Chapter 10

STARLIGHT

I don't know what to say

But I'm going to want you till the stars evaporate

We're only here for just a moment in the light

One day it shines for us the next we're in the night

So say the word and I'll be running back to find you

A thousand armies won't stop me I'll break through

I'll soar the endless skies for only one sight

Of your starlight

- Starset

I

The field was shrouded in darkness, and the echoes of the missing children's cries pierced the heavy air. The ethereal dance of Phantumps continued, their forms floating gracefully, carrying the haunting melody that terrorized the grieving parents. Emily stepped forward and offered her support to Glenn, helping him to his feet. "Come on, this is a good sign," Emily reassured him. "Phantumps are said to mimic the cries of lost children in the forest. Let’s keep going."

"It's also said that their cries mimic dying children to lead adults to their deaths in the forest." Glenn responded bitterly. “At least try while lying to me.”

Seth's voice cut through the darkness while he got back to his feet. "Then give up if you want to, but I won't. I'm going to find Erin, and I will see that fucking smile of his if its the last thing I do."

Sarah floated inches from him screaming, "You can't save him."

He began walking resolutely to the other end of the field through the grim choir. Emily and Brian exchanged looks before reassuring Glenn, "It's going to be okay. We're going to find your girls; we won't stop until we do."

Noibat fluttered around Seth, urging him forward with its persistent movements. The group followed, maneuvering through the dense and unforgiving forest for what felt like an eternity. Every step was a struggle against the tangled branches and uneven terrain. Noibat eventually led them to a long-forgotten path, hidden beneath layers of overgrowth and neglect. As if it had simply been left to rot for decades.

They trudged along, their flashlights cutting through the darkness and revealing glimpses of the surrounding landscape. And then, as if emerging from the shadows themselves, a colossal dome-shaped structure came into view. The beam of their flashlights revealed its dilapidated state, with the front facade coated in layers of dirt and engulfed by ivy.

"Fuck me, it's a contest hall," Emily exclaimed, “My dad used to take me to these shows when I was a little. Long before the war even broke out.” The three grand entrance ways arched over them, shrouded in darkness, devoid of any sign of life. It felt as though the very darkness that cloaked the building held something sinister within.

II

The entry room of the contest hall stood before them, its grandeur now faded and tarnished by the passage of time. A large service desk greeted them, its once-polished surface now dulled by a layer of dust that had settled over the decades. Banners depicting magnificent Pokémon in the midst of dynamic moves adorned the walls, but their vibrant colors had vanished, their edges tattered and frayed. The air hung heavy with stillness, disturbed only by the faint whispers of the past echoing through the empty space. As they stepped further into the dimly lit interior, their footsteps muffled by the accumulated layers of grime, they could see the decay that had taken hold. Noibat started flying around them as if to explain that this is the place where the kids are.

Seth walked up to the doorway leading into the amphitheater. It was barricaded in a chaotic jumble of desks, chairs, and shelves stacked haphazardly. “Seth, look down.” Brian asked, standing in the middle of the room. Flapple cowering under its wings on her trainer's shoulder.

Layers of dust covered the floor, but some of the floor was disturbed by the footprints that trailed away from the makeshift wall. He turned around tracing the footprints with his eyes. They meet another well worn path in the dust coming from the main entrance. Some footprints were clear, showing the deliberate steps, but were not human. However, others appeared shuffled and indistinct, as if the individuals who had made them had dragged their feet or moved with an eerie lack of purpose.

As their gazes followed the path laid out by the footprints, the group found themselves drawn to the beginning of the hallway towards the left of the main entry room. The path itself curved gently, its walls lined with wallpaper peeling at the edges. Faint traces of patterns and colors hinted at a time when the space had been lively and welcoming. Yet now, the hallway stood in stark contrast to its former self, cloaked in an unsettling silence that seemed to weigh heavily upon the air.

"Pokémon out" Seth commanded, the Pokémon emergerged into the entrance hall, surveying the surroundings filled with an eerie sense of dread. Seth singled out Torterra, “You are too big to fit through this corridor. Stay here, kill anything trying to escape.” Torterra nodded, positioning itself firmly in the middle of the room.

"The rest of you, stick with us," Brian instructed, taking the lead with Ceruledge by his side. The group followed the path marked in the dust, their steps cautious and deliberate. Ceruledge emitted a dim purple light, casting a faint glow that illuminated their way through the darkness.

After a few minutes of traversing the corridor, they began to hear unsettling noises—an echoing slurping sound. Sensing danger, they slowed their pace, Brian signaling for silence by placing a finger over his lips. Suddenly, Ceruledge halted, its light revealing the figure of a Drowzee, its eyes reflecting the purple glow. The Drowzee dropped to all fours and expelled a toxic purple gas from its trunk, sending it floating toward the group.

"Poison Gas!" Brian's voice rang out in the darkness.

Vaporeon, use Aqua Ring,” Emily roared. Water exuded from its body flooding the floor then becoming a swirling ring of water surrounding them.

"Vulpix, Ember!" Seth called out. Vulpix emerged from within the protective water ring and released a concentrated ball of fire toward the Drowzee. The flames ignited the gas, creating a fiery explosion that crashed into the water, engulfed the hallway and Drowzee. The air filled with its pained cries and the smell of its burning flesh. As the flames subsided, the water collapsed back to the floor, surging back towards Vaporeon and absorbing back into her body.

The group cautiously approached the charred remains of the Drowzee, their relief short-lived as six more them emerged from the darkness, revealed by the dying embers of their fallen comrade. The horrifying truth dawned upon them. "It's a fucking nest," Brian reverberated, his voice filled with dread.

The lead drowzee lifted its arms towards Ceruledge, lifting her into the air, its body contorted and writhed in pain, emitting agonized shrieks. The relentless grip of the Drowzee's psychic attack tightened, squeezing Ceruledge with an unyielding force. Seth's Primeape, charged down the hall with lightning speed, intent on freeing Ceruledge from its tormentor. However, as Primeape closed in on the lead Drowzee, the others swiftly raised their arms, intercepting the charging Pokémon and suspending it mid-air as well.

"Fuck this." Emily muttered under her breath, a determined glint in her eyes. "Lairon, use Rock Tomb!" With a powerful crash, Lairon's head collided with the nearby wall, causing cracks to spiderweb through the structure. The walls and ceiling above the horde of Drowzees began to crumble and give way. Debris rained down upon them, forcing the Drowzees to release their psychic hold on Ceruledge and Primeape, their focus shifting to protecting themselves from the collapsing ceiling.

Primeape wasted no time, seizing the opportunity to strike back. With a primal roar, it grabbed hold of the front Drowzee and ruthlessly slammed its body against the walls and floor, delivering devastating blows until its head finally split from its body, ending its torment. Meanwhile, Ceruledge tore through the hallway, its sharp sword slicing through the air. In one swift motion, it decapitated two Drowzees with a single powerful swing, their lifeless bodies falling to the ground.

The remaining Drowzees, their confidence shaken, attempted to retaliate with a desperate Psybeam attack. They raised their arms to their heads, attempting to take control of Primeape and Ceruledge. But their efforts proved futile, as their attacker never made eye contact.

Primeape seized two Drowzees in its vice-like grip, their bodies helpless against its sheer strength. With a resounding crack, Primeape mercilessly crushed their skulls together, blood splattering onto the ground. Meanwhile, Ceruledge, with a lethal precision, plunged its gleaming sword-like appendages into an eye of the remaining Drowzee. The blade emerged from the back of its head, eliciting convulsions and spasms as it twitched upon the blood-soaked floor.

Seth gently patted Primeape's back, "Well done. Now, let's find Erin," he said. Primeape met his trainer's gaze, conveying its understanding and readiness. They pressed forward down the dimly lit hallway following the path in the dust until it led them to a pair of imposing double doors.

Glenn, overwhelmed with anxiety and desperation, whimpered, "They have to be in here. My girls... they have to be in here." Emily and Brian, their hands trembling with a mix of anticipation and fear, gripped the door handles. Flapple, Noibat, and the duplicate Noibat fluttered in the air, their presence adding an aura of protection and support. The group of Pokémon and their trainers braced themselves, ready for whatever awaited them beyond the threshold.

III

As the doors swung open, a chilling scene unfolded before their eyes. Dozens of children lay motionless on the floor, their small bodies barely visible in the dim light that emanated from Ceruledge and the scattered flashlights. “Oh, no.” Emily gasped in horror as her flashlight revealed Erin, trapped beneath a Drowzee whose trunk was tightly latched onto his face. The Drowzee's eyes fluttered open, fixing an intense gaze upon Emily.

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"Erin!" Seth's voice pierced through the air. In that moment, the silhouettes of eight figures rose ominously from amidst the children's bodies, their presence casting an eerie shadow over the room.

Seth's heart raced as he sprinted towards Erin, his sole focus on rescuing his son. Ignoring the looming danger before him, he pushed forward. But just as he reached out to grab Erin, an invisible force tightened its grip around Seth's body, trapping him in its suffocating hold. "Erin! I'm coming!" he cried out, his voice filled with desperation and anguish. Noibat lunged forward and sunk its teeth into the Drowzee's throat, forcing it to release Seth from its clutches.

Bluish-purple flames and strong wind engulfed Noibat and Drowzee, whose feet were the only thing visible as its shrieks grew louder. The ball of fire expanded, consuming all of Drowzee with its intensity as it rose above Erin. Noivern emerged from the flames and hurled the now lifeless body against a nearby window, shattering it, leaving a grotesque gash that spurted blood.

Seth crumbled to the ground, clutching Erin tightly in his arms. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered, "Erin, I'm here. I've got you." Glenn, overwhelmed with relief, sank down beside Seth, lifting Ava into his embrace. The two fathers, united in their love, held their children close, cherishing the moment of reunion amidst the chaotic darkness that surrounded them.

As Seth and Glenn held their children, Emily and Brian took charge, their voices commanding and resolute. The remaining Drowzees stood no chance against the unified strength of the group. Fraxure thrust its sharp tusks upward, impaling a Drowzee's lower jaw through the top of its head. The lifeless body slumped to the ground, blood staining the floor.

Noivern, with its powerful wings, unleashed a devastating Boomburst attack. The high-frequency vibrations collided with a targeted Drowzee, causing blood to stream from its eyes and ears until it collapsed, defeated. Ditto swiftly transformed into Ceruledge, its flaming body charging forward to slam into another Drowzee, sending it flying across the room.

Primeape, fueled by rage, tore one Drowzee in half, flinging both ends to its sides with a forceful throw. Flapple, hidden within its protective apple shield, launched itself at full speed, colliding into the forehead of a Drowzee and knocking it into the waiting blade of Ceruledge. Lairon, with its immense strength, brought its heavy feet crashing down on another Drowzee's skull, crushing it completely.

Vaporeon unleashed a powerful Aurora Beam, freezing the last remaining Drowzee's head. With a final burst of force, Vaporeon charged forward, smashing with the frozen head, shattering it into pieces. The threat of the Drowzees was extinguished, their presence reduced to lifeless forms strewn across the room. Silence settled in the aftermath of the battle, broken only by the heavy breathing of the group.

Brian and Emily approached Seth and Glenn, their faces filled with concern. Both fathers were still clinging tightly to their children, their eyes filled with desperation. Seth looked at Emily, the agony clear in his eyes, his voice trembling as he spoke, "He isn't waking up. Why won't he wake up?"

Glenn turned to Brian, "Please, go find Charlotte for me."

Brian nodded empathetically. "Of course."

Seth continued to shake Erin, desperately trying to rouse him. “They will come too,” Emily said compassionately. “We just need to wait.” Seth collapsed by Erin's side once again, holding him tightly, his heart filled with both love and helplessness. Emily wrapped her arms around both Seth and Erin.

From near the entrance of the room, Flapple's anguished screams pierced the air. Brian swiftly turned around, shining his flashlight on Flapple, only to witness the distressing sight of the Pokémon being suspended in mid-air. Flapple's limbs contorted and twisted unnaturally, as if under the control of an unseen force. The light behind Flapple revealed the sinister figure of a malicious Hypno, its teeth bared and blood dripping from its chin.

"Go, Ceruledge!" Brian shouted, urgency and determination filling his voice. But before Ceruledge could sprint towards Flapple's aid, another Hypno emerged from the shadows, joining its companion. The two Hypnos clenched their extended hands into a fist, as if exerting the force even more, causing Flapple's limbs to snap and twist in agonizing contortions. The sound of bone breaking echoed through the room as Flapple collapsed to the ground with a quiet thud.

"No!" Brian cried out. The two Hypnos entered the room, their eyes fixed on the group, their small disks, swinging them back and forth on their strings. Primeape and Ceruledge, undeterred, focused on the feet of the Hypnos. In a split second, Primeape unleashed a devastating blow, striking his fist into one of the Hypnos, decapitating it and sending its head hurtling into the hallway. Ceruledge, with precision and swiftness, sliced through the other Hypno from hip to shoulder, causing the two halves of its body to collapse to the floor.

Brian walked towards the lifeless body of Flapple, his grip tightening around it as grief and sorrow overwhelmed him. "Flapple," he whimpered quietly, his voice filled with a deep sense of sorrow.

Emily walked towards the doorway where the lifeless bodies of the Hypnos now lay. The contest hall fell into a heavy silence, filled not only with their own grief but also with the haunting presence of the lost and lonely children scattered throughout the room.

Glenn, his voice barely audible, mustered the strength to speak. "Brian, did you find her? Did you find my Charlotte?" Brian lifted his head, his gaze meeting Glenn's, and he slowly shook his head, a solemn expression etched on his face.

"Brian," Emily called out, standing at the doorway next to Primeape and Ceruledge. "Come here, there are more footprints." Brian gently laid Flapple down and, with a struggling effort, rose to his feet. "Seth, Glenn, we're going to check this out," she announced. They disappeared into the darkness, leaving Seth and Glenn with their children, accompanied by Ceruledge and Lairon, who followed closely behind.

IV

Unlike the path they had been following, the newly discovered footprints were clear and distinct, leading them to a door just a few feet down. As they opened the door, a wave of rancid odor hit them, almost physically pushing them back. The beams of their flashlights revealed a horrifying sight that immediately overwhelmed Brian, causing him to retch. The room was scattered with lifeless bodies, some with their chest cavities gruesomely open, their flesh barely clinging to their bones.

Amidst the scene, a peculiar noise caught their attention from the right side of the room. There, they saw a young boy, no older than seven, blowing raspberries while staring at the ceiling. Chunks of flesh were ripped out from his side and neck, and blood pooled around him. “Oh, fuck,” Emily approached him cautiously. “It's okay, It's okay,” Trying to offer comfort, but the boy remained oblivious to his injuries and her, continuing to blow raspberries as if in a trance.

"Brian, what's happening?" Emily asked in horror.

Brian turned away from the gruesome sight, struggling to find the right words. "The Drowzees... they have devoured their dreams until there is nothing left, and the Hypnos feast on their bodies.” The boy's raspy breaths gradually slowed until they ceased altogether, his chest falling for the final time.

Throughout the room, Brian and Emily's gazes fell upon the tragic sight of six lifeless bodies strewn about. But it was the sight of a tiny dress, one that Charlotte had adored wearing, that pierced Brian's heart. The once vibrant dress was now soaked in crimson, its fabric stained by the blood that had spilled from Charlotte's ravaged body. Her face, mostly gone, and her limbs stripped of flesh, bore the harrowing signs of the gruesome fate she had suffered.

Overwhelmed by grief and despair, Brian collapsed beside Charlotte, his trembling hands reaching out to hold her lifeless form. But how does one hold onto what is no longer there? With tears streaming down his face, he buried his face in his hands, his anguished sobs echoing through the desolate room. Emily stood beside him, her own tears falling silently, the weight of their shared sorrow almost too heavy to bear.

V

Glenn's head popped up eagerly, dawning hopeful anticipation as he watched Emily and Brian enter the dark room. He eagerly awaited Charlotte's appearance, yearning to see her face and hold her in his arms. However, as they approached him, Charlotte was nowhere to be found. Confusion turned to worry, and Glenn's smile faded. "Where is she?" he asked, his voice trembling. "Is she asleep too? Do you need my help carrying her?" His heart sank as he saw Brian's tear-streaked face and the pain in Emily's eyes. "Fuck it, I will go get her!" Glenn shouted in desperation, his voice filled with anguish.

As Glenn carefully laid Ava down, Brian extended a restraining hand. "Don't," he pleaded, his voice filled with sorrow. He struggled to find the right words to convey the heartbreaking truth. "Just please don't go over there."

Glenn looked at him, realization dawning on his face. "You found her," he whispered, his voice heavy with despair. Emily nodded, tears streaming down her face.

“Then bring her here… Please… Bring me Charlotte…” The words barely escaped Glenn’s mouth. They both shook their heads painfully. His grief erupted into a deep, gut-wrenching cry.

In his anguish, he reached for a shard of glass lying nearby, his intent to inflict pain upon himself. But Brian reacted swiftly, collapsing on top of Glenn and desperately restraining his arm. "No!" Brian demanded, his voice filled with urgency. "You need to think of Ava." The sound of Glenn's sobs thundered through the building.

VI

While Glenn held Ava in the main entry room, with Erin lying close beside them, Seth, Emily, and Brian carefully carried all the children, laying them down in front of the main doors of the contest hall. Brian took the initiative to explain to Seth what they had discovered in the Hypnos’ den, away from Glenn. However, he chose to omit the gruesome details of the dying child's destroyed mind. With a Drowzee being attached to Erin, he didn't want to create any more panic. The focus now was on the safety and well-being of the children. For now, finding Erin and Ava was enough.

Seth turned to Brian, his eyes filled with worry, as Vulpix nestled her head on top of Erin. "Brian, how are we going to get them home?"

Brian shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what to do in this situation. "I'm not sure. Some of them could be asleep for days since the Hypno put them under.”

“We don't even know how long some of them have been here. We need to provide them with water, at the very least," Seth continued. He turned his head towards Emily who was transfixed by the barrier blocking of the amphitheater.

"Emily," he called, but she was too focused to hear. "Emily!" he called out louder, grabbing Brian's attention, who now looked concerned about Emily as well.

"This is only half the story," Emily muttered to herself.

"What?" Brian asked, struggling to hear her.

"This is only half the story," she repeated, her voice more confident this time.

"What do you mean?" Seth inquired.

“Look at the dust on this stuff. It’s like some of it was blown off. And there are no footprints right up to the barrier, meaning something threw it from back there.” She pointed 10 feet back from the barrier where large circle footprints ended in the main hall.

“You’re saying the Hypnos made this thing, why?” Brian asked, confused about the point she was trying to make.

"They were scared of what's behind it. Think about it. The whole town has been experiencing nightmares for two months, but the kids were only taken a few weeks ago, why?" she explained.

"Yeah, it was the Hypnos. If you forgot, you can go back and look at their den," Seth retorted.

"But Hypnos don't cause nightmares or dreams for that matter. Only Drowzees consume them. Besides, have you ever heard of a Drowzee nest being this violent? Sure, Hypnos have been reported to kidnap kids and let their Drowzees feed on them, but the children are always returned to their parents. They are never like..." Emily stopped herself, not wanting to reveal the horrifying fate of the small boy and his last moments. "Drowzee nests are never this large or long-lasting. Consuming only nightmares must have changed them. Made them more aggressive."

"Then what caused the nightmares?" Brian asked, wanting to know the answer to this riddle.

“Once upon a time, in a peaceful village nestled in the green fields of Sinnoh, there lived a little girl. She was kind-hearted and full of wonder, always seeking adventure. But one day, while exploring a fearsome Ursaring attacked. Its growls echoed through the forest.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost, a mysterious Pokémon appeared from the shadows. It scared away the Ursaring and saved the girl.

Grateful and amazed, she approached the pitch black Pokémon. It wasn't a creature of darkness, but a lonely being longing for someone. The two became friends and returned to the village together. However, that night, the villagers fell into a deep sleep and experienced terrible nightmares.

The villagers blamed the Pokémon for their nightmares. Anger consumed them, and they turned against the Pokémon. It looked to the little girl for help, but she was too frightened.

Heartbroken and misunderstood, it left the village. It wandered far and wide, searching for a place where it could find acceptance and overcome its loneliness.” Emily finished the story. “My dad used to read me that story all the time.”

"Darkrais were hunted into extinction almost 200 years ago, Emily. Plus, they're from Sinnoh. How is it that one is here?" Seth questioned.

"Then make sense of it for me, Seth," she yelled in frustration.

"I don't know, okay? But right now, we need to figure out how to get these kids home," he responded, trying to keep a level head.

Emily chuckled, a hint of realization in her voice, "That answer is right here. Darkrai can wake them up."