Chapter 80: Drifting Memories

Author's Note: For narrative reasons, I've changed some of this chapter.

Blade was sitting down, he was in a cage, imprisoned by three humans upon a motor boat leaving what seemed to be Aether Paradise.

An older man with a short goatee and mustache, if Blade heard properly when his name was said it was Pycho.

A seemingly much younger woman with apparently long flowing blue hair. Soliera as Blade recalled hearing.

Then the final one, was simply called Misty, but Blade couldn't make out any of her features.

Though he could barely make out the features he had, as each of these three humans was wearing a helmet with a visor blocking most of their heads and eyes.

Blade couldn't place it, but there was a familiar scent upon Misty, faint, barely there, but it smelled like she'd spent ample time around someone he knew. At least that's what he thought, it was hard for him to tell as she radiated a foul stench. He had grown accustomed to the smell, but not like this. Hatred and cruelty oozed off of her, but Blade couldn't tell why, it wasn't like with Shadow, where his lasted only so long as he brutalized someone. It was like hatred seeped so far inside there was nowhere for it to go but out.

Some primal part of him desired to attack, but the cage prevented him from doing so. Glancing around a bit he noticed a large vessel hanging overhead shaped almost like the hilt of a sword, the very front adorned with what looked like a mask.

He was barely listening to the humans around him. Only catching a few things about a forcefield, Team Rocket, and their inability to escape.

"What are you doing Blade, stand up, you can break free." The voice of his beloved Darkrai rang out in his ears.

Blade frowned as he sat up, looking straight ahead. "This is cruel, even for the world we live in. Shadow's dead!" He snarled at the Darkrai baring his fangs. He slowly stood up, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.

"It's not an illusion, I'm really here to save you." Shadow spoke.

"Don't lie to my face! I don't have anything left to believe in anyway!" The Sneasel swung his right arm out. "My friends either don't care about me or hate me! My entire family is gone! And the love of my life is dead! Just take me you fucking prick!" He clutched his knees to his chest.

"Blade. It's me. You can trust me, remember?" The Darkrai opened his arms, as if offering a hug.

Blade didn't stand, but extended his arms waiting to touch his lover. Fake or not, the poor Sneasel was desperate for it to be true. A small smile spread over his face. "Shadow!"

Just as Blade made contact, the Darkrai turned to smoke and vanished. He didn't even flinch as Shadow vanished before his eyes.

"Hahahahaha you fucking idiot!" The ever torturous voice of that dark mirrored version of himself rang out. "You're so pathetic, did you really forget you got him killed? He's never coming back."

Blade looked up to the sky again.

"You deserve to suffer with that memory, and I'll never let you forget." The doppelganger put its cold claws upon his shoulders. "But if you let me take over, you never have to remember." It slowly circled around him. "You never have to hurt again."

Blade stared silently into the sky, tears streaming down his face. "I…can't…"

"Yes you can, just let go." The distorted creature took him by his clawed hands. "You can feel me, so just let go, and I'll make all the pain go away."

"I…can't do it Shadow…"

"Still talking to a dead man huh?"

"I can't do it….anymore." Blade felt his arms lifting higher, until he felt the jagged edges of his claws touching his throat. "I just want the pain….to stop…I just want…."

The doppelganger acted quickly once again holding Blade's claws. "Hey, I can't have a life if you give up like that dumbass."

Blade's tears didn't stop as he struggled against his mirror's grip trying desperately to plunge his claws into his throat. "I just want you back, Shadow…"

The doppelganger suddenly forced his arms down to his side and embraced the Sneasel in a hug. "Damn it you dumb shit, that's not what HE wants." The distortion of the mirrored Blade seemed to fade a bit. "And we both know it…he loves you too much for that."

Pulling away Blade found himself released, the mirror, now less distorted, was also crying as he had been.

"But, I can't do this without him…I just can't…"

"Blade, you…" the doppelganger's distortion lessened again. "WE are stronger than that. We endured a lot before Shadow, and we can endure now."

"Why, are you…"

The last of the distortion covering the doppelganger faded away. "Because, it's what I was made for. Tormenting you was just a side effect of Cleave's parenting. Our mothers made me."

Blade looked confused. "Mothers?"

"Shard…and Lunala." The doppelganger continued. "Lunala had basically blessed Cleave the night you were conceived, which made me part of you. I've kinda been in here the whole time."

Blade felt some strange relief as his body relaxed."I..I think I've felt you before."

"You have, when the moon shines on you. Like when you fought Cleave and his pack. The moonlight empowered you, because I'm part of you."

"But I don't understand, you were so cruel…"

"Like I said, a side effect of Cleave. His abuse affected your mind, and instead of properly building a proper coping mechanism, it buried itself in me."

"Then why change now?"

"You know what they say, a person shows their true self just before death." The doppelganger hugged Blade.

"Well, I appreciate it, but this life, it just isn't…" Blade was cut off.

"Do you wanna remember something with me?"

Blade nodded slowly. "Umm wait, is there something I should call you? In case I need to talk to you."

The doppelganger thought for a moment. "A name does come to mind, one Shadow knew, I got a glimpse of it one of the times he looked in here. I think I'm the reason he worried so much for your happiness actually."

"The name, so you can help me remember whatever it is you want to show me."

An almost devilish smirk crossed the doppelganger's face. "Well, the name is of a dead guy, and I'm not exactly alive, so I guess you can call me Xiphos."

"I don't remember him ever killing anyone by that name."

"You don't remember the names of anyone he's killed, he never bothered telling you. I suppose that'll be one to show you some day too." Xiphos held his claws out for Blade. The Sneasel took his double's clawed hands.

Darkness enveloped Blade's vision, only for a brief moment.

*Flashback*

"Blade?"

The Sneasel smiled up at the Darkrai as they snuggled close beneath a tree. "Yeah?"

"I have something I want to show you. If you'd allow me to."

"What is it?"

"A surprise. Would you be alright with me showing you?"

"I just wanna cuddle Shadow, I'm too tired for that right now."

The Darkrai chuckled in a surprisingly warm way. "No, my silly little Sneasel, I'm not asking you to mate with me. I want to show you something amazing."

Blade blushed at the way Shadow had calmed him, his, Sneasel. "Okay then, show me." Blade spoke with a less than enthusiastic look on his face.

"Hold tight then my love." Shadow pulled him close, holding the Sneasel as tight as he could as he teleported them away.

It happened in a split second, but Blade had suddenly found himself and Shadow high in the night sky, the ground so far away it almost seemed like they'd never reach it again. Blade clutched Shadow hard. "What the fuck! This is too high up!"

"Do you trust me Blade?"

"Of course I do!"

"Then look around." The darkeai spoke so gently, Blade slowly scanned around them. His jaw fell open and his eyes widened. Stars stretched endlessly in all directions except beneath them. Shadow spoke again. "This sight is my earliest memory. The beauty and regality of the stars. Once I believed their majesty to be unparalleled."

Blade was mesmerized before looking back to Shadow. "What changed?"

"I met you. And found that even the brightest star in space, could never match the wonder in my heart, when I see you smile."

Blade felt his cheeks go red at Shadow's words.

"Ahem.." Shadow cleared his throat. "For now we can stay, right here we will lay." Shadow's tone had shifted and he'd begun to sing. Gently pulling Blade closer. "Right here in my arms, away from all harm, you'll be safe from all the pain, so I can show how much I care." He continued. "When you lift your head up to the sky, take a deep breath and give it time. You can walk a path along the skies." Shadow made eye contact. "But always know that you'll be safe. I'll be here throughout your days. Come find me and here we'll lay."

Just as quickly as it had started, the singing stopped. Shadow gently took hold of Blade's chin, tilting his head up. "I love you, my Blade." And with his words, the Darkrai leaned in kissing the Sneasel passionately.

*End Flashback*

Light returned to Blade's vision.

"Do you remember what that day was? Cause Shadow never forgot." Xiphos asked.

"I, no…I don't."

"That was what humans call your birthday. Shadow wanted to make it special for you. So he shared with you his second favorite sight. Because the moment he met you, that view got dethroned."

Blade let a small smile cross his face. "My birthday. Hehe, he was always more sentimental than he showed."

"The humans were starting to look so I shut you up while you were remembering that. That pulling sensation has had us pretty bad this whole time. I just wish I knew what it was." He looked over, clearly seeing Xiphos now. The doppelganger's body had become a less perfect mirror, as there were no longer any scars upon him. "I know what you're thinking. Guess self love helps with a guy's image doesn't it? How do you feel now?"

"Scared of whatever comes next." Blade shook in place, anxiety getting the better of him.