Chapter 9: What Now?

Everyone who escaped town fled as far as they could run. They stopped when they couldn't even see Citrine Town in the distance. Everyone looked around. They were deep into the forest outside of town. Only Oranguru, Toucannon, Pawmo, Charcadet, Owen, Eli, Barnaby, and Grimsnarl had managed to escape.

(Oranguru) "This is it? This is everyone who made it?"

(Toucannon) "Is everyone alright? No one was attacked, scratched, or whatever by anyone in town, right?"

(Pawmo) "We're okay."

(Charcadet) "Same."

(Barnaby) "What the hell was all that?!"

(Pawmo) "Woah woah woah! What are these 2 doing here?!"

(Oranguru) "You know these guys?"

(Charcadet) "Of course! Theyve been bullying Eli and Owen!"

(Pawmo) "Why are you 2 here?! Where are those 2 friends of yours?!"

(Grimsnarl) "They got attacked back in town. Eli and Owen told us we had to leave them if we didn't want to end up like them."

(Barnaby) "Seriously! What's going on?!"

Many arguments and conversations broke out.

(Toucannon) "Calm down everyone."

No one was listening. Toucannon was getting furious. Suddenly, he pointed his beak into the sky and used Beak Blast. The loud blast echoed through the air and quieted everyone.

(Toucannon) "ENOUGH!"

(Oranguru) "Woah! I've never seen you this angry before."

(Toucannon) "Everyone has their limits. Anyways, all this arguing and freaking out isn't helping anyone. We all just need to speak one at a time. Starting with the 2 newbies here. What do you gotta say?"

(Grimsnarl) "Well first off, what happened to Salazzle and Hakamo-o?!"

(Oranguru) "If they were attacked by the townsfolk, then they've been corrupted by the darkness. Their light and color have been drained. They aren't your friends right now."

(Barnaby) "Darkness? How did this happen?"

(Pawmo) "We may or may not have brought it back after our most recent journey. And by the time everyone knew about it, it was too late."

(Grimsnarl) "What does that mean?"

(Owen) "I don't know. Why don't you ask Eli?"

(Eli) "Me?!"

(Owen) "You kept this a secret from me! You said you discovered Cramorant's corruption yesterday! Why didn't you say something sooner?!"

(Eli) "I...I didn't want to freak you out. After that nightmare you had the other night, I worried you'd get upset if you found out that the darkness was here."

(Owen) "You didn't even tell Oranguru and Toucannon!"

(Eli) "I was going to. I just couldn't while you were around."

(Owen) "I can't believe you! This is all your fault! If you had said something sooner, maybe we could've done something to prevent this from spreading!"

(Eli) "We tried to do that! We locked Cramorant in his room until Oranguru and Toucannon got home with the cure. I expected they'd bring back a cure, not directions to a cure."

(Owen) "Oh no no no. You don't get to complain that Oranguru and Toucannon didn't bring back a cure! This is your fault! I know you're a lone wolf, but that doesn't give you an excuse to harm everyone else in town! Thanks to you keeping this a secret, the whole town has become mindless Shadow King servants! You messed up big time."

(Eli) "I'm sorry..."

(Owen) "Sorry doesn't cure the town!"

(Toucannon) "Okay! That's enough! Fighting with each other isn't helping anything!"

(Oranguru) "Toucannon is right. For now, we're all on the same side. We are the only ones left from Citrine Town. We have to work together to save everyone affected by the darkness. So, here's the plan. Me and Toucannon will do some research on the locations of the Dawn Wings, Dusk Mane, and the Temple of Light. Once we can locate these things, we will set off on journeys as soon as possible. Until then, I know of a place we can stay for the time being. Luckily me and Toucannon have set up a shelter deep in the forest for any situation where we'd be forced to leave town. We'll show you the way. Follow us."

Oranguru and Toucannon led everyone through the forest. Eli tried to walk by Owen's side, but Owen brushed him away. Eli was hurt.

Oranguru and Toucannon led everyone to a giant tree deep in the forest. Oranguru knocked on the tree, and a door opened up at the base. Everyone walked inside the tree. Inside, Oranguru and Toucannon had set up sleeping bags, food, water, and many other useful things. They also had a shelf full of journals and book filled with tons of information.

(Oranguru) "Here we are. I call this place 'Oranguru and Toucannon's Super-Secret Hideaway For Emergencies Only'. The name defiantly could use some work. This will be our base of opperations for the time being."

(Toucannon) "Me and Oranguru will get right to work researching locations. You 6 get yourselves set up for the night. Hopefully tomorrow we will be ready to head out on our first journey."

Oranguru and Toucannon quickly got to work reading through the books and journals. Everyone else grabbed a sleeping bag and started setting up places to sleep.

(Barnaby) "This is weird."

(Grimsnarl) "I know it is. But right now, Salazzle and Hakamo-o are in trouble. Working together with these guys might be the only way to save them."

(Barnaby) "But we're Team Strength. We can face anything ourselves!"

(Grimsnarl) "Not this time. For once, I'm worried. Let's just do what Oranguru wants us to do for now, alright?"

(Barnaby) "*sigh* Fine."

Eli set up his sleeping bag away from everyone else's. He crawled inside and hid from everyone else. He was feeling guilty for what had happened. Pawmo and Charcadet watched him.

(Pawmo) "Look at him. He's so upset."

(Charcadet) "I definitely would be after what Owen said to him. Owen was the first friend he's made in a long time, and now Owen's mad at Eli. I know Eli didn't mean for things to go bad like this."

(Pawmo) "We have to fix this. There's no way we can let this friendship fall apart."

(Charcadet) "I feel the same way. But what can we do?"

Later that night, everyone except Pawmo and Charcadet had fallen asleep. Pawmo and Charcadet snuck over to Owen's sleeping bag.

(Pawmo) "Psst. Owen."

Pawmo shook the sleeping bag. Owen woke up and sat up.

(Owen) "*yawns* What's going on?"

(Charcadet) "We need to talk."

(Owen) "Okay. About what?"

(Pawmo) "It's about Eli."

(Owen) "Oh no. I don't want to talk about him right now. I'm still not over what happened."

(Charcadet) "Please just listen. It's important."

(Pawmo) "Yeah. We don't want this to go any further. Just please listen to what we have to say."

(Owen) "*sigh* Fine. What's so important about Eli that you felt the need to tell me in the middle of the night?"

(Charcadet) "Look, it's true. Eli kept the fact that Cramorant was corrupted from you."

(Owen) "Tell me something I don't know."

(Pawmo) "Well, Bewear found us after Eli was being bullied by Team Strength who were looking to tangle with you. He showed us that Cramorant was acting differently. Eli was the one to notice his feathers turning black and connected the dots to figure out he was slowly being corrupted by the darkness. Me, Charcadet, Bewear, and Dachsbun all knew as well."

(Charcadet) "And yes, it was Eli's idea to keep it a secret from you."

(Owen) "Great. You're just reaffirming what I already know. Can I just go back to sleep now?"

(Charcadet) "Just please wait a little longer. We're not done yet."

(Owen) "Ugh. Fine."

(Pawmo) "We all wanted to tell you. Even Eli wanted to tell you. But he was worried you'd get freaked out. Especially after that nightmare you had. Eli suggested we keep it a secret until Oranguru and Toucannon returned with a cure, and we all agreed it'd be best not to worry you."

(Owen) "So what? Are you saying that gives him the right not to say anything? He put the whole town in danger!"

(Charcadet) "I know. We all banked on Oranguru and Toucannon returning with an immediate cure. We even did our best to keep Cramorant away from everyone else to prevent the darkness from spreading further. But no one expected him to be able to escape his room. We tried what we could."

(Owen) "Okay. So what?"

(Pawmo) "Please don't be mad at Eli. He really didn't intend for any of this to happen. None of us did."

(Charcadet) "I'm sure he wishes he could've told you what had happened. But you've gotta understand why he didn't. He didn't want you to worry."

(Pawmo) "Eli cares so much about you. Last night before we went to bed, we asked him why he wanted to keep this a secret from you. I mean, what'd be so bad if we told you? He told us more than anything he wanted to tell you what happened. But he was afraid to."

(Owen) "Afraid? Eli was afraid?"

(Charcadet) "You're the one who dragged him out of his friendless depression. You've made him so happy the past few weeks. He knew it wasn't exactly right to hide this from you, but he really didn't want to see you freak out."

(Pawmo) "He couldn't stop thinking about how scared you were from your nightmare. He thought that if we could keep this from you, and Oranguru and Toucannon came back with the cure to save Cramorant, then nobody had to get hurt. Putting the town in danger wasn't what he intended."

(Charcadet) "He knew keeping this from you probably wasn't the smartest or the best plan, but he wanted to keep you safe. You've done so much to help him feel happy again. He just wanted to return the favor."

(Pawmo) "And look. If you want to be angry with Eli, then you should be angry with us too. We all could've told you whenever we wanted to. But we all thought it'd be best not to worry you. So please, don't be mad."

(Charcadet) "We hate seeing you and him not together. You 2 are such good friends. Don't let one mistake drive a wedge between you 2."

Pawmo and Charcadet waited for a response. Owen just burst out into tears.

(Pawmo) "Woah woah woah! What's wrong?!"

(Owen) "I don't hate Eli. I can't hate him. I just freaked out, alright? When the whole town was attacked, I freaked out. I know Eli didn't mean for this to happen, but it happened, and I blamed him for it because all I knew to do at that moment was freak out."

(Charcadet) "It's okay. We get it."

(Pawmo) "And I'm sure Eli will too."

Owen got up off the ground.

(Owen) "I need to talk to Eli."

(Charcadet) "We're right beside you."

Owen, Pawmo, and Charcadet walked over to Eli's sleeping bag.

(Owen) "Eli. I want to talk."

Owen opened the sleeping bag. Eli wasn't inside. There was a note, however. Pawmo picked it up and read it.

(Owen) "Eli? Where'd you go?"

(Pawmo) "Um, Owen."

(Owen) "Yeah?"

Pawmo handed Owen the note. He read over the note. It read..."Dear Owen. I've left to find the Dawn Wings and Dusk Mane and defeat this Shadow King myself. I'm sorry I hurt you, and everyone else in town. I'm sorry I'm such a burden. You won't have to deal with me again. Eli."

(Owen) "No! No!"

Everyone woke up.

(Toucannon) "Ugh. What's going on?"

(Owen) "Eli is gone!"

Eli wandered through the forest.

(Eli) "*sigh* On my own once again. That's what I get for keeping secrets. Whatever. I was on my own for 3 years. I'm used to this. I'm okay."

Eli's eyes started to tear up. He tried to wipe them away.

(Eli) "No. I'm not gonna get upset. This is no one's fault but mine. I have no excuse to be upset that my friends hate me."

Eli continued to wander through the forest. It was dark, and he could hardly see much.

(Eli) "Man. I have no clue where I am. It's too dark out."

Eli suddenly tripped on a rock. He rolled forward.

(Eli) "Woah!"

Eli took a tumble down into a river. The water quickly stopped him. Eli swam out of the river, and onto the riverbank. He quickly shook all the water out of his fur.

(Eli) "Ow! That really...that really..."

Eli couldn't hold it in anymore. He burst into tears.

(Eli) "I can't do this! I don't know the first thing about the Dawn Wings and Dusk Mane! And I certainly can't do this myself! All I've done so far is screw things up. How am I supposed to fix things?!"

Eli curled up and continued to cry. 2 Pokémon walked up behind him.

(Owen) "Eli!"

Eli looked behind him. Owen and Barnaby were standing behind him.

(Eli) "Owen? Barnaby?"

(Barnaby) "See? I told you I could find him."

(Owen) "Th-thanks Barnaby."

(Barnaby) "Yeah yeah yeah. Don't say a word to Grimsnarl about this. Just talk with Eli already so we can go back."

Barnaby walked away from the duo. Owen sat down by Eli.

(Eli) "What are you doing here? How'd you find me?"

(Owen) "You wouldn't believe it, but Barnaby sniffed you out. Why'd you leave?"

(Eli) "Because I messed up. I wanted to fix what I started. Why does it matter to you? Don't you hate me now?"

(Owen) "I don't hate you. You're my best friend."

(Eli) "But this is all my fault. If I had just told you what was going on, maybe we could've done something sooner. You were right. I screwed everything up. Just leave me here alone like I deserve."

(Owen) "Eli look. I know all you wanted to do was keep me from getting worried. But no matter what I was already worried. I'm glad you care enough about me to try and protect me from stuff like this. But we can't keep secrets from each other. Not secrets like this. I know you just wanted to protect me, but keeping secrets like this from each other is only going to make things worse. I need you to promise me something. Even if you think it'll protect my feelings, you can't keep secrets about the darkness from me, alright?"

(Eli) "I...I won't...promise."

(Owen) "Then come here."

Owen grabbed Eli and wrapped him in a tight hug.

(Owen) "You can't get rid of me that easily. I told you; you're stuck with me!"

(Eli) "Aw darn!"

Owen playfully punched Eli in the arm.

(Owen) "You goof!"

Owen and Eli broke their hug and got off the ground.

(Owen) "We should probably be getting back. The others will be worried if we aren't back before long."

Barnaby joined the duo.

(Barnaby) "Did you 2 make up?"

(Eli) "Yeah."

(Owen) "Thanks for finding him Barnaby."

(Barnaby) "Whatever. I was bored anyway. Let's head back to the hideout alr-..."

A branch snapped nearby. Everyone froze.

(Eli) "*whispering* What was that?"

Barnaby sniffed around in the air. He caught the scent of something nearby hiding in the forest.

(Barnaby) "*whispering* I don't think we're alone out here."

End Of Chapter 9