Intermission 4: The Purpose & The Fallen
Part 1: The Purpose
Night has fallen upon the streets of Camphrier. Kricketot’s chirped, wind blew gently, and there wasn’t so much as a peep from the residents. From the shadows, two figures rushed under the golden street lamps. The brick road dimly lit under their light. The two figures rushed through alleys, jumped over roofs, and remained quiet all the way. Until, one of the figures stepped on a loose roof tile. The tile fell and crashed straight through the car windshield, activating its alarms. Soon after, the lights of the residence turned on. The two figures stopped on the next roof, right as voices started to shout out their complaints from afar.
Blue, in its 10% form, listened closely. “Greninja!” Blue scolded quietly, “We must be careful.” Greninja took a glance back where they came and scratched its head guiltily. “No matter. We haven’t much time. Make haste!” Greninja nodded and they continued on.
A particular car was driving down the road. Inside was a concentrated man, driving along in silence. In his peripheral vision, he could've sworn that he saw something jumping across the rooftops.
“How close are we?” asked Blue. Greninja pointed as they flew through the air to a battlefield. “Right, let’s go.” The two jumped from another roof and landed upon the battlefield. It showed visible signs of a struggle. Fractured ground, shattered walls, it was clear that it wasn’t getting cleaned up any time soon.
“Just what in Arceus’s name happened here this time?” asked Blue.
“Quite the unique story here this time brother,” said Red through telepathy.
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() Back in Lumiose, Red was hooked up once more to a machine inside the depths of the Lumiose Tower. A screen projected a rough stream of exactly what Blue was seeing.
“Clemont, may you please explain?” asked Red. A snoring immediately followed his request. Red tilted its head down in disappointment. “Of all the times-. Clemont!”
Clemont was stunned out of his sleep. “Uh, yes! I wasn’t thinking about that girl I saw the other day on the street!”
Red sighed. “I ask that you do not elaborate further.”
Clemont looked around drowsily. “Oh yeah, we were scouting for Freaks.”
“I hope you are still able bodied for this mission.”
“It’s hard to be at 100% when you decide to scout out Camphrier at 1 in the morning. I even had three challengers today, I’m practically wiped.”
“We need your assistance for only a while longer. Continue to monitor the situation until then.”
“Whatever you say.” Clemont yawned. “Man, you guys sure are busy. I don’t know how you can handle stuff like this.”
“I would know. However, these events are new to us as well. This is on a whole new level.”
“Agreed.”
“Now, if you please, explain the situation in Camphrier.”
“Okay.” Clemont picked up a tablet from the table and swiped right on it. A news article flew from the tablet to the live view TV. “Reports from Camphrier indicate quite an unusual story. A person by the name of Solga Telin had been running around stealing, and I swear this is what it says, hat wear from locals and travelers.”
“Quite the delinquent,” said Blue. “But should it really be enough to elicit an extreme reaction from Ceailean?”
“That’s not all. Apparently he did so with the use of illegal Pokémon substances.”
“And what might include?” asked Red.
“Generally using some residue from Pokémon attacks like poison powder, spore, and in this case, stun spore.”
“Truly worthy of a despicable title,” said Blue.
“Destruction of private property, kidnapping Pokémon, grand theft auto, attempted aggravated assault. This guy has the works!”
“All useless information to us unless we figure out how it affects Ceailean and his company.”
“That’s the weird thing, no news reports mention them even the slightest. All I found was that of a blogger who mentions that there were five people at the scene of the big crime. While all other official news sources say there were only two.”
“Sounds like we found them avoiding the media again,” said Red. “But back to an earlier subject. What is this big crime you speak of?”
“A magical relic. A crown that is able to grant its wearer precognition, at the cost of the users future mental stability. Which proved to be quite the hurdle for the Officer Jenny that was trying to detain him, as well as the owner. However, psychic type moves were able to bypass this precognition. Though, it’s reason is unclear.”
“The Destine Crown.” explained Red. “To think humans still have it, after all this time.”
“You know of it?” asked Clemont.
“It is best that it remains forgotten. I’ve seen many fall trying to follow its blind promises. A death trap that humans said could tell the future, but that could not be further from the truth. Rather, it shows you the future you could’ve had should you have not put on the crown at all. The price of knowing one’s future through this method was the complete mental dysfunction of the user.”
“They become brain dead,” said Clemont coldly.
“Precisely. A truly cruel fate.”
“He still lives, does he not?” asked Blue. “Are we able to get information from him?”
“Unfortunately no.” explained Clemont. “He seemed to be alright after his capture, but then an incident happened at the local station. A break in occurred. One police officer was seriously injured and Solga was wiped of his memory.”
“Someone was tying up loose ends,” said Red. “Was he trying to acquire the Destine Crown for anyone perhaps?”
“All points lead to a selfish motive. It’s unclear who he was connected with.”
“For now, it doesn’t concern us,” said Blue. “We’re here for one thing and one thing only. Greninja, are you ready?”
Greninja shook its head. The negative energy in the area wasn’t above normal levels. It pointed this out and compared it to the first Freak they faced.
“That is true,” said Blue, “But then that begs the question of why Freak Drapion was there when we showed up.”
“Perhaps when Red provoked him, he had just finished whatever scuffle he had with that Drapion. So he would’ve activated both at the same time.” explained Clemont.
“Certainly is one theory. Brother, I believe it’s your turn.”
“Can we even be certain that we can reach the Dreamwalker at this hour?” asked Red, “We don’t even know what condition they have to be in in order for us to communicate.”
Clemont placed his fist on his chin and thought. “Considering we’re calling it the Dreamwalker because he only appears in your dreams, it’s most likely that he is asleep every time you two communicate.”
“Then let us test his hypothesis brother,” said Blue.
“I do not guarantee anything, but here we go.” Red closed its eye and concentrated. Almost immediately, it saw something. “What? So soon?”
“What do you see?” asked Blue.
“Snow. Quite an abundant amount.”
“Call for him, let us be done with this.”
“Dreamwalker?” No answer. “What? Dreamwalker?” Red asked a little louder. Still no response. “He’s just sitting there. Sitting under a tree.”
“Well this is unamusing. This quest has brought upon me a greater amount of frustration in my entire life.”
While two cores bickered, Greninja observed the negative energy flowing through the ground. Though not higher than normal levels, there was something odd about it. Every once in a while, a strange pulse of purple energy would ripple through the negative energy. Not good, but not particularly bad either. With every ripple, it would wash through as if drawing upon the negative energy to a specific spot. Like water rushing to a drain. Greninja moved to investigate further.
“-Greninja? Where are you heading?” asked Blue. It then followed. Greninja followed the purple energy to its source. On the way, it saw what appeared to be purple fractures. Cracks in the ground that spewed a purple light. On the buildings and across the town as if to paint out a trail.
“What is it?” asked Blue as they jumped across the roofs, “What do you see?” Greninja remained silent. Finally, they come up on the source. Greninja was in awe. An absolute mass of purple energy. A singularity that had an imposing presence, but yet somehow still felt beautiful. It was unlike anything Greninja had ever seen. The two landed near the singularity’s supposed event horizon. It acknowledged their presence by having each of their footsteps splash with energy like a thin layer of water. The bright purple energy particles danced around like bugs in a pond. Every pulse sent them skittering around almost like neurons.
“I may not be able to see it personally, but even I can sense there is something different about this place,” said Blue. Greninja nodded. It noticed the energy particles started to gather around each of their feet. Greninja couldn’t tell, but it felt like they were touching. “I have this weird feeling in my paws. Greninja, just what is here?”
Greninja explained what it saw, which Red then translated to Clemont. “Phenomenal!” said Clemont excitedly, “Truly a wonderful day for science! If only we had a sketch artist.”
“Brother, any luck getting through to the Dreamwalker?” asked Blue.
“Still stuck watching.” Red responded.
“You think this is a little intrusive?” asked Clemont, “I mean, these look less like dreams and more like memories to me. Just what would he think of us if he found we’ve been snooping in his mind?”
“As if we’ll ever tell,” said Red.
“It’s something we should think about. One way or another, we will have to interact with Ceailean in the normal world.”
They silently pondered this question. Then Blue stepped forward, “Brother, do you think the Dreamwalker could hear me?”
“I… suppose he could.” answered Red, “But you’ve already attempted to do so, haven’t you?”
“I have. But I have an idea. I will relay my thoughts through you, perhaps then he can hear me.”
Red nodded, “It’s worth a shot.”
“Certainly” Blue calmed itself and dematerialized back into its core form. Greninja picked it up and held it up chest level. “I will require full concentration for this. Ahem, Dreamwalker!”
Red flinched at Blues sudden tone. “Must you be so vulgar?” it whispered.
Blue continued on. Neither Red nor the live feed could read the voice of who it was talking to. “Yes yes, I am one of the Zygarde cores. And to be frank, I grow tired of this one-sided communication. Dreamwalker, I require your services once more.”
“Yes, that dumb name coined by Bonnie.”
Clemont stepped forward. “Hey!”
“In the Dreamwalker's words, I assure you,” said Red.
Blue continued on. “Yes I know you don’t remember talking to us before.”
“-Can’t in any way be the Dreamwalker. I have heard it all before!”
Blue started to get vocal, moving around eccentrically to the swing of its words. “And let you deny your responsibility? I cannot allow this. Please pardon my brashness but, YOU ARE THE DREAMWALKER!”
“Yes you are! Dreamwalker, Dreamwalker, Dreamwalker-!”
Suddenly, a huge boom echoed through town. Something was coming. The purple energy all culminated into one point behind Greninja, sucking up red negative energy in the process. Once it was all together, the ground exploded. A fountain of brick, rock, and dirt spewed forth. An arm reached out, clawing the ground trying to get itself out. Then another arm burst out. Its bark-like skin and its knife-like fingers scraped the ground like a blackboard.
Clemont watched through the live feed. “What is that?” he asked slowly. A head arose and a contorted body. A weird mishmash of red and black vines imitating muscle structure. Its legs remained melded together, making the Freak stand like a plant.
“We thank you for your service once more.” continued Blue.
“In all honesty, even I don’t know what you’re doing. But you have summoned something that will allow us to continue our investigation further.”
“Anticipate us soon Ceailean, we will catch up one day. May Arceus have mercy upon our souls.”
Red waited a moment. “Anything more?” asked Clemont.
“No, he’s gone.” answered Red.
Greninja tossed Blue to the side, letting it have enough room to go back into its 10% form. “Here we go Greninja.” Greninja nodded and readied a couple of water kunai.
The Freak raised its hand to its face and felt it thoroughly. It moved with the intention of feeling every detail. Across its body it rubbed its hands until it got back to its face. Its hands fell limp and the Freak sighed. It opened its eyes revealing two rose-like crystals, in both shape and structure, acting like pupils. It then focused on Greninja and Blue. It smiled and pointed to them.
“Was it the two of you that brought me forth?” the Freak asked. Its voice sounded strange, like speaking low, raspy, and through a big horn. It didn’t have a mouth, but movements on its face suggested that there was one deep beneath the vines.
Blue shuddered. “It talks this time?”
The Freak looked at its own hands. “What am I? What did the two of you make of me?”
“We have done no such thing,” said Blue.
The Freak inspected itself again. “Then why am I here?”
“That is what we are asking.”
The Freaks' hands fell to its sides. “That’s no good. This feeling of mine, it's strange.” The Freaks head sunk, its eyes no longer visible. “There were more like me weren’t there? My… brothers. What became of them?”
“We did what we had to. They were a threat to anything around them.”
“What a shame.” The Freak jerked around. Its legs finally split apart, splintering like wood, and it stepped down from where it was rooted. But it only had stubs, making it fall to the ground on its knees. It remained determined though. New roots sprouted at the end of the stubs, creating feet like structures that resemble more like a bird's nest. “It matters to me little.”
“What are you going to do?”
“That is unclear to me.” The Freak stood up, still struggling to keep its balance somewhat. “However, a purpose calls to me. Its voice is alluring. There was a moment of great sin here, on this very street.”
“You know of it?”
“I can only sense it. But it is true nonetheless.” The Freak stared at Greninja, “You draw your weapons upon me. Am I a threat to everyone around me, just as my brothers were?”
Blue pondered for a moment. “Perhaps you are. Just what to intend on doing?”
“The allure calls to me, to the lost child named Solga.”
“Child? A bit old to be one isn’t he?”
“This particular entity has a tragic case. Never leaving his demeanor behind, it almost seemed he thought nothing was ever going to change. But then he was left to waste away, on the concrete floor of a cell. A boy devoid of all that made him whole. In his dying breath, he wished for a second chance. His prayer was ignored by the land, sea, and sky. But yet, I was here to answer the call. A being fueled by the hate this society bears. One that must answer the call. And yet, it is not all hate that fuels me. Another was thrown into the equation.” The Freak raised its hand and a bright purple vapor emanated out. “The power to control fate, to control destiny.”
“The Destine Crown,” said Blue.
“Right you are.” The Freak raised its hand to the full moon. “The allure calls to me. My purpose shall be fulfilled.” It stepped forward, only for Blue and Greninja to tighten their stances. “Must you be so hesitant? My quarrel isn’t with you, nor will it ever be.”
“We still don’t know what you’re going to do. Stop dodging the question and inform us at once!” said Blue. Greninja shouted in agreement.
“My purpose is but a vague instruction. But whatever it may be, Solga is part of that answer. I must see him. Only then will we all know what we must do.” The Freak continued to limp forward.
“Let it pass.” suggested Clemont.
“You cannot be serious!” said Blue. “We’ve seen what these Freaks are capable of, almost stopping at nothing to harm others! If we let it go, who knows what will happen to Solga!”
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“I know. But remember, the one has the energy of the Destine Crown mixed in. Maybe it will be different?”
“Are you willing to gamble on that assumption?”
“...Y-Yes.”
Blue stood for a moment. “Greninja, let it go.” Greninja was confused. “Just this once, we will monitor it for now before making a move.” Greninja sighed and dissipated its water kunai. The two stood there staring down the freak until it passed by between them. “If something does happen, Clemont. Know that it will be a stain on your conscience.”
Clemont gulped. “Uhh… good luck you two.”
Blue and Greninja nodded to each other and jumped to the roofs to begin their observation.
The Freak moved along. Its feet dragging across the road like sticks. Then its ankle rotted away and shattered, causing it to fall. Its breathing heavy, it trudged on with a crawl.
“The power to change fate,” it mumbled to itself, “Within the hands of beholders. But what fate is there left to change without the sense of the self?” It stared ahead, a fiery determination in its eyes. It began to chant.
Insincere for what we have
Forever in debt for our gift of life
Yet Clamoring for something more
Desperate for what's past our mortal strife
A purple energy pulsed like veins all throughout the Freak’s body. Instantly, its leg sprouted a proper foot, making it writhe around in pain. Once the process was done, the Freak stood up with relative ease. The other foot's twigs swirled around and became a proper foot as well. It then walked normally at a hastened pace.
Greninja and Blue took a mental note of the poem and moved on.
Soon, they all found themselves within a sparsely populated area. A large grass field laid upon the outer city limits of Camphrier. A long, winding sidewalk led to a facility in the distance. A concrete sign embedded in a garden revealed the name of the facility.
“Kara’s health & mental institute.” said Clemont, observing the live feed.
“Is this where they are keeping this Solga person?” asked Blue.
“The events he was involved in happened extremely recently. There just aren't any reports that detail what happened to him after the jailbreak.”
“Nowhere left to hide, pursuers.” said the Freak. It turned around and faced Greninja and Blue.
“It knew we were following?” Blue asked.
“I believe we can come to a consensus. Even now as I approach the broken soul, I do not feel even the slightest bit of malice. I will forfeit everything to gain your trust. I will allow you to cease my existence should I present myself as a danger to anyone within the facility.”
Greninja and Blue pondered for a moment. They then nodded and jumped down next to the Freak. “Okay freak, the path ahead is yours to take.”
The Freak bowed slightly. “Then may we be on our way.” They all headed down the path, Greninja and Blue making sure to keep their distance.
“Be careful you two.” Clemont said under his breath.
Greninja studied the Freak as they walked. The vines around it kept shifting and moving. Forming new structures for what seemed to be like hair and a crown. The friction of these vines rubbing together caused bits of bark to fly off periodically, floating around the Freak rather than falling to the ground. Eventually, they came up to the facility’s front entrance.
Blue gestured through the windows on the doors. “We can’t go this way, look.” A wire on the doors traced along the edges of the wall out of sight into the building's interior. “We’ll have to find another way in.”
“Must we jump through hoops with our goal so near?” asked the Freak. Greninja then held a water Kunai to its throat.
“We do things our way. We mustn’t bring panic upon the masses. Cause a disturbance now and we both don’t get what we want.”
The Freak closed its eyes and sighed, raising its hands defensively. “I yield.” Greninja dissipated its kunai.
Blue gestured to the side of the building. “This way, we’ll check the side first.” Greninja nodded and followed its lead. They jumped around to the side of the building where a set of metal doors stood closed. “Hard to say if we should risk-” The Freak then lowered itself down with some vines and immediately placed its hands in between the seams of the doors. “Just what in Arceus’s name are you doing?!”
“My purpose shall be revealed soon. I know full well that figuring it out will cease my existence. Should we do it fast enough, not panic will beset the populous.” The Freak then dug its fingers deeper and ripped the doors apart. The facility hallway was dark, giving Greninja an eerie feeling. Blue ran in and checked the immediate surroundings for alarms.
“You’re lucky this time. Nothing attached to these ones.” it said.
“Then let us be off. The allure calls to me.”
Blue sighed, “Fine then.” They all proceeded down the hall. Unbeknownst to the three, the computer of the reception desk in the corner automatically turned itself on. Displayed on the monitor was a message.
Unusual seismic activity detected. Activating silent alarm.
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() Deep within the town of Camphrier. A phone blared on the nightstand of a particular couple. A man and a woman were embraced under the sheets of the bed. The loud noise woke up the two abruptly. The woman sighed and reached over to check what it was, only for the man to hold her hand down.
“Can’t you let it rest today?” he asked.
“I wish. But that’s the security alarm, I have to check it.” she answered.
“Kara please. It was probably a Fletchling that hit a window. Come back to bed with me.” He then softly bit her ear.
Kara smiled. “In a minute Harold, don’t you worry.” She opened the alert of her message. Unusual seismic activity detected. Activating silent alarm. She pressed on a button that showed her recorded footage from the security cams. The closest one to the activity was a camera that looked down the hall to the side doors. There she saw the door get ripped apart and three figures stepped inside.
She covered her mouth. “By Arceus.”
“What is it?” asked Harold.
“Something just broke into the facility. It just ripped apart the doors to the side entrance.”
Harold sat up. “What the hell.”
Kara threw the sheets off herself and began to put on the clothes scattered on the floor. “I gotta get there. The tenants could be in danger. You get dressed and call Officer Jenny.”
“O-Okay, but-”
“Take care of the kids until I get back,” Kara put on a lab coat and her glasses. “Sounds like a lot of paperwork so I probably won’t be back until-”
“Kara!” Harold said sternly. Kara stopped to look at him. “Is it even safe? Are you gonna be okay?”
Kara then cupped her hands around Harold’s cheeks. “I’ll be safe, I promise. I have to help the tenants. I swear I’ll leave as soon as Officer Jenny shows up.”
“By Arceus you’re so hot when you’re motivated.” Kara smiled and gave him a quick kiss. It was then that Harold remembered something right as she left the room.
“Oh! Kara, wait!”
Kara raced down the stairs to find the kitchen light on and a little quickly hiding something behind their back. “Ah! Mom! I wasn’t uh… eating anything!” The crumbs on their face reveal their lie.
“You’re lucky I have somewhere to be right now.” Kara unlocked the door and opened it, “Put it away, Now! We’ll have this conversation later!” She stepped out into the cold open air only to find that the car wasn’t there. “What?! Where-?!”
“It’s at the shop today, remember?” said Harold, coming outside in nothing but a white robe.
“Well, do you have any Pokémon I can ride on?”
“I can go back upstairs and check-” Kara then spotted something.
“Forget it!” She ran out into the street and waved her hands. “Hey stop! Please!” A matte black car screeched to a halt right in front of her.
“Kara, are you crazy!?” exclaimed Harold.
She ignored him and pulled out her badge to show the driver. “Look, I’m the medical director at a retirement home near the edge of the city! We’ve just had some… some thing break into the facility! I need your help to get there and save the tenants, could you please?!” The car remained motionless for a moment. Kara couldn’t see inside due to the headlights. Then she heard a window being whirred down.
“Get in!” the driver said.
“Oh thank you.” Kara then moved to the passenger side of the car and got in. “I’ll direct you. It’s Kara’s health and mental institute. Just turn us around and-”
“Hmph! I know where it is. Buckle up.” The driver put the car in reverse and placed his hand on the passenger seat while looking back. He floored it and the tires screeched as they lurched back.
“Whooooooa!” shouted Kara. The driver then puts on the e-brake and swerves the car around before disengaging and putting it in drive. He floored it again and they sped through the neighborhood.
Harold watched the whole time as the screeching tires faded away. “Who the hell was that guy?”
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() The facility was dark and bland. A pale blue with black and white checkered stripes running parallel to the white speckled floor. Each room was simple, looking in from the singular window in each room's door. Seemingly, the facility wasn’t even that populated. Then, the freak stopped in its tracks. It slowly shifted its gaze to a door. The label on the side read Tenant 16, Solga Telin.
“Here he resides,” said the Freak.
“So it would seem,” said Blue. The Freak tried to open the door, but it was locked. It sighed and readied to destroy it, only for Greninja to place its hand on its chest to stop it. “I believe we have a more sophisticated way of infiltration, my destructive fellow.”
The Freak looked at Blue. “Do tell.” Blue then gestured to Greninja. Greninja nodded, forming a water kunai. It stuck it in the keyhole, jiggled around a bit, and opened the door. “A praiseworthy effort.” It then let itself inside.
The room was just as simple as the others. A single twin-size with striped sheets with two different shades of blue. A ragged white suit was hung on the coat rack. The Freak moved over the curtain and there in the bed slept Solga. On the nightstand behind him was a photo of a nun holding her hands behind what seemed to be 24 kids. Greninja picked it up and inspected it.
“Find something of interest Greninja?” asked Blue. Greninja picked up the photo and showed it to Blue.
“The reports mentioned this.” explained Clemont. “Solga was an orphan. Though, he seemed to have disappeared when he was fifteen. No one knows anything about the time between then and now.” Greninja held the photo up to Solga, comparing each child with him until he found what seemed to be him. He seemed joyous, but the other children seemed a bit distant.
Blue looked at the Freak from the side. “You haven’t done anything since you got here. Have you nothing to say?”
“The allure is still unclear to me,” the Freak said, “The sight of the subject has not changed anything.”
“Then we have nowhere else to go. We’ll have to wake him up.” Greninja nodded and put down the photo. “You will not be the one to do so, Greninja.” Blue gestured to the Freak. “That thing will.” Greninja stood back, surprised at Blue’s decision.
“Blue? Are you sure?” said Clemont.
“I am willing to take some drastic action. We need to learn the consequences of leaving these Freaks alone, even for just a while. Do it, Freak.”
“As you wish. Although, I do not know if I’ll be subtle.”
“I wouldn’t believe waking anything up is subtle,” said Blue.
“Tell me about it,” said Clemont. “Bonnie is-”
“Not now,” said Red, “We must observe.”
“Proceed as instructed, Freak.” ordered Blue. The Freak nodded. Blue and Greninja stood ready. The Freak reached its hand over slowly. Tiny strands of branches reached out trying to wrap around Solga’s skin. Dragon pulse energy poured out of Blue’s mouth and Greninja readied a water Kunai. The Freak then grabbed Solga’s arm. Instantly, a crackle of purple energy pulsed through the Freak’s skin. That was when Solga gasped and his eyes shot wide open. Solga swiftly grabbed the Freak’s arm. He maneuvered it away and stood up, punching the Freak square in the jaw. It bounced off the wall and collapsed on the ground. Solga reeled his arm back and growled in pain.
“Ahhhh! That’s like punching a tree! Fuuuuuck fuuuuuuck!” said Solga. He blew on his slightly bloodied knuckles.
“Quite feisty this one,” said Blue.
Solga looked up. “What the hell…? What the hell are you?” He then moved over to Greninja and raised its arm. “You don’t look like anyone else I’ve seen. Super weird. What’s your name Mr sir?” Greninja uncomfortably said its name. “Greninja huh? What do I owe this visit? Was past me very cool or something?” Greninja tried explaining why they were there, but Solga became confused. “Why are you saying your name over and over?”
Blue sulked. “My, this is much worse than I imagined.”
Solga gasped. “What the heck is this thing?” He crouched down and picked up one of Blue’s paws. “This thing is so small and has four legs and-”
Blue scoffed and backed away aggressively. “Gah! Unhand me you fiend!”
Solga stood up and backed away with his hands up defensively. “Yo man, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were bothered by stuff like that. That’s on me.” Then something clicked in Solga’s mind. “Wait! Did you just talk? Can the other… uh… things talk too? I see things that kinda look like you outside sometimes, but they’re always really far away. So I thought maybe I was just seeing things and it was people walking outside. But then I see you two. Just what are guys anyway?”
“Have you no concept of what Pokémon are?”
“What is that? Some kind of food?”
Greninja and Blue looked at Solga in bewilderment. “This guy really lost his marbles huh?” commented Clemont.
The Freak slowly stood up behind Solga. “Be it only for a moment, contact has broadened my understanding of the allure.”
Solga turned around. “AHhh…-you look pretty normal actually.” Greninja facepalmed. Solga moved his head around the Freak studiously. “You need some lotion dude? You’re skin aint lookin’ so good. What are your eyes? They look like glass.” A floating speck of vine then grazed Solga’s face. “Ew, what was that?”
“All irrelevant questions. What I require now is information.” The Freak grabbed hold of Solga by the shoulders and held him up to its face. “Look into my eyes, and all shall become clear.”
Solga laughed nervously as the Freaks eyes started to swirl with energy. “Hey uh, I don't know what you’re into, but you’re making it seem pretty suggestive. And sorry to break it to you, I’m not really into it myself.”
“Is this buffoon for real?” asked Blue. Greninja moved in to quickly separate the two.
“No! We are so close! Why must you stop me?” asked the Freak.
“As eager as you are, we should still-”
“No! This is it! The allure, my purpose calls to me! It lies within this boy’s broken mind!”
Solga raised his finger matter-of-factly. “Actually, I’ve been told I’m like 17 and a half so-”
“Shut it already!” All three others said. Solga shrunk in the corner.
Blue sighed. “That eagerness of yours is why we must proceed with caution. We don’t know what you’re leading up to and if it’s anything threatening, we must be ready. So just hold off a moment-”
Suddenly the hallways lights flicked on and running footsteps came their way.
“Greninja! The door!” shouted Blue. Greninja reached for the handle and pulled.
“No you don’t!” shouted a voice, “Makuhita, keep that door open!” Makuhita came out of its pokeball and pried the door out of Greninja’s hands. “Now use arm thrust!” Makuhita rushed forward. Greninja quickly used aerial ace and matched it blow for blow until an opening let Greninja punt Makuhita out the room. It slammed against the wall, cracking the plaster. Suddenly, red warning lights swirled around on the ceiling along with a blaring alarm.
“They knew we were here?” asked Blue.
“When Makuhita hit the wall, the alarms were set off.” explained Clemont. He gasped. “They must’ve had seismic sensors!”
“That’s just perfect. How much more human inconvenience must I deal with?”
Kara then came into view of the doorway, crouching down to inspect her Pokémon. “Makuhita! Are you okay?” Makuhita clenched its teeth and struggled to its feet. Kara then stood between it and Greninja. “Just who are you and why are you here!”
Blue stood in front of Greninja. “Please madam, we mean no harm.”
“You think I’m an idiot? I know what happened to him in that jail! But NoOoOo, you guys just had to come back and finish the job huh?”
“You must see reason! We have no such intentions!”
Kara looked past them and pointed. “T-Then what are you doing!?”
“You?” asked Blue, confused. The two turned around and saw the Freak holding Solga by the throat. “What the- What are you doing?!”
The Freaks single crystal eye looked back at them. “Standing here I realize, in order for our purpose to be fulfilled, we must embrace our hatred. We, as we are now, must cease to continue on.”
Solga was struggling to speak, trying to push away the Freak with his legs. “Auhg! Now things either are getting freaky or you’re vaguely trying to kill me! I can’t tell, you speak in riddles!”
“Sacrifices must be made. I must answer the call. Look deep within yourself and ask, just whose anger is this really?” Solga widened his eyes a bit before the Freak clamped down harder on his neck. Solga gasped for air as a red energy began to run through his veins.
“Greninja, stop it!” shouted Blue. Greninja slashed with its water kunai, severing both of the Freaks arms.
“Grr, you pest-!” The Freak was then met with an aerial ace punch to the gut, smashing it straight through the drywall and glass. Solga dropped to the ground, coughing for air. The Freak slid to a stop on the grass. Greninja chased after it. It jumped in the air and delivered an aerial ace punch to the face. A visible shock wave rode through the grass as the Freak flew back from the force. It plowed through the ground and came to a stop.
Kara was starting to freak out. “J-Just what are guys doing!”
“I do apologize. It does seem I let the situation get out of control.” said Blue.
Kara was shocked. “You were the one talking? What is going on?!”
“Save it for later, we have to stop that thing before anyone gets hurt!”
Kara looked down to the lawn and saw the Freak standing up. It stood crooked with both of its arms severed and a hole that had blown out a third of his face. Though, it looked like it didn’t feel any pain.
She was horrified. “J-Just what is that thing!?”
The Freak looked at her. “Interesting.” It slammed its foot straight through the ground. Greninja immediately saw a pulse of negative energy pour out through the ground. It turned around and quickly tried to warn Kara. But it was too late, the energy washed over her and she gasped. She then fell limp onto the ground.
“The human! What happened to her?” asked Blue.
“I-I have no idea!” said Clemont.
The Freak spoke loudly. “Our anger shall be renewed! No longer shall we take what we have for granted! What little we did have was taken away, and we refuse to let this sin go unpunished!” The Freak then twitched around and snapped its head towards the sky. A deep trilling roar rushed through the air. Its arms grew new vines and created more detailed arms. The hole in its face quickly regenerated and older material fell off to reveal a new face, much closer looking to Solga. Then spikes grew out from its head and circled around to form a crown.
The Freak stood tall, crossing its arms and staring down Greninja and Blue. “I’ve been viewed as such and I shall not back away. We are Freak Solga,” The crown tips sprouted sharp, bright red crystals. “And we shall have our revenge!”
“Bastard!” shouted Blue. It roared into the sky and green light trails filled the sky. Makuhita made its way to Kara’s side, ready to defend her. Finally, Blue’s transformation was complete. Its serpentine body exploded with a green energy as it let out a much deeper roar into the sky. Makuhita and Solga watched in awe.
“You two,” said Blue, addressing Makuhita and Solga. “Stay here and keep her safe.” Makuhita nodded nervously and proceeded to carry her away.
Solga followed it. “Yep, sure thing boss!”
Blue then looked back to Freak Solga. “The sins of the past are in the past! Let go of your anger and move on, Ceailean!”
Freak Solga lowered its shoulders. “I know not who you refer to.”
“What?”
“Our anger is our own. In order to fully realize it, we both must cease who we are as we are now. Solga and I will cease perception upon the reawakening of our anger. But yet you stand in our way of revenge.”
“I have seen first hand what seeking revenge does to a human. The world was nearly destroyed for it! I refuse to let you go down this path!”
“Then we shall remain in discourse.” Freak Solga raised its hand and shot a red glob at Blue. Greninja intercepted it with a water shuriken. The glob splattered and its remnants began to melt straight through the ground, disgusting Greninja.
“Enough!” Blue exploded with green energy and surged ahead. Freak Solga sprouted shield-like vines from its arms and blocked the attack. The mass was too much however, and Freak Solga was carried away by the attack straight into town. Greninja called out for Blue and gave chase.
Watching from the side, the driver that brought Kara to the facility watched with complete shock. “What the hell was that?” he said to himself.