A/N: I wasn't happy with how the next chapter ended up, so I'm going back to the drawing board with it. In the meantime, I figured I would post an epilogue for the previous arc.
Mienfoo took a deep breath, allowing the strong smell of lavender to seep into his lungs. He allowed his mind to empty, simply enjoying the flowery scent and the sense of calmness it filled him with. He exhaled, peeking his eyes open to watch the blanket of violet flowers ebb and flow with his breath.
With the return of his vision, so too did the mustelid's troubles. He sighed.
He felt a breeze pick up to his left and extended his arm in that direction. With an open hand, he felt the wind tickle his palm and then straightened his hand to allow the breeze to flow beneath his wrist instead. With great subtlety, he adjusted his arm to direct the breeze. First he allowed it to flow up to his elbow, and then to his armpit. The stream of air brushed across his chest, and to his opposite arm.
The trick had seemed impossibly complicated the first time he'd tried but became as natural as breathing once he had gotten the feel for it. It was like manipulating a stream of water in the rain – he just needed to create a path for the current to follow.
The air ran down Mienfoo's other arm, and then shot from his fingertips. Mienfoo watched with some interest as a single violet petal floated in the air before him. With slight adjustments of his hands, it would dance elegantly.
But it wasn't enough.
It was a pleasant diversion, but his thoughts remained. Should he speak his mind? What if it upset her?
He lowered his arms, and the petal instantly fluttered off with the breeze. He swallowed back his doubts, and spoke.
"Auntie?"
"Yes, Little Gregorian?" The Mienshao was draped in a colorful gi, sitting calmly nearby. Her eyes were closed, her arms raised in a meditative stance.
"I..." A lump of doubt filled the boy's throat, but he grit his teeth and powered through it. "I was wondering - why are we here?"
"We are training, no?"
Mienfoo shook his head. "No... not here specifically." He turned his gaze towards her. "I mean... why do we live here? In Ignorei. As opposed to somewhere else."
She opened a single eye, meeting his gaze with curiosity. "It's nice here."
He turned around completely, pulling himself to his feet. "Yes, but... there's no one here!"
"Mun live here, Gregorian."
"But everyone's old!" He clenched his fists. It was too late to go back now - he wasn't going to let her change the topic again. He was ready to grill her until she gave him answers. "You always tell me stories about your adventures with your friends, and yet you moved us here where I can't even make any friends of my own!"
"What about Ernst?" The Mienshao appeared unbothered by his outburst. She closed her eyes again, returning to her meditation.
"Ernst is an adult, auntie!"
A smile spread across her face. "Debatable."
Mienfoo puffed out his cheeks, looking away from her. "Xandra..."
"Why are we here?"
Mienfoo's eyes creaked open. With the return of consciousness came a tidal wave of pain and weariness. Yet, in spite of that, he felt oddly comfortable. He felt himself moving, his weight shifting side to side as his arms were wrapped around something. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, revealing the back of Scraggy's head.
The lizard Pokémon breathed heavily, trudging forward with Mienfoo in tow. The air was cold and damp and the silence was eerie. The rain had stopped, and the streets were lit by the moonlight which seeped through the clouds overhead. But Mienfoo felt at ease, knowing that his friend was safe.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and letting himself relax. His head throbbed, and his body ached. It was the kind of pain that lingered. A dull, persistent pain. Nonetheless, Mienfoo smiled as his consciousness slipped away once more.
"My child…" his aunt replied, resting a hand on Mienfoo's shoulder. "I wish… I wish I had done better. It must be hard for you, growing up in a place like this."
Mienfoo saw the remorse and sadness in her eyes, the tears that were on the verge of forming, and bit his lip in guilt. "Auntie, I-"
"But please understand, Gregorian, our – my – enemies. They are vigilant."
Mienfoo's confusion was drowned out by his guilt. He walked forward, embracing her.
"Your concerns are valid, son." She brought her hand to his cheek, caressing it. "But, I promise you… the day will come…"
She smiled down at him. "Someday, you will have an adventure of your own."
"And friends to share it with."
Simisear Adelaide sat amongst the debris of the wrecked stage. Her head hung low and blood dribbled from her mouth. She felt her eyes grow heavy. Her muscles were torn and exhausted. She could feel the after effects of Element Enhance beginning to kick in - the pain, the exhaustion, the hallucinations. Her inner fire - the elemental energy within her - was screaming. It felt like a piece of her had been torn away.
It was so very quiet.
A pair of footsteps sounded above her, and her head rose slightly.
She saw another simian Pokemon, standing above her. It wore a fierce-looking fanged mask, covered in colorful markings.
"Well now, child," Dendro said, glaring down at her. "I'm afraid you're going to have to come with me."
Simisear coughed, blood spattering across the shattered wood beneath her. She looked up at him, her lips curled into a weak smirk. "Yeah... whatever..."
The masked mon crouched down, taking her into his arms. The weight of her body caused him to shift his stance, the wooden debris beneath him cracking. "I hope all of this was worth it."
She let out a short laugh. "Not..." She felt her eyes close as her consciousness faded. "...even close..."
Dendro shook his head. "Honestly, kid. What a waste."
He leapt out of the collapsed stage, landing on the ground nearby with a thud. He stood, his back hunched and his shoulders slouched. Simisear Adelaide's head lay limply against his chest, and his own arms shook.
"Addie...?" a voice grabbed Dendro's attention. He turned his head, to see a bruised and burnt Scraggy standing nearby. How had he returned here already? He must've left Mienfoo in someone's care.
Scraggy looked at the Simisear in Dendro's arms with an expression of worry. "S... she... ok?"
Dendro looked calmly at the young mon. "She'll survive."
Scraggy looked at the masked Pokémon for a few seconds, before turning away and lowering his head. "...Good."
"You should hurry back, kid," Dendro continued. "Vii must be worried sick about you. She'll get you patched up."
Scraggy let out a sigh of relief, then dashed off towards the exit of the courtyard. But he stopped just before exiting. He turned around. "Take care o' her."
Dendro nodded. "I will."
The young lizard Pokémon gave him one last glance, before turning around and disappearing from sight.
"Are you ready?"
Krokorok gulped, glaring at the spiralling shadow that hung in the air before him. Like a wall of writhing darkness. He clenched his fist, the scales on his arm tingling. "Yes."
Weavile walked towards the shadow, stepping through it and vanishing. Krokorok followed him, hesitating briefly before stepping into the blackness.
It was cold. But not a normal cold. The shadows seemed to creep into his flesh, spreading through every nook and cranny of his body and digging into his bones. The icy sensation clawed at his very soul, threatening to eat away at it and leave him an empty husk.
He always hated using Cofagrigus's gates.
His feet touched the ground. Krokorok opened his eyes. He was standing in a dark chamber, the only light emanating from the dim lanterns which hung from the walls.
Filling the room were a half dozen adult Pokémon, each one appearing more dark and threatening than the last.
A den of monsters.
Seated on a weathered throne at the room's far end was a formidable steel-type Pokémon, its red and black form adorned with sharp blades. The Bisharp's gaze was intense, cutting through Krokorok with the precision of a pair of razor-sharp knives. "Your report?" the Bisharp demanded icily, sending a shiver down Krokorok's spine.
"I've signed up for the tournament as planned," Krokorok said, extending his hands as if to emphasize the fact.
"And..." the Bisharp began, "do you feel confident you have what it takes?" He rested his cheek on his blade-covered gauntlet. "We are risking a lot by putting our faith in you, child."
Krokorok snarled, stomping his foot down. "I'll do whatever it takes to reach the end!" he snapped. "I've been training nonstop since the Day of Demolition! I won't let anyone stand in my way!"
The mun's eyes narrowed. "You certainly seem to have the motivation... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
Krokorok was silent for a moment, sweating nervously as he felt the adults' eyes all come to rest on him. Sizing him up. It took all his courage, but he managed to speak up once more. "About the plan..."
Bisharp leaned forward. "Speak."
Krokorok swallowed. "You really think it will work?" He seemed both disbelieving and hopeful at the same time. "Will I really be able to get my revenge?"
The Bisharp leaned back in his throne, his face stoic. "We of the DLST are shadows born from Aurumus's light. No matter how long or how brightly a beacon burns..."
"Eventually night shall fall."