Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 61
Chapel's POV
Kashius, Mawile, and Eevee watched on as I applied my new viral infection power on a now unconscious 24. Rose still had her head down. She was visibly upset by 24's final words directed toward her.
"Commander 24 has been eliminated..." I said to myself. "Once he wakes up, he'll have no memory of Team Neo Snagem." Missingno and I were now one person. Sort of like how Seth and Fear became one.
I turned around to all of my allies, and looked specifically at Kashius.
"Thank you for saving me," Kashius said as he bowed, expressing gratitude. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have even made it past Venasaur."
"Being a heroine is it's own reward." Even with the task of finding Seth lying ahead, I could still crack a smile to Kashius.
"Um, you said your name was Chapel..." Kashius said, obviously trying to get to the introductions that haven't happened yet.
"Yes, and you're Kashius?"
"Would you happen to know a guy named Seth?"
"Huh?!" My eyes shot wide open. "Um, yes! How did you know?" If this guy knew who Seth was, maybe he could lead me to him.
"Before I was confronted by that bald man and his Venasaur, I was with a group of three trainers. They had just arrived in Ecruteak, and they said they were looking for 'a guy named Seth', and 'a girl named Chapel.' I met a 'Seth just the other day, when he defended me from a talkative Neo Snagem grunt. And obviously, I'm meeting 'a girl named Chapel' in you right now."
"A group of trainers?" I said confused. "Hmm, not sure if I know three trainers traveling together..."
"I know where they are, you know. I last saw them heading toward the eastern edge of town. I can take you there if you like."
It was an offer I didn't want to refuse, but I also had to consider Rose's fear of meeting new people. "Rose?" I looked at the five year old who still had her head down. She didn't say a word, but she DID approach me and grabbed my hand, holding on tight. She didn't say no, so...
"Let's go!" I said to Kashius.
And so, Mawile, Eevee, Rose, and I all followed our new friend to whomever lied ahead...
Location: Neo Snagem's Dominion of Shadow Base; Inside
Seth's POV
"This is where we hold our daily banquets. Team Neo Snagem's rise to power is always a cause for celebration," said one of the four Kimono girls.
After defeating an overly dramatic Commander 20, I was being escorted by four of the five Kimono Sisters into Neo Snagem's Dominion of Shadows base. Chikorita was on my shoulder, and the Kimono Girl named Zuki lete us both know that we had arrived at a royal banquet hall.
I said not a word as I scanned the entire room. Even with many tables and decor, the banquet hall still looked quite spacious. White cloths, high quality silverware, and fine foods decorated the tables. While portraits decorated the walls. On one portrait was a man the Kimono girls called Gonzap, the leader of the original Team Snagem. There were also portraits of Wakin, Biden, and Agrev, who were all former admins of the original Team Snagem. Those portraits weren't what got my attention though.
Wes, and my stepfather, Atticus...Those were the only two portraits of people that I knew.
"Atticus..." I kept my eyes fixated on the portrait of Neo Snagem's leader. Atticus and I...we NEVER got along. And when I looked back on our history, what upset me was not so much that he walked away from his life in Sunnyshore. What upset me was the subtle escalating of differences between him and I. Not only that, but this whole thing...this whole journey of mine to satisfy my long lasting thirst for vengeance...it's all because of him. And thinking about him actually made me wonder if or when our paths would cross. When will I find my mother, Flora? I believed that she was under Atticus' care all this time. I she really the mother of Rose? Where is my father, Rosen? I haven't seen him since the night before Zero turned his back on me...
"Chi. Chico?" I felt a nudge on my face that snapped me back to reality.
"Hm? I'm okay." It was Chikorita giving me a confused look while still on my shoulder. "Hmm." I reassured myself and returned my attention to the Kimono Sisters, who were all seated at a table with- "Morty?" I whispered. I had to keep my voice down. I didn't want to attract attention to myself in enemy territory.
"Yes, that is my name." Although he too was in Neo Snagem territory, he retained a quiet and reserved attitude. "So we meet again."
"Come and join us, Seth. We'll see Zero soon enough, but for now, we wait," said Kimono girl Miki.
This was not a friendly meal. Smiles were on the faces of absolutely nobody. This was all business waiting to be finished. But what exactly was I waiting for?
"What are we waiting for?" I asked in a low tone as i took a seat at the table for six, Chikorita hopping off my shoulder and into my arms.
"The rioting within the Dominion of Shadows is starting to quell. And Neo Snagem is on the winning end." Kimono Girl Sayo replied.
"Most of the Johto Region's Restoration Committee have been captured by Neo Snagem. They are all in line for maximum punishment, or should I say, exorcism." Morty explained.
I was the entire reason the Johto Region's Restoration Committee resorted to a rebellion. Me...was anyone in here aware of who I was?
"You...you look a lot like her..."
"Huh?" It was Kimono Girl Zuki, speaking to me as she looked into my eyes. "Who?"
"The wife of Neo Snagem's Leader, Atticus." Zuki answered. "Her name is Flora, and your eyes look a lot like hers."
"What?" I was prepared to ask the sudden question of where my mother was. "Where is she right now?"
"Hmm...sad to say..." Zuki started. "We're not sure. We don't even know the woman all too well...Zero once told us that she never leaves Neo Snagem's Headquarters anymore. Not since her daughter in Commander 26 turned her back on Neo Snagem. I mean, I've seen plenty of photos of Flora, and not once does she smile in any of them, but still. Her emotionless isn't so emotionless anymore. "Now on her face, all that is read is depression..."
So Rose really IS my sister...And perhaps it was a good thing she wasn't with me righ tnow, because someone was bound to recognize her.
"So..." I was hoping to stray away from the subject of my sister, now that she was on my mind.
"Yes? What is it?" Zuki asked.
"Finish your sentence," Morty said.
"Please." Sayo added. "You're quite the quiet one. And we've been waiting for you to speak up."
Morty and the Kimono Sisters would have to wait for me to actually talk to them, because at that moment, the attention of a persons in the banquet hall were grabbed by the opening on the double doors that led into the room.
The first three people to enter the room had their hands behind their back...They were handcuffed, and their hands were surrounded by a dark aura...Those three did not have uniforms on, so I guessed that they were apart of the fallen Restoration Committee.
Behind the three handcuffed people, were two Neo Snagem grunts, forcefully escorting the three prisoners to the banquet hall's center stage.
There was one last person to enter the banquet hall...This was a person I had met before.
His entire figure was cover by a dark purple cloak... Yes, there was without a doubt that this figure was Commander 10, the same commander who once threatened to crush the mind of a black haired, aqua blue banged girl I once traveled with.
On their way to the banquet hall's center stage, they all passed by the table I was sitting at. There was tension in the air as 10 walked right by me. And 10 wouldn't hesitate to crouch down and whisper one question into my ear.
"Do you enjoy my powers?"
If I had emotions, my eyes would've shot wide open. 10 was where Fear came from. Did he know all along that I would've gained Fear's power?
"Hey," Zuki whispered to me,"What did he say?"
I didn't reply. I didn't even bother to make eye contact with her. But what DID catch my eye was 10, the two grunts, and the three prisoners stopping right at the banquet hall's center stage.
"Ahem, befoer we begin, I would like for you all to please excuse the absence of Commander Zero," said a Commander 10 who allowed a moment of silence before continuing. "This, is a glorious day in which Team Neo Snagem has triumphed over it's greatest obstacle: The Johto Region's Restoration Committee. All we wanted, was the life of whomever murdered one of our own. But in the end, we got something different-something much, much more: The elimination of every life that has opposed us here in the Dominion of Shadows. Johto? Ha! The name of Johto has begun to fade away. One day, people will see the name of Johto written in stone, and EVEN THAT won't be remind people that the name once existed long ago. This region is now the Empire of Neo Snagem. And with the Empire of Neo Snagem, comes new rules, punishment, and ways of life, whether or not you side with us."
10 then proceeded to cloak the first of the three prisoners in a dark aura. It was similar to when he did it to Yumi.
"There three 'puppets' here will be serving a mere 'test dummies' as we demonstrate to you all what will happen should you ever oppose Neo Snagem in ANY way."
"Ah!" The dark aura surrounding the prisoner was becoming more intense. It was as if the darkness had a mind of it's own, I could hear the whispers of death that personified the darkness as it started to make the prisoner scream at the top of his lungs. "Aaaahhh!"
"...Mind Crush..." Slowly, 10's glove covered hand was clenching, and by the time it was fully clenched-
"-Aaah!" The prisoner screamed one last time before sliding into unconsciousness. Yes, the man was unconscious, but he was still standing up, and his eyes were wide open. He had a blank expression on his face, and it was as if he was completely void of any life. Standing before us was just a lifeless corpse; What we call, a 'zombie' of sorts.
"You see, we of Team Neo Snagem do not believe that killing our opposition is an appropriate punishment...sometimes. No...we want for our opposition to live and suffer. What you all have just witnessed is my own Mind Crush ability. Should another person ever oppose me personally, I'll be sure to use this ability to destroy the life you live. Your family and friends...all your hopes and dreams will be destroy as you become dehumanized. Your life won't even be worth as much as a lowly Rattata. You'll only be a mindless shell, forced to live out the rest of your days in a cruel, cruel world, to the amusement of Neo Snagem." 10 explained.
That prisoner has been killed. Not his body, but his mind and soul. Dehumanizing was probably the correct word to describe this whole thing. That Mind Crush, and that prisoner...That could've been Yumi way back when...(Chapter 23).
"And you two..." 10 turned his attention to the other two prisoners. By the tone of his brief chuckle, 10 sounded quite amused by the looks on the prisoners' faces. The prisoners' eyes were not on 10. They were wide open, and were staring at the ground. I saw a little sweat dripping from their faces. Looking back at their mind crushed prison mate, it was safe to say that they were literally staring into the face of death.
"Yes, you stare into the face of your fallen comrade, and realize that that will be you in the near future. How does it make you feel?" 10 asked. "Is a living death what you fear most right now? Is a living death the future that you have already accepted?" 10 then started to chuckle once more. "Ah yes, as part of the Johto Region's Restoration Committee, you will share the same fate as this 'zombie'. But rather that crush your mind right now, I thought I'd let you live for just a little while longer. That's right, I'm 'giving' time to the both of you: Time to think about the punishment that awaits you. And until then, I'll venture to guess that you both will spend every one of your remaining waking moment in a nightmare I like to call, Death Row...I'll dispose of you two once I finish with our 'intruder'."
"Intruder?" Questioned the many other who were in the room.
"Yes." 10 answered. "I believe it was the duty of the Kimono Girls to escort 'The Blood Of Zero' to this very room." The Blood of Zero...He was talking about me. "This banquet is over now," 10 said to everyone., "Now all of you, return to your duties."
And with that, Neo Snagem's gathering came to an abrupt end. The prisoners were escorted out, and the royal banquet all was empty, save for 10, Morty, the Kimono Girls, and myself. 10 slowly turned to me, and began to address me directly.
"The Blood of Zero..." 10 said ,"What do you think of the trap I had set up? Commander 20...the Kimono Girls...The showing of my Mind Crush ability...Yes, it was all my doing, and every pawn played their part perfectly."
Morty and the Kimono Girls did not make eye contact with me...So the defeat of Commander 20 was just 'staged'...He WAS overly dramatic though...
"I wonder where that Chapel girl is right now? Oh well, I believe 24 must've defeated her by now. Also, Commander 26 isn't with you, neither is that girlfriend of yours." 10 was addressing just me and Chikorita ,"I must ask: Why have you come here to the Dominion of Shadows? Is it to challenge what used to be Ecruteak City's Pokemon Gym? Or has 'personal' issues shifted your agenda?"
My eyes narrowed at the thought of 10 actually being correct.
"Yes, I can see it in your eyes, the long awaited confrontation between you and your brother." 10 continued.
"Where is he?" I asked calmly ,"He was here in Ecruteak."
"As a matter of fact, he was. To be precise, he's in this very building right now. Such a shame you asked though..."10 said.
"Why is that?"
"Because sadly, the long awaited confrontation between you and your brother won't be happening." That was a threat...10 was threatening to get in my way when he took out a pokeball, clearly prepared to fight.
"Brace yourself!" I said to Chikorita as I swiftly got up from the table. Chikorita followed as she stood in front of me in her battle stance.
"Hmm..." As Chikorita and I stared down 10, he seemed to be thinking as he looked at the center of his pokeball. "You know what, I've got a better idea. Morty!"
"Yes!" Morty swiftly rose from his seat as he was addressed by 10.
"There's something that I want for the brother of Zero to showcase before I fight him. And it just so happens that you're in the room right now. You'll be granting the brother if Zero's last request before I crush his mind. As the Gym Leader of the Dominon of Shadows, you'll be facing off against this boy, with the desired gym badge on the line."
"What?" I said confused.
"A gym battle?" Zuki questioned.
"Yes, a gym battle. Right here and now." 10 answered.
"Hmm..." A gym battle in an open banquet hall full of tables and chairs? What a change of pace.
"A few conditions though," 10 started ,"First off, I'll be the referee. Secondly, Morty!"
"Huh?" Morty looked at a 10 controlling two pokeballs using this dark aura.
"This will be a two on two battle, and the two pokemon you uses will be from my own party!"
"Hm?" Morty grabbed one of the pokeballs that hovered toward him.
"As you Commander, I command you now...battle!" And that was 10's unofficial cue for Morty to send out his pokemon.
"Okay...Go Pokeball!" Morty called as he threw his pokeaball, releasing...a set of keys?
"Key..." The set of keys was alive and floating...
"Chico?" Chikorita cried confused.
"One of my favorites," 10 said," Behold, the living key infused with the lost souls of my Mind Crush victims, Klefki!"
"Lost souls? It must be a ghost of some sort..." I said as I took out my navy blue Pokedex.
The Pokedex read:
Kleki, the Key Ring Pokemon: It has a habit of collecting keys. It threatens any attackers by jingling it's keys at them...
...That's it? The Pokedex's description sounded nothing like 10's description.
"MY Klefki has collected the keys to the souls of many people. And guess what?" 10 asked as Klefki started emitting a dark aura, "YOU'RE next, Brother of Zero!"
"Rrr..." Chikorita growled as she stared down the floating shadow pokemon.
"Chikorita!" I called for my first pokemon to step forward, "Ready your battle stance!"
"And so it begins, the gym battle between Morty, and the brother of Zero!" 10 announced.
Location: Dominon of Shadows' Eastern Checkpoint
Chapel's POV
"We're almost there!" Kashius announced.
Rose was still holding my hand, and was keeping the both of us a distance away from 'stranger' Kashius as we neared Ecruteak's eastern city limit.
"I wonder, who's looking for us?" I whispered to myself. "Friends?" I was hoping so. Missingno and I were now one being. Eevee was more than likely weakened by an eliminated 24's Gliscor. Mawile was still weak from her battle against my recently caught Skarmory, and vice versa, and Chime was never really a battling pokemon in the first place. That only left Ursaring, and I'm not counting my viral powers by the way. Sure, Ursaring as strong, but even he couldn't take on an entire organization by himself. We needed reinforcements...
"We have arrived..." Rose said as she pulled my hand, stopping us from getting any closer to a Kashius who also stopped at Ecruteak's city limit.
Waiting for us were three trainers, and a Meganium.
The first trainer was a celebrity I knew all too well. She had blue hair, blue eyes, and wore a white jacket.
The second trainer was a boy with short, light brown hair. He wore a white collard, greenish cyan polo shirt, and dark brown pants. He was the trainer Meganium followed.
And third was-
"Chapel! Oh Chapel!"
"O-oh!" She ran me into a hug, causing Rose to lose her grip on my hand. Ros ecould not help but turn to her and smile.
She was just as affectionate and energetic as ever.
"It's been so long, Chapel. Oh, and you too, Rose!" She said, "But I'm glad to finally be back!"
She held me even tighter before letting go and stepping back, allowing me to get another glimpse at her. Eyes as blue as a clear sky...Long black hair with aqua blue bangs, she had. She wore a sky blue, short skirted furisode, black leggings that went to her lower thighs, and black high top shoes.
"This is so sudden, but it's good to finally have you back, Yumi," I said with a smile.
To Be Continued...