Chapter 36;
..........like father, like son

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“Rye!” The name flew from my mouth before I had the sense to stop it. I could only watch as the Elekid wearily drew himself off the ground, using his strong arms to support his weight.

It had been so long since I’d seen Rye, but the memories of my time with him were still fresh in my mind. Not just the sad times, either, but also the happy ones. It was those memories I now looked to for strength. I knew it was no use worrying on what had happened in the past; it would only serve to make me weak. But there was still a dismal feeling nagging at the edges of my mind. There was a scar he had placed within me that I didn’t think would ever heal, no matter how much he might try. But little by little, as I breathed in the air that held his scent, as I took in the sight of his bright green eyes, I was healing.

Virok was panting in a rage. I had clearly seen the Electivire unconscious, but he had recovered in less than a minute. The sheer willpower of this Pokemon astounded me. Did he truly believe that what he was doing was right? How could he! He murdered so many souls just for a way to defeat Deoxys. I couldn’t understand why he was so hell bent on creating a dark army. It was as if he was trying to compete with Deoxys, not banish him from Talzere. Surely he couldn’t think this was the right way. He obviously didn’t care for anyone in this town, so he wouldn’t listen to me. But I had to try to do something. I had to intervene before Rye got hurt again. Despite my fear, my sorrow, I couldn’t bear it to see him hurt. Enough trouble had been caused on my account already.

“Hey, Virok!” I shouted, before fear clouded my judgement enough to change my resolve.

The Electivire hesitated, but turned at my call, peering down at me with an angry snarl.

“You can’t think that what you’re doing is right! Not when so many others have died!” I was going to try pleading with him, even though I could tell it wouldn’t work. But it was all I had to go on. “You’ve lived in this town for your entire life. You’ve seen the good and bad that’s happened here. You’ve seen the terror that Deoxys can instil into the lives of others. You helped to build this Missionary to make it a better place for ALL Pokemon, no matter if they were big or small, strong or weak. When you start experimenting like this, it tears down everything you were originally striving for! Don’t you see? The only way to defeat Deoxys is to band together with the rest of Talzere! Without their help you’ll never win, even if you create a billion more Dark Pokemon. They’re just tools to you! If they mean nothing to you… how can you say you’re fighting for the greater good?!”

My chest heaved with the words now trailing through the air. It was not right that he treated others this way. As a Light Pokemon, it was my duty to make sure all of Talzere was bound together as one. When one part acted in discord to another, nothing would ever seem right. And it wasn’t right. We had to work together if we had any hope at all. What the Pokemon needed most right now wasn’t another army to stand and fight, but the courage to face another day with a smile on their face. Another war wouldn’t do that, and it certainly wouldn’t change anything. I needed Virok to see that, I needed everyone to understand. What I had come to understand in such a short amount of time was that being a Light Pokemon wasn’t my choice. Ultimately, the choice had been made for me, but what I now did with this power was my own. I realised it was part of me, and defined the being I had become. No, being a Light Pokemon wasn’t my choice; it was who I was. And I would do everything in my power to uphold the name. It was high time I stood and fought back.

“Zanna! What are you doing?” Rye’s voice drifted to me and I flicked my ears at the sound. “Stand back and leave this to me.”

I was mildly irritated. Rye, once the cause of such happiness in my life, now only left a bitter wake of feelings I was all too eager to forget. Don’t get me wrong, I felt for him as much as I ever did, but I would be lying if I said he hadn’t torn a part of me away the day that he left. There was a spot deep inside me, in the reserves on my innermost feelings, which would never forgive him. I think he knew that. He would murder me for this; I could see it coming. I knew that Virok was Rye’s father, and that he should be the one to handle this. But it wasn’t just him it was affecting anymore - it was the entire world. As long as Virok was a threat to Talzere as a whole, I would have to step in. Even if others didn’t like it. I took a deep breath. It was now or never.

“Virok,” I stated calmly, as if I hadn’t heard Rye at all. “Please think about what you’re doing. If you work with me, then we have a much better chance at defeating Deoxys. I know this can work. I am the first Light Pokemon in a long, long time. I have talked to Altair himself, and even he believes in me. He believes that with your help I can do this. So why…why don’t you stop all this and help me? Isn’t that what you want? A Talzere that’s safe for all? Isn’t it what…what your wife would have wanted…sir?”

I added ‘sir’ onto the end as to not overstep my bounds. If I hadn’t already. I suspected he would be irritated with me for mentioning his wife. Already he hated me from trying to stop his actions. I really didn’t want to make an insane Pokemon angrier. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Rye’s face grow pale. I hadn’t mentioned his mother in front of him, either, I now recalled. My stomach heaved at the thought, but I had to remember why I was doing this. And hopefully if I kept him distracted long enough by talking, one of us could find a way out of this mess before we all got crushed to a pulp under Virok’s feet. If reinforcements didn’t arrive soon, I was beginning to weep for the future of Talzere, if all they had to go by was a squished Pikachu.

As I had hoped, the last sentence seemed to have halted his actions. The Electivire blinked once and, though he was still looking directly at me, his eyes seemed somewhere else entirely.

“Ameli…” came the whisper from his mouth. The name of his wife. Virok was far away, in a distant place that was probably much happier than the one we were in now. I knew once that he must have been a good Pokemon. Using my senses for almost the first time, I became aware that there was both a sadness and longing within this Electivire that I had almost negated entirely. However manic and corrupted he was now, he had definitely not always been this way. It was a short glimpse, nothing more than a spark, but it filled me to the very core with sympathy. I couldn’t help it.

Before I could stop him, Rye regained his senses and jumped out in front of Virok. “Father! You will not harm anymore Pokemon. This has to stop!”

The huge Electivire shook his head, clearing away all false pretences, and peered down at his son, though not seeming to fully comprehend him. “Riley, you…wish for me to stop?”

“I will not work for you anymore. I am done with your plans. I am done with the project. I will not harm another Pokemon, and I will not harm Zanna.” He was defiant, I gave him that much.

“Pikachu!” Virok was drawn back to the present at the mention of my name. “The project, boy! You WILL obey me. I am your father! You will-”

“No.” Rye’s voice was firm, and he stood up to the towering giant calmly. “Father…there is more to this world than what you have shown me, or what you have told me. And Zanna is right; we do not need to harm others to drive Deoxys from our world. If we work with the Pokemon of the city I know we can make this a better place, and if we reach out to others for aid I know that they will come to us.”

He paused briefly to sweep a glance towards me, and I realised at that moment that I hold been holding my breath, a sharp pain beginning to form in my side. I released it slowly as he continued.

“You told me when I was younger that the world was a very cruel place. You told me they had…they had taken mother away before it was her time. But you also said that now she was with Lord Arceus, the world would become better. You said that each soul that was sent to the Heavens brought a little more peace to this dismal world. I believe what you said then, and I still do. If you valued any of what mother said to you, you will stop this at once. I know she still watches over us, father. It is not as easy for her as you may think. She still suffers, even in such a happy place, because of what you are doing. And like myself, she wants you to stop. She wants you to return to your old self again. She wishes you would raise a son that you can be proud of. She-”

“ENOUGH!” Virok screamed, releasing an awe-inspiring bellow that all but blew me from my feet. “I don’t want to hear any more of those useless words from your mouth, boy! You do NOT know what you mother would have wanted. I know what is best for all of us, just as I have always known! I will raise you as I deem right and you will follow in my footsteps!” He took a step towards the Elekid, shaking with anger. When he spoke again, his voice was as cold and hard as steel, laced of one with the power of authority. “I am your father and I will ALWAYS be your father. You will do as I say, no matter what the task is. You will grow to be just as I am, because you have no choice in the matter. You have always been like me, Riley! And you always will be!”

He laughed harshly, staring Rye down, trying to intimidate him. And for a moment, it looked as if it were working. Rye’s proud figure diminished somewhat and for the first time since their encounter, he appeared frail before his giant of a father. It was all I could do to remain still and not go to his side to comfort him, but now was certainly not the right time. It was his fight, I reminded myself. Codan had once told me there were battles of pride and battles of honour. It was now my honour to defend his pride. Instead, I retreated to the recesses of my mind.

Is that how you treat your son? I thought to myself. He is the only family you have left, and still you treat him this way... I snorted. What a sad Pokemon you are indeed, Virok.

But Rye remained calm, even in the face of his monstrous father, drawing up his composure once more. I couldn’t imagine the pain he must be going through, the hurt that he would be suffering. Surely this wasn’t how he wanted to grow up. This wasn’t the life either of them had wanted, and yet it had chosen them just as fate had chosen me. The world was indeed a very cruel place, only now was I beginning to see just how cruel.

“I am not like you,” Rye said, just as much to himself as to Virok. He spoke quietly, not because he was restraining himself, though rather because it was more menacing when said softly. That alone was enough to raise the fur on the back of my neck. “I will never be like you. Do you wish to know why?” He stepped up to his father and rose to his full height. Even against the Electivire, who was so tall and bulky, Rye’s frame was nothing. Yet he proudly stood tall, not a single muscle quivering in fear. “Because I choose who I wish to be. Me and no one else. I am going to be the son mother wanted-”

“DON’T YOU DARE SPEA-”

“I AM GOING TO BE THE SON MOTHER WANTED,” Rye shouted at his father, eyes gleaming, ignoring the onslaught of protests that threatened to drown out his words. “I will never stop trying to be what she wanted! Because though she is gone from this world, her heart lies with me! It has always been with me! And for all those years when you would never look me in the eyes or glance in my direction, you knew that! You were just too afraid to realise. You were too scared to face the fact that she had left her heart to me, her only son, and not to you. So you denied it. You drove yourself insane with those horrid thoughts racing through your head, all because you were too-”

“STOP RIGHT NOW!”

“-afraid to face the fact that MOTHER CHOSE ME!”

I had never seen Rye so angry in his entire life. I had seen him annoyed; I had seen him mad on occasion. I had even seen him take out his anger on those that didn’t deserve it, but I had never seen him like this. The fur on the Elekid’s back stood on end like the bristles on a worn brush. His teeth were bared so wide that fangs were visible across his cheeks, and they were pushing down against his skin hard enough to draw blood. His hands were clenched and they shook violently. His emerald eyes, that I never got tired of staring at, had drawn themselves into a vivid glare that made me look away. He was no longer the Rye I knew. He was…something else entirely. And Virok sensed this.

The Electivire took a step back, surprised by his son’s reaction. “What…are you?” he uttered more out of curiosity than anything. “Who are you?”

I caught the lines of Rye’s mouth turn up into a grin, a smirk, at his father’s words. But there was something about that smirk that I didn’t like; something about it that sent a shiver of dread through my entire body. I found myself asking the same question as Virok. Who are you…?

“Who am I?” Rye breathed through his teeth and held his arms out, motioning to Virok. The Elekid took a few steps backwards, and with each step he took, his fur grew darker. I watched with horror as his figure turned to dusk, and his stripes took on a crimson hue. His eyes glazed with red, the pupils contracting into thin slits, until they almost disappeared. The three claws on each hand extended and grew lethal; a single swipe from them would do serious harm. When Rye had reached the center of the arena, a dark aura had surrounded him, emitting crackling electricity. It was not an aura I recognised, and my first instinct was to run away in fear. But somehow I managed to root myself to the spot. Curiosity killed the Skitty, or so they said. Although I was not so curious as I was terrified.

Seeing Rye in this form again began to bring back the memories I’d tried so hard to keep hidden under the bridge. Now they slowly began to surface, the cold words he had said to me that night echoed throughout my head. It was enough to drive anyone crazy. The feelings within me threatened to explode, but somehow I kept it in check. Just as I was able to spread a calm through those around me, I could also do it to myself. Inhaling and exhaling methodically, I was able to calm myself down, ridding the worst of the images that laced my thoughts and properly assess the situation.

From that one night I was sure I had only glimpsed Rye’s power. I had no idea where he had been off on his little journey, and I really didn’t care, but something about him seemed in control…almost as though he was purposely reining it in. That night I could feel the lust for death and destruction, even – though I hated to admit it – my own. Now I could almost feel the tight strings binding the darkness that surrounded him. I could tell it wanted its freedom, but Rye wouldn’t let it. He had it bent to his will and so as long as he had the upper hand, I was certain that was how it would stay.

“I guess you could say I’m your worst nightmare.” The Elekid let a laugh chime through the air, but it didn’t hold the same appeal I was used to. In fact, it was quite the opposite. And as I turned my head towards Virok, mouth agape, I could see he was much the same. His face grew gaunt and pale at the sight of his son. Corrupted.

“Rye…you…” He could only manage to string a couple of words together before falling silent again, and I couldn’t blame him. “How are you…like this?”

Rye snorted. “Really, that’s all you have to say? Well why don’t you thank your little Weavile friend for inflicting his shadow poison within me. I thought that was your doing.” He held up a claw to inspect it, then eyed Virok over the top, his mouth curling ever higher into a grin I disliked.

“Rakai…” The name was said with such ice that for a moment I was certain I could feel it in the air around me. “No, it was not I who ordered this attack.”

“So then…” I muttered to myself, “…it was Deoxys?”

“IT WAS DARKRAI!” Rye’s voice boomed throughout the small cavern, black electricity erupting from his arms. He laughed, and brought his brows down over his eyes, giving a whole new meaning to the word menacing. “Darkrai has given me this power, and I will use it to make sure you never hurt anyone again. I will use it to stop Deoxys, and I will use it to…to…”

Rye’s words began to fail him, and for a moment he seemed to be teetering on the edge of a precipice. What precipice, however, was uncertain. He drew his arms up to his head and cradled it within them. What was happening? Then, as soon as it had come, it was gone. He unfurled his arms and stood tall once again, eyeing Virok.

He was speaking, but I didn’t hear a single word that left his mouth, for I was still stuck on autopilot repeating the last words he had said. “Darkrai has given me this power…” He what? Darkrai ordered the attack on Rye, or was it something else? Is that where he had been when he left me? Did he seek out Darkrai? But he was dead, he couldn’t have. I had the only way to contact the Farplane, and it was through my connection with Altair, for being a Light Pokemon. Rye was definitely not light, so there was no possible way. Unless…

“Altair…” I muttered in panic. I had no idea what made me speak the name, but it was the first that came to mind. Oddly enough, somehow just saying it seemed to soothe the rippling feeling in my stomach. I said the name again, stronger this time, and an instant calm washed over me, but also something else… I was being pulled. This time I didn’t resist, I let the tugging string lead me to where it wanted, for I was sure it was a better place than this.


~*~


I sat up groggily, running a paw over my eyes, as if to wipe the invisible sleep away from them. I knew I hadn’t been out, but it certainly felt like it. As the haze cleared, I was able to see a figure that stood a few feet in front of me. It offered a white paw, and I took it without hesitation. I knew instantly who it was, and a glow seemed to surround my entire being.

“Altair.”

“Zanna.” I felt the smile from his lips as he embraced me, drawing me into the soft fur I oddly remembered, from that one time. Even his scent, which smelled strangely like cinnamon, had a soothing effect upon me.

“You smell wonderful…” I muttered, before I realised I had even said the words aloud. The instant I did, I cupped a hand over my mouth. But Altair merely smiled at me.

“In a way I am your twin,” he told me, gesturing a hand to himself, then at me. I noticed that I was also white – I was in my Light state. We looked almost exactly the same. Same glowing circle on the tail, same hue of the fur, same aura. It was the first time I took in how similar we actually were, as if the two halves of one coin. “I am also your opposite. I am what attracts you, and you are what attracts me. Together, we are one whole. You cannot say you doubted this.”

I couldn’t. I wanted to, some part of me deep inside wanted to deny his claim, but it was impossible. The words wouldn’t come, just as my mind knew that they would be false.

“You called me,” he stated casually, ignoring the fact I was trying hard to bury the words he had said.

“Yes…” I let the word roll around on my tongue before going any further. Altair simply studied me, not willing to force anything into the open. Just as I did, he had unlimited patience when he needed it. “I want to know what happened to Rye.”

I watched as the Pikachu pursed his lips. The change was almost so unapparent I would have missed it had I not been watching. That I had been, however, gave him away almost instantly.

“What do you know?!” I accused. “If you know something, Altair, come out and say it. I don’t have time for your riddles now.” I felt the anger fuming in heatwaves from my body and knew that he could sense it. Good, I wanted him to feel pain if he had caused Rye any trouble.

Altair sighed upon defeat, and turned away from me. “Your darker half came here in search of a way to redeem himself. He wanted to escape the darkness that was claiming his body. I told him I could not help him.”

I could clearly tell that Altair disliked talking about Rye almost as much as I hated to bring him up. I hoped it wasn’t because he felt threatened by his hold on me. Even as I thought the words, I caught Altair casting a glare in my direction.

I flashed a smile in return.

“I sent him to Darkrai.”

Wow, no beating around the bush this time. “YOU WHAT?” My mouth fell open. “Altair, how could you?! I thought you were on my side!”

“He wanted help!” The white Pikachu whirled to face me, meeting my rage head-on. “I couldn’t help him and he wanted so desperately to return to you, so I sent him to Darkrai; the only deity who holds dominion over darkness! The only one who could help him!”

“You only wanted Darkrai to corrupt him, didn’t you? You never wanted him to return!”

He didn’t deny it.

“You know what? You’re not my other half and you never will be! You’re JUST AS BAD as Darkrai, worse even! Because unlike him, you toyed with my feelings. At least he had the GUTS to do it to my face!”

“Well I still had the decency to tell you the truth!” he spat back at me. “Why didn’t you tell your boyfriend about our little kiss?”

“You…” My voice was laced with poison. We were now barely an inch from touching noses, eyes glaring, sparks flying from our bodies in discordance. Altair had just registered he’d overstepped a boundary and backed off, but not before I had mustered up the courage to send my paw flying into the side of his face.

The impact met with a sickening thud, which sent him soaring a few feet across the room. I hoped with everything I had that it left a bruise. He deserved it. As my chest heaved, Altair dragged himself off the ground, rubbing his left cheek with a paw somewhat warily. He obviously hadn’t expected me to hit him.

“I only did it for you,” he said grudgingly. As if that would make everything better. What did he know about me anyway? If he had a clue what I wanted, he would not have sent Rye to the one Pokemon that was trying to doom us all. I now had no idea what had happened to him; what kind of foothold Darkrai could have left in his body. For all I knew, he could be plotting his revenge through Rye. I couldn’t trust the Elekid anymore. I couldn’t trust Altair. I couldn’t trust anyone. I was alone.

“Get away from me,” I muttered sourly towards the Pikachu. “Go away. I never want to see you again.”

Altair took a few steps towards me, raising a paw as if hurt by my remark. But I wasn’t having any of it. I’d had enough of all this otherworldly crap. And I didn’t need his.

“I said go away!” I lashed out again but the Pikachu dodged, catching my paw mid-strike. He was obviously ready for this one. With a slight tug he drew me inwards, cradling me into his chest. I struggled to free myself, but he had me in a grip so tight that breathing was almost becoming impossible. I was weak, unable to do anything. Powerless. It took a moment for me to register the wet liquid that clung to my fur, trickling down my face. I was crying.

“I’m sorry,” came the muted whisper from Altair. He pressed his head into my shoulder, like a child that was begging for forgiveness. “I never wanted to hurt you, but it seems that is all I keep doing.”

I finally ceased my struggles, taking in the Pikachu’s words. Maybe I had been unfair to hit him. But I was so angry. He had no right to say that. How could he do such a thing? He knew what Rye meant to me. His jealousy would only get in the way; he had to know that. The voice inside my head grew louder with each passing moment, uttering the truth I so desperately did not want to hear.

Rye was already tainted, Altair had no choice. It was Darkrai’s doing. He had no choice. It was his fault. All his fault. You were wrong.

“I was wrong.” I drew in a sharp breath as I admitted it to myself. I had been wrong. There was nothing anyone could do once Darkrai had set his plan in motion. It had not been Altair’s fault; it had been Darkrai’s. And he had known that Rye would seek him out, just as surely as he had known I would blame Altair. That monstrous deity. He would pay.

I couldn’t muster up the words to tell Altair I was sorry, because I was still angry with him. But I hoped telling him I was wrong would be enough. It was a start.

“Hey, Zanna.” I felt the warm, muted whisper on my shoulder again, and muttered in response. “This is going to bruise, you know.” I laughed somewhat shakily and withdrew from the Pikachu’s embrace, pushing him away lightly.

“I was hoping it would.” I brushed the last of the tears from my face, and was suddenly very conscious of how I’d let Altair see me break down like that right in front of him. Some strong Pokemon I was.

“You are not weak,” he told me, reading me like a book. “You are a very strong Pikachu who a lot of bad things have happened to. You have every right to break down once in a while. If you hold it all in, Zanna, you’re going to explode.” He offered me a small smile, but it was unstable at best. Altair lowered his voice a little, and took hold of my eyes. “I would take away your pain, if I could. But I am unable to.”

“It’s alright. I seem to be able to deal with things better while in this form,” I gestured to my white hue. “And anyway, it’s the thought that counts. Thanks,” I said awkwardly, not quite sure how to take his comment. It was odd that I couldn’t seem to stay mad at him, even though I very much wanted to.

He took me in for a moment, and once again, held out a paw. “Come, I want you to take a walk with me.”

I was hesitant to take the offered paw, but at this moment in time I had little choice. “I will come with you if you answer some of my questions,” I told him. I needed answers and I was sure Altair was the one to give them to me. He didn’t reply, but his eyes held a silent promise as I put my paw in his.

“There is a prophecy,” Altair spoke slowly, darting his eyes to the walls around us, “that tells of two powerful beings. I have determined that one of them is you.” He squeezed my paw a little tighter at the words and a sickening feeling began to enter the pit of my stomach. Through our hold, I could sense Altair’s feelings flowing into me. It was almost as if he had wanted this to happen, as if he didn’t want to hide them from me. Or did he want me to come to a conclusion before he said it?

“And the other?” I asked when he didn’t continue. The dreaded feeling in my stomach rose.

“The other is…I…am still trying to work out.” Altair suddenly dropped my paw and turned to me, placing his paws on my shoulders. “Listen to me, Zanna. Whatever happens please know it is for the future of Talzere. And this future must come to fruition.”

“Altair…?” The Pikachu was strangely starting to scare me. “What do you know?”

“The…the battle between you and Deoxys is going to be tough. You are going to need all the help you can get. I cannot see whether you will win or not, but…” He stopped abruptly and held my gaze, eyes quivering. Were they quivering? “No matter what happens, you will be safe.” He released his hold on me and turned to walk away.

I blinked. “That’s it? The battle is going to be tough, but I will be safe? Does that mean I won’t die?” Nothing. “Altair?”

“It’s time for you to go back,” he muttered, not bothering to turn to me as he spoke.

“Wait! I still need you to answer my questions!” Without realising it, Altair had created more questions for me to ask, instead of leaving answers.

“Not this time, Zanna. I have somewhere I need to be. And so do you.” He turned to me with a slight smile upon his lips, but it was odd. It looked forced. “In due time I will answer everything you have to ask, but now is not it. Just remember; you will be safe. Whatever happens, I can guarantee that.”

“How? I pressed, taking a step forwards. “How can you possibly know that?”

“Because even if your saviour never comes for you, I will not allow you to die. It is not your destiny to die at the hands of Deoxys. If he tries to harm you, I will stop him.”

“But what can you do from the Farplane?” My brow furrowed. “I thought there was nothing you could do from here?”

The white Pikachu drew in a breath, slowly, taking a step in my direction. He had closed the distance between us, and though he was not close enough to physically touch me, I felt sparks radiate between us.

“I will not let you die.” He pursed his lips again and placed a hand upon my chest, where my heart would be. I suddenly felt very tired. He was sending me back.

“No…” I tried to call out. I had questions I needed to ask him. “Altair…” I flailed about and felt my fingers grasp soft fur. Without even thinking, I latched onto it, curling it within my paws. There was something about the way he said it, but I knew he was telling the truth. He wouldn’t let me die. I wanted to hold onto that so badly it hurt. I was scared beyond belief, but if he was able to save me, I wanted to stay as close to that shield as possible.

A warmth surrounded my paws, prying my fingers gently from their hold. I was too weak, unable to fight back, and the frightened feeling within me grew. Then, as everything became white, a sudden calm overcame me and I revelled in it, knowing it was Altair’s doing.

“Thank you,” I managed to whisper before the hold on my paws faded into nothingness.


~*~


My eyes snapped open. Jumbled words began to reach my ears, and it was a moment before I realised I was back at the Missionary, and they were Rye’s words. He was still talking. I had been returned to the exact time I had left. I turned my head slowly to peer at Virok, who was still staring with shock at Rye’s form. The latter seemed to be enjoying his cowardice.

A prophecy that tells of two powerful beings… Why wouldn’t he tell me what happened to those two beings? One of them was me…so who was the other? My eyes swivelled back towards Rye, and the sinking feeling that had come upon me when I was with Altair returned. No, it couldn’t be…

“I am giving you one last chance,” Rye’s words interrupted my thoughts. “Step down from here and you will be spared. You know this is not the right way to defeat Deoxys. It never was. The Light Pokemon is.”

“P-preposterous!” Virok stammered, glaring towards his son. “I know what is best for everyone! The Light Pokemon will never defeat Deoxys! It didn’t even work the last time now, did it?”

I felt a stab of anguish at the words, and knew he was referring to Altair. My paws subconsciously balled themselves into fists. He had some nerve speaking about Altair like that in front of me. I felt Rye’s gaze shift in my direction, and the instant I met his cold, glazed red eyes, my vision swam. It was as though his darkness was able to disrupt the light within me…and leave nothing but a black void in its wake. He quickly looked away.

“Zanna is the only way,” he repeated firmly. “I do not wish to fight you, but you leave me little choice.” He readied a battle stance, waiting for Virok to make the first move. I had never wanted this, but I could see now that the Electivire was not going to listen to reason. Messing around with dark forces had tainted him, warped him beyond repair. I felt horrible for what Rye had to do, but I could see it was the only way. As he had told me I was the only way. Perhaps he could bring Virok to understand physically, if words would not reach him.

Eon lay a few feet behind me, and I ran to her, using all my strength to push the rubble that covered her body away. My eyes scanned the floor for where Tali had been, and luckily, nothing had fallen on her. But the Buizel had again been rendered unconscious from the tremor. This was dangerous; I needed to heal them. I set about placing my paw over the Larvitar’s chest, and took in a deep breath, closing my eyes. It was easy now to feel the light that flew from my body into hers. I noted that it was also getting easier to tap into my powers. But I could feel the strain it left on my body, as I was gradually beginning to weaken. Tali would have to wait.

The next sound that met my ears was a loud crack. Virok had come in contact with Rye, and the two sparked electricity about their bodies wildly. It was like an untamed storm; Virok’s white hot lightning, and Rye’s dark black. Virok let a paw fly towards the Elekid who managed to grasp it within his own, and then knocked it back effortlessly. Virok stumbled, again surprised by Rye’s power. Even though the Elekid was hardly larger than a speck to him, he was able to hold his own against the towering Electivire. It was the first and only time I felt a glimmer of gratitude towards Darkrai. As soon as I realised it was there, I dismissed it entirely, scolding myself for such a thought.

Both father and son were now locked in an all-out war. The two Pokemon were exchanging blows one after another, neither seeming to connect in a way that would deal harm. I wondered if the two would become exhausted before anyone was severely hurt. It pained me to sit by idly and watch Rye deal out attacks against his father. I wanted to help him, to push him aside so I could deal with the mess myself, but it wouldn’t do. His pride was at stake now, and I had to let acts take their own course. Even if it meant…even if it meant he might be injured beyond repair. My head shook back and forth, negating the ill thoughts that clouded my mind. At this rate I would only worry myself to death.

Rye raised his arms in a deft motion to quickly insert a barrier between himself and Virok. With another few movements he called upon more barriers, this time situated between the fight and myself, shielding the three of us – Eon, Tali and I – from further harm. Raising a paw to the shield placed before me, I felt a rippling effect as I touched the cool surface. It was void of any feeling; it just was. I realised that if I willed it, I was able to draw parts of my body through the barrier to the other side. It protected me from incoming harm, but I was able to go through it if I wished. Upon seeing my efforts, however, Rye waved his paw again and I was instantly repelled. Now, from where I lay, I saw the shield change shape, rippling and creeping upwards until it held the form of a dome. A dome that acted like a cage. As soon as my paw came in contact with the cool surface once more, it was repelled effortlessly. We were trapped.

I scowled, eyeing Rye with disdain. So he thought he was able to keep me from interfering? Well, we would have to see about that. The Elekid was now entirely focused on Virok once more, who had broken through his barrier and was readying a Thunder attack in his direction. But would electricity work? It certainly hadn’t when I had tried.

Virok released the charge and it jolted towards Rye with the intent to kill. When it was but a foot from him, however, the Elekid raised a paw to the incoming attack, the electrical current dispersing into thin air.

The smirk that had seen fit to place itself upon Virok’s face was now wiped clean. Obviously he wasn’t expecting that to happen. “DAMN YOU, YOU-GRR!” Unable to find words satisfying enough to pester his son, he merely started on the offensive again, dealing blow, after blow, after blow.

I was fed up with being inside a cage, and I wanted out. Damn his pride, this was not right! A son and father should not have to fight like this! I drilled my paw against the shield, watching a spiral flow outwards from where I’d made contact. “Rye! Let me out of here! I know you’re trying to protect me, but I want to help you!” When no reply came, I hit the shield again with more force, but it only served to send a searing pain up my arm to my shoulder. I flinched backwards. “This is not the time!”

My mind began to tingle, and I felt a familiar presence that was not my own, but someone else’s – a presence that probed my very being. It did, however, refrain from pressing too hard upon my conscience. The hold was fragile.

You’re being childish.

That was Rye’s voice. I ran up to the wall of the shield and peered out towards him, but he made no effort to return my gaze. It would have been silly of him, anyway, unless he wanted to be pummelled into one of the boulders surrounding the room. “Childish? You’re the one being childish; you trapped me in a cage! It’s as if you don’t trust me!”

I don’t.

The reply hit me like a bucket of cold water. No, a waterfall of cold water. My mind went numb, and I found myself subconsciously paralysed.

I don’t trust you not to interfere. He is my father, so let me deal with him as I see fit.

It took a moment before my thoughts could form coherently. “Rye! Please, let me help! I can’t…I can’t…” My voice trailed off as my thoughts wandered from what I had been about to say. No, now was not the time. There would be time for that later. If there was a later. Biting my lip sourly, I resigned myself to being held as a prisoner and retreated from the wall, denying myself the pleasure of a further rebuke.

My eyes wandered the field, watching the fight continue. It was never-ending and it was painful. I could remotely sense Rye’s anguish as he fought, though he was doing his best to beat it back with the darkness that surrounded him. At least he wasn’t the animal I had encountered that night. He was mostly in control now. But I wasn’t about to admit to him that it still tore at my insides to see him this way. Urgh, it was frustrating! I need to get out of here!

At that moment my reverie was broken. A cry reached my ears and then a yell of triumph. And it did not belong to Rye. I looked up in time to see the Elekid – who appeared distracted – being knocked backed towards a boulder. Rye hit it with such force the rock instantly exploded into a thousand tiny pieces. I opened my mouth to cry out but no sound would come. My fists hammered on the barrier Rye had created; yet it still held fast, refusing to budge even an inch.

Virok lowered his battle stance and strode over to the rubble, reaching into the dust cloud and withdrawing the body of Rye, limp and black within his arm. The Elekid was not yet unconscious, but he might as well have been, for it would have saved him the pain. The Electivire slammed a paw into his face, and Rye’s slight struggling ceased. Even for all the power Darkrai had bestowed him with, there was a limit that he could not surpass. Virok was too much of a monster to be broken down; I should have seen that sooner. And now Rye was going to pay the price.

“No…” The word flowed from my mouth in a barely audible whisper, and my paws hit the barrier feebly. To my surprise it wobbled once, twice, then pooled in a puddle of grey liquid beneath my feet. That couldn’t be good.

“Well, well,” came Virok’s voice, worn and tired. “Did I not tell you that you could never beat me?! It is because I am supreme to you, Riley! And now you shall see. Now you shall bow down to my every command. Now you shall watch as I render this land helpless. Now you shall die.”

He released his grip around Rye’s neck and I watched as he fell to the floor, choking, almost lifeless. Virok lifted his foot as the Elekid managed to draw his head upwards, gazing at his father with pleading eyes. Those same emerald eyes that gave life to everything around them. The ones that were about to be extinguished. The Electivire brought his foot down.

Time halted. It ceased to exist. A strangled cry was the only sound that reached my ears, and I realised it was mine. My body was moving, running at a snail’s pace to reach the two Pokemon. Rye’s motionless body was cowering in fear, Virok’s large foot coming ever closer to his doom. The one thought that raced through my head was that I was unable to stop it. I was unable to do anything, and Rye would was going to die. My arm reached outwards, failing to grasp anything but cold air, and yet…it began to shimmer. Time slowly lurched back into its proper measurements as my arm shimmered and flickered before me, then vanished.

The next thing I knew I was screaming.