Bull Pokemon's Zen Heabutts, is not going to be able to assist Bayleef anytime soon.
The Sableye's trainer gives her a patronizing smile. "I'll give you an A for effort, but don't you think it's about time you realized you can't win? Confuse Ray."
The Darkness Pokemon's eyes glow ominously.
"Watch out!" Marina cries out in warning. It's already too late, however, and a pulse of sickly yellow light shoots out of the dark-ghost type and into Bayleef. Her friend shakes her head, eyes darting to and fro and looking more and more distressed by the second.
"Bayleef, snap out of it! Whatever you're seeing, it's not real!"
Bayleef cocks her head as if she'd heard her but couldn't make out the words. For a brief moment, Marina dares to hope. Then the Persian pounces onto the grass type, claws digging into her back and fangs biting deep into her neck.
The noise that comes out of Bayleef's throat as she registers the pain will haunt Marina for the rest of her days, she knows. It's a primal, almost visceral sound, the cry of a being that knows it is in mortal danger and whose instincts are going haywire.
"Hey, hey! Don't damage the merchandise too much or the boss will have our hide." The Persian's trainer chastises his Pokemon, his tone almost bored. The normal type glances at him, bloodlust dancing in its eyes, before reluctantly hopping off its prey's back.
Bayleef collapses and Marina, vision blurry with tears and limbs shaking, fumbles to grab her friend's Pokeball. At the same time, she absently hears Absol whining in discomfort as her hold unconsciously tightens. Finally, her fingers close around a spherical object inside her pocket and she immediately points it at Bayleef so that she can recall her.
Except, before the red beam can return the grass-type to safety, another pokeball flies in and hits Bayleef's side. Marina feels something die inside her as her first and only Pokemon, her friend of several years, is swallowed inside a pokeball not her own. The sphere hits the ground, shaking once, twice, then stopping with a 'click' sound that seems to echo in her ears.
"Nice catch!" The man with the Sableye crows as the Sandslash's trainer, the one who threw the pokeball, jogs up to it and picks it up with a jovial smile on his face.
Snagged, she numbly thinks. Bayleef had been snagged. Just like that.
"Now," The man drawls, bouncing the pokeball in his hand. "How about you hand over that Absol of yours and-"
"Earthquake!"
And suddenly her grandmother's Tauros is there, bruised and battered from her own fight but still standing. With angry bellow, Occa rears then slams her forelegs onto the ground, causing a great tremor that upheaves the very earth and knocks down all three Pokemon that Marina had been facing.
"Run, Marina!" Sheryl shouts at her. "Run!"
"Grandma!" Marina chokes out, tears running down her cheeks. "Bayleef! Bayleef was-"
"Go!" The old woman nearly roars, shoving her away. "There's nothing you can do! Find Eagun!"
"Leaving so soon?" The man who had been battling her grandmother clicks his tongue. "I don't think so. Rock Tomb!"
His Machoke, who has taken some damage but doesn't look worse for wear, punches the ground with a roar, causing slabs of rock to erupt from the ground around Marina and trapping her in.
"Occa!"
The Tauros slams into the closest slab with another bellow. For a moment, it seems as if it will hold, only a few cracks appearing on the rock for all of Occa's efforts. But then the cracks start to widen and spread until, with a resounding cracking sound, the rock slab crumbles into bits.
Marina doesn't waste her chance. Rushing through the opening in her makeshift prison, she makes a mad dash in the direction of the brilliant flash she'd seen earlier. As fast as her legs can carry her, she runs down the slope, making a beeline for the village's entrance.
"Where do you think you're going?!" A voice calls behind her but Marina does not dare to look back. "Pursuit!"
In the next moment, she briefly hears the sound of something flying through the air before it slams into her from behind and Marina crumples to the ground, gasping as white-hot pain flares across the small of her back and spots appear in her vision. Distantly, she hears her grandmother scream and Occa's furious roar even as something giggles in her ear. Twisting her head toward the sound, the blurry visage of the grinning Sableye greets her, the dark-ghost type giggling again as it proceeds to lick the crimson liquid dripping from the claws of its left hand.
"Get up!" Her brain screams to her. Shakily and cringing at the pain in her back, Marina puts the arm not holding Absol securely to her chest under her and-
"I-I can't feel my legs."
The thought sends ice down the young woman's veins. Slowly, she turns her head back, eyes falling upon the twitching lower limbs of her body that refuse to move. The world fades away, her heartbeat roaring in her ears even as her breathing becomes rapid and shallow. Symptoms that her mind distantly recognizes as those of going into shock.
"Oh? What's this?"
The sound of footsteps causes her to face forward again as the Sableye's trainer kneels and grabs a pokeball from the ground.
"What do you know, it's occupied. And in stasis with its biometric lock disabled too." He says, bouncing the sphere in his palm while looking at Marina. "Looks like you were holding out on us, sweetheart."
Looking at the pokeball, the young woman's mind goes blank and she pats her pockets. Feeling them empty, her already pale face turns ashen as panic is quickly replaced by horror at the realization of what the bald man is holding.
"Don't." She softly says, her voice barely above a whisper.
He raises an eyebrow at her.
"Actually, I think I will. One should always check the merchandise."
He presses the button on the pokeball and a white-furred quadrupedal shape materializes between them.
For a moment it feels like the world is holding its breath. Poochyena's red eyes blink, taking in her surroundings and darting around in search of her trainer. Her nose twitches and her head snaps to Marina and Absol for a brief moment before she's returned inside her pokeball.
"Well, well, well. Lucky me." The Snagem whistles, his eyes going from the pokeball to Marina. "But you don't really look like the description we were given of that one's owner." He leers down at her. "So, wanna tell me where she is? If you do, maybe I'll convince my pal over there to give you back your Bayleef. One-time offer."
To her shame, Marina considers it. For a brief moment, she actually contemplates selling out one friend for another.
Then logic reasserts itself and she gives the man a glare filled with pain and impotent fury. This is all just a game to these people, she realizes. They don't think twice before hurting or even killing others and they have no reason to keep their word. They've come to pillage Agathe and kill her friend. She'd be better off trusting a wild Skorupi to not sting her than to believe this man.
"There is a saying my home is very fond of." Aileen's voice echoes in her mind. "We do not negotiate with terrorists."
"Distortion takes you and your 'offer'." She spits. "I won't tell you anything."
The bald man blinks at her, then shrugs uncaringly. "Would have saved me some time and you some pain." His hand reaches for Absol. "Now I'll be taking this."
Despite the flare of pain in her back, Marina protectively curls around the small dark type. Even if she knows in her heart that she's only delaying the inevitable, she refuses to simply surrender the cub to these people.
"C'mon now, don't be so difficult." The Snagem grumbles. His fingers close around Absol's horn and tug, trying to wrench her from Marina's arms.
Several things happen in quick succession.
Marina bites the man's hand with all her strength. She feels her teeth digging into soft tissue and breaking through the skin, a coppery-tasting liquid filling touching her tongue as he starts howling and reflexively jerks his limb back. The sharp movement causes Absol to cry out in pain from the pressure applied to her horn even as the sharp appendage slices into the fingers grabbing it.
The pokeball the Snagem had been holding falls to the ground and there is a flash of light as Poochyena appears once more. Without hesitation, the Bite Pokemon lunges for his neck and sinks her fangs into it, turning the man's wail into a choked gurgle as blood pours from his ruined throat and onto the ground.
His Sableye releases a screech of grief and hatred at seeing its trainer being mortally wounded. Charging a Shadow Claw, it pounces at Poochyena and hits the other dark type in the side. Both Pokemon tumble down in a mess of tangled limbs, snarling, biting, and clawing at each other.
But for all of the Sableye's rage, it cannot match a Shadow Pokemon's raw power.
A shadowy aura tinged with crimson explodes from Poochyena and she slams her head into one of the Darkness Pokemon's gem-like eyes once, causing cracks to appear on it, then twice, shattering it completely. The Sableye stumbles back, its screech now one of pain as it clutches its ruined eye. It's all the opening Poochyena needs to pounce, jaws clad in a shroud of dark energy clamping viciously around the other Pokemon's equivalent of a collarbone.
With a ripping sound that will stay in Marina's nightmares for a long time, the white-furred dark type tears out a chunk of the Sableye's body. Then proceeds to do it again. And again. And again, literally ripping the Darkness Pokemon apart and silencing its cries once and for all.
The sheer violence of what had just happened, combined with the taste of blood in her mouth, causes the young woman to lose her lunch on the now crimson-stained grass.
"Well shit."
Vision blurry with tears and darkening around the corners, Marina turns toward the voice. A form dressed in deep blue flanked by two smaller shapes, one pink and the other black, stands not far from her. Whoever they are, she doesn't recognize them. Another Snagem?
The world tilts sideways and darkness swallows her.
Wes stares at the, now unconscious, bleeding woman and the small Absol licking her cheek with concerned whines, eyes flickering now and then to the vaguely familiar dead man, his equally dead Sableye, and the white-furred Poochyena with a bloody muzzle still ripping pieces of its body.
"...This is a mess."
Understatement.
"I don't need your sass right now, Bright." He mutters, running a hand through his ashen blonde hair as he walks closer. "What are we gonna do about this?"
Above the din of the ambient chaos there is a metallic bird-like screech from nearby, followed almost immediately by the crackle of lightning and a thunderclap.
"Right, no time to dawdle."
Kneeling by the woman's side, Wes quickly checks her over, wincing slightly at the injury on her back. "Think you can stop the bleeding?" He asks his friend.
Negative. Distortion.
Wes clicks his tongue at Bright's answer. Figures the wound would be from a Pursuit, that move is a very popular one among Snagem members -for obvious reasons.
A black paw touches his thigh, drawing his attention away from the woman to Lucky. The Umbreon gestures with his head and Wes turns to see Aileen's Poochyena picking up a pokeball on the ground between her jaws. The Bite Pokemon looks at them, barking once around the sphere in her mouth, then runs off to... somewhere. After a few seconds of looking between the woman and the other dark type in clear indecision, the Absol follows.
"...Might as well." Wes sighs, standing up. "Bright, you take her to the Pokemon Center we spotted earlier. Try not to get seen by the other Snagem, yeah?"
Affirmative. The Sun Pokemon replies, eyes glowing with psychic power as he proceeds to levitate the wounded woman and jogs off in the direction of the village's Pokemon Center, floating body in tow.
"Now then... lead the way, Lucky."
His friend nods and dashes in pursuit of the other dark types, with Wes following close behind.
Up the hill, between houses, past the trunk of the dead white tree, down the hill, follow the river... It would feel like Poochyena is leading them on a pointless chase around the village if not for the fact that they're avoiding the pockets of conflict between villagers and Snagems as they go. After several minutes of running around, they come upon the entrance of... a cave?
"This place is full of surprises."
Cautiously proceeding inside, Wes finds himself lifting his visor to look around in slight awe at the massive roots coming from the walls and the multiple ponds reflecting sunlight from above around the tunnel. The sound of running water echoing in his ears completely blocks those from the outside, making the place feel like an oasis of peace amidst the chaos of the outside world.
And yet the young man cannot help but feel oddly nervous as he walks through the tunnel. As if he's trespassing upon sacred ground or something.
"What the?!"
The startled exclamation echoing through the tunnel draws him from his thoughts. Running toward the end of the tunnel, Wes sees a burly man with dark skin and black hair with streaks of grey in it spinning around as two white shapes dart between and around his legs. He could swear he's seen that man before too.
At the sound of his approach, the man quickly turns to Wes. Tensing, he grabs the pokeball at this belt and releases a Conkeldurr from it, the fighting type narrowing his eyes at Lucky.
Now Wes remembers this guy. He's the owner of that shop Snagem had tried to raid back then. The raid that had started all this.
"Not one step closer." The man says warningly, his deep voice echoing through the tunnel. "Unless you'd like to know which is tougher between your skull and Conkeldur's pillars." He adds, his Pokemon smacking said pillars together for added effect.
Wes quickly raises his hands in surrender. "Whoa there, I didn't come to fight!" He hurriedly says. "I'm a friend of Aileen!"
The man raises an unimpressed eyebrow. "Yeah, sure. Pull the other one, kid. It's got bells on it. I recognize you from that day you and your pals attacked my shop."
"I... was kinda hoping you wouldn't." Wes grimaces.
The other eyebrow joins its sibling. "You're not bald and you walk around in a deep blue coat and with a silver visor, kid. You're not exactly inconspicuous."
"Fair enough." The young man concedes. "But I wasn't lying when I said I'm a friend of Aileen." Slowly, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his PDA. "I can even prove it."
The Conkeldurr's trainer scratches the back of his head thoughtfully, looking between Wes and the PDA for a moment, before eventually gesturing with his hand. "Toss it here."
Wes obliges, tossing the device at the man who deftly catches and opens it. "Code is 2608. I have her listed as 'Friend'."
The mechanic fiddles with the PDA for a moment. "Well I'll be damned." He says at length, surprise coloring his tone. "Looks like you're telling the truth." He tosses it back to Wes. "Now how that happened is a story I would very much like to hear."
"Do you really think this is a time for story-telling?" The ashen blonde snarkily replies. "Just, how is she? I assume something happened since she wouldn't answer my calls but..."
"She's fine now, though I was told that it wasn't pretty." The older man winces. "Had my wife downright shaken."
He turns sideways and, looking past him, Wes immediately spots the feminine figure clad in a medical robe laid upon a medical stretcher by a circular stone structure. Sitting beside her, Poochyena watches him with unblinking eyes, half curled around the young Absol who seems to have done its best to fuse with Aileen's side.
"Now tell me," Wes straightens at the man's tone. "What happened to the girl who was watching over these two? Last I saw she was running for "
It's the younger man's turn to wince. "If we're talking about a brunette about Aileen's age, she was injured and unconscious when I found her. I had my Espeon take her to the Pokemon Center."
"Fuck!" The mechanic swears softly, one hand coming up to grip his hair in frustration. "I was afraid of that. Today is just the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it?"
Wes knows the question is rhetorical but finds there isn't much he can say to that. Sometimes life just sucks and you can't do anything about it.
"I should go back before they notice I'm gone." He says at length, turning and walking away. "We don't want them finding this place if they come looking for me. Tell her to call when she wakes up, will you?"
"Wait!" The man calls out before he's taken a dozen steps. Wordlessly, Wes tilts his head back to show he's listening. "What's your name? Just so I can tell her who to call."
"It's Leo!"
Quickening his pace from a fast walk to a jog, Wes goes back the way he came and make his way out of the cave. A small sigh leaves his lips, his back stiffening slightly as the calming sound of rushing water fades away, taking with it the atmosphere of tranquillity that he'd subconsciously been enjoying.
The young man takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "We'll have to come back if we get the chance." He says quietly, Lucky nodding in agreement. "Might not be for a good while though."
"Wes? That you?"
Turning, the ashen blonde spots a lone Snagem with a Persian at his side walking up to him, one he recognizes as a member of Agrev's posse. And he looks pissed.
"Oh, you're..." He snaps his fingers a couple times, making a token effort of trying to remember the guy's name. "It's on the tip of my tongue, I swear."
Now that he thinks of it, the other dead guy with the Sableye had also been a member of Agrev's minions hadn't he?
"Seriously? That's, like, the fourth time I have to remind you or something!" The bald man says exasperatedly. "It's Kabo. K-A-B-O. Four letters. It's not that hard to remember."
"My bad. I'll try to keep it in mind." Wes replies in a bland tone, knowing very well chances are he will forget it come next week.
"You do that. Anyway, have you seen a woman carrying an Absol nearby?"
The young man carefully doesn't react. "Can't say I have." He nonchalantly says, putting his hands inside his pockets. "Why? Does she owe you money or something?"
"Bitch killed my brother." Kabo snarls. "Sure, Chalka acted like a smug bastard most of the time, but dammit he was still family. So I'm gonna find her, and then I'm gonna skin her alive. I don't even care about the Absol, I just want her to suffer before she dies."
"Like I said, haven't seen her." Wes says again. He points a thumb back at the cave. "There's nothing in there aside from some weird ruins."
"You sure?" At the look Wes gives him he adds. "Not that I'm doubting you, but I'm pretty confident in Persian's ability as a tracker y'see? And the trail leads here."
Wes rolls his eyes at that. "And you're one hundred percent sure your cat couldn't have mistaken the scent of a human and a dark type Pokemon for that of another human with a dark type?" He gestures at himself and Lucky. "Cause that's what it sounds like to me. But if you wanna waste your time to go in there and check for yourself, I'm not gonna stop you."
The other man doesn't respond, a thoughtful expression on his face and his eyes downcast. Wes exchanges a look with Lucky, the Umbreon tensing almost imperceptibly. He'd rather not have to kill the guy, but it wouldn't be the first time he and his partners would dirty their hands if the situation calls for it.
Just as he opens his mouth to give the order, two different ringtones fill the silence and Wes freezes for a brief second. There is only one reason for both his and Kabo's PDA to receive a call at the same time.
Both of them answer and Gonzap's voice rings out from the devices. "-of you idiots hears this, we got eyes on the costumed wench making a break for it south-east! I don't care which of you morons managed to let her sneak past you, get your asses into gear, and go after her! By the end of this I'll have someone's corpse tied to the bumper of my jeep!"
Wes blinks. "That was definitely Aileen back there though. So... a decoy? That's ballsy."
"Well, you heard the boss. Better get moving." He says, closing his PDA. "I dunno about you, but I'd rather not give Gonzap a reason to be pissed at me."
Kabo looks between his own PDA and the cave behind Wes wordlessly for a while. Then, his face sets into a stubborn scowl. "You go on ahead. I'm gonna take a look inside, just to make sure you didn't miss something."
The ashen blonde youth sighs, closing his eyes as the bald man and his Persian walk past him. Well, he'd tried.
"Do it."
Lucky pounces, one clawed paw slamming into the Classy Cat Pokemon's back in a vicious Sucker Punch and pinning it to the ground. Taking advantage of his target's stunned state at the sudden betrayal, the Umbreon bites down on the normal type's jugular and ruthlessly tears it out.
"What the fu-"
Steel flashes in the light of the morning, slicing through flesh and turning the shocked exclamation into a wet gurgle as Kabo starts choking on his own blood. His hands fly up to his cut throat, trying in vain to stench the flow, and his wide eyes look at Wes with an expression of utter incomprehension.
Dark gold orbs look on impassively as Kabo's legs buckle under him and he collapses beside his Persian, blood from both human and Pokemon mixing and coloring the grassy ground a dark red.
"Trai... tor..." The Snagem manages to wheeze out, eyes dulling soon after.
Kneeling, Wes quickly cleans his switchblade on the leg of the dead man's pants before putting it back inside his coat's inner pocket and walking away.
"Traitor?" The teen mutters with a scoff. "Don't make me laugh."
Being a traitor would imply he'd ever been loyal to Snagem in the first place.
I'm not going to lie, this chapter was kinda rough on me. Felt like I was fighting myself for a good half of it. I had the scenes in my mind but putting the words on paper was like drawing blood from a stone some days.
As always, reviews and follows/favorites are greatly appreciated, as is constructive criticism.
If you like what I write enough to support me on P atreon (MidnightFenrir353), then I shall continue to do my very best to stay worthy of your patronage.
Next update shall be Once More With Feeling, and after that Effect of a Titanfall. See you all soon!
This is MidnightFenrir, signing out.
