The Houndoom called "Skullzer". His encounter theme would likely be a hopeless tune.
Take a listen to "Midnight Abyss" by A Birkeholm on YouTube.
- Chapter 16: The Houndoom Called "Skullzer" -
Skullzer.
He was real.
He was here.
Every single breath Krista took only filled her chest with more lead.
The air was thin.
It was hot.
He was here.
Breathe. She couldn't breathe. The world started to spin…the world spun… The world spun… The world spun…
The ground spewed fire. Krista felt it through her spine. It roared louder than her rampant thoughts. The rippling heat singed her face…it sucked away what little air filled her lungs.
The inferno curtain fell. The canine's solid figure remained true. It did not falter. It did not waver.
He was real.
He stood, silent, with only the subtle flick of his arrowhead tail. The Starly he commanded were still like statues…like perfect soldiers.
"...he only makes himself known when he wants something that is too good for him to pass on."
Slowking's words were louder than the heartbeat that boomed in her ears.
"Rarely does Skullzer ever lose sight of his targets. He will not be kind if you cross paths again."
Again…
It was happening.
Tidal's breathing quivered. He crouched low on the ground to make himself as small as possible. Pineno's whimpering turned into an agonizing groan. His voice wavered. He was on the verge of wailing.
With every sharp breath, the stench of fear only grew stronger.
Krista tried to speak, but her chest tightened. It was heated in a ball she couldn't keep down. Her mouth did not move.
(What did you do to him…?) She wanted to ask. (Why is he hurting so much…?)
The wall of fire blew and shrunk.
The Houndoom moved.
(No…!)
Cold, piercing. It took hold of her body. It clamped around her throat. Her breathing hitched.
(No…no…!)
Red, cold eyes drew closer. The Houndoom's monstrous claws sunk into the earth with every step. Every muscle moved, heavy and stout. Battle scars told tales of his countless battles, with the worst torn across his chest, where the fur could not grow back.
He had survived the impossible. He was invincible
They won't win..
They were supposed to be under the safe roof of the complex.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
This wasn't…
He was only a few feet away when he stopped. The Starly that hovered over him remained in their positions, watching. The wall of fire illuminated his form behind him. Light reflected below his skull collar. A large, dark crystal hung, supported by other links—a necklace.
It was embedded with dark energy. Tendrils of blackened bolts…the same bolts that blighted their items…their badges…
The Houndoom's gaze fell on Krista. The world whirled. She almost lost the strength in her legs.
But once he looked at Pineno, Krista felt her stomach sink to the ground.
Pineno pulled his body into a tight ball. His head and limbs were tucked under his shell that rattled against the earth. He would remember to breathe as a sharp gasp escaped him. The moment the lethal shadow cloaked over his form, he had forgotten to breathe. He choked out a sob.
"Fifth child of Zypher…"
With power and spite behind every word, Skullzer stared down at the trembling sphere.
"Tremble before me, for what you feel is true. My presence is no illusion."
"N-no…n-no-o…" Pineno gasped.
Skullzer stepped closer. "The climb has hindered you. You are weak. All you've done…was delay the inevitable. It's time you accept your fate."
Flames licked the edges of his mouth.
He wasn't hesitating.
Krista couldn't…
…but Pineno...
…she promised…
Pineno choked back a sob. Skullzer lowered his head. His parted fangs glistened, engulfed by the orange glow.
(Wait…)
Words.
(Wait…!)
Any words…!
"WAIT!"
Skullzer stopped. Red eyes met Krista's. She almost forgot how to speak again.
She had to keep talking.
She had to keep Pineno safe.
"…Why…?" She almost didn't recognize her own voice. So small, like a toddler in the night. "Why hurt him…? He can't…he can't do anything to you. H-he can't even touch you. So why…"
His long stare kept Krista frozen in place. A moment passed before he gave his response. His flames never retreated, flicking with every word.
"This Chespin was never meant to be present in this world."
Krista's lips quivered. The answer made her want to retreat, but she forced herself to keep going. "But why…? He's…he's not hurting anyone. He's not…bad or anything…"
Skullzer raised his head, as if her words insulted his pride. "Do not let his frail appearance fool you, little one. The Chespin believes he is innocent. His naivety will reign chaos. Your ignorance towards the manner, I see it now. He is your ally…perhaps your companion. It is only to be expected for bias to cloud your sights towards his reality."
She almost didn't understand him. What about Pineno was terrible…?
Then, she remembered.
He couldn't believe that.
It couldn't be that…
"He has told you." Skullzer noticed the change in Krista's face. "Then you understand why he must cease to exist."
"That's…that's not true! Maybe…maybe his mother was, but he…he's not! He's not!"
"Plead ignorance if it lessens the wound in your heart."
B-BMP!
Krista felt his resolve. Her body moved back.
The flames grew as he opened his mouth.
"NO—"
A sharp sound pitched in the air.
There was a whirlwind.
Skullzer only had time to look up before he was struck by the swirling vortex. His sharp yelp was muffled by the roaring wind. With no control of his body, he was picked up and swept within the rotation. Limbs flailing, his extinguished fangs snapped in the air as he flew through the wall of fire. It was blown to embers, unable to withstand the strong force of wind.
Skullzer was nowhere to be seen.
The wind steadily died. Tidal gasped as he lowered his arm. What remained of the blowback orb fluttered out of sight as specks of light.
The surrounding Starly squabbled in an angry chorus. They flew and dove, talons outstretched.
"I-it wore off!" Tidal shouted as he searched through the backpack. "We can use items! The escape orb!"
Krista almost didn't register his words. There were two that stuck out in an instant—two that were a glimmer of hope.
Escape orb.
She found her body moving. Before she knew it, she brought out the orb and held it above her head.
A blur of gray knocked it off her paw. Another knocked her to the ground. She looked up. A Starly held the escape orb between its talons as it flew away.
"No!" Krista brought out the whirlwind wand. She flicked the spell. It was a weak gust compared to the orb activated before, but it was still effective as it blew the Starly from the sky. The blue sphere fell to the ground. She made her move.
She was knocked down. Tidal slammed his tail against the Starly and sent it tumbling. "These Starly aren't so strong! I'll fight them! Go help him!"
Pineno!
Krista searched for him. He was still curled up in the same spot. A Starly has landed on his body and jabbed its beak between the gaps of his curl. It was trying to break his guard.
"Get away from him!" Krista rushed in and lunged. Her claws struck the Starly across the head. It was knocked back. She immediately turned her focus into helping Pineno to his feet. "You have to get up!"
Pineno shook his head before he wheezed. "I…I can't…it hurts…"
"I know it does! But we can't stay here! Come on! I'll help you!" Krista tried to push him to stand, but hearing his pained cries made her want to stop.
His burns. On his back. She remembered seeing it in the forest. She assumed they had healed, but was she wrong? Had they gone invisible?
She adjusted her footing, pressing her weight against his legs to boost him to her back. He was heavier, unable to walk himself. The wave of fatigue almost brought Krista back to the ground. Walking was difficult, but she knew she had to keep moving.
Tidal held off the Starly to the best of his ability. He spewed chilling strands of water that froze on contact. Caught wings were coated in frost or frozen solid. The added weight and disturbed balance disabled the Starly's ability to fly.
He was fighting so well. Krista couldn't believe he was the same Sobble she met back in the commons. Every blast he unleashed was focused and deliberate. He targeted their wings, pinning them as a weak point.
He beckoned Krista to hurry. She held on to Pineno as she pushed her body to move faster. A Starly dropped from the air behind her—it had tried to ambush her blind spot.
It wasn't until Krista reached Tidal that the Sobble took a break. He dropped down to all fours, his breathing ragged. His determined gaze didn't falter as he studied the damage he caused. Steam rose from the starlings' bodies. The ice melted at a rapid rate. Even as he fired more beams of ice, there were far more targets than he could keep up with. He didn't hesitate in the slightest. He picked up his momentum again.
Krista almost didn't see the Starly that dove down at her from above. Krista had little time to do as much as lift a claw.
The Starly was shot out of the air by a heavy stream of water. Tidal looked back. He turned his body to knock down another Starly with his tail before racing towards the escape orb.
The Starly that had fallen stood back up. It screamed and stretched its wings.
Several Starly multiplied around them. Tidal froze as one jumped in front of him. The numbers tripled. They were surrounded by a massive flock in an instant. No matter where they turned, there was a Starly waiting.
"Wh…what do we—where did they come from?!" Krista shouted.
Tidal took a cautious step back. His face hardened into a determined glare. "They are using the double team technique! It's all an illusion! The copies can't hurt you! Only the real ones can!"
"But which ones are the real ones?!" Krista asked.
"Unless you have a lock-on specs, we won't know!"
An item they didn't have. As if their luck couldn't possibly get any worse.
They had to escape. Their badges were still disabled but whatever force blocked the magic. The escape orb was beyond their reach. It would be careless to try to bolt for it but…
"Tidal! You can turn invisible!" Krista shouted.
Tidal shook his head. "I've been trying to turn invisible since they showed up! The air…it keeps absorbing the moisture! My water skills are not as strong as they should be!"
That wasn't what she was hoping to hear, but she understood it. The air has been miserably hot from the moment they entered the dungeon. The only thing that kept Krista on her feet was the fear of falling victim to Skullzer's ambition. It was the fear of losing Pineno, who was unable to fend for himself.
With every sharp cry in the air, Krista whipped her head, anticipating an attack from a blind spot. There was no way to escape them. There was no telling when Skullzer would make his return. From the look of things, it seemed his return wouldn't be necessary. The flock has them surrounded. They would do his work for him.
Krista and Tidal drew closer until their backs almost pressed. They absentmindedly formed a protective wall that sheltered Pineno from the feathered forces. The distant wall of fire was like a long-term strike of lightning, painting every flying body with an orange and yellow light. Their angry faces stared down at them all.
They dove, one by one.
Krista set Pineno down and swatted at the Starly that went for him. Her paw phased through, and it vanished. She swung at another. A fake. The third she missed, and she was tackled off her feet by the fourth.
The Starly was sent flying by a stream of water. Tidal fired another from his mouth. It disintegrated an illusion. He slammed his tail at another. He struck one from the air, and binded it with his tail before it could make its escape. The bird screamed as it tried to break free.
Another Starly dove towards Krista. Tidal spun his body and threw the captured Starly against its ally. Both birds tumbled to the ground.
More copies appeared around them.
Whatever bravado Tidal found started to waver. With every copy he got rid of, a new one would replace it. His movements became more sluggish. Exhaustion started to take its toll.
"I-it doesn't matter how many we get rid of. They'll just make more!" Tidal panicked. "Oh, this is all my fault! W-why did I have to be so stupid and run over here! If I just ignored them…! If I had just stayed in the complex…! Pineno is hurting! W-we can't…we can't keep fighting like this!"
Tidal's will to fight was starting to crumble. Pineno was still in too much pain to move. Krista didn't know what to do. The items they had, it wouldn't be enough to fight so many at once. Their numbers didn't dwindle in the slightest.
Panic tried to take hold of Krista again, but she swallowed it down. She couldn't allow it. Not when she needed to think.
A deep breath. Pineno's words…she took them to heart.
(Fear won't hold me…I am not alone…!)
She wasn't alone. She had to have faith that they could pull through. If she couldn't fight as well as Tidal, there were other ways.
Dusk told her that brute force alone didn't always win a fight.
Krista searched her bag for anything useful; A handful of geo pebbles. A slow wand. A pounce wand. An oran berry. Two blast seeds.
Blast seeds…
"Tidal. You don't have to eat blast seeds, right?" She remembered what Pineno did, but she had to make sure.
The question almost made Tidal lose focus. He swatted another Starly away with his tail. "N-no. As…as long as the shell breaks, it will explode either way!"
An idea crossed Krista's mind.
"This might just work, then!" She handed him a blast seed. She scooped up a few geo pebbles. "I need you to throw this at them!"
Tidal was lost, but he didn't question it. He grabbed the seed with his tail, and he stretched it as far as allowed. He turned and slung the seed high and far.
Krista threw a handful of the geo pebbles, with her mind focused on the seed itself.
The pebbles struck. The shell splintered and exploded. Pebbles shot out like bullets.
Krista and Tidal ducked to the ground as the air whizzed around them. The startled screams of the Starly filled the air. Singed feathers fluttered from the air like ashes.
It was quiet. Only the roar of spewing fire reached their ears. The environment was painted orange, and something reflected from the ground.
"Th-there it is!" Tidal pointed at the escape orb that was surrounded by scattered feathers. He crouched close to the ground and scurried towards the item. The curtain of fire nearby died.
But the orange light didn't fade.
A massive trail of flames made him jump back. He looked ahead, and the fin of his head flattened against his skull.
He was trembling again.
"No…" Krista knew it was inevitable. She expected it. A little more time was all they needed! Just a little more!
Several lunges away, Skullzer stood, his claws anchored on the ground. Despite being sent away, he didn't appear the slightest bit annoyed. But…that wasn't what scared them.
His face was impossible to read.
He took a long look around before he moved to close the gap between them. His tail flicked behind him, slicing the air. "What have you done to my scouts?"
Tidal tried to find his words, but all that came out were incomprehensible gibberish. Krista held the other blast seed. She was ready to throw it, if her paw would stop shaking.
"Disposed of them all, haven't you?" Skullzer asked. "All for what purpose? To protect the Corrupted Chespin?"
"He's…he's not Corrupted!" Krista managed to choke out.
Skullzer came to a stop as he looked down at the escape orb. He tapped the object with his paw. "If this is what you desire. I will allow you to use it."
Krista felt her face twist. "What…?"
It was a trick. A lure. No enemy would give such an offer.
"I see little reason to toy with mere interlopers," he continued. "You may escape here, but only if you leave the Chespin behind."
Krista and Tidal stared, speechless.
That was the catch.
"You've bested my scouts, and for that, I shall give you praise. However, your strength cannot hold a candle to my own. What you call a battle isn't even that. It will be one-sided and foolish. Do not throw your innocent lives away."
Skullzer had the escape orb pinned, but he made no move to approach them. He was waiting. He was actually waiting. There was no hostility surrounding him.
He truly meant every word. He would let them go.
But Pineno…
He ran so far just to escape. He had to leave his family behind…he didn't even know if they were safe or not.
All those sacrifices. All his grief. To throw it all away just to save her own skin? Krista would never forgive herself!
(There is no way I'm going to abandon him!) Krista was terrified, but she stood firm. (Let you take him out?! No way! Not a chance!)
Skullzer huffed. "So…that is your answer. I applaud you for your loyalty, but it will achieve nothing here. It appears necessary to knock you out of commission. The Sobble will return you home. But, worry not, little one. I see no reason to mark you."
He opened his maw. The orange glow inside intensified.
Krista searched for an escape route, but there was none.
But the ground. It still spewed heat. She blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"Tidal! Water gun! On the cracks!"
Skullzer's flames were unleashed in a roar. Tidal panicked and fired water. It struck the ground near Skullzer's feet.
The ground exploded. The path of fire was interrupted. Skullzer was knocked back. The escape orb was in the air
Krista set Pineno down as her eyes followed the object's path. She lunged with all the strength she had in her legs. She extended a paw towards it.
Dark rings knocked it off course. Krista gasped. The world around her was rising.
She looked down. The ground was far, far below. She twisted her body around before she could hit the ground, and landed on all fours paws.
(I…I'm not hurt?)
She searched for the escape orb, but it was nowhere to be seen.
Behind her, Tidal stood in front of Pineno. Despite how much his body shook, he did not budge. Skullzer took a step closer and knocked the Sobble off his feet with a simple head swing. He did not chase him.
He wasn't interested. He only had one target in mind.
Krista searched her bag again.
The rain orb. She held it in her paws. She held it high above her head. (I don't know how to activate this thing…! But please work! Rain orb! Activate!)
It did nothing.
Tidal was on his feet as he feebly fired a stream of water. Skullzer didn't make an effort to move as the water broke and raised down in front of him.
Tidal covered his mouth. The Houndoom knew he didn't have the energy to fire anymore.
(What do I do?) Krista searched for an answer. Skullzer raised a paw towards Pineno, fire licking his lips.
She searched her bag and grabbed the first item her eyes landed on.
She waved the pounce wand. The world lunged below her feet. A heavy force struck her to the ground.
Skullzer froze the moment she saw her. He shut his maw just before the flames could escape.
Krista laid there. She was sure Pineno was behind her. That was all she needed. He was unharmed…she stopped Skullzer's attack.
Above, dark clouds formed at a rapid pace as a warm breeze brushed past. The rain orb was in Tidal's grasp as it shattered to a million floating fragments that faded in thin air.
It was pouring.
Like invisible ink, Tidal's appearance vanished from head to toe.
The tiny window of chance they had…they were able to take it. Krista would have laughed if the Houndoom wasn't staring at her.
In fact, Skullzer has gone stiff. His face had the most subtle change, as if he couldn't believe what he saw.
"You are wounded," he said.
Wounded…?
Krista looked down.
Blood.
There was blood.
There was no pain, but the drumming of her heart flooded her ears. Her chest felt heavy.
Red and vibrant, a gash tore across her left flank. The surrounding fur was matted and crimson.
(Why am I bleeding…?)
Skullzer stepped in front of her frail form. His claws, dipped with clumps of fur and blood.
Her blood.
(Pokémon aren't supposed to bleed…)
Skullzer looked down at her. Whether or not it was due to pity was impossible to tell. "You took the blunt of a blow that was meant for the Chespin. Tell me, little one. Do you see your life as forfeit?"
Krista couldn't look at him. Her eyes were glued on the crimson sight that wasn't supposed to be there…a sight that wasn't right. It didn't feel…real.
But it was real. She was…
Her body wasn't…built for this…
"I seek no interest in this quarrel. Yield. You must yield, for you cannot sustain any more damage. You will expire."
"I…"
Krista knew that every part of her body wanted her to run. She knew she couldn't take another blow. But if she left…then Pineno…
"I am not…leaving him…"
Skullzer scoffed and lifted a paw. A soft blow aside her head knocked Krista to the ground.
"Stand down. Your life is too precious to throw away." He glanced back and huffed. "Use it now if you desire, little Sobble. We are present within the heart of the distortion no more. The Wonder Orb will fail to tag every one of your allies if they are not near."
Krista could see the floating orb. It froze right after he said that.
If he was right, there was no way for Tidal to have Pineno within the orb's radius. There was no escape.
The Houndoom pinned Pineno down. His jaws caught fire.
(No!) Krista got to her knees.
Sharp pain brought her back to the ground.
He saw her dismay. He spoke through his flames. "You will thank me for this in the future, children."
He dove his head and clamped his maw around Pineno's body.
Pineno's scream pierced Krista's heart.
The flames grew and blanketed over Pineno's back. The fangs sunk deeper, seeping through the shell.
Krista clawed at the ground as she fought against her own weight. Pineno's cries started to waver, to weaken. The heat of tears stung Krista's eyes, blurring her vision.
(Pineno…! Pineno…no…!)
Krista moved, all while she held back a cry of pain as she stood on four paws. Her limbs shook. She couldn't fall back down. She had to save him.
(I have to…do something…!)
She could no longer see him. The flames had consumed him.
(I…have to…stop this!)
Skullzer's gaze was focused. The light danced from his eyes. It was a silent execution.
(I WON'T LET YOU DIE!)
BMP!
Krista held her breath. Her vision had flashed. Her heart just then, it made an effort to leap out of her chest. All of her pain was forgotten.
BMP! B-BMP!
A gulp of air was swallowed. Claws sunk into the earth. Her tail bristled. The air felt sharper. And yet, the cold grasp in her chest grew stronger.
(Where…where is this terrible feeling coming from? My body…every part of my body is on edge. Why does it feel like…?)
B-BMP!
The source. She saw it within the fire.
A strange, green glow.
The air was thick with a strange presence. The rippling light doubled, then tripped in size. Then, it burst.
A heavy force knocked Skullzer off his feet.
Slowly, the flames shrunk. They fluttered and wavered. Visible but cloaked in the pyre, Pineno staggered to his feet. An eerie and rippling green flame…no…energy—it highlighted his body. With his form hunched over, his arms hung limp beneath him. Deep and ragged, his breathing increased in speed as he opened his eyes.
They too, were glowing a vibrant green.
(What…what is happening…?) Krista felt its presence, a power she knew in the very back of her mind.
"K-KRISTA!" Tidal screamed from somewhere. "GET AWAY!"
Green light fired like a beacon in the sky. It pierced through the clouds, bathing them in green light. Like the angry limbs of a kraken, four thick and glowing vines shot out of Pineno's shoulders. They whipped in the air with wild and feral energy, but the Chespin did not move. His posture remained sluggish, and his glare was nothing but a cold fury.
Krista scrambled back. "Wha…what just…?"
Skullzer lifted his head from the ground. Eyes were fixed on the beacon. "Now it reveals itself."
Once on his feet, Skullzer tilted his head back, and unleashed a bone-chilling howl. The crystal necklace around his neck held a sinister glow.
The Starly opened their eyes, which adopted that same purple light. They rose from the ground in sync, wings limp on the ground. All at once, they turned to Pineno. All at once, they raised their wings. All at once, they multiplied.
All at once, they lunged their bodies towards him.
Illuminated from the inside, Pineno's vines were far more lively than they ever were before. They snaked and coiled and swung with no purpose, wild and angry, striking Starly from their flight. The blows were heavy, and sliced clean through the air. What missed the targets left deep gorges on the ground. The illusions were disappearing at a rapid rate. More came, but they couldn't keep up.
A Starly dove through the gaps of the attacks. It struck Pineno across the chest with a wing. He staggered. His posture went slump again. His eyes shifted towards the Starly as it made a sharp turn for another attack. It was struck by a blur of green, and its body bounced off the ground. Its cry silenced.
Krista almost didn't want to believe it. It was as if he caught a second-wind.
"How…how is he doing that…?" Krista wanted to be relieved that he was on his feet fighting, but the brutal style was unlike him. The pained cries of the Starly made her winch. One was sent through the earth, she was sure of it.
"I-I…I think I know what happened to him!" Tidal shouted from Krista's right. "It happened to me! When I was too beaten and weak to move, my body suddenly got this weird surge of energy! Then my water skills became the strongest they ever were! It was my ability! Torrent! But…"
A Starly was struck by the wing. It lost control of its flight and crashed to the ground.
"I-it wasn't like this!" Tidal's voice wavered. "I-I know some flora Pokémon have a similar one, but I've never seen one like this! It's…it's far too violent! I don't think he can control it!"
Uncontrolled. Krista didn't want to believe it. But there was no denying it. The air was thick with raw power. Rippling and bright, his aura did not shrink.
The way he moved, the way he stood…he was like a zombie. Sluggish turns, unmoving arms, his vines were far more alive than he looked.
She wanted to call him as Skullzer approached.
Skullzer's collar glowed in a rhythm once more. The Starly that were brought down rose from the ground. Feathers dangled and wings were ruffled; they paid it no mind. They flew to their target again. As they were struck back down, they resumed their blind assault.
Feathers spilled in the air. The air whistled and snapped. They did not yield, no matter how many times they were struck by the thundering blows.
The vines curled inward as Pineno lunged from the ground. His body curled into a roll as the vines weaved him in a cage. The rotation was a glowing blur that zipped around the field, dodging Skullzer's flames, striking down the Starly and their illusions. It made a sharp turn, avoiding another trail of flames. It plowed through the third. The vines burned into ash, but more grew and reformed the cage.
A Starly fell from the sky.
Skullzer's head was knocked back, his weight almost leaving the ground. He staggered and followed the angry green ball. Another trail of flames were unleashed. Another Starly fell. The Houndoom was knocked off his feet. Upon standing, he was knocked back again. Teeth snapped at the air as Skullzer tried to catch it, but his body was thrashed instead. The rapid flow of attacks did not cause major harm, but he was visibly annoyed. Every attempt to catch him was rewarded with another blow.
But, Pineno's attacks were not working. They were desperate. Skullzer made no more attempts to catch him. He took every blow, his eyes fixed on Krista. No words had to be spoken. Krista already knew what they were.
"This is who you want to protect?"
Pineno wasn't going to stop. Even with his attacks being ineffective, he wouldn't…
"Stop it!" Krista cried. "You're just going to wear yourself down! He's counting on that! You have to pull back!"
But the blows showed no signs of slowing down. For the brief moment Pineno unraveled, a glowing vine wrapped Skullzer's muzzle shut. The Houndoom was pulled from the ground and thrown in an arc above Pineno's head. A heavy slam followed. He dragged his feet as he approached the fallen canine.
It was a trap.
Krista panicked. "Tidal! Is there anything you can do to stop him?!"
"N-no! I….I have the ice beam technique, but what if it knocks him out?! Houndoom will only finish him off! What can we do?!"
What could they do?
Just stand by and watch?
"No!" Krista cried again. "Come back to us, Pineno! We have the escape orb! We can go home!"
"Your words fail to reach him." Skullzer was bruised as he stood, but he didn't lose his focus. "His mind had been reduced to instinctual preservation. He feels pain no more. To strike me down is all he desires."
A vine struck him across the head. He caught it with his teeth and tore it clean from Pineno's shoulder, but a new sprout replaced what was lost.
Krista pushed her body to run. Even if it hurt, she had to run. She has to reach him. She had to stop him. She had to—
The air cracked, and ground burst in front of her feet. Chunks of rock clattered near her. She froze.
A glowing vine lifted from the ground, spilling the gravel that clung on. Pineno's eyes were fixed on her. With every breath he took, the light rippled and grew. His quills stood tall, corroded like rusted knives.
The vine hovered high above her head. A threat.
She stepped back.
"P-Pineno…?"
He did not recognize her.
She could feel Skullzer's eyes on her.
This couldn't be the reason he was after him.
It couldn't be.
Pineno would never…he wouldn't…
(He…he wouldn't hurt me. I know…I know he wouldn't…I…)
Another vine lifted and snaked towards another direction. Empty as it was, a soft whimper told that Tidal had been found. The remaining two were the most stiff, pointed towards Skullzer.
"Now you've seen it. You understand it." Skullzer said, his eyes fixed on the vines. "He will destroy you, and everything that moves. Unlike the others, this one cannot be saved."
(That can't be true…! Pineno would never…!)
But no matter how much she tried to convince himself, even as she looked into his eyes, she couldn't see him anymore.
He was gone.
(He's…he's going to hurt all of us.)
The air chilled. Krista couldn't stop shaking.
…She could see her own breath.
She looked up. The clouds above had changed. Falling from the sky was fluffy white power. It was unmistakable.
"It's…it's snowing…?"
Tidal's form revealed itself as soon as the first flakes of snow touched him. Recognition flashed across his face, morphing into a relieved smile. "W-we are going to be okay! We are going to be—"
The flurry became heavy. A soft chilly breeze blew past. The snow melted on contact against the ground, but it made no difference. The snowfall thickened, as if it was on the brink of becoming a blizzard. Tidal pressed himself against Krista's body, likely seeking warmth.
Pineno's vines lowered to shield him against the wind. He didn't flinch even as ice bounced off his head.
Skullzer took a step back as a small cluster of ice struck near his paws. It melted in an instant, but another followed. Then two more. Then four.
It was hailing.
The strong breeze grew into a gust. Krista was forced to shield her face as the snow and hail stung her body. The air became foggy as cold and heat mixed and clashed. It thickened, making it harder to see what was far ahead. The sky was no longer visible; they were swallowed in a chilly cloud.
It was thickest in the center, where the wind swirled like a vortex. Within were heavy footfalls. A dark and giant shadow approached, with a massive fluttering scarf draping off the shoulders.
The shadow spoke, with a deep voice that cracked like ice.
"An introduction is unnecessary; I expect you to comprehend the reason behind my presence."
Skullzer curled his lips and stepped back.
The shadow rose his thick arms above his head. White glowing discs grew and morphed into the shape of small boulders. With a mighty arm swing, boulders flew and tumbled down. They collided against each other. Skullzer lunged back, spewing dark rings to counter them, but more came. A large boulder struck his flank. A yelp escaped him as he fell to the ground.
The wind followed the large figure. Once he stepped out the vortex and into the light, his form was revealed.
He was an Abomasnow, one who had aged into his senior years. The white and green-striped winter scarf worn around his neck gave away his position in an instant.
Tidal was on the verge of tears. "M-mr. Frost! You have to help Pineno! Something is wrong!"
Frost glanced back at them. While he didn't know the name, he saw the powerful green glow.
Pineno was tense. Between Skullzer and Frost being present, he must had felt surrounded. Once he met eyes with Frost, he crouched close to the ground. Deciding that he was a bigger threat, he lunged from the ground as a spinning ball. His attack was repelled by a swinging arm as he was swatted from the air. He tumbled back, seemingly unharmed.
"How peculiar…" Despite the scarf covering his mouth, Frost's words were still audible. "Not once before has an Overgrow presented itself with such contradiction. What spell has blighted you?"
"Th-there was no spell!" Tidal shouted. "We don't know what happened!"
The way Frost looked at Pineno changed. There was a hint of anger, and it was directed towards Skullzer. "Upon witnessing the Starly, we understood you were near. The last thing we'd ever expect was for you to intimidate a trio of children."
Skullzer stood. In an instant, he turned his head and breathed fire. The heat blasted right through the snowy winds.
Frost did not move, nor did he try to guard. The flames struck and flowed around his body like a blanket. But, instead of burning him to a crisp, they were being pulled in and filtered into smoke. Even as the flames grew bigger and practically bathed Frost's entire body, nothing changed.
It stopped. The remaining flames were absorbed into the scarf and blown out into smoke. Skullzer stared, dumbfounded.
"Hm. Appears to me that you are ignorant of my capabilities," Frost said.
Several thuds sounded in the air. The many remaining Starly that were airborne had fallen on the ground. They laid scattered, and unmoving.
"It appears your scouts are no longer functional as well." Frost threw both arms out. "Then I suppose I can make the assumption that you are not as fortunate to repel your own weaknesses!"
More white discs formed around him, shifting into large boulders. He swung his arms towards his target, and the rocks flung as a clustered army.
Skullzer scrambled back and lunged, avoiding the boulders that bounced off and churned the ground. What couldn't be dodged were countered with a cluster of dark rings that shattered the surfaces. Skullzer was nearly out of breath once the assault ended. Already, Frost was preparing to form more. It didn't look like Skullzer could dodge a second time.
His build-up was halted as Pineno charged again. Frost blocked the first blow. The second was repelled. Pineno was on the ground again.
Fatigued as he was, Skullzer observed Frost from the corner of his eye. "Take a good look at who you are protecting. The Chespin does not know himself."
"That, I am aware," Frost said. Without looking, he repelled Pineno again.
(Pineno…please…stop…) Krista didn't know what to do. Once again, Pineno was on his feet. Once again, he attacked. Once again, he was on the ground. And every time he fell, he got angrier.
The attacks became more rampant. Frost repelled every single one, unphased by the relentless assaults. He eventually swung his arm with such force, it blew Pineno back several feet.
"If you were wise, you will dispose of him right now," Skullzer growled. "That power will become a danger to us all."
"Is it merely because you can't harness that ability for your own benefit?" Frost challenged. "You Sorcerers are nothing more than hypocritical fiends."
"You speak of hypocrisy? Take a good long look at your badge," Skullzer shot back. "You stand against The Corruption so much, but you never took the time to understand it. You wipe it out without a second thought. The Southern Headmistress is just as much of a fiend as you claim me to be."
"And you are keen to turn them into mindless puppets?! The Starly cannot keep fighting! You've forced their hand! That is no way of life!"
"A second chance of life. They have a place for the unwanted to go when the rest of the world opposes their existence. They are granted with abilities you will never fathom. You see it with your own eyes, but you refuse to accept it!"
Frost swung his arm, and he swatted away a frenzy of glowing vines. Swinging his other arm, giant icicles were launched. They stabbed the ground around Pineno, trapping him in a small cage.
"Hm. Stay for a while," Frost grumbled.
Already, Pineno was striking the ice with his vines. The blows shredded them to pieces. They grew back, and he tried again. The results were the same.
He got angrier. Gnawing his way out was the only reasonable response that crossed his mind.
Krista hugged her body. It hurt to see him like that.
Why didn't he tell her about this?
…Or…did he not know himself?
"You refuse to listen," Skullzer said, his tone pressed. "You fail to see the regress your corporation feeds you. The king is cruel to leave me with no other option. If I must eliminate the innocent to slay the beast, then that is what I will do!"
He inhaled a deep breath. A great ball of fire was formed outside his mouth. The air around him rippled with unmistakable heat…a growing heat wave.
"As if!" Frost stretched out both arms, and the gusty wind increased in great speed. Snow cloaked into a powerful blizzard.
EEEEEH-KEH-KEH-KEH-KEH-KEH-KEH-KEH-KEH!
That loud screech.
Krista knew that sound.
Purple, flame-like energy shot down from the sky and bathed the ground in pulses, trailing towards Skullzer. He was forced to cancel his attack as he leaped back, the energy lapping near his paws. A large figure blew past him and circled back. Another pulse of flaming energy was unleashed. Skullzer lunged out of range.
The wild crackling filled the sky.
With a heavy flap of wings, a Noivern launched itself forward before it unleashed more pulsing dragonfire. The purple light reflected off the avian goggles it wore over its eyes. Skullzer was forced to keep moving, but the Noivern didn't care about missing. Glee was all over his face.
"No need in feelin' agitated! You will feel nothin' very soon! Keh-keh!"
(Boomer!) Krista gasped.
Skullzer backed away, low to the ground. With one final glance at Pineno, he turned tail and fled. Boomer was hot on his tail, sweeping the ground with dragonfire.
"Hm! That takes care of that pretentious fool." Frost turned his gaze towards Pineno. "And how to deal with you…"
His eyes were intense. He was going to—
"Don't…don't hurt him!" Krista ran in front of him, holding out her arms. Frost's presence was crushing, far more than what she felt from Skullzer. It was foolish. She realized it then. He was a giant compared to her. He could easily kick her aside if he wanted to. But…
As he raised his massive arm, she did not move.
He reached down and shot his arm past her. The sound of impact exploded near Krista's ears.
She turned around. Pineno was a foot away from her, his spinning body sanding Frost's forearm. She watched as Frost raised his other arm.
"NO!"
He slammed it down on the ball. Pineno's spinning body crashed through the ground. He was buried headfirst into the earth.
The glow of his body faded away.
"PINENO!" Krista rushed forward, but she was held back by the heavy arm that struck him. Claws anchored and slashed across the frozen and chilly armor as she tried to force her way through. "What did you do?!"
Tidal was just as stunned. "W-why…why did you do that…?"
"I've restrained my strength," Frost answered, pushing her back. "You have no cause to be alarmed. He is unconscious, but he will live."
"You put him through the GROUND!" Krista snapped.
"I've made myself clear; I held back to the best of my ability. I do apologize, but it was the only way. He was to bring harm to you."
"He…he wasn't going to…" Krista wanted to defend it, but replaying what she witnessed in her head…had Frost not stopped him…
"You are wounded," Frost said. He checked his badge and rotated the star piece a few times until the sphere in the middle started to glow. "All of you are to be taken to the hospital immediately."
Hospital?
That was when Krista remembered. The wound on her flank. And as if it remembered it was there, she felt the gouging pain hit her all at once. She couldn't stand straight anymore. She was sinking towards the ground. The world spun again.
"…it appears the adrenaline has worn off…" Frost's voice was fading. "…when you awaken… noth..ing… alright…"
His words were no longer comprehensive. Nor was the world.
As she felt the feeling of the ground fading, the last thing she saw was a strange white-furred figure in the distance. It seemed to look at her…with eyes that burned through her soul.
- 0000 -
(…)
(… …)
(… … …)
(Am…am I dreaming? Again…?)
Krista opened her eyes. It was the same vast and colorful field laid out before her. She was under the same stone, standing on the same grass.
Wait…she didn't remember seeing any giant stone.
She turned around for a proper look. It was massive, and stretched far, like a giant pillar. It was smooth and reflective like glass, holding colors of all shades, nothing she had ever seen before.
She was looking at a giant crystal.
There was no field behind it. No sky. Just an endless rough wall of bark. As she looked up, it never seemed to end, until she could make out the sky high above.
The wall branched off into smaller segments that sprouted thousands of vibrant green shapes. The sunlight could only peek through the gaps, but it was a pretty sight.
…Wait.
Krista moved back as she tried to look at it in its entirety. What towered over her was no wall. It was a gigantic tree: a tree embedded with crystals.
She looked to her left, past the rolling hills. There was another massive tree in the distance. It was swallowed by more crystals than the one before her. A tree further down was in a similar condition.
To her left, more trees. More crystals. Even the grass held crystals. But beyond that, there was a thick layer of fog that hid the horizon. She couldn't see past it.
(Is this the same place…? Why does it look so different now…?)
There was something about it that made her uneasy. Not that it was dangerous. Nothing there was a threat. At least, she hoped so.
(Wait…wait a second…)
She knew that feeling. The more she looked, the more she felt it.
It was a feeling that tried to surface in her mind, but a mental wall stood in its way. It couldn't push through, but she knew…she knew what it was.
(I…I think I've been here before!)
The sky started to crack.
(No! No! Don't do that again! Not again!)
The cracks shot across the sky and branched. Pieces flaked down. The cracks ripped through the ground, between her feet, parting like jaws.
(No! Nonono! There has to be a reason I know this place! Don't take me away! I have to know! I have to know!)
The world around her shattered. She fell into the glowing pits once more.
- 0000 -
"…hm! It appears she is regaining consciousness!"
"What a relief! That makes two so far!"
"Shhh! Shh! Not so dang loud! Easy!"
Upon opening her eyes, her vision blurred with specks of blue. But once it cleared, she could see a marble low ceiling dotted with tiny glowing blue stones. She could feel the straw under her body.
Everything smelled…unbearably clean. It failed to mask the stuffy scent of sickness that lingered from somewhere.
She wasn't in her room, but she was in some sort of chamber. She thought she heard voices. She knew those voices.
"Where…?" Krista sat up, but she was gently pushed back down by a paw. Her nose picked up an earthy scent.
And there was…a pine scent.
The room was chilly. She shuddered.
"Easy there, kiddo. Don't want to surface a headache already."
A voice. Thief's voice.
He stood at her bedside. His head level was aligned with his body, which told her she was on some sort of platform high from the ground.
She looked to her left. Vigor was there, and so was Frost. While Frost's face did not change, Vigor looked as if she was on the verge of tears.
"Oh, you already look lively!" Vigor clasped her hands together. "So much better than you did when you first arrived! You were so dehydrated and wounded! You wouldn't wake up! Oh, I was worried sick!"
(How long was…I unconscious?) Krista was too scared to ask aloud.
"I heard. You've met one of The Sorcerers." Thief tilted his head, wearing a subtle smile. "Congratulations on making it back in one piece."
"Thief! Don't say things like that!" Vigor frowned at him.
He dipped his head. "I meant no harm, Ms. Vigor. But, I will apologize."
Krista could finally take a good look at the room. There wasn't anything impressive about it. It didn't look much different from where she slept, except the bigger and rectangular space, and the second tall platform where Tidal sat—
"Tidal!" Krista gasped.
Tidal perked up, and he smiled. "K-Krista!" He made no effort to move. It wasn't until Vigor stepped out of the way that it was revealed that he sat inside of a large bowl filled with water.
"Are you alright?!" Krista asked. "The snow, and the heat—"
"I-I'm okay. I just needed to soak underwater for a while, that's all," Tidal said with a nervous chuckle. "And I got a pretty good scolding from Ms. Grove as well. Sh-she was pretty mad."
"Grove?" Krista searched, but there was no sign of her. "She was here?"
"She came as soon as you were brought in," Vigor said. "And let me tell you; I've never seen her so distraught! She just about chewed Frost to 'lil pieces before she ran off to find the other children!"
"F-Frost? But he saved us!" Tidal said.
"Yes, we know. But she sure didn't take his way of handling the situation too kindly!"
Frost crossed his arms. "I did what was necessary."
Krista had to press her lips just to compose herself from saying anything without thought. Something gave her emotions away, because Vigor was looking at her with concern. Thankfully, not a single question was asked.
Finally, Krista could get a better look at the associate who confronted Skullzer. He was looking down at her, like a disappointed father. His looming presence didn't help her feel any better. Frost was a giant himself, but naturally so. That information made Krista feel a fresh wave of fear. Something told her that Howler was still taller than him.
Krista checked the room again, and she realized it was just her and Tidal. "Where's Pineno?"
Vigor smile vanished. "He…hasn't woken up yet."
Krista's heart sank.
"I believe whatever he went through was too much for his 'lil body to handle. The poor thing's been hibernatin' like its dead winter. He's in a special room where there is plenty of replicatin' sunlight. Grove made sure he was taken there."
"Oh…" Krista lowered her head. "Then I guess I can't see him yet."
"No. He needs time to heal and regain his strength," Frost said.
After what Krista witnessed…she understood.
(What was that anyway…?) She could only wonder. (Tidal and Frost said it was his ability…but it couldn't have been. It wasn't…right.)
(Skullzer wanted to get rid of him because he couldn't control it?)
The feeling of dread was almost too much. She decided to distract herself, taking in the room's mundane features. Aside from the two beds and the vine curtains that masked the exit, there was a small stone table that held a stack of papers. Of course she couldn't read them, which only annoyed her.
There was a bowl of sitrus berries that was almost empty. Krista didn't feel any taste in her mouth, so she was sure she wasn't force-fed anything…
She looked at Thief, who smiled again. Her confusion must amuse him.
What was he doing here anyway?
"I understand why the associates are here, but what about Thief?" Krista asked. "I…sorry if I sound rude."
"No, it's fine. Seems a bit confusing for me to be mixed up with them, eh?" Thief chuckled as he waved a paw. "I was actually talking to these two, and your friend here, to see if the story matches up."
"Story?"
"I-I told them about Team Slasher," Tidal answered, avoiding all eyes as he lightly splashed the water. "I told them everything."
"I was getting ready to head out when a little Axew came running up to me," Thief said. "I guess you three were gone for so long, the guilt ate him alive. And since you and I live in the same hallway, he figured I would know something about you two. But…we just met. There wasn't much I could tell him to help him. So that was when we went to Grove. She immediately contacted Frost and Boomer, who were already patrolling outside. I guess that's how they found you."
So that was how Frost knew where they were. It was all due to Axe speaking up. It seemed that their badges didn't ping their location, after all.
That led to another thought.
"How come Zee didn't say anything?" Krista asked. "I thought he can see everything?"
"When it comes to strangers, he sure can," Vigor said. "Your badges are like keys that allow you inside and out the complex as you please. It's only when outsiders come along when Zee takes a real good look at them. You remember hearin' him when y'all first arrived, hm?"
How could she forget?
Although, it was odd. Did they not have a precaution for the badges? It never seemed to turn off unless she did so herself.
Then there was Skullzer.
"When we tried to leave the mound, we couldn't use our items, or our badges to escape," Krista said.
"Hm. Embargo, it seems," Frost said.
"Embargo…?"
"An esoteric technique, one that was practically lost to time," Frost explained. "It renders all of your items useless. A considerably dangerous situation you've found yourselves in."
"The Sorcerers have access to several forgotten things that we can't counter very well. It's hard to do so when you don't know what they are," Vigor said. "And that collar of his only makes it stronger so that it can affect our badges, too. It's how he foiled several Retaliation Teams in the past."
"That collar…it's sinister," Frost said. "You've caught a glimpse of their eyes haven't you, Meowth? The feral beasts he refers to as his 'scouts'…"
"Wait. Feral beasts? Those Starly are wild?" Krista realized.
"More or less," Thief said. "Maybe they once lived in dungeons. Maybe they were Corrupted Pokémon. We don't know. It's not like he would tell us."
"I guess that explains why they don't talk," Krista said. "But they didn't seem wild. They were attacking in patterns…like Dusk said they do. It was only when Tidal and I knocked them out…when they stood back up all at once…like a bunch of…zombies."
She could see Pineno's slumped posture as he stood in the middle of the blazing field. She had to blink to get the image out of her head.
There was silence. Krista could see the confusion on their faces. She tried to search for an excuse for why she spaced out, until she realized that…perhaps they don't know what zombies are.
"Um…like puppets," she said.
"Puppets, precisely," Frost agreed. "He can wield anyone under his spell to his will. It's similar to hypnosis stacked on top of hypnosis. A taboo, if you'd like to call it that. To toy with fickle lives. He's unforgivable."
"But we already know all that about him," Vigor sighed. "I need you to tell me what happened from the moment you left this place. From start to finish. I already heard Tidal's tale. Now it's your turn."
Krista expected this. There was no hiding anything. But, what was there to hide?
Still, to talk about what she witnessed happening to Pineno…she felt like she failed him.
With a heavy sigh, she explained everything she could remember to the best of her ability.
…
…
…
"Hm. I see. The story holds truth," Frost said with a nod of his head.
"And to think all of this was because of some foolish and childish fussin'. I can't believe this," Vigor sighed.
Tidal dropped his head again. "I-I'm sorry…I…I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just…I just got tired of all the teasing and…a-and…"
"Now, don't you cry. You did enough of that already," Vigor said. Her attention turned to Krista. "Now, Grove ain't here to lecture you or anythin', but I know her all too well. So allow me to summarize what she would had said right here;
"Your first mistake was not reportin' word about this to an associate, or at least higher-ranking team. That would had prevented you and your friends from gettin' hurt the way y'all did. Your second mistake was headin' to a dungeon you did no research on! That's a whole hazard n' a half! You knew nothin' the amount of floors, or the wild creatures that lived there! Not even the weather patterns? It's a miracle your bodies didn't give out to dehydration! And third, you should have kept runnin' the moment you saw that Houndoom! Skullzer ain't like the rest of them. He may be our enemy, but he has some kinda morality. He doesn't like hurtin' anyone that's not his target. That's why he was so hesitant to do anything! Shoulda took advantage of that! He would only chase you so far! His spell would have worn off! You coulda escaped!"
Looking at anyone would only make her feel terrible. Vigor was right. Krista should have stopped Pineno the moment he took off, but she just went with him. She wanted to help Tidal too. But was it selfish to run off so blindly? Maybe they believed they were going to save him, but what if they didn't make it out of the dungeon? What if Skullzer was not as merciful as he was? All three of them would have…
Vigor lifted her chin. "Now, child. I understand you just wanted to help. But next time, do think carefully. We are here for a reason. The last thing we would ever want is to lose you. We'll fight tooth and nail to keep you kids safe, alright?"
Krista nodded.
"Well," Thief spoke up in the silence. "My teammates are probably wondering where I am. If it is alright…"
"You are dismissed," Frost said. "If we are in need of any more information, we will contact you."
"Gotcha. I'll be on my way then." Thief headed towards the tunnel exit that was sealed by hanging vines. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Rest well, you two. I hope the Chespin gets a speedy recovery."
The Thievul pushed through the curtain, and he was gone.
Frost turned towards the curtains as well. "I'll send Highness for supper. You are not to depart from this room."
He ducked his head and pushed through. Vigor was right behind him.
"Wait," Krista called.
Vigor glanced back.
"Where is the Headmaster?"
Vigor's eyes held a bit of energy. "Oh! He actually came by to check on y'all when you arrived here, if that is what you are wonderin'. Between him and Grove…now that I think about it…"
She shuddered.
"Hard to say who was angrier."
Krista almost didn't believe it. "What…did he say?"
"Nothin', actually. He just took a long look at y'all went on his way." Vigor clasped her hands together, as if her own words troubled her. "He's in his chamber right about now, havin' a rather important conversation…probably a long-distance one if I had to guess. And from how long he's been in there, I'm afraid he'll have quite a headache for the next few days. Don't mind his sluggishness in the meantime."
(Headache…?)
Krista thought she heard him mention it before, but her mind was too foggy to remember.
"I'll see you soon, alright?"
She ducked her head, and she was gone.
Krista sat in silence, listening to the soft conversations in the hall. She couldn't make out the words, but it was oddly comforting to know they weren't brought into an isolated place.
A part of Krista was upset that she didn't get to see Grove or the Headmaster…although maybe it was for the best. She didn't want to get scolded when she already felt like the worst person on the planet.
She couldn't do anything to help Pineno. She wanted to just scream, but there were others nearby. All she could do was drown in her misery.
"H-hey…Krista?"
Krista heard the uncertainty in Tidal's voice.
"Do you…do you think…Pineno will be alright?"
The question stung. He meant no harm in asking, and she knew he asked her because she knew him best…
Krista wished she had the answer. She knew they were doing their best to take care of him, wherever he was. She knew he was going to thrive…he had to thrive.
"We have to trust that they will take care of him. He will be fine," she said.
She hoped so.
"I-I know that," Tidal said. "But I'm talking about…how he would feel about all this? How would he…how would he take it?"
That, she didn't have the answer to.
"W-when I woke up, I heard voices, so I didn't want to open my eyes yet," Tidal said. "I heard Grove and Frost arguing. Th-they were both worried about everything that happened, but they didn't really agree on how to handle it. And what really worries me, is how Frost said…Frost said that disaster was looming over all of our heads."
"Disaster?" Krista asked.
"You…you saw it, didn't you?" Tidal asked. "It was there for only a moment…there was another creature watching us. I didn't really get a good look at it, but I was sure I saw something."
Krista remembered. "I think I know what you are talking about. It had white fur? Four legs?"
"Y-yeah. I heard stories about something like that, but it's all stuff I was told when I was small. I don't remember much about it. What…what was that Pokémon? I've never seen it before."
That Pokémon. Krista was sure she had seen it before. It was hard to see, but the shape was very familiar to her.
White fur. Four legs…did it have a round face? A single horn on its head?
A name clicked. Another suppressed memory. Krista remembered something about that Pokémon. Something dreadful.
"Absol," Krista whispered.
"Wh-what…?" Tidal's face paled. "Absol? Are you sure…? B-but…Absol is The Disaster Pokémon! It only makes itself known when something terrible is about to happen! O-oooh…oh no. Wh-what does this mean? What does this mean…?"
Krista waved her paws. "Wait! Don't panic! Maybe…maybe it showed up because of Skullzer. Maybe he disturbed the peace, somehow."
"But The Sorcerers…The Sorcerers always destroy the peace! It's never anything on a massive scale! I think…no, I'm sure Frost saw that Pokémon too, and that's why he said what he said. What if…what if Skullzer was right? What if Pineno's power does bring ruin to the world?!"
The words frightened her.
The image crossed her mind: The green glow. The overwhelming energy. Vines that cracked the ground and brutalized anything that moved…
"No… That's not true."
Tidal heard her pressed tone. He shrunk inside the bowl, and he vanished out of sight.
Krista waved her paws. "No! Wait! I didn't mean—"
"N-no. It's okay," Tidal's voice said. "I…I just got…scared. I don't want to believe it either. And, I was foolish enough to let a little doubt enter my heart. I-I know that Pineno isn't a bad Pokémon. I know he would never actually hurt us. I'm sure that he was scared, and he was hurt, and maybe that was what triggered his ability. I don't know. I…I just don't want to see him suffer like that again."
Slowly, Tidal came into view.
"I-I don't know what's going to happen from here on out, but I want you to know that I will support Pineno! He saved my life. You both did. I…I owe you both a lot. S-so let me help you! I put you both through enough trouble."
Krista didn't want to trouble him, but his eyes were filled with so much emotion. She couldn't turn him down. Guilt was hurting him, and she wanted to lessen the pain.
"Tidal…you—"
"HE WAS THERE?! WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED?!"
A voice exploded from the hall. There was a feral growl behind it. Krista felt it deep in her chest.
A voice responded, but it was impossible to make out the words from behind the heavy wall.
"I DON'T CARE IF THE HEADMASTER WOULDN'T ALLOW IT! HE WAS RIGHT THERE! I COULD HAVE HIM DETAINED RIGHT BEFORE ME!"
Tidal squeaked and vanished again.
That horrible voice. It was strained and heavy with rage, but she knew that voice.
(No way…! That's Dusk…?!)
Krista turned her body and shuffled her weight towards the edge of the bed. She felt a rough surface brush past her arm. Her midsection was wrapped in a bandage. It was oddly yellow, but it wasn't the natural color. Did they soak it in something?
She shook the thought from her head and leaped down. As she landed, she felt a slight sting where she was struck.
"Wh-wh-what are you doing?!" Tidal's harsh whisper filled the room. "He said you aren't allowed to leave!"
"I'm just taking a quick look," Krista promised. "I won't go anywhere."
The moment she peeked through the curtains, she saw a Chansey, Audino, and Indeedee in the hall. They were just as frightened, if not, more. Beyond them was a fearful sight.
Krista had never seen Dusk so worked up before. Every strand of the black fur that rested on his back stood like needles. Ears were cocked forward and teeth were completely beared. The bridge of his nose was lined with countless wrinkles. His eyes were wide, so wide and wild. There was a sickening pressure radiating from him. It left Krista frozen in her place.
He stood right in front of Frost, with only a few inches of space between them. Although the Abomasnow towered over him, he did not dare to look at him. He stood firm. He wouldn't move. He kept his composure.
Next to him was Grove, who was speaking to Dusk with gentle words to try to calm him down. She was not wary of his temper.
"You're a fool! A fool! You've sent Boomer to chase him?!" Dusk barked. "Why didn't you join the pursuit?!"
"My priorities were directed towards the children who were in need of mending, Dusk," Frost said, his voice strangely calm. "I disagree with allowing him to have free range, but I didn't have a choice in the manner."
Dusk's face twisted further. A small, high-pitched sound wavered in his chest. He flashed his fangs and took another step closer. His head was angled far back just to meet with Frost's face, a face that refused to look at him. It turned every time he tried to meet his gaze. "Boomer likes to play with his food! Skullzer is wise enough to find a way out! You could have dropped them off and gone back out! And you want me to stand idle and do NOTHIIII-IIING when he was nearby?!"
That horrible sound. He spoke through his fangs, with a deep rumble in his chest. His furious words were almost incomprehensible, all layered behind the deep snarl.
Frost did everything in his power to avoid his furious eyes. For what reason, Krista was too frightened to try to understand.
Still, the Abomasnow's tone remained composed despite this. "Suppose I did take action, you were not to accompany us. You are forbidden."
The high-pitched sound—the cackling—grew stronger. Dusk turned and paced back and forth, his tail whipping behind him. The deranged laughter shifted back to growling, creating a twisted sound of horrors.
"Forbidden…you say I am forbidden…" Dusk growled. "Forbidden…when I am the only one who knows how to bring him to justice!"
"You present yourself with impertinence. You shall not pursue him. Must I have a word with the Headmaster?"
Just when it was thought it already reached its limit, Dusk's lips curled back further. His mouth partially opened, his pointed fangs twitching to bite. The pacing stopped as he stood in front of Frost. A deep growl increased in volume as he flattened his body low to the ground.
Frost did not move, but his stoic face started to change. At last, his eyes met with Dusk's. Slowly, he raised an arm.
Cold and biting. The atmosphere drastically changed. It made every strand of fur stand from Krista's body.
(Whoa! Are they about to fight?!)
Grove sensed the shift as soon as Krista did. She pushed herself between them, pressing her flank against Dusk's body, forcing him to stagger back. The height difference between them made Grove stand as a firm barricade. By some miracle, her rough interference did not make anything worse.
"You need to compose yourself. Right now, before you do something foolish," Grove told Dusk, staring at the wall instead of him. "Take a moment to relax. Go to the Stoneridge Pinnacle."
"There is nothiiiing wrong with me." He flashed his fangs again, his words poisoned with malice. Dusk's eyes did not move, locked onto the Abomosnow who opposed him.
"I never said there was. I said you need to reflect."
Dusk swept his tongue across his muzzle. Another growl rumbled through his throat.
"That means now, Mightyena," Grove warned.
Seconds passed before a paw shifted. It was followed by another. Dusk took slow and crouching steps back, his eyes still locked on.
Finally, he stood and turned away. The fur did not settle as he stormed down the hall. As soon as he turned the corner, his piping laughter returned. It faded out until it no longer bounced through the walls.
Everyone relaxed. Krista almost sunk to the ground. Her claws had sunk into the walls—she couldn't recall when they sprouted.
"Hm." Frost lowered his arms, his voice stiff. "His fury remains vexing as it was day one."
Grove sighed as she turned to look at him. "I apologize, Frost. I don't think he would blow up like that. But thank you for not moving. I don't have the strength to hold him back like you do."
"Hm. Perhaps. But your voice broke through his raging mind when mine could not," Frost said. He placed a hand on his chest and closed his eyes, but only for a moment. "I am grateful for this encounter. Had it been Howler instead, I dread the end results."
Grove lowered her head with a sigh. A silent agreement.
"Is everything alright?!" A small voice echoed through the halls. A wreath of flowers floated over towards the duo. "I heard some shouting and I was worried there was an agitated patient!"
"While your Aromatherapy is welcomed, everything is under control," Grove said. "Although it was no patient. It was one of our own. Dusk is not happy about what happened."
"Dusk?" Comfey echoed. "I've heard that nickname before—oh my! The Mightyena?! I didn't think he had such a strong voice! Are you sure that he will be alright on his own?"
"As agitated as he was, he'll listen." Grove stepped aside as Comfey flew past. "So I doubt that you will need to trouble yourself with—"
"Just a brief observation, Ms. Gogoat! I'll be back!" Comfey shot around the corner and was out of sight.
An ear flicked as Grove snorted.
"She has merely been here for a fortnight," Frost said.
"Yes, I am aware," Grove answered tersely. "Matching names with faces can be a daunting task sometimes. But, she will need to learn the important ones, I'm afraid."
"Hm. Third time this week?"
"There were many encounters with new faces, it is to be expected."
"Hm…" Frost nodded before he crossed his arms. "And on the topic of encounter, it appears an eavesdropper is among us."
Krista ducked back behind the curtains.
"You deceive no one, young Meowth. Come forth."
Shamefully, Krista stepped out. The sounds of Groove's hooves echoed through the hall. She squeezed her eyes shut. It was coming. The lecture. The scolding. It would be easier to accept it before it happened.
"Open your eyes," Grove commanded.
Krista did so. She raised her head, meeting her eyes. To her surprise, there was no anger, or disappointment.
Instead, Grove seemed…relieved, almost pained.
Her voice was almost a whisper. "What were you thinking?"
"I know. I'm sorry…" Krista hung her head.
"You could have been wounded far worse."
"I know…"
"I would have never…" Grove shook her head. She walked past Krista. "You are well enough to walk. Come."
To be Continued in Chapter 17.