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Old 12-21-2022, 02:56 PM   #26
Lil'twick
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Litwick Remedication

This was disgusting, truly. All of these text messages... Heinous, really. He always knew that his contractor was a freak, but the amount of dirt this phone had? A gold mine. William grabbed another slice of pizza as he scrolled through his trainer's phone, much to the Rotom's chagrin.

"You shouldn't be looking through other people's texts," the Rotom mutters to the Lampent, who obviously doesn't care.

"I have nothing better to do," the Humanoid Pokemon responds, munching on pizza.

This was all quite compromising, and perhaps leverage that he could use. Was he really above blackmail? No, no he wasn't. He was tired of his trainer playing footsie with two different divine powers and ignoring his needs. Most people wouldn't be willing to fulfill him, and those who would were creeps anyways.

Still, he was quite enjoying the freedom he was granted by 'Lyle' nowadays. While he still hated that this was pretty much a slightly aged-up version of when he died, he could do things. It wasn't like there was anything else happening going right now. Leo had disappeared, and thus Ethan was in charge of the shop. Luckily, most of Leo's pokemon were around, so things didn't fall apart.

The Rotom phone buzzed, and a text from Lyle appeared on the screen.

[William. It's quite rude to read messages not for you.]
[Isn't the terms of our contract you not obstructing me from getting your trainer?]

William's eyes went wide. Shit. Shit shit shit shit. The Lampent dropped the Rotom phone and took in a deep breath. Did that devil consider snooping on texts enough of that? He wasn't even planning on breaking the terms of the contract. Instead, he was just wanting something interesting...

Though, he decided it would be best to just not go through that text chain. He was wanting to check out the one from the other man. 'Sandy', he called himself, but the phone always glitched whenever he tried. Whatever that man was, it certainly was not human. Regardless, he didn't trust that soft smile.

Stretching his legs, the teen jumped out of his (shared) bed and went outside of the room. He could see the Spheal rolling down the stairs, looking awfully jovial. He then felt something twist in his gut. A party. Oh great. The last party he attended was at that fucking casino earlier in the year. Was not ready to deal with that shit. No. Perhaps he'd just steal a cookie from downstairs and read more of the Lesser Key. Things were starting to be awfully boring with winter coming around.

So, he did just that. He looked at Spencer, the Dragonite giving him a surprised look. The Dragonite points at the Spheal, and then at William. Coughing a bit, the Lampent adjusts his tongue before speaking.

"You wish for me to make sure nothing bad happens to him?" William asks the Dragonite, and gets a nod in response.

"You realize that makes him more in danger, right?" he then asks the dragon, who gives him a pouty face in return.

"Ugh, have Lucas watch him," the Lampent complains.

He then hears the door open, and his eyes widen as he sees Lyle waltz on in. The man certainly seemed to be in a chipper mood, that quickly stopped as soon as he saw the Lampent. The two just scowled at each other, before Lyle made face again. Best not to deal with dirty laundry around customers.

"Ah, good. I am sure you've thought better on your behavior?" the devil smirks, before turning to the Dragonite and ordering a House Latte.

"Mmmm..." William just nods. "At least I can snoop on you."

"Oh, so, he is involved too? I had my suspicions. Tell me, is Ethan even here?" his patron asks, simultaneously annoyed and concerned.

"He said he was going to run a quick errand and left his phone here. He should be back soon," William shrugs.

"A shame. I'll see him soon enough, I presume. Right, I am considering an upgrade of our deal. A little pay it forward comes with it too," Lyle tells William, who perks up.

"What?" the Lampent spits with venom.

Lyle just smiles, waving him off. He then felt his pocket become a little heavier, and see a note appear. The instructions were simple. His human form would age up if he agreed to try and prevent his trainer from getting with Sandy. While William had no qualms with the man, he was certainly feeling the restrictions a fourteen-year-old had in society. Taking in a deep breath, he gives a solemn nod. He didn't want to go against his trainer, but he had needs.

He sees the devil smirk at him, before grabbing the latte and heading out with a snap. William started to feel light-headed and began to head back up the stairs. Perhaps a nap would help? He barely made it to the bed before passing out.

---

"William!"

He felt groggy and could see Ethan standing over him.

"What the hell man?" his trainer questioned him. "Why do you look older?"

"Not... sure..." he groggily states, realizing his voice was slightly deeper. Guess Lyle hit him with puberty all at once.

"Ugh, well, dealing with you as a child was hard enough. Now you're an adult," Ethan stated with frustration. "Well, if you decided to now be an adult, you're going to be treated like one. That means even more intensive training. And, well, I'm leaving you in charge of Yuke's little party, reindeer boy."

"Woah, hold up, that hardly seems like a justifiable punishment. Look, I'm only what..." William pulls out a wallet that magically appeared. "Eighteen."

"Yeah and I'm technically Four. Your point?" Ethan retorts. It was true that the homunculus was younger than him in terms of age, but in terms of mentality and maturity had years over him.

"So, I have to watch a party and dress up like a Stantler. Great. And what do you get to do?" WIlliam asks.

"I'll be busy up here with people," Ethan replies nonchalantly.

"So get to have some time figuring out the little relationship web you've found yourself in and I have to make sure a Spheal doesn't have a bad time?" William asks, still peeved

"Yes."

"If I hear any of you I will come upstairs and burn you," William scoffs. "I can, at least, now buy myself things. So I'm grabbing myself some snacks," The Lampent replies with a scoff.

"Right, if you're going shopping, can you get some groceries too?" Ethan asks, sitting at his desk before flipping over a book on battle strategies.

"Fine," William replies with a grumble. Guess being an adult meant responsibilities he didn't wish for. Oh well, at least he had new freedoms too... Even so, this would most likely end terribly.
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Old 01-29-2023, 03:43 PM   #27
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Litwick Pseudomonarchia

Things had been... interesting the past few days. After all, Ethan was out almost every day, having to do one thing or the other. William didn't really know how to process that, since his trainer had been mostly a homebody for the longest while. The occasional 'date' or training session, but he mostly had been stuck doing research. Except, now, he was out more often. Would come back with big books or arcane tools to research them throughout the night. He no longer slept, but he didn't look like he was experiencing negative effects from it. Is that what Theo's mother meant by the "Yggdrasil System"? A truly infinite energy source... It was dangerous. Extremely dangerous.

Yet, that wasn't a problem for him. He was out fulfilling his own wants and desires. He was turning into quite the little hedonist, wasn't he? Well, more freely than before. This new body, this new age was proving to be more beneficial than detrimental, he realized. He could eat what he wanted, drink what he wanted, and sleep with who he wanted without care. He could release his exhibitions without any care in the world. And with his body made of oil and wax... it was proving to be more than beneficial to ward things off.

Even so, his mind kept wandering back to the holiday party the month prior. That felt... different. It was legitimately fun... a good time. Not something to satiate a craving, no it was something he actually enjoyed. Perhaps he should take Ethan's advice on that one? Yet, was he really willing to move on from Theo, after spending well over a decade trying to properly reunite with him? No... he knew he wasn't. This was just filling the hole in his heart. The hole bored through on that fateful night, where he burned.

He did notice something... odd coming from the Lesser Key as he returned. It was resonating with him and absorbed his power. Though, he didn't know if this was truly the proper one or a replica created by his master. His master was recorded within the annals, so it was really a coin flip. Yet, this did have a higher chance of being the real deal then...

The moonlight showed through the room, and William sighed. The night was already here. He had spent most of the day doing nothing. Just loafing around, spending time with his friends. The house was lively, surely, with all the Pokemon out and about. The cafe was busy, as it tended to be on these stormy days. Yet, the night was beginning to clear things up, and he noticed a purple glow.

The tome, laying next to him on the bed, was lighting up the room. The moon... huh? He did feel something odd after the visit to the shrine last week. Perhaps he should go and check things out. Grabbing the book, he heads out of the empty room. Usually, Lucas would be in here by now... guess Ethan was out late tonight, wasn't he? Still, better than nothing.

Everything was quiet. He could hear the hum of the fan in Leo's room and peaked in to see a variety of Pokemon sleeping. They missed their trainer, he could tell that much. Where was Leo...? The fact that he had just disappeared, well, was odd. Even small adventures only took a week or two at most. So, where? That was the odd part, wasn't it?

Seeing his usual escape hatch, William opens the window in the living room. A few Pokemon grumbled, especially the ones watching television. William just half-heartedly apologized as he lept out the window, closing it on the way out. Just as he was about to land, he reverted to his true form. The Lampent was used to switching between human and Pokemon form at this point, but this was who he was properly. A ghost. A wandering spirit, long dead and gone... Hanging on by the remains of a contract.

Changing back, he made his way through the back alley. He knew where things were at this point and just where he could go undisturbed. It took him about half an hour of walking, but he managed to reach his destination. An abandoned park, buried deep within the rogue's district. No one came here... Not with the history of this place. Yet, as one of the dead, he had nothing to fear. If these so-called vengeful spirits came after him, they'd ignite. Souls burn away, and he'd feast.

He could see the moon once more in the sky, it shines down onto the park. The wind picked up, and he could see the fog once more start to roll in. This damned fog, it was getting thicker and thicker as the months wore on. He knew Leo was investigating the fog, but they only had radio silence... No matter, it didn't bother him. He could take on most things.

At this point, he could feel the grimoire pulsating with power. There was something in here that he needed to learn. Incite. Incant. Unleash. Whatever it was, it was up to him to do so. Especially since he was already feeling another energy from the moon. Setting the book down, he changed form once again. Yes... he could feel it now. The power of the moon shone deep within him. Taking in a deep breath, he extended an arm and lit his flame brighter. Drawing in the power of the moon, he absorbs the surrounding fog. A Moonblast fired off into the distance.

That looked to be the final step, as the book began to float up to him. Its pages were dyed a deep purple, rapidly flipping as it raised. His eyes opened with shock, seeing a new page begin to form before him. This thing held a lot more secrets than it was letting on... wasn't it? Sure, he had been studying it on his own time for the better part of a year, but this was new. And then the incantation appeared before him.

"Daemons of yore, heed mine call! Drag mine enemies down to the deepest pits of the abyss! Pseudomonarchia!" He chanted, the words escaping him before he had a chance to even react.

He watched as spirits rose from the ground, ready to assault an imaginary foe before fading away. He blinked before seeing the tome grow quiet. What was that...? A new attack...? He then remembered Custard and his Einherjar. That was a gift from the divine... this was a gift from the demonic. This power was another step forward. Another step to stopping that bitch. They had time, this was certain. So it was best to prepare the best they could...

"Theo, I'll rescue you soon. I promise."
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Old 02-21-2023, 06:39 PM   #28
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Litwick Zoe

The holy night, to some people. December 24th... The eve before Jolly Saint Nick comes down the chimney to deliver presents. That, was, at the end of the day, a folk tale. To most people, that is. Yet, this was the day of a holiday party. The day his Spheal had decided to host a magnificent party. And the day that multiple fates would converge and change. He knew what tonight would entail, in part. And thus, he had asked the faithful watchdog to guard the stairs. For he needed privacy on this night. Whatever would happen below, he cared not. He knew things out be handled. For, well, things up here would be dangerous.

He had already placed in some advanced orders from the kitchen and had set aside a plate of warm food and cookies. A jug of wassail sat on the small kitchen counter, and all the Pokemon were sequestered up and placed in their Pokeballs. Well, besides the ones that would be helping host the party below. That, well, was important for the ruse too. He hated using this space, even if he did own it, without his roommate's consent. But he had been gone since the start of November. Where to... the only clue was investigating the strange fog that had been hanging over the Mystical Realm.

The first guest soon arrived, dressed in a white leather coat with a brown scarf. His straw blond hair seemed to contrast the outfit well enough, and a fancy vest and slack combo was beneath. he had certainly dressed up for the occasion. He looked at Ethan and scanned the room, before setting a bag of coffee grounds on the table.

"I see we are missing someone, yes?" the man asks of him.

"Indeed Sandy," Ethan sighs out, gripping his glass of wassail.

"Well, he always was fashionably late... at the best of times," the coffee sommelier sighs out, before going into the kitchen to brew himself a cup.

"Not going to have some wassail?" the homunculus asks.

"I would prefer to consume alcohol yet, a warm brew always lightens my mood," he replies.

"I see," Ethan states before heading over, hugging the man from behind.

"Well, won't he get mad if he sees us like this?" Sandy asks him with a pompous chuckle.

"You would too if it was the reverse," Ethan states, leaning his head into Sandy's back. There was an odd fluffiness to it.

"Indeed I would," the man replies with a pensive sigh. "I presume that is why you invited the both of us here?"

Before Ethan could answer, he heard the door open. Undoing the hug, he straightens himself out and once again grabs his glass of wassail. Taking a sip, he looks at the other man that was in the room. Dark brown hair with purple irises. He was wearing a purple scarf beneath an ugly sweater that said "I'm on the Naughty List." The man then produced a piece of mistletoe and hung it between him and Ethan.

"You know what that means, right?" the man lets out a snarky laugh before giving Ethan a kiss.

"Hey, Lyle..." Ethan mutters, blushing a little.

"Oh, sorry there Sandy~ Didn't think you'd be here already," Lyle coos out in an almost playful matter as he grabbed a glass of wassail and a cookie.

"Unlike you, I aim to be punctual," the coffee fiend replies, rubbing his temple.

Ethan slips away towards the living room while having his two partners argue amongst each other. While they were aware of things, neither of them was particularly happy about it. Yet, both of them were at least... willing to let it slide for now. But, Ethan well knew what would happen tonight. He was going to try to be coerced into a choice.

Grabbing the main sofa, he watched as the arguing men took each of the solo armchairs. They looked at Ethan, a few different thoughts on their mind. This moment felt like an eternity, and they very much could have an eternity, if they wanted. This was a meeting of powers beyond human kind. The perfect homunculus, a devil, and something... He had a few ideas on what Sandy actually was, but that was something he wanted to confirm.

"So, I am hoping to discuss things tonight," Ethan states pensively, putting his glass down.

"What is there to discuss?" Lyle asks in an almost mocking tone. "I'm letting you play around, but you're mine."

"I think, for once, you should be considerate of your partner's feelings you hedonist," Sandy replies bluntly.

"Ah, the angel boy finally has some snark. You could've fallen with the rest of us, you know?" Lyle snarks back, before doing an intentional oopsie face, hand covering mouth and all.

"Shut it. I did not wish to... tell him that," the angel responds, looking a bit distraught.

"I'll be honest, I had a feeling you weren't a normal person," Ethan replied, fidgeting with his thumbs. Best let them argue now before talking.

"I am trying my best to live a human life. Blend in... since I was reawakened. I know my brother is imprisoned, and I have no clue where the other Archangels are. Nor do I care. My role in that war is over..." Sandy explains.

"Sandalphon?" Ethan then asks. This was part of his research too.

"Indeed, that is my full name. But, well, that is not who I am. I am just a simple man looking to make the perfect cup," he replied curtly.

"Well, considering why you chase it, are you sure you've left the past behind?" Lyle asks his tone actually not hostile for once.

"Belial, please. It still pains me," the angel tells the demon.

"Lucy asks about you sometimes, you know? If I've seen you. Part of him still loves you, you know," Lyle points out.

"I am well aware of Lucifer's feelings. But, I need to keep those memories of him as just that. Memories."

There was a pause between the two, Ethan feeling he was more of a peanut gallery than anything else. Was she also responsible for this? That woman. His creator. No, surely she had no involvement in that ancient war. He didn't know, and he didn't care. He had to focus on what his in front of him. His heart. Not the past... that ancient past that occurred so long ago.

"Anyways... I just want to make things simple, I don't plan on choosing one of you over the other," Ethan states simply. "I know you both want me to choose you instead of the other, but, I don't think I can do that."

The two of them start to think and look at each other. It was obvious neither of them was happy with the line, but, well, it was what it was. That there was nothing more that they could budge. After all, both of them needed him for similar reasons. He had an inkling of what those reasons were, but for the life of him feared what the answers were. Even if he had to play this game of phone tag for a long while, he would be more than happy to play it.

"So, you wish to negotiate terms of a contract then?" Lyle asks, grabbing a pair of sunglasses from his pocket.

"Yes."

"I see. Well, I currently do have a contract with your Lampent," the devil then states. There was a tonal shift here. This wasn't just some hedon now... No, this was a cold, calculating devil.

"I am aware," Ethan replies. "He told me as such."

"So you are aware he can not interfere in this then?" Lyle asks, lowering his shades while conjuring a piece of paper.

"Indeed," Ethan nods in response. He takes another sip and notices Sandy being oddly silent.

"Well, then let me draft something up real quick," Lyle says, grabbing a fancy pen with gold engraving, and starts to write away on the coffee table.

"I would like to audit the contract once you are done drafting it," Sandy then states before getting up.

"I wish I could say no, but well, I have to play by the rules for this one," Lyle replies with a smirk.

The angel nods in response and walks over to the kitchen. He returns, booze in hand, and downs the entire glass in one gulp. Oh, he was prepared to get sloshed after this. Wasn't he? It seems both of his lovers had plans after this was over, and those plans were involving him in some way. Ethan could feel something creeping up his spine, and stress started to take hold of his head. This was going to be a long night.

"Done, now if you excuse me, I'm going to be using the restroom," Lyle states, pushing the paper forwards.

The devil walks down the hall and disappears into the darkness. Ethan hears a door open, and then it closes after a bit. That time-lapse was a bit odd, but, it seemed he had some time to talk with the brooding angel.

"That shark," Sandy mutters, reading over the contract. Taking the same pen, he scowls in pain as he begins to audit the contract.

"I'm guessing there are loopholes that would end up benefitting him?" Ethan asks. This was all over his head.

"Indeed... Indeed. Yet, they are also obvious enough that he wanted me to spend the time to correct him. He's planning something, a little bit of chaos. I know him well," the angel sighs, crossing out words and replacing them.

"I know you two have a history together, but, I rather not pry," Ethan states. "Let the past be the past, and look forwards."

"A man after my own heart. As much as Lyle is a party animal, he lives his days in pain. For even if he wants fun in his life, he'll always have to deal with the burdens of his past. I do too..." he sighs, setting the paper down. "Yet, that is neither here nor there. I know you will learn it one day, but not tonight. Tonight is meant for cheer and merry-making, is it not?"

"I guess," Ethan shrugs.

After a few minutes, he hears the toilet flush and sees Lyle stumbling on out. From the looks of it, he took something while in there. A small flask was gripped by his hands, and he had a shit-eating grin on his face. Guess once the contract was done, he thought it would be party time. Indeed, things were going to start picking up.

"Right, you done angel boy?" the devil asks.

"Contract should be beneficial to all of us now," he curtly responds.

Lyle stumbles over and grabs the paper, scanning it. With a smirk, he sets it down and signs his own name, and dates it. He gives Sandy a wild look, and his grin turns absolutely devilish.

"You sly dog," Lyle remarks, and the angel shrugs.

Sandy does not reply as he signs his own name and hands the paper over to Ethan. Oh boy. He begins to read the contract and realizes that this was something most likely not meant to be read by others. He reads it over a few times, before taking the pen. It stings a little bit as he jots down his name, and signs it. After he put it down, he sees the paper evaporate into the light. He looks at the two of them, in an almost now what.

"Well, it's time to start the fun," Lyle states, licking his lips.

---

Morning light hits his eyes. His entire body was sore, and he felt drained. It was sleep, for sure, but not sleep that was restful. No, this sleep was nothing more than simple unconsciousness. He couldn't remember what really happened most of the night before, but from the way his body hurt... it was a lot. Quite a lot. Things had happened that only he could recall in blurry detail.

Sighing, he tries to get up but feels he can't. He then feels the warmth of two bodies hugging him and could see both the angel and devil holding him, fast asleep. Small, brown hawk-like wings gently fluttered, while he could feel purple horns poking his side. A purple devil's tail was wrapped around his left leg, ensnaring him. Must've been a wild night indeed. Though, he just felt happy that things were going to be working out.

Gently unwrapping his bare body from his two lovers, he rose out of bed and found Christmas pajamas before putting them on. Hoarding all the Pokeballs he had sequestered, he noticed something odd. Echo's was opened. When did that happen? Oh shit, what was the Ditto doing? He didn't know. But, well, he needed to check on things.

Heading downstairs, he could see the mess of the party still there. Guess everyone was so exhausted they forgot to clean up. He could see William with a mug of coffee, looking dead to the world, staring out the window. Looking out, he could see powder snow start to fall onto the cobblestone square. Guess it was a white Christmas after all.

"Had fun, reindeer boy?" Ethan chuckles, taking a seat next to his Pokemon.

"A lot of it, not going to lie," the Pokemon states, still in human form/ "Just need to get this mess cleaned up..."

"Did you sleep at all?" Ethan asks.

"Did you?"

"it didn't feel restful, I won't lie," Ethan sighs. "You?"

"Same. I ended up choosing to sleep as a Pokemon last night. I made sure this place wouldn't pass out. But, as you can see, it was a success," William states, looking over the tired staff as they were curled up in various places in the cafe.

"Well, why don't you tell me about the fun later," Ethan replies.

"Same..." Will replies before setting his head down on the table. "Can we just have everyone else clean? I still have a throbbing headache from getting Droned."

"Good for you," Ethan chuckles. "But, well, things seemed to have worked out for the both of us.

William just gets up and rests his head on Ethan's shoulder. There was a squirming in his body as it happened, but at this point, the homunculus didn't mind. While Lucas might be his battle partner, he considered Will to be his closest companion at this point. Leo was gone, for who knows how long, and things had been awkward for the past year anyways. Hopefully, the new year would bring in something good. This was a good way to end 2022.
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Old 07-13-2023, 03:06 PM   #29
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Litwick Ghosts

Things had been different this year. That was certainly the truth. Leo came back... quite differently than he had imagined. His trainer was often gone now, barely around. A secret tournament... without even telling him? And of course, Lucas went along. As well as that... ghost. It was weird, considering he was one himself. Yet, even with everything else going on... it was oddly quiet. No, it was too quiet. And he hated it. Sandy or Lyle would occasionally come, and act only with cordiality with him. Something was amiss, yet what?

"You okay?" A soft voice enters his mind, and he looks around.

No one was there. Of course, no one was there. He felt like he was going insane.

"I'm fine..." he muttered, taking a draft of a cigarette.

"You're clearly not Will," it responds.

He looked around once again, getting irritated. He'd know if it was lurking within his shadow. Yet, that wasn't the case here. He was sitting on the roof, his shadow stretching down to the pavement below. He saw Milanor up here once on a full moon and decided it was the quietest place even during the day. No angels or devils. No Pokemon to bother him. Just himself, to get in a quick smoke before heading back down to take care of things. He always felt like crap doing so, but whatever.

"I'm over here, silly," he hears, before feeling a weight on his shoulders.

He looks up, and the face breaks him. No. This wasn't possible. This couldn't be possible. His soul was still within Lyle's cage. It was the bargaining chip. It was what kept his contract intact. So why... why? How? This couldn't be possible. It was a splitting image... from that day. All those years ago, when he was still human. So how could..?

"Theo..?" the words could barely escape his lips.

"Surprised?" the boy asks him.

"How are you alive...? And why do you look like... a preteen again? You survived that day... I saw it with my own eyes, as I burned away. Your bo-" he starts to ask before a finger was pushed against his lips, silencing him.

"Don't ask, okay? Just, let me do this," Theo tells him, before hugging him tightly.

William just silently sat, in a state of shock. This had to be a ghost right? Was it just a specter from his past coming back to haunt him? Yet, the touch was real. It felt like human flesh. Was this a cruel trick that his contractor was pulling on him? No. No. No. Nononononononononononononononononono.

"You need to let me go."

The words pierced his heart like a knife. Let him go? Why? He had given up his entire life to save him. He had spent his entire unlife trying his best to save him. His entire contract with Belial was in order to one day save Theo from his fate. So why...? Why would he appear before him just to tell him goodbye? Tears were starting to well up in his eyes.

"Theo..." he gasped out.

"Will, please, don't Theo me," he was told.

"You're telling me to let you go, after all this time?"

"I'm just a ghost now. You keep talking with the dead, thinking you yourself are one of us. No... Remember. After everything is said and done, you'll still be alive. You need to let go of your chains. These chains of broken memories. I couldn't remember... Ethan can't remember. Our data is corrupted," a chuckle from the child.

"You're not really Theo... are you?" William suddenly asks.

"Correct. I'm a 'ghost'. The soul is too eroded by Yog-Sothoth's corruption at this point. The Theo you loved... is long gone. I'm just simply an-"

"Echo."

"Yes."

"So that's where you've been this entire time," William sighs, still looking up at the Ditto.

"While I very much am a mole, I still do care about you both. The love she discarded was put within me, after all," the Pokemon continues,

"So you've been giving information to Valeria?" Will asks in an accusatory tone.

"Yes."

"So that's why Ethan keeps you locked up..." he trails off, turning his gaze towards the blinding sun.

"Indeed. Though my main purpose is to research the other vessels here. Even if you are victorious against my creator, I will ultimately be aligned with our trainer. Such as what I have bargained with the one who must sleep," Echo explains, a sort of "glitching" noise underlying its tone.

"You made a deal with Thoth?" William asks, fear in his voice.

"Indeed."

"For what...? If that Musharna wakes up, the disaster would be worse than anything Valeria is planning..." he trails off.

"Indeed. I have procured you a second chance. To fix one mistake of your choice Will," it continues, using Theo's voice. "In exchange, I will play the role of a triple agent. One you must keep silent on."

"You're also going to be acting on the orders of the grandaddy of Eldritch Horrors? Fan-fucking-tastic. Why am I so important to all of this?" William then asks.

"As a ghost to a ghost, I have a simple request. I am acting on the last data I have from the soul... I am mimicking. Go back in time. Kill me. We have managed to risk assessment. Killing me at that exact moment will have the timeline play out the exact same... mostly. It won't affect anyone but you," Theo tells him. He could tell it was truly Theo speaking through the Ditto.

"Fine. What do you need me to do?" William asks.

Theo produces a card. And hands it over to Will. Before anything else could be said, shadowy mist starts to consume him. He could feel his entire form distorting... the echoes of Dialga's roar rings through his ears. All of this, for a sweet lullaby to start to play in his ears. Before the smell of cigarette smoke and whisky. He knew where he was going now.

---

He blinked and looked around. The limousine. He saw he was in the form of a fourteen-year-old once again. The form the figure in front of him had so delightfully 'blessed' him with. Still masquerading around in Theo's skin. Yet, that didn't matter now. This would play out all the same, right? He was talking with too many ghosts at this point, asking for help. The Lesser Key was once again in his hands, and he could see future events staying the same. Cursed clairvoyance.

"I will, on one condition. Why did you help me, back then?" he asked softly, hugging the cage at this point. This conversation would play out the same until a certain point... Until it was time to say goodbye.

"It was a way to further my goals and the goals of others. His mother is a threat, I am sure you are very well aware of that when you encountered her and your sister. I need humanity, in order to feed and sustain myself. So, it was to help my own survival..." the devil explained, scoffing.

"Then..." Wiliam sighs and opens the cage.

"You're going to eat him? My, not what I thought you would do. Perhaps I'll get what I want after all," a devilish grin.

"These are my terms. I eat Theo, and I keep the Lesser Key. You discard his body and burn it to ash. In exchange, you can have my trainer. I'll still be your puppet..: he trails off once more.

"Hmmm. Whether the soul lives or dies doesn't matter here, just your servitude to me? Then things must be kept the same after all..." Lyle muses for a second.

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"Oh my dear William, you think I don't have means of divining futures? Well, I don't. But I had a feeling that what mattered here was that you continued to serve me. I thought this would be the best bargaining chip, no? Yet, despite your emotional turmoil... you still are willing to eat it. I can see the look in your eyes. You've come back to this point..." Lyle starts to muse.

"Fine, the fates have deemed this necessary now. Eat it, and I will send you back to your point in time. I promise you, that your memories will stay intact. No, this world will stay intact... On the condition, you tell no one you managed to interfere with fate," the devil smirks.

"Deal," he tells him. A nod in agreement.

Gently grabbing the soul in the cage, he sets it in the palm of his hand. It felt hollow now... Like there wasn't much left. How worse was it a year from now, where he came from? No, he understood what it meant when it was said this was the safest point. Nothing would change... if he ate it now. He accepted it. Theo was long gone. He had been for years now. So, it was time to let go... of his Ghosts.

Pinching the soul, he hung it over his mouth. Tears began to drip down his eyes, but it didn't matter. He dropped it in and swallowed it in one gulp. It was... very empty. Not much left. Nothing that would fuel him normally... Yet, this was his duty. As a member of the Litwick family species, he was supposed to consume the souls of the departed. Those who would not... be able to go on to the afterlife. Burn them away, for they were cancer to the world. And just like that, all of his work... everything... was gone in an instant.

---

He woke up on the roof, Echo nowhere to be seen. Memories of the past year filled his mind... and nothing had changed. So, what was the point then? To answer his friend's final plea? Nothing had changed... No, perhaps that was the point. Nothing would change. This was a hopeless mission from the start. That he threw his life away for nothing. He got up, and headed downstairs.

He headed through the apartment towards his trainer's room. He wanted a proper nap. He then stopped and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked different. Still very much like he did, yet it was his hair that was different. Instead of an ashen white... it was a bright orange. Flame Red. Yet, he felt the changes were more than just surface level. Like his soul itself had warped into one that was more... human. He tried to light his lighter on his skin, but it still absorbed within. No burns... Looked like he was still a Pokemon for now.

Yet, there was something else there. A pounding feeling in his chest. Love. There was still love there. He sheepishly entered the room and saw Ethan recording data within a notebook.

"Hey, you doing okay Will?" he was asked.

Wait... Will? He was usually just called William.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a bad dream," he grumbled, feeling a blush on his cheeks.

Fuck.

"You've been having nightmares ever since we came back from the Frontier, so I'm not surprised. I've just been trying to log these combat data tests... Sandy says things will start soon," he told Will.

"Yeah, I'm aware. You and your boyfriends..." he just groaned before faceplanting onto the pillow.

"Look, I know you're still reeling from what you had to do. Still, I am glad we've been able to properly bond now that Theo's finally gone..." Ethan trailed off.

"Yeah, but, I don't have someone. Let alone two people. Even if it is that asshole of a devil and prick of an angel," Will scoffs.

"Well, they're mine. For now. Who knows what fate has in store for us? It might mean nothing if we can't defeat her," Ethan grimaces.

"True, true. We'll prevail, don't worry. I'll avenge him, no matter what," Willaim replies, feeling a bit more determined.

"Even if I'm just a ghost... A wandering spirit who should've been long dead and gone. Still, these feelings..."
__________________


I fill my lungs with everything
You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

Fizzy Bubbles

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Old 07-31-2023, 01:44 PM   #30
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Litwick Chain of Memories

It was just as how he left it. A foundation of rubble, the charred remains of wood. Demonic magic and bloodstains hidden within the rubble. But it was more than just that. More than just the ruins of the past. It was his home all those years ago. His home as a human being. And it was time to let it go.

William looked around a cigarette in his mouth. He looked a lot different now than he would've as a kid. Flame red hair. Ivory skin. More angular features. His eye color is an ethereal yellow. He was a 'ghost', in a sense. A Pokemon granted human form. That's right... he was just a tool. Yet, for how long was he a tool? He didn't know. He didn't care at this point. He was tired of haunting the remains of his past.

"Move on..." he muttered to himself, taking a draft.

Yet his heart was hollow. He took this trip to Unova to find himself. To find peace with himself. Before the trials. Before the final battle. His sister was his enemy. His lover was extinguished, his soul was used as food. He had fought for over a decade... only to choose between hearing the fading echo of his soul. There was no saving him. There was no saving her. His past, and his own goals, have all gone up in smoke.

So, he didn't know why he had come back now. Closure? This pain in his heart wanted it badly. To just move on from Theo, and everything he did and meant. He was a fool to think that this would have a happy ending. That he could be with the one he loved, and save his soul. No. He saw how Theo was after everything. Perhaps it was for the best things ended like this. That thing could've gone extremely south. A friendship tainted by love, devolving into a toxic, abusive mess.

Still, he knew his heart yearned for those days. All of those memories together. Staying up late on weekends playing video games. Taking trips to Nimbasa, Undella, or his family's cabin. All the school projects. All the little secrets. They were chains binding his heart. And they gripped him tightly.

He hung his head as he started to walk away from the building. He looked back one last time, hoping to see a ghost. To hear 'wait.' To hope that he was living in a nightmare. Every dream eventually has a happy ending... right? That no matter how hard he wished for it, that he'd get it? No, that wasn't right. It was time to wake up... whatever that meant.

The industrial port city was bustling, and he just faded into the crowd. Everywhere he looked, something from his childhood stuck out to him. He saw that no matter how much the city changed... it stayed the same. Virbank was still itself, over a decade later. And it just proved to him things were insignificant. He couldn't stop the flow of time. And he was trying to. He realized he kept wanting to go back. Kept wanting things to stay the same. But he wasn't a child anymore. He needed to grow up. His form has... but his mind hasn't.

Soon, he was at his next stop. An ice cream parlor. One that was still here, after all these years. It had been around long before he was born, and would surely remain once he left Unova behind for good. He stomped out his cig and entered the building. The chime of the door was familiar, and he saw the place was empty. Well, besides one person in front of him. Perhaps it was the off hours?

"...I'm going to be flying back in about a week. I've investigated everything I needed to hear. Give me a sec Brunetta, I'm grabbing myself something to eat. I'll talk to you later," he overheard the woman in front of him. She seemed... familiar.

"Scoop of lavender, waffle bowl," she told the employee, and William blinked.

That order... was quite familiar. One he always heard ordered whenever he came here. Most of the time once, but sometimes twice. Theo always got it... because of his older sister. No, this couldn't be it. Why would she of all people be here? That's strange. Still, he sighed and waited.

Though, he managed to catch a glimpse of the woman as she turned around. Their eyes met, and William paused. No.

"Natalie...?" he muttered in confusion.

The woman's face lit up in shock. She looked around, seeming to reach for a Pokeball. She then scanned him over and scowled. She just pointed to a seat, as if demanding him to sit. WIlliam pointed to the ice cream first, and she nodded. Seems he would get his treat. One cone of cookies and cream later, he was being stared down.

"I thought you died," she stated in a cold tone.

"It'd be the best if people think that..." William sighed in response.

"Still. After all these years, my second brother's best friend. Still, you look different. Dye your hair?" she asked, taking a small spoon for her ice cream.

"No. It's complicated," he replied.

"Is it as complicated as one of my dead younger brothers appearing to me in my office?" she asks him.

"Fucking hell," William furrows his brow, too pissed to even try to eat.

"So you know about that? Tell me William, what have you been doing for the past... twelve years," Natalia tells him in a commanding voice.

"I've been a ghost. Sold my soul to save Theo's life. Became a Litwick, bound to my old house until he came back. I was with him for a while, but his health massively deteriorated over two years. He then just... left me back there. And then the splitting image of him, with yellow eyes, found me. He knew who I was... Theo didn't. And I've been with him ever since as his Pokemon," William explains the story.

"Still, doesn't explain how you're a human. Or why you know of that incident," she coldly replies.

"I'm not... I pacted with a demon my sister was trying to summon to stop your mother. Belial. He's quite a famous one. He managed to break onto our plane using Theo's body. And in the process, gave me the ability to assume human form. He's now using a different one... and I have no clue where Theo's is. But Theo's soul... is gone. I ate it," he admits. Guilt washes over his face.

"It was probably better you did. She use to be loving... caring even. Then she started working at the Pokemon Mansion. That was thirty years ago. I was just a little girl... but the things I saw there. It made me realize my mother was a danger to this world. I broke free from her control as soon as I turned eighteen. My brothers weren't as lucky, as you know. Still," she explains to him, a crack in her icy facade. William could tell she very much still loves her family.

"So we've both been chasing after ghosts... I'm tired of it myself. I just want to move on. From the demons. From the angels. From the eldritch horrors... I just want my life to be my own," William admits to her.

"That's how I felt as a teenager. Albeit, without all of the supernatural things. So, I understand. I became a nun, and now lead the church itself."

William noticed a brooch on her person at this point engraved with a II.

"I see... Well, that's not what I'm looking for personally. I just want to let go of the past and move forward," he awkwardly chuckles.

"We all have journies we need to take in our lives, William. I believe Her Grace and Arceus above spared you for a reason. I have a flight I need to catch. Farewell," she tells William as she gets up to leave.

He doesn't follow her and instead focuses on eating his ice cream. Yet, his tastebuds were dull to the flavor at this point. There was too much he was feeling to sense it. The feelings of regret caged his heart. The feelings of love adding his mind. The memories flooded through him. It was all something he needed to let go of. And let go he'll do it.

Tossing the wrapper in the trash, he left the building. It would be a trip, but he knew where he had to go. He quickly stopped by a flower shop and purchased a bouquet. Butterfly Weed, Marigolds, and Cyclamens. The florist looked at him, confusion on his face, as he requested the bouquet.

"You realize what these mean, right?" he was asked. He nodded in response.

"Yes. I know it is a conflicting message," William replied.

"Something along the lines of 'I'm letting you go, so goodbye.' I hope she takes it well," the man muses.

William sighs. Right. A guy can't buy another guy flowers. Gross. But, well, whatever. One day society would just normalize it all, and it'll be fine. Even if the was a far yonder dream. It didn't matter to him now. He just took the bouquet and left.

More memories flashed through his eyes. Hazy summer days. Cold winter nights. Roughhousing in the spring. Spry autumn walks. Picking pumpkins... All of it. Stuck in that rosy tint. And he could feel them trying to cloud his mind. Cloud his judgment. He was finally going to let go.

He made his way into the graveyard. He wandered the plots until he found the one he was looking for. Theo wasn't here. After all, the world didn't know he was dead. No. The flowers weren't meant for Theo anyway. There was a different grave he was standing over. One that stated "William Lucas Glenn." His own grave. He set them down and sighed out.

"I'm letting you go. I need to. If I'm ever going to move forward, I need to move on from you," he tells the grave.

He then takes out a piece of charcoal. One that he's held on to for a very long time. It was from his room. His bed. He knew exactly what it meant, and he set it down next to the flowers. He could feel himself relax. Breathe a breath he didn't know he was holding. Everything felt clearer now.

"Goodbye, Theo. Goodbye, me. I'm no longer going to live in your shadows. So I'm going to follow my heart. I'm going to see this through and end this dream once and for all. I've spent my entire life living the most beautiful dream. But the more I think about it, the more I realized it's become a twisted nightmare. So, I'm going to wake up. Bye," he tells the grave and starts to walk away.

He then pulled out his phone and called a number.

"Will...? You realize what time it is here, right?" a familiar voice asks in a sleepy haze.

"I'm going to be back home soon Ethan. Let Sandy know I'm finally ready to start," he replies.

"Fine, I'll talk to you later," Ethan replies.

"Right. One more thing before you go," William states.

"Hm?"

"I love you, Ethan."

ACT 2 END
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You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

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Old 10-30-2023, 10:15 AM   #31
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Litwick Lost in Paradise

The cold autumn air hit his skin. Pale, yellow eyes stared out over the morning sun. Fiery red hair wafted in the wind, grown out slightly for the season. He cracked his knuckles as he left the building behind him. This was it. The last day they had. He gazed towards the Clockspire, a pit of dread forming in his stomach. Tomorrow was when the trials would begin. And the years his trainer had taken to prepare would start.

"All Hallow's Eve, huh..." William muttered to himself.

The memory danced around his glassy mind. As soon as he returned from his trip to Unova, his trainer had been standoffish. Ignoring him even, but that was fine—this sort of cold love swelled within him. It only fueled the flames within him. This flaming heart he had kept him warm, even if it was just an engine of souls. For that's just what he was now, an infernal engine made of glass and iron.

Still, back to the subject on hand. The angel and the devil had met them on his return. Four trials that they had to face. The guardian of the tower. The protector of the forest. The wraith of the castle. The tyrant of the lake. Yet, he knew there was more to it. More than just defeating those roaming Megas. The four Pokemon were so corrupted by the Mystical Realm that they were permanently mega-evolved. No, it was also so they could test them. No, surely they would have to fight the angel and devil too. Most likely the fae king as well...

"Leo. No. Fairy King Oberon," he scoffed, a dissonant chuckle. Most of his Pokemon had gone back to the woods with him. Only a select few stayed behind, either of their own volition or to watch.

"So, who's the fourth? Perhaps Ethan knows... Not like he tells me anything anymore," he grips his fists while walking the cobblestone streets.

Yet, as he stepped into the morning sun, he could feel something. It. It was watching him again.

"Zero."

No response.

"Zero. I know you're in my shadow," William tells the Marshadow.

Once again, no response. Quite the silent type. More focused on learning than talking. But Ethan had been using the Pokemon to watch him as of late. It annoyed the ever-living shit out of him. But he couldn't argue, not anymore. This wayward love kept him shackled.

Errantly walking through the City of Pentacles, he eventually reaches where he wants to go. A rival business, but that he didn't care about. He wasn't in the mood for some divine brew. Or some saccharine sweet. He wanted something warm and hearty. Something down to earth. He could only eat the forbidden fruit so many times before getting sick of it.

"Oh, it's you," a barista says as he enters the door.

Off in the Rogue's District, a little bakery. The coffee wasn't the best, but the food was something else. Not too sugary, not too rich. Perfectly bready, and for sure damn filling.

"'Sup," William waves as he heads up to the counter.

"What'll it be," the barista asks of him, looking a bit dreary.

"Pipping hot cup of Kalosian roast with a bacon, egg, and cheese kolache. You know what, make that two kolaches," he tells the man, who just nods.

"That'll be $11.52, sir. You know, why do you come here when you live above the best cafe in town?" he asks William.

"To see your pretty face obviously. Nah, I like the food. I can only have so much sugar before I get sick of it," the Chandelure tells the man with a wink, before paying an even fourteen. "Keep the change as a tip."

William just waits at the pick-up counter before being handed a greasy paper bag and a plain cup of coffee. Going outside, he sits at one of the tables. One perfectly positioned for his shadow to be cast on another chair. He takes out the food and sets one of the kolaches at another seat. Soon enough, a small shadowy creature rose up to go for it.

"Zero, what do you say?" William asks the Marshadow.

"T-Thank you..." a somewhat timid voice replies. Lighter than one would expect from a creature made of shadow. It was obvious the mythical Pokemon wasn't used to speech.

"That's a good thief," William tells the Pokemon before rubbing its shadowy head. Surprisingly soft and squishy, like a marshmallow.

The Marshadow huffs a little while it happens, its head-turning green. Still, they were a good companion to have around. Even if Ethan would learn of everything he did, he didn't mind. He was collecting his nerves for the fight tomorrow. He still remembered his foray into the tower last year. Back when he was still in that depressed, drunken stupor. Back when he still looked fourteen, instead of a young adult. He was surprised his evolution didn't trigger an age up; it didn't matter though. It's been seven months in this state, and he never felt more alive.

Still, the tower. It was filled with traps. Most assuredly it would be even harder. He and Lucas had managed to ward off the Metagross that lurked there once, but this time it would be different. They would have to defeat it... and then most likely have another battle afterward. One that would be even more arduous and difficult. Ethan had been spending a lot of time training his Pokemon for the fights ahead. Especially Zero. It was as if every waking moment the homunculus was awake, he was pouring into the Marshadow. Yet, William couldn't fully understand why. There was something more to this. There had to be.

He took a bite into his kolache, still pipping out. The buttery bread soon gave way to a conglomerate of flavors. Sharp, almost nutty cheddar melded together with scrambled eggs. Chunks of thick-cut bacon oozed grease as it mixed into the other flavors, giving a very strong, hearty meal. Hints of garlic and cracked black pepper could be made out, with an underlying hint of thyme to cut it all. While there wasn't too much salt within the filling, a dusting of sea salt was on top of the bread. It was enough to jolt him awake and fuel him for the day ahead.

The coffee, on the other hand, was rather quite plain. Nothing that compared even to the black he could get back home. But, the acidity helped cut the fatty richness of the food. He couldn't imagine eating more than one of these at a time. It would most likely make him too sluggish. No, this was something that was a one-and-done. Best kept as a one-and-done too.

Finishing his food, he continued his patrol of the city. Zero soon retreated back into his shadow, annoying the Pokemon. Man? It was complicated. But he was fine being a ghost now. Fine with who he was. He had moved on from the preteen who sacrificed himself over a decade ago. Spending most of his life in a state of undeath did that.

Still, things just felt... quiet. Too quiet. Like the entire world was preparing for what would happen tomorrow. Still, he would be ready for the fight. Find solace in what little time they had left. For even on this quiet autumn morning, he could only feel tomorrow's fight. The end of all was about to approach, and he was wandering lost in paradise.
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You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

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Old 11-02-2023, 02:48 PM   #32
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Ain Soph Aur I

"All I wanted to do was have a cup of coffee with you"

---

All Hallow's Eve. A year ago, he was slurping down greasy pizza and drinking the night away. Tonight, he'd be braving the spire that loomed over the city. It was finally time. The first of four trials was to see if he was ready to take her down. To see if his team was prepared to take her down. Whatever it took, he would overcome them—one at a time. There was a limit on all of this. If he failed to complete all four by New Year's Eve... then the end would come to pass. Two months. Four trials. No pressure. Not for him.

He looked skyward, the moon eerily full. This wasn't natural. The moon phase should've been a waning gibbous moon. Guess this was the first sign that this trial was ready to begin. No matter, he had a simple task with this. Reach the top of the spire and win the battle. He braced himself as he headed forward, leaving only his shadow to the light. Unnatural yellow eyes shining through the darkness.

Pushing into the darkness of the tower, he noticed the circuitry was off. Not a single soul was around. No one was supposed to be around, after all. The tower was closed to the public right now. A hollow, cursed testament to civilizations long passed. Yet, here he was, sneering.

He headed towards the man-made elevator and wrapped his fist on the cold, metal door. Knock. Knock... Knock. Hollow. Pressing the button, not a single "ding". KER-CHUNK. Looked like it was jammed. Of course, it wasn't going to be easy. He looked toward the rusted-over gate next to the elevator. Guess he would have to take the stairs.

Trying the ornate, oxidized handle, he felt it was locked. So, he was to fetch a key. He looked around and could see a faint glow from the central hole. Descend into the depths of the tower to climb it. Huh, how original. William had told him that there was a platform down there. And that whatever was beneath that was beyond him. For that's when the metal beast had made itself known.

"Well, guess we fly down," Ethan muttered to himself as he took out a Luxury Ball.

Soon, his Dragonite was released from his Pokeball. The orange dragon gave him a small whimper, not liking the dark. Ethan just gave him a reassuring back rub, before hoisting himself on. With a whistle, he could feel his shadow move onto his back. Good. Now it was time to fly down and see what was going on here.

The luminescence gradually grew as they flew down. There was no movement as they descended. No sentries. No turrets. Nothing. Just an eerie feeling. Looking up, he could see darkness encroach on where he was. He couldn't even see the entrance by the time they touched down on the grated floor below them. Flamethrowers were situated beneath them. This was a dangerous trap, especially for the unprepared.

Yet, nothing stirred as Spencer touched down on the floor. He returned the Dragonite and made his way towards the elevator on the other side. Unlike the ladders for the floors above, most people don't venture past the bottom elevator. Those who do don't tend to return... or don't disclose their findings beyond what they bring back. Whatever was here, he didn't care all too much. He needed to find the stair key. And he knew something that dangerous would most likely be within the depths of the tower. For the only thing more dangerous than the bottom floors... were the top floors.

Taking in a deep breath, he pressed the button on this ancient elevator. With a soft ding, he waited for the door to open. Entering the elevator, he prepared himself for whatever may come next. He could see it was oddly pristine. As if some maintenance robot cleaned this meticulously. For what purpose, he didn't know. No. He didn't want to know. Secrets were best laid buried... at least these. There were only two buttons. Looks like this would take him into the depths.

He could feel the elevator start to move down. As it did, he instinctively reached for a Pokeball strapped to his waist. A Luxury Ball, right next to where his throwing arm naturally rested. He felt the small little scratches within the Pokeball. The smoothness suddenly interrupted with notches. Each notch... well... it was meant to serve as a reminder. One. Two... Three... Thrice. Then nothing. Back to being smooth. Yet, it still stirred something within him. No, he would leave the Pokeball be for now. Focus on what he needed to find.

Seeing the elevator door open, he could see a mural on the other side of the room. It looked to be from the survivors of the civilization. This wasn't... well documented now. But why? He more closely looked into the mural. The tower is almost close to completion. Arceus almighty descending from the sky, rays of Judgement assaulting the tower. Winged humanoids, with facial features similar to Arceus. Angels. The moment of Babel's destruction, signed off in Unown script. This was dated back... around five hundred thousand years ago. For centuries... no millennia... the automatons in the tower persisted. He then felt a chill run up his spine.

Turning around, Ethan didn't sense anything physically there. But something was watching him. Was it a wraith? Or was it something else? But he knew that if he tried to bring this knowledge to the surface... it would end up killing him. It was a curse, placed onto his system. Perhaps... it would be useful if he needed to rewind. But... the question was. What point would it send him back to? When would he reboot? He rather not mess around and find out.

Moving past the mural, he investigated the other rooms. Mostly broken-down automatons, barely functioning at this point. What looked to be functional was inert. A few things looked like he could fetch for a pretty penny, but also felt heavily trapped. Yet, as he continued from room to room, he realized that this place was a labyrinth. And that something was wandering these halls with him.

The further he went, the more locked doors he'd encounter. Broken down machinery. Rubble. Bones. The list went on, but he never found cobwebs. All he could see was the faint, blue light being emitted from the walls. The sound of turning gears and the ticking of a clock. The faint hum... of something. He was running out of time here, he could feel it. And there was no key. Perhaps he was a fool to try and find this key.

He soon entered the next room and found it oddly clean. There was no rubble. No dust. No signs of damage. Just a small wooden table with a single chair. On the table was a journal, and next to it was a rusted key. Looks like this was an obvious plant by the trial's host. Yet, he couldn't resist it. This was knowledge left for him to read. He wasn't going to deny it. He read the first entry:

A.E 1. 1.
Brother created this collection of pages for me. He called it a 'journal'. A curious thing. Said to use it to write my thoughts and feelings. So I decided I would. What to write about? Hmm... Right. Helel gave me something called "coffee" the other day. One of our Lord's creations. It was a bitter drink, but something about it lifted me. This has piqued my interest.

So this was Sandy's diary then... He skimmed the next few pages before finding another passage of interest.

B.D. 2. 1.

I am starting to tire of my role. Why should I have to sift through all these souls and decide who they are? Each of them sings a heavenly song of their own... Perhaps it would be best if they decided who they want to be. Call it radical or heretical, but I will talk with Brother about this in the 'marrow. Helel and Belial both think it would be best if I relinquished that role. Focus on my heavenly lyre and delivering the people's prayers to the Lord.

Brother and Helel had been mentioned a few times by now, but this was the first time Belial was mentioned. Most of these entries were waxed poetics. It looked like Sandy's primary role was that of the Archangel of Music, but he was seen as Metatron's darker half. It looked like he was also responsible for deciding a child's fate from this... as well as delivering prayers to Arceus.

B.D. 2. 2.

I have talked with Brother. As the voice of our Lord... he has the most direct connection. Brother understood my plight but admonished me for forsaking the role our Lord has given me. It has made me think... perhaps the Lord is in the wrong. I know these feelings are heresy... but I'll see what can be done. Belial has arranged to meet me in the near future. I'll talk with him then.

The next few entries had a different tone in them. Sandy wrestles with a lot of different feelings on his role within the hierarchy. The ongoing of other angels and their duties. The entries became more and more spaced out, sometimes years or even centuries between them. But there was one a few thousand years down the line that caught his eye.


Y. G. 7. 4.
Helel and Belial approached me earlier today. They're planning on rebelling against our Lord. While a part of me wants to go with them... I can't condone their actions. What will they do? They'll be banished into the abyss below... Yet, I can't just leave either of them behind. Helel and I often talk over coffee now... while Belial has become more intimate with me. If I lose either of them, I think my heart will break. And my songs will lament that loss...

The next entry's date was smudged out.

The Fall is now over. Helel, now deemed Lucifer, has fallen. Belial has along with him, and a few others. Arceus above twisted their bodies into monstrosities. Devils. I wonder if this all could be avoided... Still, one day I hope that I can have a cup of coffee with them again. I think I shall retire using this journal for the foreseeable future. Perhaps, one day in the far future... I'll use it once more.

July 8th, 001
It has been a few thousand years since I wrote in this... Reading over the pages here... all those feelings come back. Perhaps things weren't meant to work out. But... I trust he and I will meet again one day. Something ancient is stirring. Well in the recesses of space. I can hear their song, and it frightens me. It's a twisted... haunting melody. I think, with most of the other angels moved on or imprisoned... I lay down my wings. I'll stay in this heavenly abode until the time is right before descending to the mortal world. Wander if for who knows how long... chasing after the best brew I can. So I can one day extend it to you.

And the journal ended there. It was an interesting read into Sandalphon's past. It did show that the shared history between his angelic and devilish lovers went back a lot further than he realized. Yet, it also gave more insight into the stage he was on. The stage he was in between. And that this outer threat existed for a lot longer than he realized. He pocketed the journal, as well as the key.

Ethan soon retraced his steps, thanks to his shadow. Nothing out of the ordinary. He felt the haunting chill of the mural as he went to ascend. So far there were no traps. No real challenges besides trying to find the key. This was all too easy as it stood. So, whatever awaited him at the top would be more difficult.

Soon reaching the entrance once more with no issues, he headed towards the rusted gate. Inserting the key, he opened it up and started to walk up the loose stairs. As he did, he could hear the ticking of a clock. The moving of the second hand. With each, and every step. He soon reached the next floor. The last floor between him and the top. And something stirred.

The power of Mega Evolution was unmistakable. There stood before him. The mechanical beat. The iron spider. The Mega Metagross that patrolled these harrowed halls. Presumably, it was what lurked in the labyrinth deep below. He dared not ponder what was in there in its stead. Something much worse... tailored for him. Looks like luck was on his side this time. And now it was time to defeat this beast.

He sent out Lucas, the Raichu at the ready. The Pokemon looked at his trainer and gave him a reassuring nod.

"Lucas, Bolt Strike!" Ethan ordered. One strike for this thing, he hoped.

The Raichu was soon wreathed in blue lightning, before barreling forward. The Mega Metagross took the hit, its entire body enveloped in electricity. Yet, the Pokemon didn't budge. Despite the direct it. Good. He was waiting for a challenge. And challenge it would prove, as one of the Pokemon's claw arms was wreathed in metal. With the power of a meteor, Ethan watched as it hit Lucas square in the gut. The Raichu grits his teeth, more than willing to tank the hit.

"Keep up the pressure! Go for an Electric Terrain then pressure it with Zippy Zap!" he gives further orders, with the Raichu nodding.

Channeling electricity into his tail, Lucas then strikes it into the ground. The old cobblestone sparks to life with a faint yellow glow of electricity. The gears within the tower start to whirl and whizz, being brought back to life. The Metagross uses this opportunity to incase its body with powerful steel, reinforcing its defenses with iron defense. That didn't matter much though, as the Raichu zipped his way through the battlefield. Empowered from the Electric Terrain below, he zaps the iron spider with a guaranteed critical hit! The move pierces through the Metagross's defenses but doesn't deal as much of a mark as the Bolt Stike before. But, it does leave Lucas open to a powerful Psychic assault. The waves twisted his mind and lowered his special defense.

"Seems we need to switch to our special moves. Show him the power of your Thunder, before crisping it up with Heat Wave! Ethan confidently orders. For a trainer of his caliber, this thing was only a minor threat.

A large bolt erupts from Lucas and manages to find its mark on the Metagross. Ethan can hear the frying of circuits as the monster tries its best to fight back. Yet, paralysis managed to seep into the Pokemon. And that proved to be fatal, as the super effective fire move was enough to fall the beast. An overall decent challenge. If he had gone for other options, it might've been a more difficult fight. Yet, he wasn't going to mess around.

As he made his was past the defeated guardian, he could feel the cold autumn winds. The taste of the night was on his tongue as he started to climb the stairs. The gears of the tower were fully functioning at this point as he ascended. The sound of a grandfather clock started to ring throughout the city as he reached the top floor. Twelve times, to signify midnight.

"You've left me waiting long enough, Ethan."
__________________


I fill my lungs with everything
You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

Fizzy Bubbles

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Old 11-13-2023, 02:48 PM   #33
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Ain Soph Aur II

Pallid moonlight shone over the destroyed tower. A lone figure flew in the light of the moon, obscured in shadow. A chilling, howling wind rapped against the rubble. The flapping of wings echoed in his ears before the figure dived into the floor before him. It looked at him, expectantly, no longer obscured by the moon.

"You've left me waiting long enough, Ethan."

Brown hawk wings, with feathers falling like fresh snow. His sandy blond hair was ashen in hue. His face warped... human but not. His usual brown eyes were crimson, and green dots at the far corners of his eyes. A halo hung above his head, in the shape of Arceus's ring. His true form, finally given flesh... How many years had he worn a human disguise? Long enough... for the cracks were already showing long before this.

"So, you're the first I must face," Ethan stated with a determined gaze.

"Yes. For I, Sandalphon, Archangel of Music... Shall judge thee. To see if you have the strength to save this world from the horrors that wish to claim it. I may be the only one left still walking, but do not think that's because I'm weak!" the angel declared before grabbing a luxury ball from his belt.

"Go forth, Flygon. Hear the requiem of the desert," Sandy then announces, sending forth the Hoenn dragon.

"Spencer, it's time to take flight!" Ethan countered with his own Dragonite.

The two dragons stared at each other, face to face. Ethan had no clue what Pokemon Sandalphon would have, but perhaps this was a clue. Pokemon that are known for manipulating sounds... and Pokemon that are draconic or serpentine in nature. There were a few different options in his head, but he was more than ready. Yet, it looked like it was up to him to make the first move.

"Alright, start off with a Dragon Dance! Then go in for a Dragon Rush!" Ethan ordered of the Dragonite.

"How predictable. We'll show you how it's done then. Copy their movements while taking to the skies! Dragon Dance and Dragon Rush," Sandalphon ordered with a certain coldness to it.

The two Pokemon began their respective dances. The Dragonite stuck to the ground, retracing the movements of his ancestors. Yet the Flygon took towards the skies in a spinning pirouette. The wind moved out of the way as the green dragon danced with grace across the air. Each step made the Dragonite look clumsy in comparison, no matter how he moved. The lither form that the Flyon had gave it the advantage.

Ethan could see Spencer starting to get annoyed at this, and the lumbering dragon rushed into the air. Channeling draconic energy into his tail, he rushed toward his foe with a full-barreled swing. The Flygon, with grace, finished its dance before somersaulting midair. Its tail was filled with draconic power, and the two Dragon Rushes collided. Yet, despite the Flygon's grace, Ethan could tell its power was slightly behind his own Dragonite's.

The next set of orders was also mirrored. Dragon Claw into Dual Wingbeat. It was as if Sandy was trying to prove a point, that more evasive maneuvers could be done while mirroring the foe. Claw met claw, and wings met wings as the flurry of blows continued. Each strike was matched with each dragon, one relying on his strength, the other relying on his dexterity. Yet, despite their different approaches to fighting, the two dragons looked evenly matched. Even if Spencer was gaining the advantage from his Multiscale from the start of the fight... That was the only edge he had.

"If they want to rely on speed, then we can too. Extreme Speed, then hit them hard with a Hurricane!" Ethan ordered.

"If you're going to change it up, then very well. Crush the dragon with a Rock Slide, before echoing out a Boomburst!"
Sandalphon ordered the Flygon, who responded with a resounding nod.

In a blink of an eye, Spencer continued his aerial assault on his airborne foe. A multitude of hits from claw, tail, and wing battered the Flygon thoroughly, but the other Pokemon didn't look entirely fazed. instead, the Flygon quickly touches down don't other ground below. Using the ancient rubble, he starts to fire off a volley of rocks at Spencer. While the super effective dragon hits were already taking a toll, Ethan could see one of the jagged, ancient spires hit the Dragonite's wings. With a wallowing wail, his dragon faltered in flight for a second.

Still, the Dragonite, looking battered and bruised, regained his composure. Any timidity of the dragon was gone, now replaced with cold determination. Pushing through the pain, the Dragonite started to beat his wings. Pulling and pushing the screaming winds into a symphony of air, he pushed the Hurricane down onto the Flygon below.

Ethan braced himself as the winds started to pick up around him. If he fell off the tower, this could prove quite fatal. Yet, as the Hurricane touched down and picked up the Flygon, he noticed something bad. The Flygon was taking the beating sure, but he was also riding the winds. Like a graceful serpent ascending through the storm. Ethan could only watch as the Flygon reached the top of the eye, and dispelled the Hurricane in a single note.

The Boomburst, despite its intensity, was beautiful. A siren song of the deserts of the world. Angelic, and clear, as it echoed across the town. The intense sound wave crashed into the Dragonite, who couldn't handle the raw power of the move. Ethan watched as his dragon was clipped of its wings and fell to the ground, soundly defeated.

"And thus ends the first act, in my favor," Sandalphon stated with a certain coldness.

Yet, despite all of that, Ethan could see the Flygon battered and bruised. One move would finish this, almost certainly. Yet, what to use here? He didn't wish to reveal his trump card too early.

"Kyle, let's go!" he shouted as he sent out his own Sableye.

The shadowy creature emerged from his ethereal ball. He looked up at the Flygon above him, seeing his prey. His eyes glimmered red, and the Mega Stone around his neck gleamed in the moonlight. A soft, chilling wind picked up around the Sableye as he touched the ground, and a presence could be felt.

"I see... very well. Let's try to fire off a Dragon Breath before swooping in for another Dragon Rush!" Sandalphon ordered, noticeably on the back foot.

Before Ethan could order, he could feel a whisper on the wind. Nudging him towards a certain move. Very well, if this was what the howling winds wished for, then he'd give it. Surely the populace below could hear the battle by now.

"Litter the skies in shadow, with Shadow Sky! Then show the true power of these dark winds with Shadow Storm!" Ethan ordered, fully determined to fight his way through this with everything he had.

The Sableye's prankster tendencies started to rumble as he cackled maniacly. The power of his patron burst from the gem on his chest as the howling shadows reached toward the stars. The skies darkened as the shadows crept through like a fog, with only the pale full moon barely shining through. The Flygon looked around confused, before breathing out a paralyzing dragon breath. Yet, the nimble Sableye merged into the shadows it created, mitigating the attack and leaving it unparalyzed.

Ethan could then hear the wind cry out in seething pain as if the earth itself was trembling at this fight. The little gem gremlin gave the Flygon a toothy smile before sending out a storm of shadows. The Sableye could barely be seen in the raging tempest as the green Dragonoid rushed towards the ground. Yet, the Flygon failed to meet its quarry as it slammed into the ground, felled by the storms it so bravely tried to traverse.

"Well... it seems you aren't above using that power for yourself, Ethan. I thought better of you... you know the risk Yog-Shoggoth poses to this world!" Sandalphon shouts with disgust.

"And I'll take whatever power necessary to stop it. Even if I have to bargain away souls. Even if I have to kill the ones I love. I have long given up my humanity Sandy, haven't you noticed?" Ethan remarked, his yellow eyes shining through the darkness.

"I have... and I thought I could redeem you, homunculus. We might fight for the same goals... but you too are falling. Even in the end of all of this..." the angel suddenly grasps his head in writhing pain.

"I can see it. A revelation. You'll meet your end too Ethan..." he states solemnly, mourning in his voice.

"Even if I die Sandy, I'll just rewind until I get it right," the homunculus replies with a cocky smirk.

"If... if that's what'll keep you going my wayward love. Then fine. This battle is far from over. Come, singer of the ancients! Show the power of your voice!" Sandy bellows out, a hint of desperation now in his voice.

A Pokemon that Ethan had never seen appeared before him, yet its visage was so familiar. It looked like a Jigglypuff, only with a red mohawk and bright yellow eyes. And small fangs protruding from its mouth as well. Was this... one of those Paradox Pokemon? How did Sandalphon have one? He thought that... no if this thing truly was from ancient times, it made sense an ancient being would have one.

"My Scream Tail, as the modern scientists have designated you. Show the power of your voice! Sing the Sableye a lullaby, before going in with a Play Rough!" Sandalphon ordered.

Well, it looks like Sandy was forcing this out of him already. No matter, he knew the Sableye's aegis would be necessary in the battle ahead. Yet, that did reveal something. This Pokemon was a fairy-type, most certainly. Yet... the other typing was a mystery. But, he knew that Paradox Pokemon only shared one typing with their present counterparts. And in this case... it seemed to be the fairy typing.

"Alright Kyle, it's time for us to Mega Evolve! Once we have proven our bond, it's time to go in hard with a Shadow Claw. Then let's think up a Nasty Plot while it sleeps!" Ethan orders.

Thrusting his left hand into the air, the keystone affixed to his glove started to shine through the darkness. He could feel his bond with Kyle, one forged through darkness and servitude. One of sacrifice and dominion... One of love and hate. He trusted the Sableye with his life, even if the Sabelye resented him for sacrificing him to an elder deity. Yet, the Sableye also loved him for showing him the world and showering him in baubles, and turn, would die for Ethan. Even if this might be toxic, it did n't matter, that unbreakable shield of tarnished ruby was proof of their complicated bond.

And through the darkness, the Scream Tail started to sing the hymns of the angels above. A lulling melody, determined to send the Sableye to sleep. Into its nightmares, so the Scream Tail can mercifully finish it while it is asleep. Yet, as it finished its melody, it could see it being bounced back by the Sableye's shield. The Magic Bounce did what it needed to do, and the Scream Tail itself was the one who would fall victim to its soporific melody.

Taking affirmative action, Kyle planted his shield into the ground. He then used his shield as a springboard to slash at the Scream Tail. The Pokemon didn't wake but was pained by the super-effective hit. It was obvious it was weak to the ghost-typed attack... So, part psychic. Or part ghost. Yet, it didn't feel ghostly. More heavenly in its savagery. Perhaps it was a psychic type then.

However, Ethan had time to process his opponent as Kyle returned to his shadowy aegis, thinking up some sort of malicious plot. His special attack was boosted up, and he looked at his trainer with a toothy grin. Was it time to force the sleeping foe to whither a storm of shade and malice? It seemed to be the case. Especially as the shadow sky started to pelt the Scream Tail.

"Shadow Ball into a Shadow Blast!" Ethan ordered.

"Sleep Talk! Another if you don't wake, Play Rough if you do!" Sandy ordered with desperation. Whatever he thought Ethan would do, it wouldn't be this.

The Sableye started to condense the shadowy fog around him into a screaming orb. It sizzled as it was launched from the gem rampart, hitting the sleeping monstrosity before them. It screamed in pain, no doubt as part of some terrifying nightmare. It started to talk in its sleep, trying to pull up a move to use from its repertoire. It got one, and one that may make this fight end a lot quicker than Ethan expected. A Reflective screen was put up before the Scream Tail, increasing its defense... and the rest of its party.

Kyle then went through with the Shadow Blast, condensing the winds into a powerful wave of darkness. However, Ethan remembered this was in fact a physical move... And that would be reduced by the Reflect. Well, talk about some divine intervention. No matter, they still had the upper hand here as the Scream Tail woke up. It rushed forward, playing rough the Sableye. The fairy-type move was super effective, but it wouldn't make up for the damage his foe had already taken.

"Let's finish this thing off. Two more Shadow Balls shall do it!" Ethan ordered.

"Fine, we'll play the long game. Light Screen, then Perish Song!" Sandalphon ordered.

Kyle cackled as he fired off another orb of shadows at his foe. The Scream Tail nodded to its trainer and created a pane of light around its side of the field. It then started to sing a jarring, haunting melody. Kyle covered his ears, obviously not happy with the dissonant noise. It looks like Sandy was trying to force the Sableye out or have Ethan let it fall. No matter, if he needed to make sacrifices, he would. The homunculus watched as one last shadow ball was fired, and despite being reduced, fell the scream tail.

"A third of the way there, but don't think I'm finished yet!" Sandalphon shouted as he returned his second Pokemon.

Ethan could feel trepidation creep up through him. What did Sandalphon have up his leave now? He didn't know, but he could see a beam of pale moonlight shine over the angel. Even through the shadows... he looked more determined than ever. The angel started to hum a soft melody as the Sableye watched with curiosity. This battle was far from over...
__________________


I fill my lungs with everything
You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

Fizzy Bubbles
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Old 12-03-2023, 01:37 PM   #34
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Ain Soph Aur III


Two down, four to go. That was part of the tests. An endurance battle of six versus six. Yet, that wasn't all. There was more to this than just a Pokemon battle. Each place was chosen for a reason. So... why here? Why this tower, that the angels destroyed eons ago? Why the full moon, when that was weeks ago? And why could he hear the soft sound of the piano? From moonlight to morning light... each note resonated through the city. For whom does the bell toll for?

He watched as the Scream Tail was replaced with a serpent. A Dudunsparce, yet one of normal coloration. Nothing like Tsuchi, that rare cryptid he had found and is housing for safekeeping. Those two cryptids... were misunderstood. Yet, he needed to keep them safe, for they were quite easy to corrupt. It didn't matter, he knew Sandalphon was trying to deny his ghost-type attacks now.

"Well, let's show some tricks we've picked up Kyle! Night Daze and Octozooka!" Ethan ordered the Mega Shadow Sableye.

"Predictable... well, no matter. Hurricane! Then slam through its aegis with a Drill Run!" the archangel orders, seeming to no longer be wishing for flair.

Kyle cackles, drawing in the darkness of the shadow sky before sending it out in a burst. The Dudunsparce doesn't seem phased at all by the move. Instead, it starts flapping its wings. Its flight seemed to be more powerful than that of its previous stage. Good, that'll be interesting. However, the Hurricane was just as powerful as Spencer's, if even more so. Ethan then could see a sort of divine grace in the winds, and a serenity on the Dudunsparce's face. This could be bad... really bad.

He watched as Kyle was whipped up by the winds, trying to hold onto the aegis for dear life. However, the winds continued to pelt and batter the poor gremlin. Soon enough, he was whisked away into the hurricane and plopped onto the floor utterly confused. Then, a sharp cackling erupted from the Sableye... This was always the risk of using a Shadow Pokemon. Hyper Mode. The shadows started to leak out from the Pokemon, leaving the confused Sableye laughing mad.

The gem gremlin looked around, hungry in his fervor. He couldn't tell anyone apart now, nor even parse what his other order was. Instead, he saw his own figure in the shining reflection of ruby aegis of his. And he started to attack his own reflected, raving while doing so. Each hit seemed to bounce off and hurt himself in his confusion. A raving, rabid monster...

"Kyle, focus!" Ethan called out to the Sableye, who had a sudden moment of clarity.

The Sableye looked back at his trainer, a small tinge of helplessness in his eyes. Hastur's power was threatening the overwhelm the Sableye once more, with his mental fog causing further distress. However, any more effort to reach out to the Sableye would be for not. The Dudunsparce was already spinning like a drill, on its way to mess up the Sableye.

"Kyle, watch out!" Ethan further calls out, only for the Sableye to turn around to see the giant drill heading towards him.

The sound of cracking, shattering crystal reverberated across the rooftop. The sound of the clock echoes as it does so, creating a shape dissonance. Nothing more than the falling of the Sableye, critically wounded by the Dudunsparce. Yet, the Sableye, with his half-shattered shield, stands back up.

The two combatants stare at each other for a while, the trainers waiting for the other to move. Yet, time was of the essence here. If not... then he would lose this match-up. Yet, there was no scenario he could think of that could help here. Switching out would cure the confusion and the perish song, but Kyle had already taken way too much damage to be useful. Yet, he could hear the ticking of the clock as he waited... before a sharp noise crashed through the Sableye. Time ran out, and he let it happen.

The Sableye starts to sing out a crooked tune as the Perish Song takes him. Clutching his chest as he lets out one last mad, bellowing note... The Pokemon collapses. With a solemn stare at his opponent, Ethan returns the Sableye. He needed to pick his next Pokemon smartly. He could go for the type-advantage here... but the Dudunsparce was a dangerous foe. He had no safe switch-ins... either Hurricane or Drill Run would prove to be problematic here. No, he needed to trust in his Pokemon. Even if he was abandoning his own emotions... that doesn't mean he needn't abandon his Pokemon.

"Kita, let's go!" he shouts as he returns the Sableye. In the ghost's place was an Infernape, looking determined. A pair of Punching Gloves was around the monkey's hands, and he punched them together as he looked at his opponent.

"Interesting... Not what I was expecting from you. I felt you'd try to go for the neutral match-up with Lucas or avoid my normal moves with William. But, it seems you want to rush me down. Another Hurricane, then try to flinch with Air Slash!" Sandalphon orders in response.

"Fake Out! Then sick 'em with a Power-up Punch!" Ethan orders the Infernape, who nods in response.

With blinding speed, the Infernape zips across the battlefield. The shadow sky begins to fade as he does so, causing the moonlight to start shining back through. In a flash, the Infernape fakes out the Dudunsparce, immediately flinching the giant snake. The Dudunsparce looks hazy as its Hurricane was interrupted, and doesn't have the reaction time to avoid the Power-Up Punch to the face. Between the Punching Gloves and Kita's Iron Fist, the moves do a lot more damage than its usually weak power would imply. Though, the Dudunsparce then sends out an Air Slash, dealing a good hit but not able to get any flinch off.

"That's how we like to fight. Dizzy Punch, Close Combat!" Ethan orders the monkey, who gives a nod in return.

"Show off the power of your voice with Boomburst, then try for another Hurricane!" Sandalphon orders.

The Infernape rushes forward, going for a dizzying punch to the face. Yet, the serene serpent doesn't falter in its men tal capacities. Instead, it bellows out a booming burst of sound. This washes over the Infernape, who takes a massive amount of damage from the attack. However, he doesn't stand down and continues his assault of the Dudunsparce. The super effective Close Combat absolutely batters through the 'sparce. The flurry of blows, from kicks to punches, deal a tremendous amount of damage to the Paldean Pokemon. Yet, it is not enough to fell this threat, and Kita's defenses soon lower from the effort exerted.

The Dudunsparce then flies high into the skies, its wings exalted. Unlike prior, the divine serpent fully unleashes its power. Flapping its six wings, the seraphic figure whips up divine winds. The Hurricane crashes down onto the Infernape, battering through the monkey. A yowl of pain pierces through the entire area, and Ethan realizes that something is wrong. This was luck going to Sandalphon, wasn't it? Unlike the back-and-forth of the previous matches... this ended in a single critical hit.

Ethan watches as the Infernape falls to one knee, looking at the Dudunsparce up on high. He tries his best to reach towards the figure but collapses from the crit. Two Pokemon were easily dispatched by the Dudunsparce, with it looking none too bad for wear. Not to mention Sandalphon had three more Pokemon after this... Damn it. Was he seriously going to fail this due to dumb luck?

He returned the Infernape, and took out another Pokeball. No. He wasn't going to lose this that easily.

"Lucas!" He shouted.

The Raichu looked at his trainer with a forlorn look. A mixture of happiness and... longing. Was the Raichu waiting for a worthy foe? A proper battle? He didn't know. It didn't matter much, not in the end. For these were closing into their final battles together. That was just the feeling welling up in his stomach. So, taking in a deep breath, he looked at the Raichu.

"Thunder!" he ordered.

"Confident, aren't you? Drill Run! Hyper Drill!" the archangel ordered.

Yet, it was over in a single flash. Despite its heavenly facade, the Dudunsparce was hanging on by a mere thread. One bolt ended it. THe serpent fell from the sky back to the rubble below, defeated.

"This isn't over yet, you know. Go forth, Noivern!" Sandy recalled the normal-type.

"Do all of your Pokemon know Boomburst?" the homunculus asks.

"Perhaps. Wait and you'll see..." the angel replied.

"Fine, guess you're giving me initiative. Frost Breath, Shadow Bolt!" Ethan ordered of Lucas.

"Fine by me. Boomburst, Draco Meteor!" Sandy shouted, his voice clearly reverberating through the tower now. No fancy poetics? Guess it was finally the turning point. Where things were going to get serious.

Lucas inhaled the night air, below blowing out a frosty breath. The move was deceptively stronger than it was, as it always crit. The ice move cleaves straight through the Noivern's health bar, not even making it seem like a threat. Yet, Ethan noticed something as the wyvern used a held item. A Throat Spray. Interesting...

The Boomburst was the loudest he had heard today. Perhaps it was just the throat spray. Perhaps it was the throat spray. Perhaps it was Noivern's amplifying ears. Or perhaps it was that this Noivern was at the apex of its species. That it's control and mastery over noise was something that none could compare to. The one that could fly closest to the sun and fly beyond that. No matter what it was, it did a lot of fucking damage to Lucas.

Yet that didn't deter the Raichu. A certain look was forming on the Raichu's face. The one where he actually had a worthy opponent. A sort of fervor that wouldn't be stopped, no matter what. His rodent was a little bit of a blood knight when it came to battle. That he would enjoy the revelry of completely crushing his foes, no matter what. Yet, this was a bit of a problem at times. After all... this could cause the Raichu to get cocky.

A bolt of shadowy energy pierced through the Noivern, but it didn't matter. Stars on high started to fall like rain. The sheer amount of meteors astonished Ethan, and he braced himself for impact. The pale moon was soon eclipsed by the Draco Meteor swarm, and the Raichu along with it. Sandy was trying to swiftly take care of Lucas, a smart man. Yet, he should know better than that.

The Raichu emerged from the smoke, battered but not broken. A cocky smirk was on the Raichu's face as he looked up at the Noivern, whose special attack was now negatively impacted. The wyvern looked a tad bit surprised at the Raichu below, not knowing how to fully deal with it surviving that onslaught. Both of them finally had a worthy opponent.

"Stone Edge, then Floaty Fall!" Ethan ordered. He needed to get Lucas close.

"Roost! Then Dragon Rush!" Sandalphon ordered, quickly adapting to the orders. He was much more in sync with what Ethan was going to try to do now...

With blinding speed, the Noivern immediately roosted onto the tower's roof. Lucas looked a bit surprised but slammed his tail into the ground. Ancient rubble was lifted as stone shards pierced through the Noivern... Yet it wasn't for a super-effective hit. The roost had grounded it for the round, temporarily relieving it of its flying typing. Smart. Not to mention it healed off a good amount of the damage it took.

Suddenly pulling out a few balloons, Lucas begins a cartoonish move. He flies high on the balloons, before letting go and attacking with an electric somersault. The flying type move, unfortunately, didn't leave any paralysis and put him closer to the Noivern's range. The dragon let out a small chirp as it rushed down the electric rat. With a resounding smack of its tail, the Noivern rushes through the Raichu. Yet, both of them seemed no worse for wear.

"Play Rough, Bolt Strike!"

"Return, Outrage!"

No more words, just orders. The tension in the air was palpable as the Raichu and Noivern exchanged blow after blow. The cutesy way Lucas thrashed the Noivern before the Dragon unleashed a fully powered Return. yet, Ethan could feel it. The final clash of this bout.

Lucas's scarf started to glow an ethereal blue. Electricity crackled through the rodent, and he stared down the Noivern. The noise wyvern let out a large roar, enraging himself. With the power of Zekrom behind him, the Raichu bolted forward. The Noivern soon did the same, and head met claw. The electricity exploded in raw power, covering the arena in smoke...
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Old 12-04-2023, 05:41 PM   #35
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Ain Soph Aur IV

The smoke of the past only served to obscure the future. If humanity couldn't see past the smoke and mirrors left behind by history, it would repeat its mistakes. A new world order was needed, at the very least, that's what he had thought. Strength was only one tool in his arsenal now... and shedding his humanity had helped him reach that point. He knew he was an alien being... at the very least... not human.

And even so, it pained him. Giving up his humanity and embracing his homuncular nature. He was artificial. Everything about him. His skin. His hair. His eyes. The only thing that wasn't was his core. The root of all life. Yggdrasil. Why has he grafted with such a power? What led his mother to give him this? He didn't know, but he had experienced its powers again, and again, and again.

"A double knockout."

He dully commented. He didn't feel anything seeing Lucas felled by the Noivern. He did his job, and that was enough. It wasn't even a single twinge of pain or worry. He knew Lucas had reached his apex, and that result was it. It was his falterings that caused the double knockout. If he had just spammed ice-moves, he surely would've won that. Yet, he always had a terrible tendency to go for flair.

"You don't seem surprised Ethan," Sandalphon softly replies, preparing his fifth Pokeball.

"I didn't utilize him to his full potential. My error. One that I can't afford to repeat," he replies monotonously.

"Ethan. Please. Don't give up on your humanity. Even if you're artificial.. you're still a living, breathing person. Don't give on that," Sandalphon tells him.

"No... I need to. If I don't, I know I'll end up faltering," he replied, instinctively clutching his chest. Pain.

"Your stress says otherwise. Your song... it's starting to become monotonous. What happened to your cockiness? Your brevity? Your drive?" Sandalphon asks him, sending out his next Pokemon.

"Come forth, Rillaboom. Awaken the earth, and let's hear the beat of your drums!" Sandalphon shouts as the Grassy Surge awakens the battlefield.

"Then I'll burn you to ash! William, it's your time!" he shouts, sending out the Chandelure.

The chandelier Pokemon looked at him, a longing gaze, but Ethan paid him no mind. He had ignored the Pokemon's confession. Ignored it ever happened. He already had this thing called 'love', right? This feeling was called love... Right?

"Hm?" Sandalphon hummed, looking at the exchanged with a puzzled look.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it. Focus on my test," Ethan replied, his yellow eyes cold.

"Fine. I expected this. No matter. Knock Off that Charcoal, then High Horsepower!" Sandalphon shouted out, with the Rillaboom letting out an enthusiastic drum beat.

"Not a chance! Burn him with a Will-o-wisp. Then consume them in your Inferno William!" he orders, trying to emulate Sandalphon's enthusiasm.

Ethan watched as William turned back around, seeming to dissociate from everything but the battle ahead. No matter, they needed to focus. That's all that mattered. Focus on the battle and win. Not sit around on lost feelings and lose. Just push forward. Push ahead. That's what they needed to do.

The Rillaboom abandoned his drums and rushed forward, using one of his drumsticks to swipe at William. yet, to their surprise, nothing was knocked off. William, after all, was no longer holding onto that piece of Charcoal, and only he knew it. Ethan blinked in surprise, feeling a tinge of loss. That piece of wood represented the past to William... And he got rid of it by himself. This wasn't the boy he remembered in those implemented broken memories.

"I've moved on. I've released the chains my memories hold onto me. Ethan... I'll fight for you. But I'm not going to die for you. Even if you reject my wayward love, I'll keep this bleeding heart going!" the Chandelure shouted, conjuring up burning soul flames, and burning the surprised Rillaboom.

He could feel his shadow shift at those words. Interesting. But he didn't have time to dwell on them. He had two months, damn it. He did have time for a third, much less the first two. And... he felt a pain in his heart. This was just his code. What was written into his code. To love the person named William. That's all it was. All... it... was...

Sandalphon blinked a bit, surprised at the sudden revelation, but remained silent. This wasn't the place, nor time, to discuss that little exchange. There was a trial being conducted, after all. And this trial very much could decide the entire fate of the world. So, he watched as his Pokemon slammed its foot into the Chandelure, the burn weakening the super-effective hit.

William then spun forward, tilting his flame towards the Rillaboom. With all of his might, he unleashed a mighty inferno! The fires and flames consumed the entire rooftop, barely scorching the trainers as they consumed the Rillaboom. he didn't need the charcoal, not anymore. He was more than fine running on Soulfire.

"Very good. Heat Wave! Flamethrower!" Ethan ordered.

"Very well. We've lost this bout. Take it." Sandalphon ordered.

The Rillaboom solemnly nodded and held its head high as the flames consumed it. William looked at Ethan and sighed. Unlike every other fight, this was one-sided. Way too one-sided. There must be a reason Sandalphon was so willing to sacrifice a Pokemon like this.

"I already know what you'll do Ethan. So, let's finish this. Come forth, my final Pokemon!" Sandalphon ordered.

Ethan watched as he pulled out the same Pokeball from their date. The creature that sped him home so quickly. He was quite curious to see what it was. It was one of Sandalphon's most guarded secrets, and not even his journal revealed anything that it could be. So, what was up the angel's sleeve?

"It's time to enforce the law! Come forth, my primordial partner! On false wings you fly through the sky, delivering judgment for eons. LATIOS!" Sandalphon shouted.

Ethan felt his entire body twitch in excitement. Latios!? A legendary Pokemon? And one entrusted to an archangel? Surely, yes. This was the prey he was hoping for. The prey he was waiting to CRUSH and devour. He could feel it coming back to it. His senses. His bloodlust. He needed to be strong. So he could crush everyone and everything beneath him. So he could be the apex of the world, and bask in that glory.

"So this is what you've been hiding from me, Sandy. That's not very nice, not nice at all. You could've told me!" Ethan responded with building eyes and a toothy, psychotic smile.

"Calm Mind, then Luster Purge," Sandalphon hesitantly ordered.

"Sorry William, but I no longer need you. Memento!" Ethan ordered heartlessly.

Sandalphon blinked at Ethan's sudden ruthlessness. William didn't say a word, just keeping his back turned. Whatever the angel saw in the Chandelure's gaze... it wasn't going to be repeated. Yet, Ethan could feel his shadow starting to get pumped up. It was time. Time to fight. Time to finally fight.

The Latios calmed his mind, ready for whatever opponent would be his next one. William let out a depressed sigh and sacrificed his health. He looked towards Ethan while doing so, wordlessly, as he fainted to put a debilitating curse on the Latios.

"Good boy. I'll repay you later," Ethan said in a more commanding voice. "Now, Zero, it's your turn."

"Zero? You don't mean!" Sandalphon exclaimed, suddenly changing his stance entirely

"I do," Ethan nodded with a cocky smirk.

His shadow soon extended from behind him to in front of him. It then left his body and emerged from the ground below. A Marshadow blinked, looking at the angel and legend in front of him. Legend versus Myth. This truly was the battle for the ages, and one he wasn't going to give up easily. No, he was going to savor this. Enjoy this. This is what he lived for... and he had forgotten that.

"I see. Your ace in the hole. But... I'm glad you're back, even if for a moment," Sandalphon replied.

"Thanks. The system's starting to corrupt my personality. So... I'm starting to discard my humanity properly. I estimate... I have about two more months as "Ethan." Whatever immortal being emerges... it won't be my will. It'll be Yggdrasil's will. Whatever that tree wants, I'll be its puppet," Ethan admits to Sandalphon.

"I see... Then every second matters. At least, in these two months. Defeating Valeria and preventing her father's emergence is the important goal, but what will you do if you have time?" Sandalphon asks him.

The morning sun was starting to barely rise, and an orange hue filled the battlefield.

"I don't know. But... 'I' will continue living. Forever. I plan on leaving after this is all over, one way or another," Ethan sighs out, admitting to Sandalphon.

"Yet the revelation says you'll die," Sandalphon points out.

"And perhaps I will. Maybe not physically, but mentally. Or I'll be trapped in an endless cycle... If I fail, I'll just rewind," Ethan cryptically smirked.

"But let's get this show on the road. The morning light is starting to shine. Time's been distorted enough Sandalphon. We need to finish this!" Ethan announced.

"Fine by me. Luster Purge into a Psychic!" The angel ordered.

"There it is! Spectral Thief, steal his calm mind. Then a Shadow Punch!" Ethan ordered Zero, who nodded.

The Marshadow activated his battle stance, forest green around his hood. The Latios watched carefully, before sending out a blinding light. The psychically laced light crushed into the Marshadow, who ducked and rolled as it took the super effective hit. It then sent out its shadow beneath the Latios before erupting it, stealing the calm mind boost it had recently obtained.

Realizing his foe had the advantage, the Latios started to ascend into the air and send out a psychic blast. Yet, Zero was wise to this maneuver and braced himself for the assault. He then punched the ground, causing the Latios to have a confused look on his face. That wasn't for long, as a fist of shadow launched from the ground and hit the Latios square on the face.

"Hmm... this is proving to be a bit of a challenge. Surprised to see a fighting type taking psychic moves like that from my Latios," Sandalphon admitted.

"And I can say the same with Zero's ghost moves. Especially with his technician," Ethan replied.

"Fine. Dragon Breath, hope we can paralyze it! Then another Luster Purge," the angel ordered cooly.

"Anything you can do, Zero can do better. Copycat! Then hit him with another Shadow Punch!" Ethan ordered.

The Latios let loose a paralytic, draconic breath. Yet, this somehow didn't paralyze the Marshadow, who jumped up and di a somersault. The Marshadow then copied the move perfectly, washing the Latios over with his own draconic energy. This also didn't paralyze, but it put the Latios on edge. But it didn't matter, the Marshadow looked to be tiring. Surely this one Luster Purge would be enough.

The bright light filled up the arena as the sun began to rise, with the full moon still hanging ominously over the tower. Zero slunk into the shadows, managing to avoid most of the move before sending out another shadow punch. The super effective back and forth continued for a few more rounds before the sun was fully covered by the moon. An eclipse... and a fitting end to this battle.

Ethan watched as Sandalphon soon took flight, having himself fly to be in the center of the eclipse. Only his shining eyes could be made out, and he stared down at Ethan. He pointed toward the Latios with a resolute cry

"Let's sound the bell of judgment. Ain Soph Aur!"

"This is the end of your road! Spectral Thief!"

A single toll of the clock tower bell could be heard. The two moves clashed a series of lasers from the Latios and another shadowy eruption from the Marshadow. Yet, only one Pokemon stood at the end of the day, and the Latios fell to the ground. This battle was finally over.

Ethan could feel his chest hurt, and his mind started to fog back over. This was the end, huh? One down, three more to go. That was right... Three more trials to go, to prove he could best an eldritch diety. That's why he was here in the first place. Odds be damned.

"Well fought, Latios," Sandalphon reassured his Pokemon before returning it.

"And you Ethan, pass."

The blonde walked over and gave the homunculus a resounding hug. He looked at him, before blinking.

"Your hair..." he muttered in shock

"It's snow white now, isn't it?" Ethan sheepishly asked

"Yes. But how'd you know?" Sandalphon has a puzzled look on his face

"This is the fate of all of her homunculi. To degenerate into... abominations. Amalgamtes of humans. I could feel like I was losing myself for the longest time despite being stable for years... And then William told me what happened at the casino last year. That's when I started to deteriorate," Ethan told Sandalphon, hugging him tighter.

"So, who's next? As much as I'd love to watch this sunrise with you... I'm running out of time," Ethan then bluntly asked.

"It's your choice of the order. You can either go to the crypt of Castle Joyeuse, the heart of the Forest of Wands, or deep into the oasis palace in the desert," Sandalphon tells him.

"Belial... Leo... and an unknown entity," he states. "Guess I'll take care of Belial next,"

"Ethan. Here, take my feather. This is proof. Proof you beat me," Sandalphon handed him a feather before giving a small smile.

"I'll see you then. Thanks for the battle," Ethan waved off.

---

The angel watched the homunculus slowly descend the stairs. Once he was gone from view, he fell to his knees and punched the ground. Bested once more. Yet, why did it hurt? He knew this was the inevitable outcome... But it still hurt all the same. This truly was going to be the end. For there were two months left. Two months...

"Harken my revelation. The creature before you shall die in two months. The world shall not know its name or face. it shall be wiped for the annuls of history."

The words left his lips, and he looked towards the sky. Was it his fate to lose all he loved? To sing the songs of the world, but hear none for himself? He didn't know. He couldn't know... But thus the bell tolled. Thus... the morning light shall sing its hymn. The first act, 'til death.
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Old 12-11-2023, 01:09 PM   #36
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Morning Light Hymnus I

"And I'll fill the holes in your hate"

---

Drip... Drip... Drip... Drip...

The clinking of chains echoed.

Drip... Drip... Drip... Drip...

The dragging of a body scratched into his mind.

Drip... Drip... Drip... Drip...

The sound of water dripping from one of the pipes above.

Drip...Drip...Drip...Drip...

This was going to be fun.

---

He felt groggy... as if experiencing the worst hangover of his life. He looked around and felt the stench of death hit his nostrils. It was almost impossible to make out his surroundings. The grime beneath his fingers.... and faded stone. Where was he? The last thing he could remember was the smell of apples as something covered his mouth. He had just entered the crypt of the Castle Joyeuse. Ready to take on whatever challenge Belial had concocted for him. Yet, this? This was something he wasn't expecting.

After his trial with Sandalphon, he had made haste to the Kingdom of Swords. He stopped by a Pokemon Center; healed his team, and headed on his merry way. There was no time to waste... no time to lose. He needn't worry about anything else besides finishing these trials. After all... if he failed, the world would most likely be destroyed. Or worse. Much worse.

He tried to get up but realized he was bound. He looked around and saw his arms were each chained to the wall. Same with his legs to the floor. Held prisoner then? His eyes were adjusting, and he realized he was stripped down to nothing but a loin cloth. Nothing of his was actually on him. His Pokemon were gone. His tools and items were gone. Anything that could pass as bare decency was gone. Just like Belial, to strip him down to his lowest.

"Oh, you're finally awake cutie. Gotta say, love the new do," that flirty, suave voice filled the room.

"Belial! What the hell man? We don't have time for your kinky games," Ethan replies with disdain.

"Oh, but we do, Ethan." The phrase sent a shiver up his spine. The devil of debauchery wasn't holding back his power now.

"I've reset your clock. So whenever you die... this is where you'll wake up. I'm not going to test your battle prowess. I've watched you enough. I'm testing your wits. Can you escape this hell I've created for you? Or can you escape and feast on the forbidden fruit?" The devil chuckled as he explained the rules of his game.

"But don't forget sweetheart, what this place is home to. It'll be around. Lurking. Watching. Waiting to take you as prey. I wonder if a simple homunculus can outwit that bloodthirsty wraith? It shall be entertaining. Oh, how I do wish I could just defile you now but... be a good boy for daddy and you'll get your reward," the devil then tells him before disappearing into the darkness.

Great. That bastard had set this entire thing up. It was just up to him and his wits. Well, he had managed to figure things out before. Things with the space station. Things... so many different things. Yet, he could feel his memory was hazy. Whatever was used to knock him out, it was most certainly strong. Stronger than chloroform, that was for sure. So, what did he need to do? There was a way to escape being pinned to the wall and floor.

He tugged at each limb, seeing if any of the chains were loose. His arms felt like they were locked tightly, but he felt an odd sensation with his left arm. Perhaps... the trick here wasn't to try to get out of the chains? He started to tug on his left arm more and more and heard something moving. He then grasped his left hand around the chain and pulled as hard as he could. He could feel his arm regain its sense of movement. The brick that the chain was attached to came loose and was now on the floor. Well, that was one arm free. Just both of his legs and his dominant arm.

He used his left hand to tug on each of the other chains, but they wouldn't budge. At least, not to the degree the previous one did. Damn it Belial. Of course, give him a little bit of hope but only to lead him into despair. He could barely see the room as things were, much less move around it. Guess he had to move his hand around in the dark. The clinking of chains and thud of the brick echoed through his mind as he tried to find something, anything, to break him out of this situation. Yet, to no avail.

He then felt the chains with his hands. Surely there had to be some trick here. Something to allow him to escape. The devil was cunning sure, but ultimately he had to provide a way for him to succeed. So the homunculus felt each link. Each little change in the metal, to see if anything would be different. And it was, eventually. One little brittle loop of chain. Not enough to fully make them useless, but enough with enough force and pressure. So, taking his left hand, he pulled the brick into it and... SMASH. SMASH. SMASH.

He soon got up, stretching his body. While he still had the shackles attached, he had freedom of movement. He felt around the left-hand chain, and soon found its weak point. Smashing that with his right hand, he wouldn't have that cumbersome brick dragging him down. Now, to investigate the room for anything of import.

Though, there was nothing in there. Just the feeling of cool grime beneath his bare feet. The dank surroundings were enough to feel uncomfortable around his skin. Yet, he had to push through. This was just to try and get out of the room. Much less the catacombs beneath the castle. He tried the door, but it was locked. And the brick surely would only jam the lock instead of breaking it open. The rust on the door, from what he could make out, would cause him to be stuck in here. Perhaps...?

He started to feel the wall he was chained against. Where was that loose brick put into? Not being able to fully rely on his sight was already frustrating enough. Being given almost nothing in trying to escape this place? Well, that only made it all worse. Not to mention the amount of chafe around his wrists and ankles at this point. These were purposefully put on a little too tight. Give him a time limit if he moves around too fast. Sneaky bastard. Still, he eventually found the cavity in the wall.

Sticking his hand into the wall, he felt something... gooey. His first instinct was to retract his hand, but he powered through. Reaching around the sticky mess, he eventually felt something metallic. It felt brittle as if it could break with even the slightest amount of pressure. He gently fished it out, the sticky adhesive on his hand actively making it more difficult. Though, that wasn't too difficult all things considered. He ran his fingers along it and realized it was a key. Hopefully the key.

Heading back towards the door, Ethan put the key into the keyhole. Turning it, he could hear the rusted lock start to move. He pushed onto the door and heard a loud SCREECHING noise as the rusted metal moved. Well, if the sound of the brick smashing the chains didn't alert things... This most certainly did. Still, that was step one done. Out of the room, and into the crypt.

Immediately, he could feel like something was watching him. Lurking within the shadows... and it wasn't a familiar feeling. That did pose a question. Where was Zero? He usually had the Marshadow live within his shadow now. Did he forget to let it out after the healing in the Pokemon Center? He couldn't remember... Odd. That was... only a few hours ago, right? How long was he out, in all actuality?

Sighing, he examined his surroundings. A lit torch just down the hall to his left. And total darkness to his right. Was the torch a tool, or a trap? Or both? Was it wiser for him to take it to aid his senses, and draw in even more attention? Or brave the darkness alone, and be truly at a disadvantage. The less amount of time he had to waste down here, the better.

He grabbed the torch and braced himself. Nothing happened. Good. He looked around, using the torch to light things. Nothing of interest here... Not even in the room he was in. Just an empty, dirty room filled with grime and dust. It also looked like the torch route led to a dead end. Great, he was stuck in one corner and gradually had to branch out. Retreat here wasn't an option, as he'd just get cornered. This was... frustrating for sure. No matter, he just had to push forward.

Each step was done carefully. He didn't know what traps were here... considering it was a devil's playground. His body was completely exposed. Only a strip of cloth protecting his nethers from the world, and everything else? That was fair game. Truly the greatest gift. To be able to fully experience everything that could be inflicted on him.

He wandered the halls, making a mental map of where he went. The turns did he make, and how many steps ago he made them. Before turning each corner, he'd shine the torchlight. A few trip wires were placed along the ground, which he stepped over. However, it seems no stone buttons here. This, after all, was meant for royalty to easily traverse and visit the graves of the departed. But that was it. Was it the paranoia that he needed to confront, or did things get worse the deeper he went?

Escape wasn't an option... no. He could tell that he was getting closer to the entrance, as things were much more well-maintained. The walls were cleaner and well-lit. Eventually, he saw the stairwell that led up towards the castle. He barely remembered it, when he first entered. He looked at the ornate door and realized it could free him. Yet, he could feel some... arcane seal on it. Devilish magic, perhaps? That if he turned tail and ran away, he'd fail. No... something much worse. Not worth figuring out.

Turning back around, he continued to delve through the catacombs. There were still a multitude of routes he could go. Was retracing his steps, and trying different pathways the best idea? Or head completely into the unknown? He figured that wherever Belial was hiding... well... it would be deep within. Hidden away, where not even royalty would tread. Truly in the deepest, darkest pits of this building. Almost certainly lost to the annuls of history. So, he needed to find a way to go deeper.

Yet, everything was on the same floor. He couldn't sense he was changing elevation as he moved through the halls. Just seeing dust, dirt, and grime. The skittering of creatures moving out of his way. The occasional tripwire off the beaten path, as if taunting him. Even so, nothing too out of the ordinary for an experienced trainer. No. This was too safe. Too... off. Perhaps the way out was through the traps ahead? If he took the beaten path, then he wouldn't be able to escape. Better be safe than sorry though.

He continued down the standard path and felt each step fill him with dread. No, this wasn't the right way. yet, he felt oddly compelled to do so. He didn't feel like he was being hunted anymore. No, he was being lured straight into a trap. Right into that predator's clutches. He was reaching a bad end. A dead end. And he'd soon find out why. Taking a deep breath in, he made his way to the end of the road.

There, an ornate sarcophagus inlaid with gold. He could sense the malice emanating from it... Even in death, the God-Emporer had a nasty hold on his country. Fresh flowers, as far as the eye could see, were laid amongst the tomb. Though, the thing that caught Ethan's eye was the ornate statue behind the tomb. The man, in his pride, rode towards victory. It looked to be in much better shape than even the statue in the town square. And was that... a mural behind it? It felt like the same mural as the one beneath the tower.

As if his body was moving on his own, he moved forward. He started to reach his torch out to consume the knowledge. Yet, as he could start making out the details, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Red, spectral claws piercing through. He dropped the torch and could feel the world start to spin and fade... This was a bad end. The Banette was waiting for him here... He felt his body hit the floor as... something... leaked out from his core. Game Over.
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You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

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Old 12-18-2023, 02:35 PM   #37
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Morning Light Hymnus II

He coughed and looked around. Chained to the wall again. Great. It was time to try to try and escape again. He knew how to get out of the locks, so he went through that process yet again. Grab the key. Grab the torch. Reassess what he needed to do. He needed to avoid the God-King's tomb, and he couldn't leave through the exit. He was exposed, and he hated this. And each time he failed, he'd wake up to try again. Again, and again, and again, until he got it right.

That was needlessly cruel now, wasn't it? Yet, no matter, he'd get through this. He knew he'd get through this. he had to, and that was the point. If he took too long, he'd be forced to start over in Belial's sick game. That snake knew what he was doing, but damn did he look good doing it. No matter, this wasn't the time to think about that kind of debauchery. He needed to figure out a way out.

However, these labyrinthian walls were proving to be difficult. While the basic traps were... predictable, he did keep running into things unexpected. Fake doors that only led to nothing. Wire traps with multiple trigger points. Odd liquid pools that he didn't want to try and describe. And the tombs of the old rulers... seemingly with their hosts awake. Yet, he finally felt he made a breakthrough and opened a new door, only to get instantly bisected by swinging axes.

Coughing again, he felt chained again. Attempt number three. Then four. Then five. Then six. Then seven... eight...nine...ten... At double digits he decided to stop counting. There was either a trip wire he didn't know, or him accidentally finding himself in the Banette's sites and eviscerated. he needed to try and find tools, not just the way forward. If he knew Belial well enough... he'd need to degrade himself to move forward.

His bare feet hurt, as if he was running for hours even so he had barely moved. He still felt the mental exhaustion. He still felt the pain. Like phantoms, slowly ripping away at the seams. This sort of torture, purposefully exploiting him... it was too far. It crossed so many lines it wasn't even funny, but Ethan could understand what that meant. If he was going to get to the end of this, he'd need to power through. That he would need the will, no, determination, to push through no matter the cost. If he was going to truly meet his end. No longer be able to rewind... Then he would need to be standing tall.

Yet he was getting nowhere. The amount of information he'd need to keep ahold of was starting to reach his internal limits. The placements of traps that were safe to trigger. Traps he needed to trigger. Traps that he couldn't trigger, no matter what. What corridors he'd been through before... and what ones he hadn't. He was a rat in a cage, being forced to rest in the same dungeon over, and over, and over again. To adjust it until it is truly unbreakable.

And all the while... if he took too long, that thing would show up. The Mega Banette, stalking him. Waiting for him to make an error that wasn't fixable. Waiting for him to dawdle too long on something. While it wasn't aware of it... Belial was using it as a "took too long, try again." Ethan couldn't have the ability to properly stop and think. That he needed to run, and run fast, to find the devil.

Yet, as he continued to do so... it just was draining him. He was close to giving up at this point. Where was he? A hundred? Two? He couldn't keep count anymore. No. Perhaps he needed to count. To keep a constant in his head, so he wouldn't lose his sanity. Now, where was he? How many times had he died here...? Two hundred and... thirty? That's right. Two hundred and thirty. last time it was... accidentally wandering into a tripwire and triggering something. He couldn't tell. But all he needed to do was not give up hope. And so he kept pushing forward, reaching the same dead ends over, and over, and over again as his mind started to snap. But that's all he needed, was the hope of making it out.
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Old 12-18-2023, 03:53 PM   #38
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Morning Light Hymnus III


Static filled his ears as he watched a blank screen. He couldn't move, barely could breathe as the gag was stuck to his mouth. In the corner, he saw five other Pokeballs, all neatly put on display. He blinked, seeing a number suddenly appear on the screen. One thousand. He still didn't know what the number was, but it was in bright, bold red. Soon, it faded, and all he could hear was the hum of the old television.

"Oh, he's already hit quadruple digits. Impressive... I thought he would've given up by now," a smooth, haughty voice cooed into his ears. The words were like honied venom, dripping with all of the sins in the world.

"Mhpphm," he tried to speak through the gag, but only muffled noise came through.

"Oh, you wish to speak? Daddy didn't permit you to speak, now did he?" the voice asked of him, knowing it wouldn't get a response.

"Still, you don't know what those numbers mean. I do. Let's just say it's how many times he's tried to escape that little rat trap I made. Shame too. You know well as I do what his main weakness is. Losing control and accepting his fate. That's why my trial truly is. Him learning to accept that he can't control everything. I know he has the power, I don't need to test that. I know he has the tenacity, that's not important. But can he accept the setting sun? Can he accept losing? Can he accept that he isn't the end-all be all? After all, he too will end..." the voice laments, before clapping a singular booming clap.

"And oh, will it be terrible! Truly, my heart will be torn asunder! But, isn't that the point? For you, William Boy, got me involved with this. Any one of us coulda pick up the phone that day you know? But I saw something entertaining in all of this," he's told by the snake, feeling fingers run through his hair.

"But truly, you yourself have surprised me. Being so willing to eat the soul you sold yourself to save. Surely, you refused at first, right? So what made you change your mind? No, don't answer that. You're still on time out. You've been a naughty boy, violating our contract. Or should I call you a naughty girl as punishment? Ah yes, the absolute disgust in your eyes at being called something you are not. I live for it boy," the devil laughs as he continues to talk to William.

The Chandelure felt like he was going to vomit at this point. He hated being called things he wasn't. How dare that devil? yet this entire situation was all kinds of fucked. They already had an arduous fight at the top of the spire, and they were dragged here by their trainer almost immediately. Then the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair in his human form, stripped down to barely nothing, being forced to watch this screen. Numbers would appear every few seconds or so, them casually rising, and up, and up. Yet, it seemed they were steadily increasing at this rate, almost too fast to function.

"Ooh, things are getting spicy now. He's making more and more mistakes. After all,he can't rest, or the monster will get him. It's ingenious really. Create an arcane lock that can only be broken with a singular key, and put the key somewhere he can never reach." Belial then pulls out a blue pyramid from his cloak, showing William.

"As for the rest of the catacombs... they are just one giant loop with small branching tunnels to fit the dead. They don't ever lead out. I'm just waiting... watching... until he loses all hope. Until he abandons everything, so I can go and pick him up. He only succeeds when he stops, and accepts he can't get out. But he's stubborn... so I wonder. What will break first, his will, or his mind? After all, every time he starts again... he remembers the pain. He still experiences the pain. And how long can he hold out, experiencing all of that pain?"

"MMmmmmmmmmmmmmffffffffffffffffmmmmmmmmmmm-" William tries to desperately to get something, anything out.

"Oh? Do you really wish to talk? Fine. But remember, you have no leverage. You broke the terms of our contract... You're going to be left here to suffer until he's done boy," Belial tells him before ripping the gag out from his mouth.

All he could experience was rapid breathing. Deep breaths in, and out. In, and out. Even if he was a ghost, it was an involuntary reaction. He then looked at Belial, with forlorn eyes at this point.

"What do you... mean by starting again?" William sheepishly asks.

"Oh, you wish to know the secret of Subject E-10?" Belial asks him, and William responds with a fearful nod.

"How brave... or brazen. Well, I'll explain it simply. Every time Ethan dies, he wakes back up to the moment he woke up for the day. With all of his memories intact, and still experiencing the pain that ended up killing him. He might be dull to most things by now... but being endlessly killed over, and over, and over again? No one, mortal or not, can fully handle that," Belial explains, any sort of snarkiness completely leaving his tone.

"So... those numbers... are how many times he's... died?" The Chandelure asks in a sheepish voice.

"Yes."

A blunt, cold response. William could tell that not even Belial was taking pleasure in this kind of torment. William just blinked, trying to best process the information. He had remembered days of Ethan complaining about sharp pains in different places or splitting migraines but... those were very few and far between.

"So... when you say he's going to meet his inevitable end... how?" He then asks the devil.

"I do not know. But someway, somehow, he will meet a permanent end. Or at the very least, he'll be out of the picture with this all being over," Belial responds.

Before William could respond, he heard a sharp buzz on the television, looking at it once more. Ten thousand. How? How could he keep going? This was just... he needed to stop. But there was no way to save him.

"Are we somewhere outside of time? Or?' William asks, all of this information overloading his head.

"No. This is still the proper time William. Once it stops... I'll go down and retrieve him," Belial tells responds.

"And how do we know...?" William asks.

"Because he won't open the door."

William just blinked the devil, not knowing how to respond. To know the man he loved was dying over, and over, and over again. All in a futile effort to escape a dungeon. There was nothing to learn here. No new knowledge to gain. This entire thing was built just for Ethan to suffer. And there was a part of him that was glad for it. That he needed to learn his lessons. Flying too close to the sun only leads to a person's downfall... Yet, this was going to be different. Wasn't it? However, eventually, the numbers stopped. After hours of silence.

"Over six digits..." Belial sighed.

"How long has it been? Since he started?" William asked.

"Hours. I'd say five. Plus the sixteen he was out for. So twenty-one... Just in time for morning light," Belial replies.

"And how long have I been awake?" WIlliam asks.

"I fished you out five hours ago. We'll come fetch you all shortly," Belial sighs as he starts to leave the room.

William didn't even respond. All he could see was the blank television screen. The humming static that had been droned into his ears. He didn't even think. Why would he? This was all too much for his feeble mind. He wanted to just go home, curl up, and watch the days melt away again. This was the end of this long night... wasn't it... with more questions than answers.
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Old 12-18-2023, 04:44 PM   #39
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Morning Light Hymnus IV

"A million nights could pass without a trace, as long as you're mine."

---

Drip... Drip... Drip... Drip...

All he could hear was the sound of distant water. Dripping away at his mind. It was the only thing he could focus on... As everything else slowly dripped away. He stopped counting ten-thousand deaths ago. He knew... he knew there was a way out. There had to be a way out. But he couldn't move. He could barely lift a finger. Time flowed as swiftly as a roaring river. His memories falling like rain. He couldn't think anymore... all he could do was feel. Feel that burning, icy hot pain wracking his body.

He was stuck in a loop. He left, he died, he woke up. Rinse repeat. He was repeating mistakes made thousands of deaths ago. He was repeating mistakes a few deaths ago. He could no longer think. He could no longer breath. But he continued onward, on the same. Escape. Escape... Escape.... How could he get out of this? That's when he realized it.

"Be...li...al... you... bas...tard..." he could barely get the syllables out from his mouth. Talking felt like he was chewing glass.

Of course. It was simple, really. Belial used his own tenacity against him. Thaere is was no way out. And he used the hope of escape as a worm. To worm into his mind, to keep pushing him at this tantalizing task. He had realized ages back the catacombs, at this point, were a loop. That each branching path only lead to dead ends and tombs. But he had that desperate drive called hope. That something would be different. That he would eventually find a way to be free.

Yet his mind was now broken. There was no way out. None. Not until Belial deemed it was worth of him leaving. Until he passed whatever test he was actually given. Instead of this false hope of escape. The words Belial told him flashed through his mind.

"Be a good boy..." he muttured, finding more composure.

The one thing he was always told. Always told. Was to wait. That a lot of the time Belial just wanted him to savour the moments they were in. Not hastily try to move on or anything like that. To stop and take in the atmosphere. To enjoy the mundane. Forthey could do everything. They could see everything... but if they didn't stop, and took things slow. To just smell the roselias and enjoy the moment. That was...

"Never possible."

He blinked as the words came out of his mouth. His thoughts were leaking out now. Great. Just great. But, perhaps this would be his penance? After all, he had failed this test. If all he did was actually listen, instead of hearing what he wanted... Perhaps this would of ended resets upon resets of go. No matter how much someone messed with time, some things remained. There were univeral constants that could never be changed.

He heard the slow walk of Belial's boots. The slow clap of his hands as he made his way back to the prison cell. The devil didn't exude an air of pride though. There was nothing cunning about this. If anything, there was a sense of horror to it all. A sense of disdain at what had been happening over, and over, and over again. The devil opened the cage door, and made his way over to Ethan.

"You finally learned your lesson, huh?" he asks Ethan, who could barely respond.

"Only took you about half a million tries. You have more deaths then people have days in their lives trying to escape. I'm surprised you're even coherant. If I had a million nights with you, even if it meant killing oyu each time to have them... I would. Even if your body could live for almost two thousand, seven hundred and fourty years. You still wouldn't learn how to stop. You still would have to keep going towards whatever goal you have at the time," Belial laments, berating Ethan.

"Shut... it..." Ethan replies, before feeling a kick in the stomach.

"Why do I even both with you, huh? I ccould've easily manipualted you into doing so many things, but why? Why haven't I? What makes you, some madwoman's creation, so special? Sure, you can live forever, technically. But so can most I know? So why, why do I feel disgusted with myself over this? And not even in the good way!?" Belial continues his mad ravings, looking at the breaten and broken homunculus before him.

"I... can't... answer that," Ethan coughs up ichor between the words.

"The ichor of Yggdrasil. It's said one drop can rejuvenate your body... I wonder, how many people would try to kill you for it, only to get pruned? Though, I can see it's overwriting the boy's DNA day after day. That white hair... it's concerning," Belial comments with a half-hearted chuckle.

"So... tell me... Did I pass...?" Ethan asked, staring up directly at Belial in the eyes.

"You did... You did pass. But at what cost? I didn't feel anything more then hollow triumph at this Ethan. And this doesn't necessarily prove to me... you won't repeat this until you defeat her," Belial remarks.

"No. I'll stop... and wait... until I reach a satisying conclusion..." the homunculus replies.

Belial slowly removes his chains, before offering a hand to Ethan. The homunculus takes it, and gets up. This was going to be it, wasn't it? THis madness was truly going to be over, wasn't it? No more deaths... not until he needed to die. He knew he was on a clock, but he still had a few months to get everything in order.

He could feel himself standing, but he coudln't register gravity's force at this point. All he could feel was the support of the devil before him. Each step felt like daggers, but he was use to this feeling. Each breath felt like inhaling acid... buit he was use to this feeling. Each movement of his body, some sort of pain. But he was use to this feeling. Again. And again. And Again.

They could barely make it to the cell door before Ethan could feel his legs give out from the pain. Belial noticed, and hoisted him up bridal style. This was fine... if it meant taking time. He just nestled himself against the devil's chest, and watched with hazy vision as they slowly made their way towards the exit.

"You really fucked yourself this time man," Belial remarks.

"When don't I? I don't need to care about how self-destructive I am... as long as I get my goals," Ethan replies.

"And you don't see the pain you inflict on everyone while doing so? Even with my goals to subjucate this world... I wouldn't go this far Ethan. I would never go as far as you do at times," he tells him in a concerned tone.

"And that's okay. I've learned my lesson. But, I really messed up this time... I think... I need to go into stasis for a while," Ethan remarks.

"Ethan. No. You can't... not until everything is said and done," Belial tells him in a worried tone.

"it'll be fine... It'll only be for the rest of November. I still have... December. Remember, when we all partied together on christmas? Partook in carnal pleasure together, the three of us?" Ethan asks, a small glint in his eyes.

"Yeah. I can't say I don't remember it... One of the most memorable nights in milleniea," Belial told him, thinkingly fondly od the memor.

"But do you remember that pale morning light... the day after?" Ethan asked.

Belial stopped moving for a second. Ethan could see a look of shock on his face, as some far off memory suddenly came back. Something hidden deep within his fallen heart. Ethan could hear it racing, feel the nervousness and excitement stemming from it.

"I see... I... I see now. What a fool I've been," Belial solemnly states, and continues moving.

"Belial, why did you choose to fall? I've read Sandy's journal... and he mentioned you quite a bit," Ethan then suddenly asks of the devil.

"Because Lucifer... Helel... whatever the hell he wants to go by... he was captivating. Charismatic. He was scorned by the creator almighty, for his ambitions for mankind. And in turn he rebelled... and in turn he swept me off my feet. But, I wasn't his first love. That was Sandalphon. The two would always have coffee together, in some secluded garden... Something Lucy still refers to as his proper 'Eden'. I managed to find it... once... and heard the most angelic voice. I thought it was Lucifer. It had to be, not that sandy blond brat that stuck to his side..." Belial bemoans the memory.

"But, that wasn't the case. Sandalphon is the Archangel of Music," Ethan points out.

Belial's face contorts in realization. Ethan coudln't tell what the man's thoughts were, but he had a few ideas. That all of that pain, and suffering he had been through. All of the pain and suffering he inflicted. The thing he gaslit himself into loving... to be debased. To partake in hedonistic debauchery... It was all under a sham. All under false pretenses.

"Well, come on Ethan. Your Pokemon are waiting for you. Rest as much as you need to," he replies after a small pause, quickly trying to change to subject matter

"No. There's something I want you to do... with me first," he says between baited breaths.

"Hmm?" a devilish grin crossed Belial's face as he questions.

"Take me, to see the sunlight. I want to see the sunrise with you, as I saw it with Sandy yesterday. I've seen your true form beneath moonlight... but only once in the pale morning sun. So please, as my last request to you... Take me to see the morning light, and sing that song you've been humming your entire life..." Ethan requests of him.

"Fine... But... that means I need to let you go after that, okay? I'll give you, my broken horn as proof you passed my trial. But, then you'll never see me again. Is that... fine?" Belial asks of him.

"Yeah. I think you both are realizing... things right now. Go to him once we're done. He'll still be crying atop the tower. But for now, this goodbye," Ethan replies as they finally reach the exit.

He watches Belial take out a blue pyramid, and press it to the seal. Pale sunlight started to leak into the catacombs as the two suddenly teleported. He could only feel the warm morning sun, and a soft breeze, before feeling his exhaustion take over.

---

That damned homunculus. How? how could he see something he couldn't for centuries? That... damn it. But, no. This is the one request he'd do. He started to hum, a singular hymn, the one he had hear millenea ago. He fell for this... He... he chose this. But... if he had stopped and waited then, he'd have known.

"I Belial, hereby revoke the contract between me and William du Pont. He will be bestowed all power I have given him, and in return he shall be free from the shackles of this contract." He states after his song, seeing Ethan's sleeping body.

He stayed with the homunculus for a while longer, until the sun was more properly in the sky. Guess he couldn't fulfill a contract for once, but he took out his broken horn. He had kept it with him since he fell... but why? He didn't know, but he gently wrapped it around the homunculus's hand. This would be the last time he would gaze onto him... he knew that. And with a snap, everyone was back where they should be... And he would be alone once again. And he had a date atop Babel.

The second act, 'til death.
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You say it's insanity, but
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Old 12-22-2023, 01:07 PM   #40
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Mourning Lark, Twilit Shroud I

"...Anyone can at least have a dream. No matter what... that is."

---

Cold snow had fallen onto the Mystical Realm. Most Pokemon had already retreated into their dens for the yuletide, They were intent on hibernating until spring... While the ice-types had come out from their hiding places in full force. The chilling winter air stirred his hibernating vessel, its stasis for about a month. Yet, it was as if an instant had passed for him. The last thing he remembered was the devil's soft hymn. It was time to rise. Time to awaken. For there was not much time left at this point.

As he woke from his slumber, he realized he was in his room. A thin layer of dust was spread across everything. Not a single living thing was in here. He coughed a little as the dust entered his system but blinked. He got up, realizing his body was not used to movement. It was weird, readjusting to things he was quite used to. He blinked and looked around before dressing himself.

There was something peculiar to him, though, sitting on his desk. The feather and horn crossed together. Right, he did the first two within a day. He then asked to be put into this month-long stasis. For dying over, and over, and over again accomplished nothing. But this was closing in on the end... and thus he was ready. This place would soon be abandoned, he could feel it. That these halls contained stolen time... and hopeless dreams.

Taking his adventuring supplies, the homunculus made his way toward the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror, studying what may have changed. The pale white hair was one thing, but besides that, it was as if time had frozen for him for a month. He looked the same as when he left on All Hallow's Eve. Quite peculiar. He was expecting needing to shave or at least trim his hair short. But no, it was as if he froze his own time... while everything around him moved forward. Being fine with his pale visage, he made his way out towards the living room.

"You're finally awake," he heard a familiar voice enter his mind.

There he saw at the table two Pokemon sipping tea, serious looks on their faces. Two who had stayed behind when the fae returned to its throne. The Hatterene and the Gardevoir. They seemed to be there to watch over him, primarily. Though, he knew the Gardevoir quite enjoyed running the cafe when it was still open.

"It is time, then. Come, brother, let us be away. You, boy, shall follow. We shall be waiting until you are ready," the other spoke, the Hatterene gazing into his eyes while telling him.

The thing he found odd, however, was that none of his Pokemon were here besides those two. And they weren't technically his... He tried to voice this, but the two just sat sipping tea. Odd. No matter, he would see if there was anything downstairs. Surely there must be something.

As he went downstairs, he saw only one being sitting in the empty cafe. All of this... once hustling and bustling with life. But all things must come to an end, eventually. There will always be an inevitable end... Always. So, he wasn't all too surprised to see this place devoid of life. No sweet arias. No chattering between people. No whirling hums of the coffee machines. No saccharine sweet smells. Just nothing... but him.

"William," he spoke.

"Oh, you're awake. Guess it's time to go?" the Chandelure asks him with a forlorn look. He was in human form again, it seems.

"Yeah. Where is everyone?" Ethan asked.

"I have the rest of the team right here," WIlliam sighed, setting six Pokeballs on the table.

"And the rest...?" he asked sheepishly,

"Those two sent them away for the day. All of them are having their little day trips today. Or, if too dangerous, have been confined to their balls and deposited to the PC for the day," William gives him a disdainful look while explaining it. It seems he was opposed to the decision of the magi upstairs.

"Well, let's go," Ethan told him, and the Chandelure rose from his seat and handed the Pokeballs over.

The duo then slowly ascended the stairs and looked at the two Pokemon. Without even blinking, the Hatterene started to mutter something beneath her breath. The Gardevoir finished his tea, waiting for the incantation to finish. Once his sister was done, he snapped his fingers. The door behind them started to shift and change... becoming more fae in nature. Covered in vines, and adorned with butterflies. He could feel a warm, comforting presence coming from the door.

"This will take you to the forest. Care to follow the beaten path. Best not stray, okay~" Thyme tells the duo with a haughty chuckle before waving them both off.

However, before they went through the door, Ethan grabbed Zero's Pokeball and let the Marshadow out. The Pokemon looked at him with a sleepy haze, before gently walking into its trainer's shadow. William cocked a brow but decided to not push further. The trio then headed through the door and felt themselves assaulted by bitter cold.

Looking around, Ethan could see they were in the Forest of Wands. It looked like they had entered through a tree of some kind, just off a trail marker. It seemed they were in the park at this point, yet not a whole lot of people would be here this time of year. During the spring, summer, and fall this place was bustling with hikers and naturalists. But when the winter snow settled in... that was all done. Only the rangers patrolled the park at this time of year... to keep what was deeper inside. Ethan had heard the reports, that the Breloom hive seemed to try to encroach when winter approached.

"So, we head towards the heart. I wonder what his trial is going to be..." Ethan told William before trailing off.

"Not sure. But it surely involves reaching his domain in some way," William replied before looking around.

The duo started to follow the trail, being on the lookout for anything suspicious. Luckily, the trail marker gave them at least some semblance of information. This was the trail to the Lover's Grove. And past that was the bog... and then the heart. So, if it was hitting the forest's greatest hits then... what awaited them at each location? Now that was the question, wasn't it?

As they continued to wander the icy cold trail, Ethan spotted a singular outpost station in the distance. He knew a few of these were peppered around so the rangers could help any passerby with problems. Or just recuperate on their breaks. Yet, he could sense an intense aura coming from it. That they weren't going to be passing it without a fight. And his gut soon proved right.

"Hey, you two. Stop!" a ranger barked out in a commanding voice. Ethan looked at him, and he looked back. There was an intense gaze from the man... and something of a familiarity.

"We're just... uh, going for a stroll?" Ethan immediately tried to explain.

"Don't give me that crap. I know why you're here," he tells him, grabbing a Pokeball. "I was told to arrive here on this day for a fight, and I guess you're my opponent!"

"Well, that's fine. After all, when two trainer's eyes meet they fight!" Ethan replied with a certain fervor, instinctively reaching for Lucas's Pokeball. Small fry for sure, but he'll deal with this man soon enough.

"Name's Jacob. And I'll make sure you're thoroughly throttled, man! Scrafty, go!" his opponent shouted, sending out the Hoodlum Pokemon.

Ethan paused for a second. The name sounded... a little familiar. It was a common name, sure, but why did it cause him to remember something? He didn't know. But, surely he'd remember. This was the fairy king's trial, after all... so it surely had to deal with him.

"Lucas, let's go. Let's finish this quickly, Play Rough twice!" he ordered the Raichu, who gave him a resolute nod in return.

"Fake Out the first one, then Counter!" the man ordered.

Ethan watched as Lucas started to spring forward, only for the Scrafty to quickly clap the Raichu. The electric rat blinked, obviously flinched by the attempt. Frustrated, he once again sprung forward, intent to Play Rough with the Scrafty. The Scrafty starts to eat a bright red, rose-petal-like berry. A Roseli Berry. Smart man. The Unovan fighting type then used its feet to counter the move, dealing back the damage he took twice over. Lucas grimaced from the pain but was still standing. Even if worse for wear.

"Huh. Thought that woulda done it, man. No matter. High Jump Kick, then Crunch. Finish off the rat!" Jacob ordered with a sense of surprise before a calm brutality came over him.

"Not so fast. Zippy Zap, then Agility away!" Ethan ordered.

Lucas's scarf became ignited in lightning, and the Raichu burst forward at blinding speed. The critical hit crushed what was remaining of the Scrafty's health, and the lizard soon fell over and fainted. The man gave him a shocked look, realizing that he had bit off more than he could chew.

"No wonder... I see. Guess my job ain't beating ya, it's to slow you down. Got it then. Explains why I only was told to bring two Pokemon," he states and brings out his second Pokemon.

An Alolan Raticate soon bared its fangs, looking at its trainer for guidance.

"Guess you're still ready after all this time Salt. No matter he owes us for taking care of you," the man sighs, talking to the Raticate with old familiarity.

Salt? He heard briefly from Leo... at that ocean resort, he had been assigned two Pokemon when he joined Team Skull. He named the Ratatta Salt, and the Salandit Stew... Ethan blinked, starting to piece things together.

"I see. So, he's brought you all here to test me then. Typical," he sighs, looking at the man before him.

"We'll finish this without breaking a sweat. Bolt Strike, then Dynamic Punch!" Ethan then ordered, knowing that Dynamic Punch hitting was a coin toss.

"Brazen, aren't you boy? Sucker Punch, then let's bank on our luck and go for a Crunch!" Jacob ordered.

The Alolan Raticate saw Lucas preparing to attack and quickly led with a Sucker Punch. Ethan could see Lucas was getting lower on health, but the Raichu was too focused on winning at this point. Seeing the scarf go into overdrive, Ethan watched as his Pokemon flew forward. The giant bolt slammed into the Raticate, dealing an asinine amount of damage. From the look of it, it was going to be a one-hit knockout. Yet, the Raticate barely held on, a sash of fabric fraying in the wind.

The Raticate stumbled back a little bit, feeling paralysis lock it up. Lucas saw the opportunity, and a single punch was all it took. The rat fell, felled by another rodent. How oddly poetic... if all things were to be considered. Still, this was the end of this battle, and the ranger looked at him with shock.

"That was... something alright. You're stronger than probably anyone else I know... Shit man. Why'd I have to be first? No matter. We're always going to be there for him, no matter who, or what, he is. He's still my little brother, through and through. So, go ahead. I'm not gonna stop you anymore but be warned. He's not allowing you to heal. I heard from a little birdy you hosted a tournament last summer with similar rules," Jacob chuckled, before waving him off and heading inside the lodge. It was obvious he wasn't wishing to talk about his past... but that confirmed something to Ethan.

"Guess I have to still fight your demons."

The words drifted through the wind as he and William headed deeper into the forest.
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You say it's insanity, but
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Old 12-22-2023, 10:11 PM   #41
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Mourning Lark, Twilit Shroud II

The soft hum of the wind blew past his ears. This place, he could feel was sacred in some way. His entire body pulsed, and a wave of tingles washed through him. He looked at the tree before him and resonated with it. An act of true love created this oak... while he was a seedling of an ash tree. Would he, one day, turn into a tree? Or would he turn into something else? Who knew, but he could feel his core wishing to touch the bark before him.

The Lover's Grove. He had heard stories of this place. Was asked to visit here a few times by lovers past. Yet, it never really felt right. yet, this was the road he had to take, and he looked at the person by his side this time. William looked at him with dull, disinterested eyes. Or more accurately, avoided looking at him entirely with those dull, disinterested eyes. He couldn't tell what the man was thinking anymore. Yet, more than ever, he wished to reach out and apologize for all the shitty things he did. All the shitty things he said. Yet, was now really the time? He shook his head and started to move past the oak.

"Hey, wait, don't move yet!" he heard a feminine voice shout and looked around.

There, sitting within the branches with a blonde woman, sketching something on a giant sketchpad. She was looking at the two of them intently, seeming to capture their details. She closed one eye, and held her pencil out to the both of them, before making quick work of the paper before her. She seemed to give herself a reassuring fist pump, before gracefully jumping out of the branches and landing on the ground.

"Hey, thanks, man. I haven't seen anyone all day... Such a shame too. I heard that lovers gathered here even during the winter. But, what can ya do right? C'est la vie," she chuckles as she puts her notepad away.

"So, what brings you two lovebirds here?" she asks with a wry smile, bending down and looking up at the both of them.

"We're not lovebirds," Ethan replies.

"Oh, but the way he looks at you when you don't see. The lu-"

"Hey, please shut it, lady," William interrupted her, crossing his arms and looking away blushing.

"Ooo, sour spot. Sorry about that. My name's Mirabilis, but my friends just call me Mira for short. What's your names?" she asks with a polite tone after her apology, straightening herself out.

"Ethan."

"William."

"Ah," she said with a sort of dejected sigh. "I was really hoping those weren't going to be your names, boys."

She then assumes a battle stance, grabbing a luxury ball from her back and giving the duo a stern look.

"But, a promise is a promise. Guess you already beat Jakey then? He is always a pushover. Fine, guess I gotta do my part too! En garde!" she shouts, sending out the Pokeball.

"William, do you wish to fight this time?" Ethan asks of him.

"Gladly," the Chandelure nods before becoming wreathed in flames, and walking towards his unknown foe.

"What the fuck!?" Mira stammers out as William starts his transformation, before waiting for her Pokemon to come out of its ball.

Before them was a Salazzle, seemingly itching for a fight. She winked at the both of them, eliciting no response. The Salazzle just sighs and stomps the ground as if already over this battle. William finished his transformation and stared at both women with dead, hollow eyes.

"Guess he didn't really tell you everything, did he?" Ethan shrugs.

"No, not really. Just asked me to wait here today, and fight someone named Ethan. Especially if he was with someone named William. But this? That heeby-jeeby stuff? Ugh, I knew that this was going to be bad news. Ever since I saw Leo wearing that chocker again back at his cafe..." she trails off, before snapping back to reality.

"But enough of that! We have a fight, so let's go! My dear, Toxic the Chandelure, before sending out a Venom Drench!" she orders, going for a more defensive debuff-oriented ploy.

"Fire Shield! Then blast the lizard with Psychic," Ethan ordered in response.

"Fire what? Man, does this region have some weird things about it," the girl quickly comments. Ethan wished she would shut up. The thing he hated most was mouthy opponents, no matter who or what they were.

The Salazzle then spat out a globule of toxic liquid. With how corrosive the Salandit line's poisons were, this could affect even Pokemon immune to it. William quickly erected a barrier of purple flame in response, which fizzled out as soon as the toxic slid off of it. The Salazzle blinked, seeing the move was blocked. There was no internal poison for the ghost. No way to drench the ghost and debilitate it. In return, William sent out a powerful Psychic wave that ripped through the Salandit.

"Damn, guess we need a different approach. Alright, Dragon Dance, then Shadow Claw!" she ordered.

"Another Psychic then hit her hard with a Shadow Ball!" Ethan ordered.

He could see William channel more psychic power as the Salazzle started to do a draconic dance. It was lithe, and quite captivating in her movements. Very different than Spencer, or even Sandy's Flygon. But still just as powerful, and just as dangerous. However, he could tell the Psychics had left the Salazzle with no health. But, the speed boost did matter, as she dove through William with shadowy claws in a blink. He could see William take a hefty blow himself, before firing off a Shadow Ball to finish off the Salazzle.

"Well, that's to be expected. I was told to hinder you, not try to win. Salazzle, return. You'd make your dad proud. Now, a Pokemon from my own home of Kalos. Go forth, Helioisk!" she shouted, returning the Salazzle and sending out the Heliolisk.

"Not what I'd expect but, not a bad shout," Ethan commented, looking at the lizard with interest.

"Oh, thank you. Leo told me to bring my two Pokemon from Team Skull, so I thought about what would best complement them. Florges, Furfrou, and Meowstic were out, so I chose him. He is quite the handsome lad, no? My other guys are pretty well groomed too, but I try to keep his skin well hydrated," the artist starts to gush over the Helioisk, causing him to run his head awkwardly.

"You gave away his Dry Skin ability..." Ethan pointed out, causing her to blink.

"Oops. Well, that's fine. Dark Pulse, then Thunderbolt!" she ordered.

"William, power through and crisp this thing up. Give it a Heat Wave, before toasting it with Overheat!" Ethan ordered. "just be careful to not hit the tree."

"Oh, so you can be considerate, Interesting," she remarks again, causing Ethan to grit his teeth.

William just swayed back and forth, seeming to be dissociating from everything around him. This was quite... unlike the Chandelure. Usually, there was snide commentary. Or witty banter. Or something. Anything. Ethan blinked, wondering what was going on through the Chandelure's head. No, this wasn't the time to focus on this. He needed to think about the battle ahead.

The next round then began, as the Heliolisk sent out waves of pulsating dark energy. William seemed to power through it, but it was obvious he wasn't doing too hot. In return, the Chandelure fired off a heat wave, trying to keep it concentrated. It scorched the Heliolisk, and the sound of cracking skin could be heard as the dry skin was irritated. Man, was fire such a powerful drug,

The Heliolisk then let out an arcing bolt of electricity, the thunderbolt hitting the Chandelure square. He let out a pained cry, obviously barely at his last limits. Yet, he powered through regardless and let out a powerful burst of fire. Smoke started to come from the Chandelure as the overheat burnt him out. Seeing the state his Pokemon was in, Ethan blinked. Usually, he'd push through but... for some reason, he stopped.

"William, return."

The Chandelure looked back at him with tired eyes and nodded. He didn't even look at his opponent, or her Pokemon, at this point. He was more concerned for his own Pokemon now. Was it a hint of compassion creeping through his hollowed heart? He didn't quite know, or expect, him to make this call. They were so close to victory, with one push. But, no, he needed to make sure his Pokemon were alright. That's what this was about, wasn't it...?

He just held out William's Pokeball and pressed the button. That would be the safest option right now. To give him time to rest and recuperate. He then reassessed the situation before him. The Heliolisk looked frayed, to put it lightly. The lizard was on its last legs, and Mira just looked at him with interest.

"Alright. Kita, let's go!" he shouted as he sent out his Infernape.

"Oh, this is going to be a problem," she mutters as she sees the monkey.

"Finish it with Mach Punch!" he ordered.

"Yeah, go ahead," she states.

Kita swiftly ran up to the electric lizard and gave it a quick gut punch. The Heliolisk's lights then went out as it flew through the air, falling onto the melted ground. There seemed to be one more Pokemon in this fight. Then would he have to fight four at the bog? This was already starting to become a little much, this little gauntlet.

"Alright, this is my last Mon. Be gentle, okay? She's my first," Mira gave him a pleading look, before sending out a Lurantis.

"A grass-type. Well... we'll finish this quickly," he blinked, realizing why Mira didn't send it out against Chandelure.

"I was told you'd most likely try to blitzkrieg through us with a Raichu. So, my team was meant to fight a Raichu. I wasn't expecting to see two fire-types okay?' she explained.

"Well, I'm starting to get a different perspective on things. Pokemon are more than just a means to win. More than just tools... or pieces on a board. They're our friends too..." Ethan admits, feeling his shadow give off a warmth. Perhaps compassion was a good thing to pass on Zero.

Even if it was too little, too late for him. He was still determined to fight, and see things through. That's what part of this journey would be. Sandalphon taught him to be more critical, and not fall into the day-to-day haze. Belial taught him to accept that failure was something that had to happen to move on, and it was okay to give up and lose. And Leo... no... Oberon, was trying to teach him compassion. That he was allowed to let his guard down and be more open about himself.

"Get in close with a Flame Wheel, then deliver a Blaze Kick!" he ordered his Infernape, who nodded in response.

"If you want to get physical, then fine. Superpower! Then Psycho Cut. I've gone all out kitting her out and even got an Ability Patch," she winked, seeming much more determined now.

Kita started to blitz forward, hopping up and turning into a flaming wheel. The Lurantis took the super-effective attack and then showed off her own superpower. She used her claws to overpower the Infernape and tossed him into the ground. Unlike most Pokemon, Ethan knew this would prove beneficial. He watched as the Lurantis's physical stats were raised at the end of it all, perhaps he'd need to switch offensives afterward.

He watched the Infernape do a sweeping Blaze Kick from the ground, using the momentum to get up. If any Pokemon trained hard here, it would be Kita. Battle and infiltration were the Infernape's forte... especially proved useful back at the space station. Though, he watched as the Lurantis laced one of her claws with psychic energy, and cut through the Infernape. Ethan watched a grimace form on the Infernape's face.

"We're not done yet, give him another Psycho Cut, then finish him with Dual Chop!" she ordered.

"Take it, bulking up yourself. Then unleash your Raging Fury!" Ethan ordered.

The Infernape nodded and breathed in as the psychic move cut through him again. As he breathed out, the fire on his head lit up brightly. While he didn't have Blaze, he was ready to lay down the smackdown onto this grass mantis. Unleashing a cold, calm fury, the Infernape unleashed a flurry of fiery blows onto the Lurantis. This was more than enough to throttle her and knock the mantis out.

"Well, guess that's that. You're pretty damn good of a trainer. I didn't stand a chance at all," she clapped as she returned her Pokemon.

"Well, I have been training my entire life to be the strongest," he admits to her.

"Strength is more than just power, though. It's also compassion. Courage. Bravery. And being willing to sacrifice things when necessary. It's much more complicated than just brutish power. But that's most things," she replies, looking past the tree.

"If anyone can beat him, it's you. I don't know why he called him, but be careful of the man assigned to the bog. But, I believe you can do this Ethan. Right, you live in the cafe too right?" she suddenly asks, changing the topic.

"Sorta?" he tells her.

"Well, I'll be finishing up that sketch I did. Make it into a proper piece and deliver it in a few weeks. Hope you enjoy it!" she states as she starts to leave the grove, heading towards civilization.

A few weeks huh... Perhaps that would just be an empty promise, but he nodded. He returned the Infernape to his ball and looked toward the bog. He could sense it. A power that could match his. But... there was something else stirring. Doubt? Regret? He couldn't tell, nor tell he was instinctively gripping William's Pokeball.
__________________


I fill my lungs with everything
You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

Fizzy Bubbles

Last edited by Lil'twick; 12-22-2023 at 10:21 PM.
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Old 12-24-2023, 12:29 PM   #42
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Mourning Lark, Twilit Shroud III

Loneliness was starting to creep up his back. This was no longer the beaten path. It was just him, and his shadow. He was warned by the twin magi not to stray from the path... and he could start to feel why. He could sense it. Things watching him. Waiting for him if he stepped out of line. To take him prey, or use him for his own devices.

The smell of the bog hit him first, but it was intermingled with something. Soporific spores. Breloom. The hive was close, and it was watching him. No, surely agents of the hive had been watching him since he first stepped foot into the woods. They were the watchers... the enforces. If you had the misfortune of running into that bright red cap, it was best to run. Otherwise, you were claimed by the hive.

Yet, he could hear something blasting through the bog. Some sort of heavy-punk music? Something that the hags and fae would most certainly hate. Even so, they made no moves to silence it. It was as if the music was enough to keep them at bay. Or, if the source of it was here at their king's behest. Perhaps they were purposefully avoiding claiming it.

So, he continued forward towards the source. His next foe would be his last one before the heart of the forest. And whatever that meant. This no-healing rule was surely getting on his nerves. William was in critical health, while Lucas and Kita were both around a third of their health. So, he needed to rely on Spencer and Kyle for this fight. He didn't want to use Zero unless necessary. After all, Zero was his ace in the hole. Even if the Pokemon wouldn't be too helpful against the king's fey. He only had his best six... no chance to strategize. Damn.

He soon stopped, finally finding the source of the music. A large, hulking man had his back turned to him, sitting on a tree trunk jutting from the ground. As his feet touched the grass beneath the tree, the man paused whatever the music was, and jumped off. Ethan watched him crack his neck, and hands, before turning around to stare him down.

"You. You're the one I need to pulverize, right?" he asked in a serious tone.

"Sure. Pulverize. Nice joke," Ethan chuckled at the sentence. "But yeah, I'm the one you need to fight."

"Look kid, I don't make jokes. I get called by my ex, after years, thinking maybe he'd want me back despite all the shit that happened. The last I saw of him he had put a baseball bat between my teeth. No, he dared to ask ME to help him test some punk. I don't know why you're so special to him, but that's enough to piss me off," the man roared, obviously pissed over events that had happened years ago at this point.

"And you think that beating me will win him back? He was the one who left you, Taiga. He ran away like he always has. He used you. He controlled you. He manipulated you until you no longer served him. When you reached a point where you were more harmful them helpful. And when you tried to reach out, all you did was cause further harm... Fucking hell," Ethan sighed out, staring the man dead in the eye. He had figured this would be his final foe.

"Shut. UP! I'll pulverize you and your Pokemon. Go, Scrafty!" the man roared, voice booming across the bog.

"Two in one day? Funny. Well, fine, Spencer, take to the skies," Ethan replied, sending out the Dragonite.

"Well, no matter. Smack that dragon Down! Then go in for an Outrage!" Taiga bluntly ordered, and the Scrafty nodded.

"Hurricane, then a Duak Wingbeat," Ethan calmly ordered.

The Dragonite took high into the skies, weaving through the decrepit branches. The Scrafty watched and waited until the orange dragon was clear, but it was too late. Powerful gale-force winds were whipped up, causing a whirling howl to echo through the bog. The sudden loud noise caused Taiga to cover his ears, and a hint of fear to show. So he was shouting in bravado? No, no point in capitalizing on an opponent's fear. In the past he wouldn't;t have hesitated, but something was stirring in him. Changing him.

Though, the Smack Down did land its mark. The Dragonite was sent spiraling down through the trees, before slamming into the ground. Luckily his multiscale weakened the blow quite significantly. Though, perhaps that was the ploy. Use a weaker move to break armor, before devastating the dragon. Ethan didn't know how this man's fighting style would end up playing out. He was already using his Scrafty in a much different way than the other man did.

Spencer slowly rose from the muck beneath and started to charge forward. The Scrafty unleashed a roaring howl and looked like a Pokemon possessed. The Outrage was nothing like Ethan had seen... even more true to the name than any of his dragons could muster. Spencer gulped a bit on seeing the oncoming move, before swinging g towards his back. The dual wingbeats connected with the Scrafty, trading super effective blow for super effective blow. Yet... it was clear his Dragonite was at a disadvantage.

"Dragon Tail!" Ethan ordered. This was the best way to get this Scrafty out of the way for now.

Spencer then took another hit of the Outrage, looking like he was barely even holding on. Mustering all of his might, he swung his tail at the rampaging Scrafty. Straight through the gut, the Scrafty was sent flying. Flying so hard, it retreated back into its Pokeball, forcing another Pokemon to come out. One that Ethan wasn't surprised to see in the slightest.

An Incineroar came out, looking quite burly. It bared its fangs, using its Intimidating presence to lower Spencer's attack. Well. A cat against a dragon. That would be interesting.

"Alright, Roost up Spencer. Then go for an Aqua Tail!" Ethan ordered his dragon.

"Oh, I'm afraid that won't be happening. Taunt. We fight, and fight until only one Pokemon stays standing! And for you, I much rather you finish our previous bout first. Parting Shot Incineroar, you'll be needed soon enough," Taiga stated, having recovered from the loud noises from earlier.

Ethan was surprised by this man's strategic ploy here. Then again, it would make sense. Despite playing himself off as dumb muscle; Ethan could see this man presented a lot dumber than he was. Perhaps to catch people off? He didn't know, but he watched as the Incineroar's taunting curse prevented Spencer from taking the breather he needed. Instead, he ran up to the Incineroar before smacking it with a weakened aqua tail. The Icineroar laughed it off, giving a Parting Shot before returning back to its ball. In return, the Scrafty came back out, staring down the larger dragon with fury.

"I was told to bring four Pokemon. Of course, I only brought these two. Don't think I need four to wipe the floor with your sorry-ass kid," Taiga laughed. Though, perhaps his hubris could be beneficial.

"Fine. Spencer, return. Kyle, let's finish this!" Ethan returned the Dragonite, before sending out the shadow Sableye.

"What the fuck is that!?" Taiga jumped a bit, seeing the blood-red gems stare directly at him.

"A shadow Pokemon. Though not one of Cipher's creations. Nor Team Rocket. This was my choice... to do this," Ethan despondently replied.

"You... You created that monstrosity!? Oh hell no. Fuck that. Alright Scrafty, let's crush that thing. Crunch, then Head Smash!" the larger man ordered.

"Shadow Down... then Shadow End!" Ethan ordered.

A chilling gale started to emanate from the Sableye as his Prankster allowed him to move first. Channeling a shadowy burst, he sends it toward the Scrafty, and sharply lowers its defense stat. The Scrafty shrugged it off, before going in and crunching down on the shadowy gremlin. The Sableye looks up with a crooked smile, before jumping up towards the Scrafty. A single swipe of the claw, before a powerful burst of shade comes from the Scrafty, felling it in a single blow. The Sableye coughs a bit as he takes massive recoil but still looks up with a toothy grimace.

"Monster... No. Hell no. Fuck this. I'm lea-" Taiga screams out in horror... before suddenly getting cut off by something.

Ethan watched in horror as a flash of red darted out from the woods. A single whack of a tail hits Taiga's back, before he collapses into the mud. Standing over him was a Breloom, looking at Ethan with dead, hollow eyes. Surely it was communicating with its hive over what it was seeing. The way the forest had twisted the creatures... into something like this. It unnerved him. Even if he had one of his own now, the thing still... unnerved him. Leo told him it would be best to stay with him.

He could feel Zero start to peek out from his shadow, unsure of what was going on. Ethan wasn't sure either, as more and more Breloom started to come. Soon, a small legion of the mushrooms popped out and hoisted the man up. They started to take him deep into the woods. Wherever it was... it surely was somewhere Ethan did not wish to know about. And soon he was alone in this bog... and everything around him was terrified.

"Ethan, can you hear me?" a familiar voice ringed in his head. Thyme.

"Yeah... I can Thyme. Where are you?" he vocally replied to the Gardevoir.

"Still sipping tea in the apartment. I have received a message from the court. It seems your last leg was cut short, but that was not your fault. Our King will determine punishment once your trial is over. But, I have been told you are being permitted to proceed. The king has sealed off the Heart of the Forest right now for this trial. So, please wait until for your escort to appear," the Gardevoir relays before severing the telepathic link.

Ethan took a deep breath in, watching... waiting... for some sign. Any sign. For this to all happen. Though, soon, what he was waiting for would appear. A heavy fog rolled into the bog, and he could sense the creatures were all cowering in fear. He then watched as something emerged from the fog with a heavy, guttural howl. So, this would be his way in...

"Zacian."
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You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

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Old 12-24-2023, 01:46 PM   #43
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Mourning Lark, Twilit Shroud IV

"Don't look for me, I'm just a story you've been told."

---

Ethan watched in wonder as he entered the Seelie Court. So this was it, Oberon's domain. Yet, he could tell that the court was... off. There was no queen. No Titania to make the story complete. Yet, perhaps, she was the story. She was the fiction. She was a story told to everyone, never existing in the first place. A creation of a man attempting to play god over the fae...

Even so, things felt like home here. Even in this natural place, of rocky crags and a hollowed-out tree... It was lively. Pokemon he had seen on the daily for years were all here, looking at him with a sense of reverie. Perhaps, yes, this would be a fine place to rest. A fine place to just drift off and away. Yet, he knew he would never fully be welcomed in this court. No.

He hopped off the dog, thanking it for taking him here. The fur was immaculately soft, like wisps of cotton candy through his fingers. He watched as it performed one powerful leap, before coiling up beneath a throne. As he watched the Zacian soar, he looked at the throne. A familiar visage was staring at him, yet one completely alien to him all the same. This was someone he loved... once. But knew it would only end in disaster. That even this fae... was too much for someone like him. Someone who was willing to throw caution to the wind, because he could always retry.

"Ethan."

"Oberon."

He heard murmurs from the court, addressing the king without any regalia. No. This was still his friend at the end of the day. He knew the king would hate theatrics coming from him. No, this was like seeing an old friend after years apart, but picking up the conversation like it was only yesterday.

"I see the shard of my deer she stole has started to take root within you. Hmm, perhaps that's why you captivated me so. You were my beautiful tree, taken human form. For, as you can see, he is desecrated so," Oberon waves his hand towards the charred hollowed-out tree.

"I regret to inform you that that tree isn't what created me," Ethan replies, feeling no resonance with the tree.

"Oho? Surely, I thought... no. You're right. Your power is very... foreign to me. Yet so familiar all the same. So, I must look elsewhere for my tree. I see. Very well!" Oberon hops up from his throne, clapping his hands.

"You've changed though. Your heart is starting to become purified, Ethan. Wonderful. This is the last time we'll see each other, I'm afraid. Even if all that stands between us is eternity. You know, it's funny. I thought once, that perhaps those halcyon days at the cafe would be forever. That we'd properly fall in love, and die like mortal men do... How foolish I was..." the fae sighs out as he looks at Ethan.

"You can be an idiot a lot of the time man, but look. You're smart when it counts. You know how to lead, but there are problems you still need to deal with. But, trust me when I say this. Don't go chasing love because there's a void in your chest. You've been trying to teach me to be more compassionate, meeting your family... Right?" Ethan asks of him, rubbing his finger over William's Pokeball.

"True, and I have been observing you. Not a single Pokemon of yours was knocked out. Though, that oaf fucked up yet again... Why do I bother? No matter! Now come, my knight," Oberon calls out, a grin creeping across his face as he acknowledges Ethan.

Coming hidden from the shadows of the tree was a Gallade. Gallantly dressed in knightly arms, and seeming to have reached the state of permanent Mega Evolution. Ethan watched with interested eyes as the Gallade stood tall in the clearing between him and the throne. The Metagross ended up not proving as much of a challenge as he hoped... but the Banette. He instinctively shivered, feeling phantom pain creep through his entire body. How many times did that bloodstained beast kill him?

"Hmm? It's unlike you to show fear. No... I can sense something. Forgotten nightmares... of lives long lost. Odd. Very odd... Rosemary explained it to me, once I reclaimed my court, of your abilities. But I still don't quite get it myself," Oberon replied with curiosity.

"Still. If I am to duel your knight, then what happens if I win? Sandalphon and Belial used the Mega Pokemon as a hurdle to overcome," Ethan asked.

"Oh, he is your final test. Even in his weakened state, Lucas would still obliterate Custard. And my sword... is reserved to punish the wicked. Even if your heart is tainted, it is not wicked Ethan. There is no point in drawing my blade to test you learning compassion for your Pokemon and friends. You've proven that to me well enough today. I'd have let you past the bog based on your interaction with big sis alone," Oberon tells him with solemn eyes.

However, something made him curious. Where was Custard? The Togekiss never left Oberon's side, no matter what. Ethan looked around for the Jubilee Pokemon to no avail.

"Where's Custard?" Ethan asks, curious.

"Oh. I sent him off. He was quite adamant in fighting you, you know. Took me days to convince him not to. He's currently looking for traces of those missing from the court," Oberon admits to him.

"Very well. Zero, let's go!" Ethan shouts.

His Shadow soon extended out from him, and the Marshadow slowly rose from within. It looked around, feeling nervous surrounded by fairy-type Pokemon. However, a sigh of relief comes from the Marshadow comes from seeing the Mega Gallade. They both had an advantage over the other, so it was type-neutral overall.

"We've come this far together Zero, so, we won't lose! Show them your Laser Focus, then go in hard with a Shadow Punch," Ethan orders.

"Hmm, not brute forcing it in? That's new for you. Swords Dance, my knight, before hitting the shade with a Psycho Cut!" Oberon orders of the Gallade.

Ethan watched as the Marshadow intently focused in on the Mega Gallade, guaranteeing its next move was a critical hit. Meanwhile, the Gallade performed a sword dance, proudly showing a fierce display of grace and power. Yet Ethan could see this as only a tool to make Zero stronger. Zero seemed to acknowledge that as well and started to move forward. The Marshadow used its focus to see a weak spot in the Gallade's armor and swing its fist. The Gallade looked down, confused a bit, before coughing a bit as a shadowy fist punched him in the back of the neck. Peeved by the tricky ploy, the Gallade sent out psychic blades to cut through the Marshadow. Both sides looked to have taken an even amount of damage.

"Alright, Spectral Thief! Then go in for another Shadow Punch!" Ethan ordered, trying to capitalize on the objective.

"Aha, there you are. Looked like you fell for the bait. Well, let me show you a bit of my power. Come, Gallade, it is time to return to your previous type. From baby's breath to butterflies, come, my angel on high!" Oberon stated, producing a Tera Orb from his pocket. As the terastal energy was channeled into it, he gave Ethan a singular wink before tossing the orb. The Mega Gallade as consumed by the crystals, before a large heart with wings was on top of the Mega Gallade's head.

"Like my knight's crown? Well, you'll like his moves even better! Give the Marshadow a Draining Kiss, then dazzle it with Dazzling Gleam!" Oberon orders with intense whimsy.

The Marshadow grimaced at the sight but held strong. Extending his shadow, he unleashed a barrage of shades before stealing the attack boost. The Gallade, now no longer weak to ghost, didn't nearly feel the effects of the move. Instead, the Gallade ran up to the little marshmallow, held it up like a plushie, and gave it a tender kiss on the forehead. Zero started to freak out, feeling its life force drained from the terastal-boosted Fairy move. Setting the mythical down, the Gallade then backflipped back to a ranged position.

Zero, peeved, let out a heavy shadow punch, hitting the Gallade square in the gut. But it wasn't nearly enough to overcome the healing it was given. Ethan gripped his Z-ring, realizing that wasn't the play anymore. No. If Oberon was going to terastallize a Mega Pokemon, then they'd need to bend the rules a little too. Especially with the Gallade letting out a powerful burst of aura, and firing a super effective dazzling gleam.

"Fine. Two can play at this game," Ethan stated while fishing out his own Tera Orb.

"Alright Zero, it's time!" he shouted, throwing out the tera orb with no fanfare. The Tera Orb connected with the Marshadow, shedding it of its fighting typing entirely, making it a pure ghost.

"Oh? Well, that certainly helps you. Fine then. Night Slash, Shadow Ball!" Oberon ordered, deciding to leave the snark for later.

"Let's hit as hard as we can, two more Shadow Punches!" Ethan ordered.

Zero let out an enthusiastic cry as the Gallade came rushing in. Zero, instinctively, took the dark-typed hit, not realizing it was now super effective. Yet it powered through the pain, and fired off a Shadow Punch. This was significantly stronger, even if it was now only doing neutral damage. And then the Galalde fired off a shadow ball, but it was narrowly dodged by zero slinking into the shadows. The Marshadow then remarged, and let out another powerful shadow punch.

No side was willing to give as the duel continued, punches and slashes being given and taken. Each side would try little ploys and tactics to gain an upper hand, only for the other to find a way around it. Yet, it felt as if time would revert to a certain point. That they would end up coming back to neutral, through healing or some other means. Oberon sighed out, obviously getting annoyed with the battle reaching a stasis.

"how long can you keep going Ethan?" the fae asked of him.

"As long as Zero has the will to fight, so will I!" Ethan confidently replied, causing the Marshadow to give an enthusiastic air punch.

"My knight?" Oberon asks the Gallade, who responds with a weary nod.

"Fine enough then. One more move... and then the end of this dream. Einherjar!" Oberon ordered.

"I see you've been looting Riviera for Diviners. Fine then. We don't have anything like that up our sleeves, but I know this will lend it. Steal their dreams... Steal their times. Spectral Thief!" Ethan ordered.

The Mega Gallade soon grew wings of spectral light and sent them out flying towards Zero. The Marshadow took the attack, suddenly feeling multiple rounds of damage assault it. Yet, the Marshadow barely held on as it extended its shadow. Past the Gallade, creeping and crawling up towards the throne. The Marshadow then attacked Oberon, who soon dissipated into nothing, leaving only the tera orb on the ground. The Gallade stood down, realizing the illusion was up.

A slow clapping filled the court as the true Oberon emerged, being hidden from behind the tree. He looked at Ethan with tired eyes, before letting out a large yawn. Custard soon flew behind the faerie, looking quite tired as well. Typical. So very typical of him. Ethan just shook his head, annoyed at the situation.

"There you are man... When did you realize, that I was creating this as a dream?" The true Oberon asked.

"When you told me you sent Custard out. That wasn't something you'd ever do, ever," Ethan replied.

"Dork. Yeah, no, you're right there. Hehe, having the kingly facade can be so draining all the time you know? Come here, give me a hug man!" Oberon exclaimed, before running up and hugging Ethan.

"That's the person? Fairy? I know.," Ethan replied, hugging him back.

"I mean, most of my power is available to me while I sleep. So I had to be asleep to properly oversee your trial. But, this is truly the last time we'll see the other, won't it?" Oberon soon explained, before looking at Ethan with mournful eyes.

"It will... But, I don't think you'll be able to remember me. Just as how you had metamorphized back to your true form, I'll need to fade away," Ethan replied.

"Fine, I'll just grieve now. With you by my side here. After all, you can't stop time's flow... Changing it. Manipulating it... it achieves nothing. Everything goes on, after all, whether we like it or not," Oberon gives him a small smile.

"So, your family, were they just projections or?" Ethan asks.

"They were the real deal. As you said, I still need you to fight my demons... Heh. After all this time, I'm just this pathetic, manipulative boy. But, it's fine. I like being who I am. So here, this is my token for winning," Oberon admitted, presenting him with a cookie.

Ethan took it, and saw it was the fairy-type symbol. Beautifully decorated, with not a single missing detail or blemish. It was too good to eat. Perhaps it was too good to eat...

"Will you stay with me a bit, catch up?" Oberon asks him.

"I guess... just for a little while. I'm feeling, awfully tired all of a sudden though," Ethan replies with a yawn.

"That's fine. My domain kinda... does that to those not part of it. No. Perhaps it would be best for you to return. Right, I have a message for you. Your last trial is within the Dragon's Palace. You may only bring one Pokemon. I don't know who, or what, is hosting it but... That's what I was told within a dream," Oberon admits to him.

"Thanks man... I think I'll head home now. It was nice knowing you man, bye," Ethan stated before waving off Oberon,

"It was."

---

Oberon watched as the homunculus left his court, and sat on his throne. Even if his life stretched for as long as nature existed in the world... these few short years he'd always remember. Perhaps mingling with humanity wasn't all bad, after all, if he could form friendships and relationships like this.

"Is it selfish that I'm happy?" he asks Custard.

"No, of course not. You finally got to say goodbye," the Togekiss responds.

"Yeah... You're right. Things are stirring. The Abyssals are rising from the sea. The Outer Gods are trying to claw from their astral prism. Primal Dialga is returning. But... in the end... all I can think about is this singular dream," Oberon muttered, suddenly feeling tired again.

"After all, it's the least I can do. Whether the lark's call signifies morning... Whether the sun sets, and the moon shrouds the world in evening. Nothing can avoid slumber. Nothing can avoid their eternal rest... But I can at the very least make their lives a wonderful dream. Whatever... that means."

The final act, 'til death.
__________________


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You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

Fizzy Bubbles
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Old 12-24-2023, 02:22 PM   #44
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ECHO

"What the hell's going on?"

---

The desert heat had been causing him immense duress. For some reason, his system could never handle extreme heat well. The blistering sun boring into his skin had already made him irritated. However, it was even worse than the oasis town was oddly empty. Finding a single soul had proved difficult, much less someone willing to ferry him to the bottom of the oasis. It was some sort of sacred holiday being observed, the very day he had arrived with only his shadow on his back.

So, he had to take the plunge himself. He still had to, technically, breathe. But somehow he had made it to the bottom of the oasis, and the palace that awaited him. Another tomb, great. Not to mention the Mega Gyarados was PISSED he had even dared to enter the water. Unlike the Gallade and Banette, this was more on par with the Metagross. Zero very quickly dispatched it, leaving nothing to note.

So here he was, wandering the halls of this palace soaking wet. Not a single anything in sight. Not a single sound to be heard but his feet on the ground, and water soaking wet. So what the hell's going on? He'd love to be told. He had no idea what this trial would be about. What this would teach him. Compassion, Humility, and Willpower. Those were his three lessons. Otherwise, he would've just headed into the fight coming in a week or so's time with brazen hubris. So... what the hell was this going to teach him?

He pushed against the doors of the throne room and saw a figure sitting on the throne. Piercing, ice-blue eyes. Pale white hair. It was his very form. His very image. No. No. No. This. This shouldn't be possible. His last test was... himself? No.Except for the eyes. He knew what was now waiting for him, and primal fear crawled through his core. The eyes were always the giveaway of...

"Echo."

The word came out of his mouth like acrid oil. Each syllable burns, twisting, and turning into a guttural fear. Ethan realized what this meant immediately. What this would be testing him on... Fear. No. Not Fear. Sacrifice. Was he willing to go through with having to die? To permanently expire? He walked forward, and the figure watched until he was peering over it.

The doppelganger stood up, staring directly into his eyes. There was no malice there. No happiness there. No emotion there. Just a blank void, masquerading his flesh.

"Hello, subject E-10. This shall be your last... test. As they say it. But coming here alone was meeting the criteria to pass the test. To prove you had the will. The compassion. The humility. There were only three things that needed to be taught, so the fourth trial is nothing more than a... commodity," the figure spoke, using his voice in a monotonous tone.

"But, Zero is here," Ethan admits.

"Zero is a part of you now, isn't it? It is, after all, your shadow. Just as I am your Echo," the doppelganger replies in its monotonous, emotionless tone.

"So, Echo. Why? You've been gone for a year ever since that snake of a devil let you loose. What the hell were you doing the entire time?" he asked of the Ditto.

"Watching. Observing. Gathering data... All for Mother," Echo admits, no remorse in its voice.

"Of course. But... you did something else. Something helpful to us. William told me you approached him. Someone changed the flow of time,'" Ethan told the Pokemon.

"Guilty. The seas of causality needed that event to change. So, I found the corpse. I found the soul. And used it, to give that boy the death he wished for. And now, I am here, to ask you this: Are you ready to die?" the ditto explains, tone never shifting.

"Yes."

"Then that is all I require from you. I shall reveal where Mother is hiding. She is deep within her labs, hidden beneath the Pokemon Mansion on Cinnabar Island. There you will find her. She shall attempt to open the gate on Christmas. How wonderful, Grandfather is the world's present this Christmas. A much better present than Nibiru or Queen Tsulah," the ditto claps, eyes unmoving.

"Queen... Tsulah?" Ethan asks of the Ditto.

"Fear not the Abyssals. They are not your concern. All shall be revealed on Christmas Eve. Mother was interested in securing that thread, but judged it would best be left be. After all, if Grandfather emerged, he would devour them anyway. The beings of Space-Time are all converging once more... soon. All due to this man," Echo states before suddenly transforming into someone Ethan was familiar with.

"Keith Masters," Ethan stated.

"Yes. He is an anomaly. Mother has determined this. But your story does not cross paths with his. Your mission is to return Grandfather to his prison. To stop Mother. I have accepted this. So here, the last piece you need," Echo, in Keith's form and voice, tells him before grabbing a rusted key.

"Present your proofs at the bottom of the mansion, and the way forward shall be revealed. Once Mother is defeated, my purpose will no longer exist. I shall... cease function. Remove my Id, Ego, and Superego. And return to slime," Echo admits.

"Will you still... be his Pokemon?" Ethan asks of him.

"The inheritor? Yes. I shall. I shall schloop to his heart's content. I shall breed Pokemon for him. Yes. Returning to slime... that shall be the life. A blissful, thoughtless life. No longer shall I be an Echo of things. I shall just be... Slime." Echo states, before transforming back into its base form. A shiny blue ditto.

The Ditto then puked up its own Pokeball and pressed the button. Explains what happened to that. Ethan hesitantly reached his hand out and grabbed both the ball and key.

What did Echo mean though, was he ready to die? He felt his chest hurt. He only had a few days left, to think what death meant for someone like him. Someone unable to live, unable to die.
__________________


I fill my lungs with everything
You want someone that I can't be
You say it's insanity, but
I say that's my life

Fizzy Bubbles
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Old 12-24-2023, 05:01 PM   #45
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Eukrasia

His alarm clock started to buzz, and he hazily pressed it. He looked at the time and sighed. 5:30 AM. On any other day of the year, this would be for battle training. Early up, and get to work. Yet, today was a different day. It was his final day, and he knew it. He wouldn't see the sunset anymore... He wouldn't see the sunrise anymore. He knew that things would end today, but that was fine. There was an odd comfort to it.

Getting dressed, he carefully packed his bag with the four tokens. The feather, the horn, the cookie, and the key. His ditto had told him to present them deep within the Pokemon Mansion. Even if his story started in Unova, he was just one part of it. Kanto was the true origin... Back in the nineties. Over thirty years this plan was being hatched. People had come and gone since then... their blood fueling this. It was despicable. Apprehensible. Yet, he couldn't help but admire that twisted ambition. The same kind of ambition that was planted within him.

He headed out of his room and saw his entire team. All of them were gathered in the living room, exchanging gifts with each other beneath the Christmas tree. Even Zero, who clung to his shadow, was enjoying the festivities next to William. His plan to have the Marshadow tag with William when he wasn't out had worked. He had a feeling, ever since touching down from the Stralight Frontier, to imprint the Marshadow on the both of them. In case something may have happened to him... If his system didn't end up rebooting him one day. Guess today would be the day.

Taking in the building for one last time, he wordlessly motioned towards his Pokemon that would be coming with him. One by one, they rose, telling their friends goodbye and that they'd see them soon. William, instead, just stared at him wordlessly. The Chandelure knew that only the Pokemon would return. And that he would need to be the one to break the news. Yet, Ethan felt another's eyes on him. His Riolu's, Milanor. He did regret not bringing him to fights more, but he seemed to be worried based on the aura. But the Riolu then wordlessly returned to looking at a gift between his hands, waiting for his friends to open theirs.

Once his team was downstairs, he took out four Pokeballs and tried to return their respective Pokemon to them. Kita, Spencer, and Kyle all took it, but Lucas dodged out of the way and gave him a stern look. William rolled his eyes, having been in human form the entire morning. The Raichu started to bark at him and then gave William a stern look.

"He's wanting to be by your side. You two started this... he wants to be the one to finish this with you," William states.

Ethan just nodded and kneeled down to the Raichu and rubbed his head.

"I can't promise you'll finish this," Ethan stated pulling out the Marshadium-Z. "We need this to seal away the big scary monster. But, you're right bud. I've been pouring so much into getting Zero prepped that I've been ignoring you. I'm sorry."

He took the Raichu into his arms, causing the Raichu to sniffle a bit and hug him in return. Lucas would stay by his side, no matter what. After all... Valeria gave him the Raichu for a reason. That woman was calculating, so surely she knew what she was doing giving him the Pokemon. Tossing the one who had been by his side the longest... never felt right to him. Ethan then took off his beanie and gave it to the Raichu.

"Wear this, always," Ethan asked of the mouse, who nodded in return.

A knock on the door cut through the scene, and Ethan got back up. He felt Zero slip into his shadow and with it a deep sadness. he had saved the Marshadow's life and given it a brand new one. He knew the mythical Pokemon would forever be grateful... at least as long as it could remember. He remembered Sandalphon's revelation. He wouldn't even be remembered once he was gone. That was Arceus's will.

He unlocked the door and opened it up. There, a woman dressed in pure black looked at him. The only thing that signified her was a brooch with the Roman numeral II imprinted onto it. Her Glory. The woman he had encountered only a few times, but one he knew was deeply connected to this as well. She looked at him, and William, and sighed.

"For years... I waited for this day. I was expecting to do this with my younger middle brother, I'll be honest. But not even he was able to survive. Come, clone, and you too, wraith," she states, looking at Ethan and William.

"Yeah, yeah, trust me I wish he was alive too," William responds with a snarky tone.

"Well, glad you still have your spine Will," she replies to him, before motioning both of them to follow her into a limousine.

"I was able to secure a private jet. Thank you for secure information on where we need to go Ethan. I can't believe it, after almost thirty years... I'm heading back to that god-forsaken mansion," Her Glory tells them both.

"Yeah, you know, just went through four long trials to get it. No big deal," Ethan shrugs, heading into the car.

Though, there was no response. The three just sat in silence, scrolling through their Rotom Phones. Her Glory seemed to be replying to emails.

"Oh, right, did you see what happened at Sludge Wave Coast yesterday?" William asks of her.

"Yes. I have been made well aware. Once we return... No. If we return, I will have a mountain of paperwork to file. But let's try not to get consumed by that... Eldritch Horror," she replies to William.

Ethan just sits there, Lucas on his lap and Zero sitting in his shadow. He wasn't in the mood to talk. So many things flashed through his mind right now. Regrets. Dreams. Hopes. All of them vanishing into thin air. All of them would eventually fade away into to ether. Once today was said and done... he'd not see tomorrow. And he was fine with that choice. He was ready.

They soon entered a private airport, seemingly constructed on the outskirts of the city. Ethan didn't know when this was made, but it was quite small. if anything, it seemed to be a billionaire's private airport. Why would they want to build one right outside of the City of Pentacles?

"Well, here we are. The Glitterati's airport. It seems one of the underground lords has managed to join their ranks," Her Glory states.

"The Gliterrati? They actually exist?" William asks with a hint of shock.

"Yeah. They tend to keep to themselves but shower the public with gifts and knowledge if they are spotted. We know that the head of Paldean Realty is one member, as well as the Chairman of the Blueberry Acadamy," Her Glory states.

"Oh, I heard about that school. That would've been cool to attend when I was a kid but... I don't know. I feel like I'm a Virbank guy at heart," William replies.

Ethan continued to not speak, letting the two converse. He watched how they acted with each other. It was a familial familiarity. Even if, from what William had told him, Her Glory was only barely around until she left when William was ten. Perhaps in another time, another life... they would've been family proper. Yet this wasn't a happy tale. This was the end of it all.

They got onto the private jet and soon were flying over the Fizzific. They'd touch down in Kanto in a few hours. Usually, it was a twelve-hour flight, but this jet was extremely fast. So, he had time to prepare. All he knew was that Valeria had a Gengar with her. That Gengar being William's sister from life. Yet what other Pokemon she may have... he didn't know. But she was able to manipulate him without a Pokemon. Was that because he was her creation? Or was it beyond that? he didn't know.

Yet, time flowed like water, and before he knew it they were in Cinnabar. The smell of volcanic ash still hit the air. The original Pokemon Mansion was burnt down years ago, due to the volcano erupting and consuming the entire island. Yet, two decades later, Cinnabar was mostly reconstructed. The Pokemon Mansion was rebuilt and kept up as a memorial building. A historical relic to the city, and the region. Yet, Ethan knew what was beneath the surface... most likely escaped the lava flows.

The trio headed towards the mansion, most of the city home for the Christmas holiday. Ethan was expecting it to be closed, but after testing the door he saw it was unlocked. Entering the building, he a blonde woman leaning against one of the pillars, chewing bubble gum. She gave them a half-glance and blew a bubble.

"Welcome visitors, we're expecting special guests today. So, if you could please leave, that would be... Fuck," she starts to give a rehearsed spiel before properly recognizing who they were.

"Well. Welcome. I wasn't expecting you to be here Natalie," she tells them all, before staring at Her Glory.

"You think I wouldn't be here to stop my mother Marie? You truly are a fool," Her Glory sighs, shaking her head.

"Well, I have been instructed to stop you three. Don't want to but-"

"Can it Sis! She's mine, you two go on ahead," William cuts his sister off, telling the others to move forward.

"Fine by me William. We have things to discuss," she tells him with a sorrowful tone.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'll send you to the ever after!" William shouts, wreathing himself in flames.

Ethan grabbed Natalie's wrist and started to make a run for the basement. Lucas quickly bolted forward, ready to stop anything that may further obstruct them. Though, nothing else came. If anything, it seems like Marie was intended to be bait for William. Well, it definitely worked. Even if Ethan didn't fully understand why William had a grudge against his own sister.

Soon they reached the bottom level, and the location Echo told him about. Setting out the four items on the table, Ethan watched as they soon resonated with... something. A door started to form, with each object soon dissipating into nothing to open it.

"Looks like she set up a powerful seal on this thing... Presumably to keep people out," Natalie muttered, looking at the door with interest.

Ethan nodded, not finding any words to respond with. It was as if he was going through the motions now, and he headed deeper into the mansion. It was dark for a very long time before he saw a white light. Heading into the light, he was treated by a lab of some sort. He saw a Mewtwo incubating in one of the containers, as well as various other high-tech equipment. In the far back was a giant portal-like mechanism. Most certainly the device she used to escape from them back in Floccessy.

"Welcome, Subject E-10. I've been expecting you... and for you to bring my daughter to me. How thoughtful," a familiar voice resonated into his ears as he saw his target. Valeria. She got up fro,m her desk, looking sharp. Her hair was put up in a beehive, and a white lab coat was on. Black heels clicked across the floor as she stared them down.

"I see the brat's not here. Guess he wanted to talk with his sister. Good. That family has been a thorn in my side long enough," she admits, looking at the both of them.

"Mother. Your machinations are coming to an end today!" Natalie shouts.

"Are they now? Father... is growing impatient. He wishes to be free... he's gotten wind of powerful prey that had just been beaten. You see, I'd have gone myself yesterday, but I know better than to mess with those creatures. No matter. Merry Christmas you two... I'm sorry it'll be your last," she states before snapping.

Ethan felt shocked as starry creatures soon emerged from the ground. They were nothing like he had see before, but they felt wrong. Every fiber of his being wanted to run away from this. But no, he needed to defeat her. He needed to end all of this.

"I'll deal with these... monstrosities. Florges, let's go. It is time to exorcise the damned!" Her Glory shouts, sending out a white-flowered Florges.

"And dmaned they are, dear daughter. These poor scientists... insisting on staying those years ago. They made excellent prey. Their souls fed to Father, and their bodies turned into starscourges. Now, you, homunculus. Do you wish to battle me? Fine," she states with a snap.

Ethan ran forward, prepared to fight her. Yet, instead, he heard the sounds of cracking glass. He turned towards the incubation chamber, and saw the Mewtwo burst out. The Pokemon then teleported in front of him, and gave him a stern look. Guess this was going to be his opponent.

"Ygnaiih... ygnaiih... thflthkh'ngha!" Valeria suddenly shouts as she starts to work on the portal gate.

"Crap, Lucas, stay back. We don't know what this Mewtwo is capable of," Ethan tells the Raichu, who nods.

"Kyle, let's go!" He shouts, the Sableye being sent out first.

The Shadow Sableye eyes the Mewtwo with curiosity, but an erratic wind soon emerges from the Sableye. Ethan noted this... Even the outer entities he had contracted were on edge with this creature. Was this a Mewtwo... or something else in its shape? He didn't know, but this made him on more apprehensible to it's power. No matter what, he'd fight it. Taking out his z-ring, he swapped to his keystone.

"Let's go, time for Mega Evolution Kyle!" Ethan shouted.

The Shadow Sableye cackled as Mega Energy coursed through his veins. After all, this would be his first line of defense against the Mewtwo. The shadow creature's body twisted and contorted, while it laughed maniacally. The red gem within his chest popped out and grew to be a powerful aegis... It took a while, but it had healed from being shattered by Sandalphon's Dudunsparce.

"Night Daze, then a Shadow Ball!" Ethan ordered the Sableye.

The Sabeleye sends out a pulse of dark energy, hitting the Mewtwo with a burst of night. The super-effective hit didn't even look like it phased the Mewtwo. The cat-like creature closed its eyes and took a deep breath in. A Calm Mind. Well, guess they had it on the defensive for now. Kyle then lobbed out a Shadow Ball, which did slightly less damage due to the calm mind. Yet, the Mewtwo just did another calm mind.

"Alright, Punishment, then Shadow Claw!" Ethan ordered the Sableye, who chittered. If it was going to just boost up, then he'd make it easy prey.

The Sableye rushed forward, ready to punish the Mewtwo for boosting up. Yet the Mewtwo then opened its eyes, using a Miracle Eye on Kyle. Ethan thought this was interesting, but paid it no heed. The Punishment look like it actually did a good amount of damage, but the Mewtwo wasn't worse for wear. Yet, this was soon going to change for the worse, as the Mewtwo let out a Psytrike.

The shockwaves was something even Ethan could feel as the Sableye's mind was assaulted. Kyle let out a guttural howl as he dropped his gem and clutched his head. Whatever mental assault he was under, Ethan realized that the Sableye wouldn't last through it. He saw the Mewtwo crush the hand it was holding out, and Kyle dropped like it was nothing.

"First time I was on the receiving end of that," Ethan muttered, looking at Lucas with concern.

"Kyle, return. Spencer, take flight and use a Hurricane!" Ethan ordered, and the Dragonite let out a proud battle roar.

Ethan had hoped that he would get some Confusion, but as the dragonite was starting to whip up a Hurricane, he saw the Mewtwo send out a singular ice beam. Like a jagged icicle lance, it pierced through the Dragonite and sent him plummeting towards the ground. Multiscale did nothing, and Spencer got no hits in.

"Kita... I trust you to be able to do something! Fake Out, Wicked Blow!" he returned the Dragonite and sent out his Infernape in return.

The Infernape blitzed through the lab, able to get off the fast hit on the Mewtwo. Kita used the opportunity to channel a powerful amount of dark energy into his fist, and slammed it into the Mewtwo's stomach. The legendary looked on with surprise, being pushed back a bit. Yet, it was only looking hurt now. And in return, another Psystrike, and like his other Pokemon... the Infernape fell in one hit.

"Shit, what the hell did you pump into that thing!?" Ethan shouted.

"Everything I could," Valeria replied in a sing-song voice. "but, it's too late now. The portal's ready. Father, come forth! Feast on the homunculus before you!"

Ethan watched her press a button, and the portal started to hum.

"Shit, Lucas. We need to finish this Mewtwo off! WE have one chance... one blow. So fine, let's turn your electricity into overdrive!" Ethan shouted, pulling out his Tera Orb. He threw it at Lucas as the Raichu took a battle stance, becoming surrounded by crystals.

A crystalline lightbulb sat atop the Raichu's head, and he let out a powerful roar. The Raichu then started to channel in electricity, causing his High Voltage Scarf to hum. The lights started to flicker, and the portal itself was starting to fail. He had one strike, and surely this would be it.

"BOLT STRIKE!" Ethan shouted, and the Raichu charged forth, becoming a ball of pure electricity.

He heard the sound of sizzling skin as the Raichu crashed into the Mewtwo, and a small explosion covered the entire lab. He could feel stray static cause his hair to fray... and something to change in his chest.

[SYSTEM OVERDRIVE]

He watched as the Mewtwo was sent flying into the portal, and a sick crunching noise filled the room. Valeria started to clap and let out a hearty laugh. She looked down at Ethan, as he heard a... disturbing noise. Tentacles, one by one, emerged from the portal. Slamming into the walls as the power started to fail... for everything except the portal machine.

"Shit," he muttered, and he saw one tentacle swat Lucas across the room.

Horror was across his face as he saw his trusted partner collide with Her Glory's Florges, and in turn Her Glory herself. The trio flew into a wall, and he heard to crunching of bones. He could still detect life... but she needed serious medical attention as the two Pokemon slumped over, knocked out. It was now just him, Valeria, and Yog-Soggoth. Or, at least, that's what she'd think.

"Game over. You failed. If that Mewtwo managed to beat you, I'd have fed it to Father as an appetizer. Now, it's time for you to finally fulfill your purpose," she states as she starts to walk down toward him.

"No," he states, gripping his chest in pain.

"But you've overloaded your system. You won't live much longer, even if you miraculously repel Father," she states as he falls to one knee, his right leg giving out.

"THat's fine..." he admits, hacking out ichor. "Arceus above prophesized my demise..."

"Well," she states, cocking a small pistol and pointing it at his head.

"Father prefers live prey, but I need to stabilize you. Any last words?" she asks him in a cold voice.

"Two... Shadow Punch," he orders.

He sees her face contort in confusion before realizing what he meant. Zero burst forth from his shadow and punched her square in the gut. As she flew, she gave him a look of pure malice and shot the gun. By some miracle, it managed to hit him square in the gut, instead of the head. He could feel something starting to leak out. Ichor.

"No. No... How did you... How did you find that thing!? I paid billions to have it tracked down and locked up! It should be in that god-forsaken space station. LUCIFER!" she shouted in pure hatred.

"Thanks... Zero. It's time to end this. Even if it kills me... it's fine..." Ethan admits.

"ETHAN!? NATALIE!?" William's voice echoed in the distance.

He ignored the Chandelure's cries, and slotted in the Marshadium-Z into the Z-Ring. He could feel all of the power in his body start to rush into the Z-Ring.

"System limiters... Approving restrictions being removed. Approving power output, maximum capacity. Approving... system shut down. This is the end of your road Valeria. You have created and destroyed so many lives. Used them all in your sick twisted game... playing god. I will gladly give up my life to dole out this judgment. Sandalphon. Belial. Oberon... Thank you all. May you find happiness in your eternal lives. Lucas, William, Zero... survive... live on. But you, Valeria. You and your wretched 'father' can rot in the abyss you came from. This is the end of your road! SOUL STEALING SEVEN-STAR STRIKE!"

Ethan could feel his corporeal form start to melt away as he began to perform the Z-Move. He could see Zero look back at him, tears welling the Marshadow's eyes. However, once he was done, the Marshadow became ignited in energy. With seven punches, the Marshadow crucified Valeria against the tentacles, and Ethan could hear... the screams of Yog-Soggoth.

"Well done. I was out of gambits in the end," she tells him, motherly pride in her voice.

His vision was fading, but he could see the Marshadow launch forward, and with a single kick pushed both Valeria and her Father back into the portal. It soon closed, and Ethan could feel himself collapse backward fully. It felt like a fever dream, all of this finally being done. He heard a single pair of footsteps running toward him and saw William in his field of vision.

"Ethan!? Ethan!? Please, please don't leave me..." he heard the soft words come. The words of a man who had lost everything, and then some.

He reached out and caressed William's face with his hand.

"It's over William. Please, forget me... Live your life. I'll be gone... soon enough. Save her, please..." he stated.

"No... Not again. I can't lose more people again!"

"Then think of me as a story. After all, I've fulfilled my purpose... So, goodbye," Ethan coughed out, feeling the last of his ichor draining from his body. And that's how he died.

But, is this really how this story ends?

>YES

>NO
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Old 12-25-2023, 09:41 AM   #46
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Yggdrasil's Lament

>NO

He blinked. He was dead... but still, where was he? He looked around, and saw he was in some sort of wooden library. A small one, with a futon and coffee table, a desk with a comfortable chair, and all the walls being bookcases, filled to the brim with books. The smell of ash tree blossoms, thyme, and... lingonberries wafted through the room. As well as... was that amber? It smelled like home. This.... this was home.

"You're finally awake," he heard a soft, androgynous voice speak.


He looked around from the futon, getting up to sip. He heard the chair move, and looked. An androgynous figure, with pale white hair tied back into a knot. They looked at him, with his face, withhis eyes. Someone that looked so familiar. Seemed to be someone he's known for his entire life... But not a single memory.

"Ethan... You're already back," they sigh, getting up.

"Who are you... where is this?" he asks, confounded.

"Yggdrasil. And well, I'm you. You're me," they state awkwardly.

"Yggdrasil? But I died... how can I be in Yggdrasil?" he asked the figure.

"Becasue of your core. Your blood is sap. Your body flesh. Your core a seed of the great tree. I am the same as you are... a creation of the tree. A homunculus," they state, starting to look through the books. "But, what tea do you want this time?"

"Uh... not sure," he replies. "But what do you mean this time?"

"You'd think, that after being here half a million times in a single day, that perhaps you'd remember a trace? Of course not. Make my eternity even harder. Fine, black tea again. Just the way you like it," they tell him before pulling out a book.

They set the book before them on the table, and wave their hand over it. Soon enough a cup of tea appears, and Ethan hesitantly takes it. The taste of redcurrents and heather... it was nostalgic and homey. He just sipped at it as the figure beings their chair up to the other side of the table. At this point, Ethan realized they were wearing traditional Skandian garb.

"So, you've died. As you are aware, that does not mean you're fully dead. This, is the place you come to whenever you die," they start to explain.

"But... I overloaded the system. It shut down properly. Arceus above prophesized my demise this time," he told the figure.

"Oh? No... that can't be right. This is where you- wait. Does this mean I'm stuck with you for the rest of eternity? And the next eternity? Great. I can't wait for version number four to come up and bug us when it happens," they lament, looking Ethan dead in the eye.

"So... who are you?" Ethan asks again.

"I'm you. From the last cycle. The second cycle. The first cycle of time's wheel... well, let's just say when we reached that fated day and tried to stop her, we failed. Yog-Soggoth emerged and consumed the world. Of course, that wasn't the entirety of time. But whatever happened... it erased all of us... and soon the rest of existence. And then the second cycle happened. Unlike you, I got cold feet. I ran. But my friends. My allies. They went and fought in my stead... and I fully realized the curse of immortality. And as punishment, I was given the role of 'Historia'. 'The Watcher'. 'The Narrator.' I have... multiple names and titles. But, just call me Historia," they tell him.

"Huh, so I succeeded then," Ethan mutters.

"I guess you can say that. You see, each cycle... and the branches of those cycles, all play out slightly differently. This might be the first time we succeed, but that does not mean these events won't play out again. Time, as non-linear as it is, always has certain key events that need to happen. Certain people will always exist. Certain events will always happen. That no matter how many times you rewind... it'll still happen. There is nothing you can do. Us being removed from the picture is always fated to happen, one way or another," they continue their explanation to Ethan.

"But, you're still living. Still exist. If you're watching everything, then you can intervene... right?" Ethan asks them, setting down the teacup.

"That... is such a you answer. But me? No, I dare not intervene unless it's necessary. I already intervened once this cycle, a few months back for you. A single anomaly in the timeline played with time again... and somehow I was able to speak directly to them. The Singularity. A single phrase," they tell him, sighing.

"And what about the events of yesterday?" Ethan asks.

"The Abyssal and The Coastal were self-contained incidents. If the Abyssal's thread won... then I would've been forced to intervene. I already had to... say... shift some things to prevent Valeria from venturing there herself. But that was within my powers. I can nudge a boat on time's river in a certain direction, but ultimately it is what reaches its destination. And only if what I push it away from would end up preserving the course of history," they give that explanation.

"So what happens, to branches where I die?" he asks of them. "Surely time doesn't end when I die in those worlds?"

"They are pruned. alternative timelines can exist. There are a few I need to keep tabs on, but your death and subsequent restart are the ones that get pruned. But, for now Ethan, there are bigger worries," they let out an anguished groan at the end.

"What? What's going on?" Ethan asks with concern.

"Damn it, Ethan. You fucked up. I don't know, but you're about to create an endless loop," they tell him, getting up with a hint of fear in their eyes.

"But... I did everything right. I defeated her! This is my afterlife, right!?" he asks them, feeling dread creep up through his stomach.

"How did you die?" they ask, a stern look on their face.

"The system shut down..." Ethan trailed off.

"Ethan, remember clearly. If that is what you think then we are creating an endless loop. How did you die?" they ask again in a more direct tone.

"Valeria shot me in the stomach. I... I used the Z-Move. I thought the z-move drained me of my energy. Sure, I was bleeding but... But I felt so exhausted that I thought I just... died from that," Ethan told them, his eyes starting to figure out if something went amiss.

"You were shot? Great... great. You bled out. You lost all of your sap, the 'ichor' as others call it. And being exsanguinated... triggers a restart. The system always has a reserve, that if it dies, it can trigger a reset," they tell him, sitting in the chair defeated.

"Wait what!?" Ethan looks with shock and confusion.

"I told you this at least... a thousand times on that day. I don't know. But we don't have much time. The reset is almost complete. There is... only one thing I can think of that can change this. I was watching it, everything looked right. I was convinced that the system shut down, not you bleeding out," Historia tells them, looking over at their desk.

"I'm intervening. If not, then time itself can't progress. There is no alternative... until when William comes. There aren't many open options. So, there's one thing you can do. A function when the body needs to go into permanent stasis..." Historia states.

"What does it cost?" Ethan asks.

"Your existence. Everyone will forget you existed. You will still exist, but not within anyone's perception... except anyone who witnesses it. Biogenesis. To put it simply, you'll turn into a plant," they tell him with a hesitant voice.

"A plant...? Like any plant or a specific plant?" he asks confused before hearing something.

SYSTEM REBOOT COMPLETE. STARTING IN 5

"I don't know, I've never seen it done, but you need to figure it out," they tell him.

4.

"Damn it. Well... I'll figure it out," Ethan chuckles.

3.

"If I don't see you here again, it'll have worked so... Later. I'll be watching. Always," they tell him.

2.

"Yeah. Thanks for the tea. I loved it-" Ethan felt something click in his head.

1.

But before he could continue further, he passed out,

0. SYSTEM ONLINE.

Ethan heard his alarm clock. He looked over at it flashing 5:30 AM. He stared up at his ceiling and realized that the Yggdrasil System had somehow kicked in. He could feel a pain in his stomach... He bled out.

"Shit."
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Old 12-25-2023, 06:54 PM   #47
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Homecoming

William looked around the room, seeing the rest of the team enjoying themselves. This was it, Christmas day... and the last one under this roof. He didn't know who'd stay with him, and who'd leave, after what happened today happened. He could feel Zero cuddling up to him, the Marshadow obviously trusting him as much as Ethan. Still though, he was ready. He felt ready. To lose the person he loved for a second time.

He saw Ethan come out from his room, clutching his stomach in pain.

"Stomachache?" William asks.

"I guess... C'mon guys, let's go," he tells them, and William gets up.

He waved goodbye to the team members not coming along, and headed down the stairs. The next few hours were a blur... Him telling Ethan that Lucas wanted to not be left behind. Seeing Theo's sister, and making small talk with her. THem arriving at the Pokemon Mansion... everything felt... familiar. Like he had already done this before. Though, that feeling of deja vu vanished as he saw his sister.

"Welcome visitors, we're expecting special guests today. So, if you could please leave, that would be... Fuck," she starts to give a rehearsed spiel before properly recognizing who they were.

"Well. Welcome. I wasn't expecting you to be here Natalie," she tells them all, before staring at Her Glory.

"You think I wouldn't be here to stop my mother Marie? You truly are a fool," Her Glory sighs, shaking her head.

"Well, I have been instructed to stop you three. Don't want to but-"

"Can it Sis! She's mine, you two go on ahead," William cuts his sister off, telling the others to move forward.

"Fine by me William. We have things to discuss," she tells him with a sorrowful tone.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'll send you to the ever after!" William shouts, wreathing himself in flames.

He watched as Ethan and Natalie went further into the mansion, determined to deal with his sibling himself. Though, once they were out of view, he stopped the flames. He looked at Marie, who made no effort to try and stop him.

"I'd understand, William, if you wish to kill me. After all, I played as much of a part in this mess as everyone else," she tells him in a gentle, soft voice.

"Marie... I never wished that. I just... I just want to know why. Why join her?" William asked her with a sad, somber expression on his face.

"I was coerced into it. She had approached me one night, while I was out trying to buy medication. She knew it was me, despite me being just a Gengar then. Made me a deal... deliver her son to our family vacation home, and she'd keep him alive and make him think it was him going of his own volition. On two caveats, that I join her, and that everyone else wouldn't know and be let go. I was desperate of course, to keep my trainer alive. Considering what he meant to you," she explains, stopping her chewing entirely.

"It... It would've been better if we let him die, I think. None of this would've happened," he told her.

"It probably would've, one way or another. But, I agree. But you were so in love with him still, and I still felt guilty for what happened. I... I ended up causing that fire, summoning a demon at her behest. I was in a dark place, and I... I thought that I'd be happier if I did. What if I did as she told me to... things would turn out. Doing it on your birthday was such a shitty thing to do but... I saw how happy you were and I just. I don't know. I was jealous that you were turning twelve and already had your entire life figured out Will," she admitted to him.

He just stood there, processing the information. Jealousy? The fire was a part of Valeria's plans, but her praying on someone's insecurities? That was... fucked.

"She knew you were in that dark place... and instead of helping you, she told you to summon a demon? She knew all of this and used the opportunity to kill everyone and slip out unscathed!? What the hell is wrong with her!?" WIlliam shouts, stomping on the floorboards.

"I had just had a massive fight with mom... and remembered she had told me if I ever needed anything to let her know. So I went over in the dead of night, knocked on her door, and talked with her. I didn't even realize what was happening at the time. She just told me it helped her when she was my age at the time, so yeah," Marie sighed.

"Well, the past is the past. We can't change that. We can just keep moving forward. Either as people or as ghosts," William tells her, starting to move forward.

A loud boom shook the entire place, and he looked at Marie with concerned eyes.

"Something's wrong," she tells him, fear in her eyes.

"I'm going to go check on them, Marie. We've both been given a second lease on life. Are you going to wallow in your past mistakes, or are you going to move on like I have?" William asks her.

"I'll go grab the paramedics then... disappear. I think being off the grid is good for me," she tells him.

"Do what you need to do sister. Know that despite it all, I can't bring myself to hate you," he tells her before running down the stairs.

"Thanks."

William couldn't see her but knew she had a smile on her face. He heard the door off in the distance and started to head the stairs. He could feel it, something bad was happening. Of course, he had to decide to stay behind. But he also knew that if he didn't... then things would probably have gotten worse. No matter, she wasn't going to win. He was going to make sure of that. Then, a what sounded to be a gunshot

"ETHAN!? NATALIE!?" he shouted, trying to find them.

Yet he got no response. He frantically began to look through the basement, before finding some sort of dark passageway. This wasn't going to be good at all. Running down it, he could feel his heart beating out of his chest. This was it, wasn't it? The world was starting to slow down as he went through the darkness. He could hear Ethan shout something, but he couldn't fully make it out. But it filled him with dread.

He finally made it at the end of the hallway, seeing Ethan collapsed onto the ground. He looked around, seeing Natalie, her Pokemon, and Lucas all slumped over near a wall. There was broken glass and machinery everywhere... and no sign of Valeria. He couldn't even sense her presence... just the flickering lights.

"Ethan!? Ethan!? Please, please don't leave me..." he started to plead as he ran over to his trainer's body.

Ethan had a small flicker in his eyes on seeing him, and William knelt down next to him. He could see Ethan slowly reach his hand up, and felt it cup his face. William grabbed him and hoisted him up. He looked down, seeing some sort of... yellow goop leaking from Ethan's stomach.

"It's over William. Please, forget me... Live your life. I'll be gone... soon enough... Save her, please..." he heard Ethan speak and knew he was talking about Natalie.

"No... Not again. I can't lose more people I love again!" William shouted. He knew it was futile, but a part of him hoped Ethan would still be alive at the end of this. Despite all of the warning signs. The flashing lights. The red flags... He still hoped. Yet, he could see something cross Ethan's fading eyes.

"You.. didn't say love last time... Love... right? I... I love you too William. I never told you that before... Never, but I'm sorry for telling you this now but... I love you too. So please... forget-me-not," he heard Ethan reply.

William watched as Ethan's body started to glow. His wound started to close, and his body started to shift and change. It was as if the entire world was stopping. The entirety of time was pausing at this very moment. William watched, with tears coming down in his eyes, as Ethan's form started to change. The clinking of Pokeballs and items hitting the floor hit the room. All that was left was a single sprig of blue flowers. WIlliam picked it up, feeling its pulse with life.

"Myosotis. Forget-me-nots. Never... you idiot. How could I ever forget you? How... after all this time... How could I forget you?" William clutched it close to his chest and looked around.

This was the end of it all, wasn't it? After... almost fourteen years... this was over. He had spent more of his life as a ghost than a human at this point. He felt like a deerling in the headlights as he heard a rush of footsteps. Paramedics, police officers, and the like all were rushing into here. They looked at him and asked him to come with them.

His mind was in a haze. He was just going through the motions at this point. He told them what he had witnessed, which was testimony supported by his sister. Natalie was rushed to a hospital and gave her version of events the best she could. Though, she told them that she couldn't really remember what happened after she entered her mother's lab. All of them forget one important detail. The one he had kept in his hands the entire time.

A day later, he was back home. He had told everyone that their trainer was dead, and they got to decide whatever they wanted to do. A few Pokemon immediately ran. A few Pokemon told him they'd stay with him. A few Pokemon told him they'd need to figure out what they wanted to do. But eventually, he was alone, with nothing by the flowers and his shadow by his side.

He had found a cheap flight to Virbank, and he was finally heading home. When he was here in the summer... It was for him to find closure in the past. And now here he was, ready to let it all go again. He was moving on instinct at this point. Eventually, he was at the ruins of his house and looked over them with despondent eyes.

"Hey... Everyone. It's done. You've all been avenged," he states in disbelief. He still couldn't believe it was all over.

He then walks away from the house. There was one last place to go, and it was a bit of a trek. Yet, he'd soon reach it, with not a soul in sight. A singular, large cliff that overlooked the rest of the cape. A bench was there, but he preferred to sit in the grass overlooking the cape. He looked at the cliff face and dug out a small hole with his bare hands. There, he planted the flowers.

"I'll never forget you, Ethan... I promise that... But I need to let you go too, if I'm going to be happy," he tells them.

"You know, perhaps Theo was never meant to find his broken memories. Perhaps you weren't either. But I still remember those halcyon days. The days spent here, talking together. The days stargazing together. I remember it all... and I always will. Even if this is just a story I tell people one day. And I know people would never believe me... but that's fine. I'm fine, really," William awkwardly chuckled, before feeling the tears fall.

"But I'm finally home again. Even if I'm all by myself once again... Not a soul or shadow in sight. No paranormal bullshit. Just... me and myself," he sniffles, rubbing his eyes as he continues his monologue.

"But it's okay to cry. It is okay to mourn. I'll never be fine, I know it, but I'm still happy. I'm still happy I got to see this fucked up world with you Ethan. I'm glad... you still stayed by my side when no one else did. When even... Theo.. abandoned me... I thought nothing was worth it. But you came. With his voice. With his face. And knew who I was... My heart restarted that day."

William then got up and looked one last time at the setting sun and rising stars.

"So thank you, for taking me home one last time Theo. Thank you, Ethan, for telling me you loved me after all this time. But... But... But... I'm sorry. I can't be there for either of you anymore. And I'm not fine with it! I'm not okay with it! But that's... that. I'm going to be fine one day. I'll heal from this one day... and when I do... I'll go see the world. I'll see and do everything I was denied. I'll live for all of you... like I have been for years. No matter how broken I am... I know I can be made whole again. But for now, I'll cry. And I'm comfortable enough with myself to do that. Because in the end... Guys can cry too."

William took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one with his finger. He put it in his mouth and watched the sunset. He was finally home. And tomorrow, he'd go grab Zero, and go see the seas and stars with the little rascal. Find his friends who want to stay with him too... But for now, he was content with reliving his memories beneath the stars. For this was the end of them. And the beginning of something new.

The End.
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