Chapter 40
This can't be happening.
Char wished the ghost he'd just witnessed phase through the wall had been a hallucination. A bad dream. Something unreal.
But he'd seen those demented glowing eyes, and that captivated gaze drawn to his silent beckoning. He saw the intruder defeated upon Scythe's blade.
Worst of all, he saw the terror upon Scythe's face. This was a danger he did not know how to deal with. All of his battles, his wisdom, his life experience… none of it could have prepared him for this. He was like a child, trapped and scared.
Char felt disconnected from the world he stood in. He couldn't think, couldn't feel anything. Couldn't acknowledge his companions who clamored for his response. This wasn't happening to him.
The Watchers were coming inside. Inside houses. Where the division's Pokémon slept. All of them unsuspecting. Helpless.
And he had caused it.
"Char! Snap out of it!" Scythe barked. "This is no time to stand awestruck. Pay attention, or you will die! Char!"
Char screamed as a painful jolt flooded his body, jump-starting his sluggish heart. He stumbled and fell on his back, half-paralyzed, his limbs still convulsing from the power of the discharge. Ray cringed in regret from having attacked so harshly, static sparkling upon his claws.
"Char, we have to listen to Scythe now," Ray said, grabbing his arms and helping him back to his feet. "Char? Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah. Yeah, I'm… here now," Char replied through gritted teeth. "I'll be fine… W-what do we do? Scythe? Can we do anything?"
"I don't know yet," Scythe rasped, glancing around the room. "It depends on Team Flamewheel now. They will have to help us. We should escape from here and regroup in the warehouse basement. That's a close enough shelter. But I do not know how we would make it there. Running would be suicide, unless Team Flamewheel has enough supplies on hand."
Char knew that most of the team members wouldn't need to be asked to come. He heard them stirring behind closed doors, gradually drifting from their beds and emerging into the hall. A Camerupt showed itself, looking half-asleep. A Heracross came soon after, looking just as dazed and aimless. And then there was the Ninetales, who burst from his room with such vigor that Char wondered if he had even been sleeping.
"The Call! I have heard the Call!" Legend proclaimed as he bounded into the main hallway. "I am compelled! Such a force of raw power compels me, rapture as none I have known! Who has summoned me? Where is my master who has summoned me into this unconditional servitude? I come! I am here! Here I am! What would you have your servant do?"
Spotting Scythe and his group, Legend came forward.
"You are a persuasive one," Legend spoke affectionately to Char. "Like Scythe, I hold the power to comprehend the Call when I witness it. And never before, never before have I seen and heard what you have created this very night! Never have had I witnessed a force so captivating! Magnificent! Legendary! It is as a whirlwind of force, a mighty tornado which ravages the land and extends to the clouds! I stand in awe before the magnitude of your cry!"
"Legend!" Scythe hissed. "Behind you!"
A shriek pierced the air as another Watcher drifted through the walls, its eyes wide in captivation as it aimed for the one who had called it. The deformed Haunter reached a disembodied hand for Legend's tails.
"Baaah!" Legend spat as he turned to see it. "Wretched demons!"
"Char! Stay back! Stay back!" Scythe ordered as he engaged the monster.
The room flashed with red light as Legend discharged his fire onto the ghost, which seemed to stun it for a moment. Scythe attacked, faster than the eye could see, slashing the thing with his own pent-up energy from the edge of his blade. Char was amazed at how Scythe and Legend both kept their distance from the thing, even though the ghost did not launch a single counterattack in their direction. It was merely content to float slowly forward, emitting an unnatural cry, as though oblivious to its attackers. Char was also frightened by the amount of powerful hits it took to subdue this one.
The fight continued for moment after moment, the Scyther and the Ninetales throwing everything they had at it, until a fiery fist shattered the demonic figure. Prince stood in the evaporating remains of the ghost Pokémon.
"Prince! Do you have any Sol-rock torches here?" Scythe demanded before Prince could say a word.
"We do," Prince replied.
"Get them immediately," Scythe commanded. "In a few short minutes, this place is going to be overrun. We need to escape from the focal point and regroup elsewhere. Everyone who stays in this building will die! Legend, run and wake everyone. Quickly!"
Legend didn't hesitate in following the order, dashing upstairs as swiftly as his legs could carry him. Prince also dashed off, heading for the closet to retrieve the torches. Scythe looked warily at the walls, expecting more intruders to come, before returning his attention to Char and his friends who cowered wide-eyed in the corner.
"Have you faced the Watchers before?" he questioned. "Ray, I know you have. Char, Saura, what about you?"
"N… never," Saura answered. "I always just… stayed away from them, just like you taught."
"Then listen," he barked. "The most important thing is to not touch them. Whatever you do, don't let them make contact with you! If they touch you, they could do anything to you! Anything! There's no telling what they will do if they bond with your body. They could kill you in an instant, or worse… They could possess you. They could erase your memories. They could bury you in the ground. All of these things have happened to Pokémon before who have tried to face the Watchers. You understand?"
"Yes," Team Ember replied in unison with a somber nod.
"Use your elemental powers against them," Scythe reminded. "They are ghost Pokémon. So if you must repel them, use your fire, your electricity, your vines. Never strike at them unless the part you are striking with is already filled with the white energy. Don't try attacking them with blunt force, it'll be useless. Understand?"
"Yes," Char replied, forcing himself to sound confident. "We'll fight them if we have to."
"I was a coward and refused to train you against the Watchers," Scythe said seething in anger. "Now, you'll have to learn the rest by experience…"
More members of the team came wandering into the hall. A Shuckle and a Bayleef arrived from nearby doors.
"Oh, dear, was I sleepwalking?" the Shuckle yawned, drooping lazily from its shell. "Ugh… no, what was I going to do out here? I forget. Oh, Lily? What are you doing up at this hour?"
"I don't… I'm not sure," the Bayleef said, trying to blink her eyes open. "I thought Prince was calling me for something. But I must have just been dreaming… Ugh, what time is it? I'm going to be a zombie tomorrow at the meeting…"
And then the Bayleef opened her eyes and noticed the others in the main hall. She saw Scythe yelling harshly at Char like a father reprimanding a son for doing something wrong. The realization dawned upon her.
"No…" she gasped, shirking back. "Oh, no! No, no, no, no! Not this again! Please, no! Anything but this!"
"Wait, what?" the Shuckle asked. "What are you talking about?"
"I think Char did this," Lily answered blankly. "Oh, no… We're in some serious trouble if the Watchers heard! Oh, why does this always have to happen at night?"
Lily swallowed hard. She was not looking forward to seeing the watchers again, especially like this. Seeing that the team was already starting to panic, she looked among them for Prince. This was a time she needed to stick close to her leader and follow orders. She needed to work with the team if she wanted to survive.
Prince returned from the storage closet in a hurry, bearing a large wooden club with a chunk of rock mounted at the top. Scythe inspected them for a moment, not pleased.
"This is all you have?" he blasted at Prince. "Only one? In this whole building you have only one?!"
"They're expensive, and we only use them rarely," Prince replied. "Only for emergencies."
"Well, I'd say this is as bad an emergency as you will see!" Scythe roared, drawing the other members of the team to gather around the ruckus he caused. "No, this is no good! One won't repel a swarm this dense. We'd need five, at least!"
Scythe silenced himself for just a moment, racking his mind for an answer. He glanced at the walls of the building which would soon fail to provide safety, and at all the Pokémon within. Finally, his glance fell to Char.
"Prince, light the torch," Scythe ordered. "Run, and take Char to the basement of the warehouse. He must survive, even if the rest of us perish. Go, quickly!"
"Wait, Scythe!" Char cried in surprise. "What about you?!"
"I will meet you there, if I can think of a way," Scythe answered, the uncertainty clear in his voice. "We have five minutes at least. I will have some time to think about it. But it is you who must get out of harm's way first."
"No!" Char yelled. "No, you come with me! You can't stay here!"
"Prince, go!" Scythe barked. "Take him! And if I do not make it… care for him in my place."
The words hit Char like a blow to the face. Was he serious?
As the realization overtook him, Char jumped to escape, but Prince acted quickly and captured him in his powerful hands, pinning the squirming Charmander beneath his arm.
"No! Saura! Ray! Help me! Please!" Char pleaded desperately, trying to force the Infernape's arm from his belly. "You can't! You can't stay here! You have to come with me!"
"Char… listen to Scythe," Saura said sternly, not moving a muscle. "You're the one who has to live. Go with Prince. We'll survive if we can."
"But no! No! You're not going to make it if you stay!" Char yelled.
It was then that even Prince himself hesitated. To him, Char's screaming became silent. He noticed his team standing at attention in the darkened hall, at each face which glowed in the dancing red light from his crown. He saw their gazes of confusion and worry, and knew that each one of them was willing to serve him, to fight at his side to bear this difficulty. Yet… by his own choice, he had crossed paths with Char, lured him into the Emerald Division, and now, he was the only one who could provide for the young one…
Breaking from his trance, he averted his eyes from her.
"I will go," he said. "Scythe… may Cresselia be at your side this terrible night!"
Not letting the struggling Char escape, Prince clutched the torch in his other hand and held it over his crown's fire. Once it caught, he dashed for the door and didn't look back.
Dark Fort Emerald
With only the blazing torch to provide cover, Prince emerged into the deadly night, holding the Charmander to his chest. Char saw nothing, his eyes nearly buried into the Infernape's warm fur. He only felt as his body violently bounced in place, the Infernape sprinting with all his strength… He only heard the sounds of the Infernape's feet colliding with the stone underfoot, and the sounds from the sky. The sky was filled with horrible sounds, the sounds of the roused watchers swarming near, keening and moaning in their unnatural ways, seeking what they had seen in their waking dreams…
"Stay still," Prince ordered to him, clutching him tighter. "Stay still. Don't look up. Keep your eyes closed. Eyes closed…"
Char did as instructed, closing his eyes tight, forcing a few tears to stream down his face. He kept hearing the moaning, cooing sounds of the ghosts, some almost inches away. He felt as the Infernape performed difficult maneuvers as he ran, dodging and leaping in unexpected ways…
And he felt the chill of the midnight wind against his bare skin, biting and clawing at him just like the freezer had. He felt it draining his hope away.
"Stay still, stay still, stay still…" Prince kept saying. "We're almost there, almost there. We're going to make it… "
Char saw them.
Though his eyes were closed, he saw the ghosts in his own imagination. They were swarming. Swarming the building that resembled his own team hall. He saw them attacking, in countless numbers, flooding into that tiny building like a waterfall.
"Don't squirm," Prince growled, his voice vibrating through his chest. "Stay still… we're almost there, Char…!"
Char felt his body wracked by a sudden upward force. There was a hissing noise. Scuffling underfoot. Motion in every conceivable direction. Prince's grasp upon him squeezed so hard, it felt like his bones would break.
"Begone, you demons!" Prince bellowed. "Char, it's alright… I'm fine… Just another block… We'll be safe…"
"They're coming too fast!" he heard Saura cry in desperation, who backed away from an incoming cluster of determined Watchers. "We can't hold them off any more!… Scythe! Scythe, what do we do?! We have to go now! How do we get away from this?"
"I… I don't know…" Scythe gasped, stopping amidst the raging battle to catch his breath. "I… I don't know… There's no way out… the moment we step outside that door, they'll hone in… there… there is no escape…"
He saw the horrified realization upon Saura's face.
"Saura, no!" Char gasped. "Saura!"
"Easy," Prince said. "Easy. Stay still."
"Then, it is certain," Legend proclaimed to everyone in the room. "Here, tonight, each one of us will breathe our last! Let it be a breath not wasted! Let the legendary dragons behold our valor this final night, the valor of the Pokémon who fought to protect the Call! Though we shall be forgotten, let our legacy live on by the power of the Call, the Call which will cut through the Master's dominion! For this cause we have lived, and now, for this cause let us die! Now stand tall! Stand proud, like the legendary Pokémon you are! And fight! "
"This is it, huh?" Saura said blankly. "This is how we die?"
"Never…" Ray growled. "Do you remember the Iron Crevice mission? Never accept your fate! If there's some little chance we could win, we have to earn it! We fight like Team Ember fights! The fire will NEVER DIE!"
"until the LAST EMBER FADES!" Saura answered, gaining his final burst of courage. "We fight! For Char!"
"For the Resistance!" Ray said, his electricity coating his body.
"Ah…" Scythe sighed, hearing them. "Frivolous optimism… Heh heh… it can be fun sometimes. Alright, ghosts. You want to destroy me? It's going to cost you! En guarde!"
And he saw, one by one, as the Watchers surrounded the Pokémon within and ended every last life. He watched as Saura breathed his last, as Ray went down fighting, as Scythe's magnificent spirit broke and let him become overwhelmed, as Legend stood in the corner and scorned the ghosts from the bowls of his lungs as they overtook him, as Lily collapsed trying to shake the abominations off her… And as all the other members of Team Flamewheel he had never seen, or never met, perished…
"We're here."
Warehouse Facility B2F
Char jumped at the sound of Prince's voice. His face was dripping wet with tears from the intense visions his mind had conjured. He saw they had arrived to the warehouse basement, the spacious hallway Prince had taken him tearlier that day before leading him into the freezer. It was just as desolate and chilly as it used to be, except for the dazzling rays of sunlight emanating from the torch Prince still carried. Nearly winded, Prince gently set Char down onto the hard floor, where he collapsed against a freezer door. His throat felt tight, face felt pale, his eyes burned with pain.
"What have I done?" Char gasped, breathless.
"You have done nothing," Prince told him, lodging the torch behind a door handle. "You share no blame in this. This is the gravity of the power you were born with. For centuries, Pokémon have struggled to tame this power and understand it. None have succeeded. It remains beyond our control, beyond our understanding. It calls by its own will, when we least expect, when we least desire, like the wrath of a god. If anything, this is my fault."
"Prince, go back," Char begged the Infernape in a cracking voice. "You still—still have that candle. Go back and—and save the others."
"No," Prince said, pacing the floor before Char. "I cannot."
"Why?!"
"Because that is not what Scythe asked me to do."
Char tried to take a deep breath, but his heart was beating so rapidly and his chest quivered so uncontrollably that it suffocated his attempt. His lungs were running all on their own, constantly making short, painful gasps for air which he couldn't stop.
"But Scythe— won't—won't make it!" Char gasped.
"Scythe is not an unintelligent Pokémon!" Prince shouted angrily in reply. "There is still time left for him. He may figure out a way to escape before his time runs out. That is up to him, now. There's nothing we can do."
"So you're just—just going to let him die?"
"Char, do you think for one moment this is easy for me?" Prince growled. "How many Pokémon were dear to you in that building? Three? Is that how many you had to leave behind? I had to leave behind nine. I had to leave behind nine of my own in that place, nine of the most faithful and talented Pokémon the world has ever known, nine Pokémon whom I would gladly die for on a night like this, and decide that you were more important than all of them. How do you think that makes me feel, Char?"
Almost exploding into rage, Prince stopped himself from saying anything else. He ceased his incessant pacing and stared down at the floor, clenching his hands hard. Char said nothing in response, his continuous gasps of weeping barely letting him breathe.
"Besides, the swarm has grown too thick," he said after a pause. "It worsened, as I was running… We just barely made it here. This one torch will be powerless to repel them now. Otherwise… if I knew I had any chance, I would have gone back."
"How—how will he make it? There's just—there's just no way," Char rambled, his eyes glazed over.
"He will make it," Prince assured, coming to sit by his side against the freezer door. "He has a god's intuition. He wouldn't have sent us here if he didn't have something in mind. I would give him a few more minutes before writing him off as gone. He has gotten himself out of difficult situations before…"
Not this bad… Char wanted to say, instead letting a tense silence linger for a moment. I saw his face… he knew he wasn't going to make it… So he made sure I got out…
"But if you're right," Prince suddenly said, his voice darker, "If you're right, and he fails to escape, a possibility I can't deny, then you and I will be alone in this world. Only the six who were out on mission will be left on my team, but they will not return for months, and they will not know what happened until then… Just as your friends will not be there to help you anymore…
Char tried not to listen to him. It was a lie. It all had to be a lie.
"… In the coming days, we will need to find trust in one another," he said solemnly. "Will I have your trust?"
Char lost it. He exploded in rage.
"Trust?!" he echoed, jumping to his feet, his flame roaring. "Trust?! You wanted my trust? Is that all you wanted? You have exactly what you wanted from the beginning! This is what you wanted! This is why you took me away and made me go in the freezer! You just wanted to get me away from Scythe and my friends so you could earn my trust! Well, he's gone now! They're all gone now! And now you have me all to yourself! Now are you happy?!"
"Char, I never wished hurt upon them," Prince growled back at him, raising his own voice. "Do not accuse me of wanting this. It was never my intention to separate you from anyone. All I wanted was to help you. I forced myself into your company because I knew you would not survive if you went north without me. You would have never made it through the first leg of the journey. I don't know why, but Scythe refused to see it, so I had to make you see it instead. That's why I took you into the freezer and taught you what it is like to smolder, because that is how you would have died. In Zerferia, there is no warmth. You would need me to survive. So tell me, was I wrong in persistently defying Scythe's wishes, so that you might have been safe? Was I wrong in wishing for you to meet Dialga alive? Did I do the wrong thing?"
"You shouldn't have even brought me here!" Char blasted in his loudest voice, clutching his claw as if he was about to strangle Prince alive. "I don't even matter to you! All you care about is the Call! You just wanted to be the one to get the Call to work! You just wanted to use me! And now everything's destroyed because of you! Just like with Lily! Just like you destroyed everything with her! You want me to trust you just like she trusted you? Where is she now?!You left her to die up in that house just because I'm here now?! Are you going to leave me to die, too?!"
Prince scowled. "How… did you hear about Lily?" he demanded, deeply shocked. "Though I suppose it doesn't matter now. A number of Pokémon could have told you. I imagine it was probably Scythe himself, seeing how he's been trying to 'protect' you from me… But yes, you are right… Twice, I've tried to bear the power of the call as my own responsibility. Twice, it overwhelmed me. I have played with fire, as humans would put it. I've gotten burned. But before, with her, I was in a position to make a sacrifice, and make amends … This time, I am in no position to do anything, except to carry on and finish what Scythe started. I will take the blame for what happened tonight. I do not know where that will place me in this world. But I will care for you, as Scythe wished."
"I—I don't want you to care for me," Char sobbed, his voice waning as his tears began to overpower his anger. "I want them back…"
Feeling exhausted to the core, he fell back into Prince's arms, which accepted him and held him tenderly.
He tried to close his eyes, hoping that sleep would let him forget everything until his friends would arrive safe and sound, but the images still ravaged his mind, tearing at his soul…
"IT HURTS!" cried Saura as a giant ghost seeped into his forehead. "SOMEBODY, HELP ME! IT'S SO COLD! I CAN'T… I CAN'T MOVE! I… I CAN'T…"
But no one heard his cries… no one but Char…
Char rattled his head, shaking away the horrid ideas his imagination presented him with. He didn't need them, they'd just cause him more pain…
"The Master has done worse things than this," Prince whispered. "Anyone who lives in the resistance knows what kinds of tragedy and pain he brings. We must learn to bear the pain, and look to tomorrow. Tomorrow will come, all the same, and it will bring new Pokémon for us to be with. And when we remember those who died, we must not mourn for them, but ask ourselves what they would have wanted us to do in their place."
"You don't understand," Char said. "I needed them… Because they—they're the only ones who know me…"
"I won't claim to be able to replace Scythe," Prince said gravely, "but I give you my word that I will try. With every fiber, I will try…"
"No, Prince, no, that's not it," Char said weakly, "They're the only ones—that know—I'm human."
Prince blinked, taken off-guard by these words. "What do you mean?" he said simply.
"I'm a human," Char said again, with less hesitation. "I'm trapped in the body of a Charmander."
Prince looked down at him, confusion drifting in his eyes for a moment, trying to decide what to make of the Charmander's claim.
"I would call you delusional," Prince said. "What gave you this thought? How can I believe you are anything but a Charmander?"
"Why do you think I know about human culture?" Char challenged. "Because I was a human once. It was my own culture."
"I find that difficult to believe," Prince admitted. "How do you claim this is possible? What culture were you from? How did you become transformed?"
"I don't know," Char said honestly. "My memories were all taken away, and I woke up in a cave. Saura found me there. And he's always been there to help me. But that's it. It was just me, in this body I didn't know how to use, and I didn't know how I got there, or who I was, or where I came from. All I remember is that I used to be a human, and that I met Dialga before, and he said something to me, but I don't remember what it was. That's why I wanted to go to Temporal Tower. To ask Dialga what I'm doing here."
Prince looked speechless, only humming for a moment in consideration.
"I don't care if you don't believe me," Char said. "Saura and Ray believed me. Scythe even figured it out somehow. They all knew. And they were all helping me figure out who I am and where I came from. The Call brought us together, but that isn't why we came for Temporal Tower, or why they were my best friends. They didn't really care that I had the Call. They did it all for me, because I'm a human."
Prince stared down at the little Charmander in his arms, looking into his eyes as though to catch any hint of dishonesty. But there was none. He knew Char had no reason to lie at a time like this. He knew also that it was Char's gesture of trust to reveal this hidden truth he carried with him. He remembered how the Charmander had acted, all the odd mannerisms so similar to his own, the human figures of speech he had used, the way it had startled him when he had compared him to a Pokémon trainer…
When another moment had passed, Prince understood.
Char saw as a glimpse of respect or awe flashed across the Infernape's face. Looking closely into his eyes, he also realized the strength of Prince's heart, perhaps stronger than Scythe's even, as the elder warrior held back his tears, tears which were struggling to prevail.
"So," Prince muttered, averting his gaze, "it was true. I have done the wrong thing."
Sighing, he clutched Char's trembling body tighter, and cast a regretful eye toward the torch propped by the freezer door's handle.
"If I would have known, I would have done as you asked and gone back for them," he told Char. "I have always obeyed the commands of a human before the commands of a Pokémon, always… But it's too late now. I'm sorry. The ghosts would skin me the moment I step out the door. But I will go, if that's what you want. Perhaps that is what I deserve."
Char closed his eyes and let his body go limp, saying nothing in reply. Prince cradled him like an infant, gently stroking his back as he let his own mind digest a new wave of thoughts.
"I fear I have little to offer you," Prince said further. "I have nothing but the promise that my team and I can devote the remainder of our lives helping you search for your origin. I can begin by taking you to see Dialga. I can train you in all the ways I know how. It… it has been such a long time since I have served a human, I have forgotten that kind of humility… But if you let me, I will try."
"I hope they come," Char uttered in a broken whisper. "They have to come…"
"Give them a little more time," Prince assured him. "They would be arriving soon… be still, and wait…"
… … …
"You came back for me!" Ray shouted arrogantly at them. "You had to finish what you started, didn't you? Well, guess what? I'm not a Pikachu anymore! I'm stronger! You can take me, but I'm taking some of you with me!"
With a scream to the heavens, the Raichu's body lit up in a ball of electrical energy. Drawing static charges from everything around him, he became as bright as the sun, startling the ghosts which tried to close in on him. Then, with a final reckless lunge, he barreled into the wall of ghosts, breaking it open as a dozen of the Watchers reeled from the assault…
…But they rippled and closed back in, swallowing him. A shock of pain and insanity broke through his determined, energetic spirit, and he uttered his last words as the hazy skins of a hundred ghosts covered him…
"So… c-cold…"
Char sniffed. He was so exhausted, too exhausted even to push these vivid images out of his mind. His body was far too tired to move, his mind too hurt to rest. All he could do was wait, and wait, as the moments kept passing by with no sign of his friends…
And he kept waiting, bearing the stillness and silence…
Bearing their absence…
But the waiting lasted too long.
The point came, an unspoken acceptance between the two of them, that nobody was coming. It had been minutes, too many minutes. Fifteen. Maybe thirty. He hadn't been counting, but Char knew that enough time had passed. Unless they had found a different way, Scythe had not come as promised…
It was done. He couldn't pretend they still had a chance.
They were gone.
It was like a cold, dull knife sliced straight through Char's heart that moment. It hurt him physically, a shot of pain down his spine and through every nerve. He tried to take his mind off the pain, to focus on his heartbeat, or Prince's breathing, or the searing of the fire in the room, but the powerful pain ate at him, and wouldn't stop…
"Through the ghastly shadows of the night," Prince hummed softly, "We cower in the corner, we hold the candle, safe and near. And we keep our eyes upon the eastern sky. For there… there will shine the piercing rays of dawn, to slay the remnants of the past… to light the way another day… and help us carry on…"
They were gone.
He still couldn't believe this wasn't some terrible nightmare. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real.
"Prince?"
"Yes, Char?"
"C-could you… take me into the freezer?" Char asked meekly. "I want to smolder…"
"Hmm… If that is what you want, I will not deny you that," Prince said in a heartfelt whisper. "But know, that if you smolder to relieve your pain, it will come back much stronger than before…"
"I don't care," Char said. "I just… I just don't want to feel anything right now…"
"Very well," Prince said, setting Char down so he could stand. "Come…"
Prince gasped. His ears perked, and he stood perfectly still.
"I heard something," he reported. "A voice."
"Really?" Char yelped in surprise, his eyes lighting up. "Do you hear them? Are they coming?"
"Shhh! Quiet!" Prince hissed, glancing around in the darkness beyond the torchlight. "I don't understand it, but… they might be already here. I—I think I can hear their voices…"
Filled with a new hope, Char jumped to his feet and listened to the silence for himself. Prince wandered down the dark hallway, stopping just after a few paces. He closed his eyes, concentrating…
"It could just be other Pokémon," he said, "but... I do not understand. There are only two entrances to this chamber, one on either side of the hall, but… yet… I hear… Impossible! Char! This way!"
Prince got down on all fours and dashed into the darkness toward the opposite end of the hall, and Char followed close behind, finding new strength in his muscles where it seemed there was none before. Prince ran erratically, hesitating every so often to glance to his left and his right with a puzzled expression upon his face.
And then Char heard it. He didn't know whose voice it was, but it was unmistakable: ever-so-faintly, as if from behind a solid wall of metal, someone was crying for help. Someone he recognized. His breath caught, and wouldn't let go.
"Here!" Prince cried, dashing quickly to one of the freezer doors. "Listen!"
"… hey! … … Prince? … Is anyone out there…? Can you please let us out…? It's really cold in here!"
Prince's eyes went so wide, he looked ready to faint from disbelief.
"Impossible!" he gasped, clutching the top of his head. "I don't understand!"
Without waiting another moment, Prince unlatched the freezer door and tugged it open. A draft of freezing cold air pulsed into Char's face, causing him to wince. But when he opened his eyes again, he saw them standing in the open doorway:
Scythe. And Saura. And Lily. All shuddering uncontrollably from the cold, discolored and frostbitten, but happy to be alive.
Char thought he felt his heart stop dead.
Scythe calmly stepped out into the hall, looking ruffled but relieved. The two other Pokémon darted away from the cold like frightened rabbits, Lily leaping into Prince's arms, and Saura nearly tackling Char to the ground.
"Ahhh, you're warm…" Saura sighed, pressing his forehead against Char's belly, the very tip of his bulb turning brown and his body covered with powdery frost.
Relief drowned out his pain. Joy swept away his exhaustion. Char hugged Saura's bulb and didn't let go. It was true. It had all been just a bad dream! He knew from the beginning it couldn't have been real! But the nightmare was over now, and he held close his living, breathing friend.
"You made it," he whispered, having run out of tears to cry in happiness. "I'm so happy… I thought I was going to be all alone… How did it happen? How did you get out?"
"I—you know, I don't really know," Saura admitted. "One moment, I was really cold, and then the next thing I knew, you were there…"
Nothing could matter less to Char. He said nothing more, content in giving Saura all the warmth he needed to thaw.
Prince held Lily the same way, the frost that had gathered upon her leaf now turning to dew.
"I'm so sorry, Lily," he told her. "I never should have left. Never again… Never again…"
"It wasn't your choice," Lily returned. "It's okay. You did what you had to do. I'm alright now."
His mind leaping back into the reality of the moment, Prince lifted his head and eyed Scythe, who stood over both of the reunions, watching them with annoyance.
"The others," Prince demanded. "Where are the others, are they safe?"
"They should be here," Scythe answered flatly. "Perhaps you should check the other side."
Prince didn't quite catch what he meant, until a surprisingly vocal noise sounded from down the hall, muffled behind another freezer door.
"Let us out, relieve us!" it cried. "Or we shall soon meet with the white light! Mercy, Articuno! Mercy! Prince, you must hear me! Please, deliver us from here, while I clutch the last thread of my sanity!"
"Legend…!" Prince gasped. He parted from Lily and stampeded down the hall, opening the freezer opposite of the first. More frozen Pokémon poured out, including Legend, Ray, and a Tyranitar.
"Baaah! Horrid cold! As if the ghosts were not enough?!" Legend spouted, shaking the freezer's snow from his fur. "Does this night insist on trying to snuff my flame?!"
Ray spotted Char and Saura, and approached them quickly. He looked winded, panting short and heavily, and his electricity was still alive across his body. It took Char a moment to realize he'd arrived, and seeing him just compounded his gladness and comfort for his friends' safety. Words failing him, he found he could only smile.
Ray returned the smile, though weakly.
"How is this possible?!" Prince demanded of Scythe, totally baffled. "I waited, and I watched both doorways. I had given you up for dead! But here you enter through the freezer?! How—? How did you accomplish such a miraculous escape?"
Scythe began to answer, but he was interrupted when a shining ball of light appeared in the very center of the hallway, hanging in the air! A ringing noise accompanied it as it grew and elongated, like an ethereal oval, casting an eerie blue light upon the walls of the tunnel…
There was a blinding flash, and the oval was gone, but in its place stood three more Pokémon: a Camerupt, a Shuckle, and a Heracross.
"By Tangrind's horn, I have brushed with death!" the Heracross cried. "The cries still ring in my ears!"
Prince watched, floored, as the Heracross caught its breath, the Camerupt huffed and sighed, and the Shuckle wormed across the room to meet Lily. All after having appeared from thin air.
"Teleport…" Prince muttered in joy, realizing the truth. "You teleported!"
There appeared another glowing oval very close to the previous one, causing the Camerupt to move out of the way. Prince watched, his eyes dazzling in delight, as he saw every last one of his trapped teammates delivered safely to the haven of this basement, their nervous mutterings music to his ears.
The last three members of Team Flamewheel materialized: A Weavile, a Flareon, and finally… a Smeargle, looking quite proud of itself.
"Kabir, you learned to teleport?!" Prince laughed. "When was this?!"
"Something like a year ago, when we visited Alakazam," Kabir explained, waving his tail around. "Though, apparently I haven't practiced enough. I barely managed to aim at this place, and even then I deposited half of everyone in the freezers. But desperate times call for risks, do they not?"
"Indeed, they do," Prince said warmly.
Prince blinked, and his first tears were finally released from his eyes, streaming down the side of his face and soaking into his fur. Tears of happiness.
But he knew, as fortunate as it was to see them all safe, the night was still far from over.
… … …
"Now!" Scythe announced, silencing the chatter in the room and drawing all attention to him. "I do not claim to be your leader, but I will claim to have spent more nights fighting the Watchers than you have, so listen. We've made it this far, but this is not a safe place to stay. The Watchers are not finished swarming, they will find their way in here, and we'll be in a worse position than before. We must flee farther. Away from the fortress if possible. Any closer and we'll risk being overtaken. Prince… do you know of any shelters outside of the fortress?"
"None in the immediate area," Prince answered, approaching him. "Only the basement of Rayquaza's Clutch. But we have no chance of getting in there, especially if it's locked down already. We'd be better off trying to reach District One."
"That won't be easy," Scythe said. "Kabir. Could you try transporting us to District One?"
"If you wouldn't mind being dropped off a thousand feet in the sky, or perhaps inside of the ground, then yes, that's well within my power!" Kabir yelled sarcastically. "Scythe, I would hate to be a disservice to you at such a critical moment as this, but I am not a psychic Pokémon! I have only learned to imitate the power on a basic level over some short distances. I am far from mastering it."
"Fine. I figured it can never be that easy," Scythe grumbled. "Alright, then leave us. Take our torch, use your power however you can and help the other Pokémon in the fortress survive this night. Have you learned any techniques that use the dark power?"
"I know enough to repel a few ghosts, yes, Scythe," Kabir returned in annoyance. "And yes, I'll gladly risk my life teleporting into homes and freeing other Pokémon instead of fighting for the safety of my own team leader. Again! Since he apparently doesn't desire my help!"
"Kabir, it is fine," Prince said to him, nodding. "Go, do as he says."
The Smeargle sighed, sending Prince a deathly glare. Reluctantly, he plodded across the room and grasped the burning sun-stone torch. Scowling in concentration, his body became encased in light, which changed his shape until he appeared thin and deformed. With another flash, the light dispersed and he was gone. The room filled with shadows, with only Prince and Char providing light.
"Now, getting to District One will be the issue," Scythe continued, the firelight flickering red upon his face. "We must face the Watchers. There will be no avoiding it. We will require Sol-rock. And if this building does not have a greater supply of Sol-rock than you did, I resign my effort."
"Of course it does," the Weavile confirmed, speaking up. "This building serves as a storage unit for the teams of the fortress. We'll have access to all their supplies if we know where to look."
"Do you know where to look?" Scythe asked.
"Of course," he replied. "This wouldn't be the first time I've picked the locks on the other teams' spaces…"
"Hmph," Saura whispered to Char. "Weavile… are they all such petty thieves?"
"Pretty much," Lily answered curtly.
"Good," Scythe said. "Get on that. There might be ghosts in the halls upstairs, watch for them. We will need every torch we can find. If the way is clear, guide us. If not, take trips and bring them all down in turn."
"Ayah," the Weavile grunted before swiftly taking off for the door.
"Enough light will repel them, even in their crazed state. Otherwise they would still be out past dawn," Scythe continued. "Five combined should be enough to resemble the sight of the sun, or at least enough to keep them away from us. Every Pokémon with hands or claws will need to carry them. Prince, that will mean you and the Weavile and the Heracross."
"I can carry one, if you need," Lily offered, presenting her vines. "Only one, though."
"I can sustain flame," the Camerupt noted. "If the rocks are small enough, I can carry them within and combust them."
"I didn't think of that," Scythe said. "Camerupt. What's your name?"
"Iel," it answered.
"Good, Iel. If what you say is true, you could be a bright enough beacon for us all. Then we would split into two teams. The second team remains here in the city and we assist Kabir in his rescue attempts; if we are to steal these torches from the teams, it would be best if they were to help save the lives of their rightful owners. The first team escorts Char to District One."
"And Lily," Prince insisted. "Lily will come to District One with us. I will not part with her again."
"First we will see how many rocks are at our disposal, if we may even divide," Scythe returned. "Then we will talk about who is on each team. Know, that regardless of how bright we can make our beacons, there will still be Watchers who will face their fears and charge into our sphere of light. Those, we must battle."
"The first basement floor looks clear!" The Weavile called from the door through which he had left. "That's where most of supply storage is. Let's go! It might not be safe for long."
Warehouse Facility B1F
The group huddled close together as they marched up a flight of long ramps to the next floor, tense and ready to defend at any time. There, the Weavile managed to open several of the doors into the storage compartments, where he returned with at least a dozen of the precious rocks mounted upon staffs. They were soon lit, and given to all able-bodied Pokémon to hold. Rays as bright as the sun beamed from the blazing flames, and soon it was hard to tell it was still nighttime. The Weavile broke the rocks from a couple of the torches and managed to load them into Iel's body, where he held them and waited to produce the flame.
"Ugh," Lily muttered to Char, cringing as though she had bit her lip. "I'm not looking forward to this… I hate, hate the Watchers… so much…"
Char really couldn't agree more.
Soon, too soon it seemed, everyone prepared to press forth into the terrible night. Scythe stood at the front of the procession, with Prince at his side holding two of the torches, and he turned to the crowd.
"We are about to go up to the ground floor," Scythe announced, his form now as bright as day. "There will likely be ghosts in the halls. Our light might repel them, but do not let your guard down. Char, and Lily: I do not want you to fight. Remain close to Iel, so we can protect you. The rest of you: watch for ghosts who dare to approach, and destroy them quickly! We cannot afford for them to approach us too closely. Every moment is vital."
"Once we are outside, we will go leftward down the street," Prince added, pointing in the indicated direction. "Then we cut into the alleyway behind the Hawthorn mansion, connect to the northward path, and leave the fortress. District One is six miles to the north north-east. If we follow the path, keep a steady pace, we should reach it easily within the hour, and take shelter."
"Should we split into two groups, like you suggested?" the Heracross asked. "How should we divide? And from where should we part ways?
"Hmm… if conditions are favorable, we may part ways at the city gates. Prince and I will continue to District One. My followers will come with me, as well as Lily, you, Weavile, and you, Heracross, to hold the torches. The rest of you, stay back by Iel's light, and do what you can within the city walls. That way, Iel will not have to keep up with our pace on the north road."
"Ayah, understood," the Weavile said.
The team confirmed the plan, and Scythe turned to begin the exodus up from the basement floor.
"We're going to make it," Ray said to his friends. "This will be over before you know it. We're going to make it."
Warehouse Facility 1F
The team stepped upstairs, eyes peeled for any trouble, with Char and his friends close together in the center of the procession. The north-side door stood at the very end of the long hallway. They moved forward at a slow and steady pace, eyeing every wall for danger. Char felt dread as he realized the continual songs of the Watchers could be heard again through the facility walls. He kept very close to the light.
Iel began churning the rocks, adding his own fire to the body of light which surrounded the team. Char almost had to squint to keep from going blind; the light radiated everywhere from the reflective metal that lined the hall.
"Ehhh, oh, this… this burns hot," Iel commented, wincing a few times as the combustion started.
The party crept forward, keeping quiet and focused. Only the torches seared away, and the ghastly noises from the sky rang through the air…
"This is a good sign," Prince said. "There are no ghosts here. Perhaps they aren't as concentrated as we feared."
Before Prince could breathe after having spoken the words, five Watchers bled through the ceiling and drifted into the hall, causing everyone to gasp in surprise and ready for battle. These ghosts, though, were totally silent, and paid no attention to the sunlight or the Pokémon within it. The party froze as they drifted away, watching them warily…
"Behind!" Legend yelped urgently.
Char turned around to see a Gastly drifting very near to the light, becoming transparent as it drew close. He tried very hard not to panic, cowering behind all the powerful Pokémon which were there to protect him.
"Get it!" yelled the Weavile. "Everyone!"
Several members of Team Flamewheel did as instructed, pouncing on the ghost and overwhelming it. The Tyranitar snarled and nearly body-slammed it, swatting it powerfully with the back of her claw. The Weavile leapt and slashed at it. The Flareon took aim and blasted. The battle was over within seconds, as the ghost seemed to lose its anchor in reality and faded away into the artificial sunlight.
"Good," Scythe nodded, satisfied with the quick disposal of the ghost. "That was a weak one. But good. Now keep going."
Char felt a little more comfortable, seeing the power of the Pokémon who protected him. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to keep standing and moving.
After the encounter, the pace down the hallway picked up, and at last they stood behind the main doors which lead outside.
"Let's go," Scythe commanded. "Steel yourselves. Prince… open the door."
Prince did as instructed, setting one of his torches on the floor, and holding the other carefully in front of him as he drew near to the exit. With a grunt of effort, he set his hand upon it and pushed, flinging the door open.
And the outdoors…
…they were a horrible sight to behold.
They were countless. Absolutely countless. The sky was darker than black, filled with the translucent figures of thousands of ghost Pokémon flowing past like an endless school of fish. The streets of Fort Emerald resembled bloodstreams, the ground and buildings barely visible underneath the flood. Some of the demons glowed in a dim spiritual light, twinkling among the ghastly fog. Their cries of excitement never ceased, harmonizing into one screeching, deafening chord. Some caught immediate sight of the Pokémon and launched themselves as them, only to avert their courses from the intense radiance of the Sol-rock and bounce away into the crowd.
For a moment, all thirteen of the heroic Pokémon stood still, captivated by the impossible visage, feeling their stomachs turn in silent terror. Their breaths caught, and words failed them, as they witnessed just what they were up against. Their hopes were challenged. The power of the Call was unfathomable.
"Change of plans," Scythe uttered, breaking the speechlessness. "We stay together, all the way to the district."
There was a nod of silent understanding. Prince bent down to retrieve his torch, and then slowly, warily, and fearfully, he took the first steps of faith into the night. Huddling close to one another, and holding the torches high, the others followed him.
Dark Fort Emerald
The combined light of the Sol-rock was enough to part the sea of Watchers and to allow passage, but at the cost of having insanity almost indistinguishable from reality. Char knew now why Prince had told him to keep his eyes closed before: the sight of what surrounded him was almost enough to freeze him to death with chills ascending his spine. There was no other way to describe it: he was trapped inside of a nightmare. Trapped inside of a bubble of light, which lit the surrounding terrain as if it were high noon, inside of a circumstance Arceus never could have allowed to exist without some disastrous mistake.
When Saura offered him a vine to hold, he squeezed it hard, as though it was his very last chance to wake up from this surreal world.
"Which way?!" Iel asked. "I can't see nowhere."
"Here," Prince directed, waving his torches out in front of the group. "The road is here."
"Uhhhh… My stomach…" Saura moaned. "I think I might be sick…"
"Just… just look at the ground, alright?" Lily suggested. "Look at the ground and pretend it's sunny out, with no ghosts…"
"Up above!"
"I see it! The Misdreavus!"
"Get it!"
Wings buzzing, Scythe took to the air and slashed at a Misdreavus that was fearlessly descending into the group. The Weavile also moved swiftly, climbing up the Tyranitar's body and leaping, slashing the ghost with dark power to defeat it.
"There's more!" Legend cried. "Targan! Next to you!"
Char averted his gaze and clung to Saura, nearly leaning into the Camerupt's fur.
"Got it."
"Above you!"
"Focus! Hit it!"
Char chose to look again for a moment, and caught a very disturbing glimpse: the Tyranitar had somehow captured a ghost Pokémon in her clutches, and was trying to bite its head off. He quickly looked back down to the ground.
"Count your steps, too," Lily said. "The more steps, the farther we go…"
That's a good idea, Char realized. Alright… one, two, three, four, five, six—
"HAUNTER!"
"You're hit!"
"Arceus! Raiden, are you alright?"
"I'll live…"
Twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen—
"There's too many! They're not going to stop!"
"We have to keep moving, or this is never going to end!"
"LILY!"
Lily panicked, screaming shrilly, as a Shuppet nearly descended upon her. She leaped back, quickly charging and releasing a large pillar of sunlight energy at the ghost, blasting it away. Char whimpered in surprise, losing count and not caring to begin again.
"Is anyone hurt?" Scythe demanded
"I think it burned me, but—I'll be fine," the Weavile responded.
And then… the ground shook. There was a sound of rumbling, like the collapse of a building somewhere nearby. The party stopped in their tracks and faced the source of the noise, though it was impossible to see what had caused it.
"Prince, what's that?" Scythe asked worriedly. "Do you have any idea?"
CRASH! Another collision, even closer, making the ground tremble. Like a boulder slamming into the pavement. The mighty sound managed to even drown out the wailing of the ghosts.
Crash! Another one, farther away, but on the opposite side of the first.
"What is that?!" Scythe demanded again, angered. His eyes darted around, frantically looking for the answer.
Crash! Bang! Rumble! The sound escalated on all sides, surrounding the group…
With a force that could have split the earth in two, and a sound that could have been a thunderbolt, a red-hot boulder slammed down from the sky directly in front of the party, knocking Char off his feet. It sat there, half-lodged in the ground, seething and smoking…
Scythe blinked. The rock had smashed a great number of Watchers as it had fell, creating a vacuum in the air above. He glanced upward.
The air above his head was cleansed of ghosts. Dozens of red-hot meteors fell like rain, smashing and annihilating any ghosts they hit. And in the middle of this newly-created bubble of empty air, there flew a draconic Pokémon, its rapidly-buzzing wings adding to the Watchers' song, its body glowing with energy.
"Beautiful weather we're having tonight, isn't it?" Naxi called down.
"It's Naxi…" Lily said. "I never thought I'd be so glad to see him."
Panting in exertion, Naxi dropped into the rays of light and stopped to rest.
"Naxi, very well met!" Prince laughed. "Your meteors are a breath of fresh air against these foes!"
"Destroyed a facility or two with them," Naxi admitted. "I was researching in the commons when this started. Didn't hesitate to defeat them."
"I'd hardly say that's an issue at the moment!" Legend said. "Do you have any word from the other teams? Are they surviving?"
"I've met others, and they appear to be holding their own," Naxi reported. "Of course, the dead report nothing, so I do not know. I was scouting for others when I spotted your light."
"We are fleeing the fortress," Scythe explained. "We going to District One. Would you accompany us?"
"If you must flee because of your precious payload, then flee," Naxi grunted, indicating Char. "But I will not flee, not as the fortress is destroyed."
"Then escort us to the city gate, at least," Scythe demanded. "It will be easier for us from there."
"Looked to me like you were doing fine on your own," Naxi returned. "I must rest for a moment, so I will follow you. When I can attack again, I will leave… … Interesting, you have Iel is burning sunstone in his back. That… is a sight. But you realize all this sunstone is enough to amount to my life savings? Whose account will replenish all this?"
"This is not the time to speak of money," Scythe hissed. "This is a time to survive. Let's move!"
They kept moving. It was easier for a time, as Naxi's previous attacks caused the ghosts to disperse from the surrounding air, but the relief was short-lived. Before even two dozen paces had gone by, the Watchers filled the empty void and the group of warriors faced another dense wall of them.
"Dusclops," Prince muttered.
Scythe jerked in fright. "Where?" he barked, his gaze darting around. "You see a Dusclops?"
"There," Prince said, pointing forward, indicating a particular ghost a few feet from the ground.
"An evolved Duskull," Scythe acknowledged gravely. "Those… are rare to see among the Watchers."
"Well, it comes as no surprise in a concentration this heavy, we should be seeing some unusual forms," Legend noted. "I have never seen one before. Are they dangerous?"
"The deadliest I know of," Scythe rasped under his breath. "I once lost a teammate in a battle against one. Prince, if it so much as twitches in our direction, we need to counter it with all we have. Projectile attacks. Don't get close. It fights back, and it knows no fear."
"Ranged attacks!" Prince barked back to his team. "Kindle! I need your flames. Legend, same. Ready a flamethrower attack. Raiden, can you conjure ice? Subo! Can you try to spit acid at it?"
"Hey, it sounds like they need help," Ray said to Char. "They need ranged attacks. Electric attacks are the best ranged attacks. I'm going to go help them."
"Alright, be careful," Char told him.
"Nah, that ghost is the one who'll need to be careful, when I drop a lightning bolt out of the sky," Ray said with a smirk. "Don't worry about me."
Ray dashed around to the other side of the Camerupt to join the party up front.
"Heh, he asked you for permission," Lily said. "That's kinda thoughtful of him."
"Yeah, I'm not the best team leader, actually," Char said. "Sometimes I forget I'm even the leader. It's like all three of us are the team leaders at once. It's just that we try to all agree."
"Hmm, I like that way of running the team," Lily said. "I wonder what it would be like to be on a team like that…"
"That's the way Scythe runs his team," Char explained, enjoying this distracting discussion. "When Scythe trained us, he showed us how his team worked. They all operate as a unit. So when there's a meeting, everyone gets a say—"
Talking about his team, Char reflexively turned back to Saura, wondering if he wanted to participate in the conversation. What he saw was that Saura looked half-asleep, weary from the night's events, and drifting toward the back of the party, as though he kept forgetting to keep stepping forward.
There, directly above Saura's head and descending fast, and glowing a strange shade of blue in the light of the Sol-rock flares, was a Haunter.
For Char, time seemed to stop.
"Saura!" he cried frantically. "Saura! Run!"
Saura looked confused. He blinked, not understanding.
"SAURAAA!" Char cried as loud as he could.
He rushed to his friend's aid, not caring that he didn't know what to do. It was all he could do. And he saw the demon racing with him for Saura, so much faster than his legs could carry.
He saw the demon overtake Saura. He saw Saura's body shudder as the ghost covered him, wrapping its body around him, soaking into his skin…
"NO!" Char wailed, making one final leap.
His claws grasped. He felt them hold onto Saura's paw as he collided with the ground.
And then everything went black.
Daytime.
A serene, springtime morning.
Birds singing contently from the trees. Animals scampering through the grass.
A long, winding dirt path.
Along the path, two Pokémon journeyed, happy in one another's company. They were taking a trip. A long, long trip. But it was a fun trip. They got to see a lot of new places along the way, a lot of new cities and forests and Pokémon they'd never get to see having spent most of their lives at home.
The smaller Pokémon was a Bulbasaur, and a very young one. She scampered across the land with glee, taking in all the fresh air and the gorgeous scenery, following the other Pokémon wherever he'd follow. They'd just gone to the seaside together, and it was the trip of her life! She loved frolicking in the rising tides, she loved the glow of the early sunrise against the endless ocean, and she gasped in delight as the Krabby perched on the docks and filled the air with colorful bubbles. But after a week on this pleasant vacation, she was glad to be on the road back home.
The other Pokémon was an Ivysaur, a much larger creature than his little sister. Dark blotches were scattered about his blue, scaly body, and his seed had bloomed into a leafy flower bud, a mature plant which granted him much more strength than the baby seed he'd kept before evolving. Far wiser and more intelligent than his sister, he was her guardian, guiding her down the road, caring for her, and keeping her safe.
"Saurvor!" the little Bulbasaur cried. "I'm hungry! Can we stop to eat? I wanna apple."
"Sorry, Saurlee," the Ivysaur answered, glancing back at her. "We have to make good time. We stopping in Nincadia tonight!"
"Nincadia?!" the Bulbasaur cried. "That's not the right way! I thought… I thought we were going home! Saurvor? Why are we going to Nincadia? I want to go home!"
"Listen… Nincadia is a cool place!" Saurvor said with a beaming grin. "You'll love it! They have honey! And apples that taste like cinnamon!"
"But I don't want to go to Nincadia," Saurlee whined. "You said we were going home after we came back from the beach! That's what you said after I got out of jail too! I don't want to go on any more trips! I want to see mommy and daddy again! I have to tell them that Saura's alright!"
"Saurlee…" the Ivysaur muttered, slowing his pace, and wearing an expression of hesitation.
"Come on, Saurvor! I promised!" Saurlee said to him, leaping around and up to his face. "I promised Saura I would!"
"Saurlee, I'm sorry, but…" he said, succumbing to a deep sigh and averting his gaze a little bit. "You… you really have to understand something."
"Oh… what?" Saurlee asked.
"We can't go home for a long time," Saurvor said. "We—we have to pretend home doesn't exist for a while."
Saurlee looked confused. "W—why?" she asked. "What about mommy and daddy? And what about everyone else?"
"They're all fine," Saurvor said. "They all took trips around the world, too! Just like us. Except they went to different places. Sometime, maybe in a few seasons, we can all go home again and talk about all the cool things we saw on the trip!"
"Oh…" Saurlee said, still confused. "But… why… why can't we all just go together?"
"Because Saura… did what he did," the Ivysaur sighed.
"Oh… because he ran away?" Saurlee asked. "Oh… but he said he was happy. He said he got a really good job!"
"But the Master isn't happy with him," Saurvor explained. "The Flareon came back, and… he said that we had a few weeks to find him. And we couldn't find him, so… well, we all left home because the Master's really angry at us, and we don't want him to catch us."
"…Oh?" Saurlee gasped, trying to comprehend it.
"And since the Master could find us at home, we… left home, so he couldn't find us."
"Oh… okay," Saurlee said, thinking about it. "So… this is all… because of Saura?"
"I'm… I'm afraid so," the Ivysaur answered gently. "Though, it isn't all that bad, right? We got to see a bunch of new places!"
"But when can we go back home? You said we could go home in a few seasons, right?"
"Maybe," Saurvor said with a new smile, beginning to walk with his sister once more. "Maybe we can make somewhere a new home! The Tiny Meadow was getting a little boring, don't you think?"
"Yeah, it was really small!" Saurlee said.
"So maybe if we find somewhere cool to live, we can tell everyone, and that can be a new home!" Saurvor said, smiling at her again. "So, let's go to Nincadia next, alright?"
"Alright," Saurlee said, as they walked away down the path. "When we find a new home, let's find somewhere that has caves! I love caves!"
"Hey! Char's waking up!"
Char stirred. Something told him that he had slept for a very long time, though he still felt an exhaustion headache filling his forehead.
"Char! Wow, you were out forever!" Ray said, nudging him and helping to wake him. "We're safe! We all made it to District One. We're in a bunker. The Watchers won't get us here."
"W…watchers," Char uttered. "Watchers…"
"The Watchers were a formidable enemy, but we prevailed, and preserved you," Naxi said, his head hovering into Char's view.
"You stayed," Char said, managing to open his eyes halfway.
"I did," Naxi said with a nod. "After all, it was you who 'called' for my help, wasn't it? After I broke free from the common room's ceiling, the first place I was compelled to visit was Prince's lair. It was then I understood what had happened. Besides… after that Haunter latched onto your friend and knocked you both unconscious, I had to help carry you to safety."
"Saura!" Char gasped, sitting up and looking around. "Is he alright?"
"Sleeping like a rock," Naxi said, pointing to Saura's form lying still, just next to him. "Or… perhaps he's chosen to wake up, too."
It was true. Saura was squirming, moving his legs, and beginning to mutter and nod. He was coming to his senses.
"Saurlee… Saurlee…" he muttered. "Saurlee, it's me. Saurlee… No. No. No! No!"
Saura's eyes snapped open. He looked panicked.
"Saura, it's alright, you're safe now!" Ray told him, patting him on the head. "We're in District One. We're in a bunker—"
"NO!" Saura screamed suddenly, wide-eyed. "NO!"
"Whoa, calm down!" Ray pleaded. "Saura, it's alright!"
"No, no it's not!" Saura yelped, still in utter panic. "I—I—I did this! I did this! No! I'm—I'm—I'm a fugitive! My family are fugitives! I destroyed them! I destroyed them!"
"Saura, hey! Listen!" Char said to him, coming to give him a consoling hug. "Saura! I saw that dream, too! Saura, it was only a nightmare! It was fake!"
Saura snapped a vine at Char's advance, whipping him in the face. It hurt.
"Owww!" Char cried in surprise, grasping the new scar on his nose. "Hey! Don't do that!"
"No, it's real! It's all real! It has to be!" Saura gasped, hyperventilating, with tears flowing from his eyes like waterfalls. "Saurvor… went on vacation… they were running! The Master came back! The Master was going to kill them! Kill them all! My family! The Master's after my family! I did this!"
"Saura, please!" Char tried again, raising his voice, though afraid to draw near. "Listen to me! It was a dream! Listen! The ghost did that! That was just something it made up to scare you! It couldn't have known that! It just took things from your own mind to scare you!"
"Noooo-oooo! It's all true! I did this to them!" Saura rambled in a waving cry, eyes closed tight, as he convulsed upon the floor. "I'm a fugitive! They're all fugitives! The Master's after them now, and it's all my fault! I did it!"
"Char…" Ray said in disbelief. "I think… I think the Watcher messed up Saura's mind…"
Char gazed at Saura's squirming form, appalled.
"That is what I'd say, by the looks of it," Naxi said. "He must see a psychic as soon as possible, or his sanity might be jeopardized for the rest of his life."
"No, Saura…" Char gasped. "Oh, no… we have to help him. Are there any psychics around?"
"Likely you will not find any until the morning dawn, given the weather this evening," Naxi said, turning to leave the room. "Until then, you must hold out."
"No, no, no, no, NO, no, no! Saur—Saurlee… Come back… I love you…"
Char gritted his teeth. He couldn't believe one night could be so cruel to him. Now, it had damaged his best friend's sanity?
Watching Saura writhe and struggle upon the floor, grappling with some nonexistent foe, Char wondered: could he overcome this tragedy, as well?
"Ray… can you paralyze him?" Char asked sadly. "So he doesn't hurt anyone…"
Ray did as instructed, and Saura stopped moving, but his eyes popped wide open. They were terrified eyes, still flowing with tears. Char looked into them, feeling almost as heartbroken as he.
Not caring if it was against Saura's will, Char hugged him dearly, and told him everything would be alright.
… … …
Scythe and Prince gazed out the window of a nearby building, looking to the southern horizon. The Watchers still dominated the sky, and in the flashes of powerful Pokémon attacks, they saw that a funnel cloud of ghosts which still resided over silhouette of Fort Emerald in the distance.
"What do you think is going to happen now?" Prince wondered. "What is tomorrow going to bring?"
"I don't know," Scythe answered. "Nothing is certain to me, except that the living will remain. And we remain, so… we will see."