Chapter 13
Blade was seated beside Gladius, the two side by side on the bed.
"Thanks for laying with me Blade." Gladius smiled. "Sorry for bullying you Blade, it was wrong…"
"I don't care about that, I'm just glad you're okay…relatively speaking."
"Thanks," Gladius gave him a hug. "I'll make it up to you though, I promise." He let go. "So, what's he like, Shadow I mean?"
Blade smiled, returning the hug. "He's great, he was always kinda intimidating before, but after being with him a while, he's a big sweetie inside."
"He's treating you right?"
"Yeah, he is, I can't wait for you to see his place, it's awesome! They've got a personal chef! I mean, I haven't seen them, but they are there."
"That's awesome!" Gladius leaned back, shutting his eye. "I'm gonna take a nap, wake me up when there's food."
"You got it!"
"Speaking of food," Shadow's voice came. "Would you like to assist me in getting some Blade? I was going to ask Codsworth, but with so many of us being here, he may need some assistance."
"Sure!" Blade slid off the hospital bed carefully.
"Then let us go, he is already waiting in the limousine."
*Firelink Outskirts*
"That was pretty fun, wouldn't you guys agree?" The Charmeleon smiled at the three boys cuddling him.
"It was!" Pyre smiled.
"Honestly, even though I just watched, it was pretty great." Cynder added. "I loved seeing Pyre having so much fun."
"Yeah, that was pretty awesome." Ivy finally spoke up.
"Three cuties, all for me." Tin joked , hugging them close. "But we should probably head home, it's getting late, and ya know, curfew after dark."
"Yeah, let's get outta here."
As they all stood up and made their way to the treeline, back within Firelink City limits, a sudden unnatural darkness overtook the sky.
"Uhh, Tin?"
"I don't know what this is, come on, hurry up, we have to…" the charmeleon fell silent.
He had noticed two dark figures standing just a short distance away, one on the left, the other on the right. One, was the Sableye Aberration, the other looked like a weavile, with limbs practically not connected, but still functioning like normal.
"Run…all three of you, run home right now!" Tin pushed them as the two figures made a mad dash toward them.
Using his tail, he tripped the Sableye and lunged, tackling the weavile.
Terrified, Ivy and Cynder ran, rushing toward the Igni Residence.
Pyre however, was rooted in place. Watching as Tin fought off the two Aberrations. The Charmeleon lifted the weavile in one hand and slammed it into the Sableye, before quickly jumping back, and spitting flames over them.
Hauntingly, the two Aberrations stood up, still engulfed in flames and began to slowly walk toward Tin. But the weavile stopped in its tracks, its head snapped at a strange angle, making it stare at Pyre. What looked like a smile was crossing its face, sharp fangs baring at Pyre.
"Pyre! Run!" Tin called as the Sableye slammed into him hard.
The bright violet eyes of the weavile Aberration shot wide open. "Pyyyyyyrrre" it's strangled voice began to cackle maniacally. It leaned forward and broke into a full sprint, closing the distance with the charmander.
Pyre stumbled back as a claw swept across his chest. "Ow!"
The Aberration stared for a moment, gazing at the slight amount of blood on its claws. Then it threw its head back and held its claw above, allowing the blood to slowly drip into its mouth.
Pyre watched as it's body shook and twitched with sickening snaps and crunches, until it held itself upright again. "Long time no see Pyre."
"I don't know you!" Pyre stumbled back again, "Stranger danger!"
Suddenly flames burst around the weavile. "I said run dammit!"
Just as Pyre turned around to run, the weavile jumped over him, landing in front of him.
Tin, meanwhile, was still fighting the Sableye, though it quickly became apparent that it wasn't tiring out, and he was. Tin was sweating, and panting heavily. He'd likely have had more energy, if not for what they'd been doing minutes prior.
Tin grabbed the Sableye only to have it latch onto his arm and bite into it hard. Out of reflex he slammed it into the ground, before striking it down again with his tail. He had to end this now, before that thing hurt Pyre. He stomped on the sableye's chest and took in a deep breath before coughing suddenly.
Pyre looked on in horror as Tin dropped to his knees, there was a scar covered Charmander standing behind him gazing at its own blood covered claw.
"Tin!" Pyre rushed over only to be tripped and pinned to the ground.
"You don't remember me? No," the weavile bit into his shoulder, it's voice clearing up as it ingested more of his blood. "You're not the same one, but," the weavile grabbed his head, forcing him to watch as three Aberrations surrounded Tin. "This is your fate, every time, you will watch those you love die!"
The other Charmander, with its Viridian eyes, glanced over at him before kicking Tin in the gut.
"Our worlds were cruel, but we have a second chance, we just need a life, for a life." The weavile spoke, as the Zoroark Aberration stabbed Tin in the leg. "But only the life of those who wronged us, only their blood can make us whole. But making you suffer, that's just my bonus."
"Leave him alone!" Pyre struggled in vain.
"Since I'll be ending you soon, I guess it can't hurt, my name," the weavile got close, digging its claws into Pyre's sides. "Is Xiphos."
"Pyre…" Tin, struggled, looking to his brother. "I'm sorry little bro…guess I…won't be able to…keep my, my promise."
Pyre struggled again, but to no avail. The Aberrations were cruelly beating Tin. "I said stop it!" Pyre shouted.
"I…I love you Pyre, always have! Never, never forget that!" Tin cried out as the Charmander Aberration took hold of the top of his mouth and began to pull up.
Pyre started hyperventilating, he was panicking, his body wasn't listening to him, he suddenly shot forward, dislodging Xiphos from his back and slamming the other Aberration hard in the gut launching it back.
"You motherfuckers! Are not taking my big brother," he let out a Charizard-like roar as flames burst around him. "AWAY FROM MEEEE!"
The flames billowed out around him, seemingly pushing them all back.
The now five Aberrations surrounded them. Each mangled form began to circle them threateningly.
Pyre glanced down at Tin, the Charmeleon was smiling proudly. "I love you too Tin!"
He glared at each of the five creatures, their bodies were grotesque, rotten, and yet sturdy in their movements. "Pyre, forget me, please just run!"
The one calling itself Xiphos rushed forward reaching out to grab Pyre. But in that singular instant, the flame on Pyre's tail flickered and burst, its normally sapphire hue overtaken by an onyx black he caught the weavile by the throat. "Burn out."
The black flames from his tail shot up his back, across his arm, and suddenly engulfed the weavile.
Despite its prior, near invulnerability, the weavile suddenly dropped to the ground, rolling around, trying to put the flames out, but to no avail. The black flames tore across it's body mercilessly, seemingly incapable of going out.
"Woah, Pyre…" Tin spoke again, forcing himself to his feet.
And without warning the five Aberrations vanished, and the unnatural darkness was replaced by a gorgeous sunset.
The Charmander fell to his knees and hugged his brother as the black flames over his tail flickered back to blue. "Oh Tin I was so scared! I thought…"
"Hey, don't worry little bro, you…you saved me!" Tin smiled. "Uh, you should probably call Mom or Dad, we'll need a ride. I am in no condition to walk home."
"Okay, I'll give em a call."
*Unknown Location*
Anelace shook her head as she sat up again, face to face with Mare.
"Finally, your body is growing accustomed to the R chemical, a few dozen more runs should get you where you need to be."
"A few dozen?" Anelace felt a nagging in the back of her mind, telling her something was wrong.
"We need to ensure you can handle Cleave, he is a rather dangerous man." Mare smirked. "That said, we need to ensure you'll do whatever it takes to eliminate him."
Anelace stood up. "How so?"
"I will worry about that, you my dear," he suddenly pulled her toward the ARC door and injected her with another dose of R. "Only You."
He shoved her through the door as the song burst to life on the speakers. As she regained her balance, she saw them again, a room full of Cleave's, but strangely also Nagi, and Gladius, and Shard, and Blade.
"Cull the weak." His voice came. As the music blared louder within the room, Mare hovered away into an adjacent room. "So?"
"It would seem you were right sir, the Aberration DNA is strangely coded to see everyone as a singular target, like they were made to hunt a select few. But why did you want me to incorporate it into the R formula?"
"Because, such aggression can only come from pure hatred, if we are correct, then she is currently seeing those she hates most, and those we've been conditioning her to see."
"Sir, this seems highly unethical."
"Doctor, I don't believe I hired you for your ethics.
The doctor in question, was a genesect in a lab coat. "Indeed, so long as you don't intend to leave the blame on me, should this be discovered."
"Oh Shockwave, I only need you to conduct the experiments." Mare spoke coldly, watching through a window, as Anelace slaughtered a dozen pokemon of various races. "I never said you would be implicated, nor did I say you needed to be ethical with these experiments. The next strain of R is going to be stronger than this though, correct?"
"Quite so, the Aberration component has excelled the conditioning and aggression. Anelace's bloodlust is quite remarkable, and with a few more batches of death row criminals, those two words will be all it takes."
"Very good."
"I must admit, I am curious, why did you want her conditioned to be a killing machine?"
"Just focus on the experiments." Mare glanced down at his phone.
*Hospital Exterior*
The sun had gone down, and Blade had just stepped out of the limousine holding two fast food bags. Shadow stepped out holding a single bag and two drinks. Codsworth passed them, carrying three bags along with a tray of four drinks.
They each made their way to the doors when Shadow suddenly stopped. "Blade?"
"Yeah, what's up?"
"I need you to carry this in for me, and ask Codsworth to," he stopped glancing at an alley. "Tell him to contact my father. When he asks why he has been contacted, I need you to tell him one word, he will understand."
Blade seemed worried as he took the bag and drinks from Shadow. "Okay, uh…what do I say?"
"Aberration. Now get inside." Shadow rushed him in. "I know you are there. Show yourselves."
The Zoroark, krookodile and Charmander Aberrations stepped out of the darkness.