Chapter Fifteen: To Dance with the Devil
"That's odd."
"What?"
Charlotte had brought Bevan a tray of food. He was sick with a fever, body aches, and a sore throat.
"Well," Charlotte started, "when I came to your room, the door opened by itself."
Bevan, too tired to analyse what that might mean, just shrugged it off. "Guess you bumped it or something."
"I guess."
Evan Emerit sat in his study, and heard the door open. It was Lord Augury. He looked down at his work again and saw that it was complete gibberish.
"Oh – another one of these dreams." Evan was angry.
"Why the hint of frustration, Evan? Do you expect the power that you absorbed to lay dormant forever?"
"You did for many years. Why do you appear now?"
"Because I'm taking over, Evan. Look out the window – this is our region. Soon it will be mine."
"You don't scare me."
"That's a mistake, Evan. While I may not be fully independent from you now, I will be soon. And then it will become a battle for your consciousness. I am the lovechild of your thirst for power and Giratina's strength. You are imperfect and human."
"And you're not?"
"We don't really know what
I am. But are you willing to risk finding out? Not that you have any choice."
"How do I stop you?"
"Had you asked me in our last 'encounter' I mightn't have had the will or independence to avoid answering a direct question. Now, I have that ability. And I'm certainly not going to tell you."
"So why appear? Just to taunt me?"
"Precisely. Talking to me plagues on your mind, and for you to be weak makes it easier for me to take over. Oh, and Evan?"
"What?"
"On your way up, don't forget to scream."
Three days later, Bevan was feeling better. He also felt a bit odd. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he seemed to be more aware of his surroundings. He guessed that it was just some delirium that hadn't worn off yet.
"Time to train up your Pokémon, Bevan," Charlotte had announced. "You've got three Pokémon with a lot of potential, but not enough experience." After affixing a Razor Claw to Gligar, the two began training at 6PM.
"Gligar evolves into Gliscor when you train it well enough at night, and with a Razor Fang attached to it," Charlotte had explained.
Feels like school all over again, Bevan thought wryly.
"Shouldn't we find out what Gligar thinks?"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, it's his body that's going to change – not mine. Shouldn't he get the choice?"
"He's a Pokémon. Of course he wants to evolve. It's instinct."
Bevan shrugged, taking her at her word.
After about half an hour of speed practice and muscle training, Gligar glowed a light more intense than anything he'd ever seen before. Bevan stepped back, watching the light change form, to something bigger and stronger. He was in awe – he'd never seen an actual evolution take place before.
After about five seconds, the light began to fade, and the colours of Gliscor appeared.
"<What… happened?>"
Gliscor looked at his claws, moved around and examined himself.
"Gligar – er, Gliscor, you've evolved." Bevan was smiling with pride.
"<Evolved? But… why? Didn't you like who I was?>"
Charlotte interjected. "Gliscor, it's not that Bevan didn't like who you were – far from it. It's just that you're stronger in this form."
Gliscor turned to Bevan, its eyes confused.
"<I know you use me for battle. But… you changed me without even asking.>"
Bevan turned helplessly to Charlotte, who spoke. "Gliscor, we all have to grow up eventually. Even humans."
"<Humans change differently from Pokémon. Adult humans remember playful childhoods as distant memories. I'm remembering my playful childhood as a memory from a few minutes ago. And that scares me. I wasn't ready to change.>"
"Gliscor," Bevan started, "if there's one thing I've learned in the past week or so, it's our job to make a difference. Personal feelings are standing in the way – mine, yours, and possibly even Dagger's. It's ugly, because we could have lived a life where we indulged our own personal whims. That world has changed, Gliscor. I should have considered you, Gliscor, but ultimately, your evolution had to happen sooner rather than later."
"<You're a Gliscor now? Congratulations!>"
It was nighttime, and Bevan's three Pokémon were sitting in a circle, discussing the events of the day. Larvitar was admiring his friend's new bulk and power.
"<It's not so great.>"
"<What? Why?>" Larvitar was baffled. "<You're stronger, smarter, faster…>"
"<But not as happy. Evolution would suit you, Larvitar. You're competitive and love to battle. I was more playful and mischievous. That was what made me happy in life, and with this evolution, it can't. Not only has my body changed, but my mind too.>"
Venonat sat up. "<Different things might make you happy, and sure, you've matured, but deep down, you haven't changed. Not really.>"
"<And you'd know from your last evolution?>"
"<Obviously, I haven't ever evolved myself, although I'm not that far off. But living in a large swarm of Venonat and Venomoth, I was able to talk to a lot of evolved Pokémon. They said that while evolution is new and difficult at first, you don't change who you are.>"
"<For my sake, Venonat, I hope you're right. Because right now, I've been plunged into a totally unfamiliar perspective – I see things differently and less optimistically. It's a bit depressing.>"
Larvitar raised an eyebrow. "<What could be so depressing?>"
Gliscor shook his head solemnly. "<Have you considered what we're being used for? We're fighting for a terrorist that's brainwashed Bevan. Before that, we were about to fight for an oppressive empire that enslaves, tortures, and kills people. The thrill of the fight lasts only in battle, not outside of it. Between that, we have to live with what we're doing.>"
"<Gliscor,>" Venonat started, "<that's only one way of looking at things. There is good as well. We're now fighting against that oppressive empire. We have a trainer that cares for us, even if he is a little inexperienced. There are two sides to every issue, Gliscor.>"
"<And one side's prevailing, unfortunately.>"
Larvitar stared at Venonat, who shrugged.
"<I'm sorry for being such a burden to you two – I know you're only trying to make me feel better. But this evolution has opened my eyes, and perhaps, as the humans say, 'ignorance is bliss'. I was happier not knowing. I don't know when you're supposed to evolve, Larvitar – you're not native to Torcra – but it shouldn't be too far off. And Venonat, I know you will evolve soon. Perhaps then you will see what I see.>" Gliscor pushed Bevan's bedroom door open. "<I need to be alone for a while.>"
After he left, Larvitar turned to Venonat. "<He's not right, is he?>"
Venonat looked down. "<He's overemphasising the bad. But his concerns are real, Larvitar. We'll only know when we evolve.>"
Larvitar's eyes twinkled at the thought. "<I can't wait. My evolution is a massive dinosaur – Tyranitar.>"
"<Did you ever live in the wild?>"
"<No. I lived near a place called Goldenrod City in a region called Johto. The only other Pokémon I ever saw were my parents. My dad, an Aggron, didn't really talk to me much. My mother was a mighty Tyranitar: that's what I'm going to be someday.>"
Venonat smiled.
Larvitar's still keen, but after Gligar evolved, I'm not so sure I want to.
Piera was a psychic and ghost type Pokémon native to Torcra. She – always a she – floated in the air, her dark violet gases rippling into the air. Her long arms extended vaguely from her body, her black hair flowing gently, as if there was a constant wind to blow it. She was faceless, mysterious, and powerful. And yet somehow, she was graceful.
"Psychic!"
"Protect!"
As Dagger burst into the protected room, Scizor raised its arms, creating a large green shield that stopped Piera's onslaught of invisible psychic waves.
The room was carpeted with crimson, with a fireplace crackling steadily. Manfred von Stauffenberg stood in a corner, terrified. Dagger, in his left hand, held a "dead man's trigger" bomb, where if his finger were to come off the button, the explosives strapped to him would be set off, killing everyone in the room. Commanding Piera was Lord Augury, who had foresaw Dagger's attempt to kidnap his spiritual advisor.
"So we meet at last," taunted Augury. "I must say, your plan of action was rather ill-thought."
"If you can really read my mind, Emerit, you'd know that I intended for you to come. You fell into my trap."
Augury tilted his head.
"Very clever, Dagger. Your suit is made of an assorted mixture of dark Pokémon furs, is it not? That would be how you evaded capture by the two Moonlight Squad members at the gate. It would also be why I can only get glimpses of your thoughts, even now."
"Give me the priest or I'll blow us all up."
"The fun's beginning, Christopher. Piera, Will-o-Wisp!"
"Dodge!"
Piera rose into the air, releasing ghostly, silver flames at Scizor. Scizor leapt quickly out of the way, and the flames scattered onto the carpet. They dissolved the moment they touched it, but left a distinct burn. In the corner, von Stauffenberg let out a quiet wince.
"Night Slash!"
Scizor's claws darkened and Scizor jumped speedily at Piera in a whir of light and dark red.
"Guillotine," said Augury calmly, as Scizor approached.
Piera did something both disgusting and incredible: her dark neck extended, her head took the form of a blade, and it captured Scizor. There was no crunch, just the whoosh of a ghostly blade penetrating Scizor's thick shell.
Scizor flopped helplessly to the ground, and Dagger recalled it, swearing under his breath.
"You may have won there, but if my finger comes off this button, you'll be dead."
"Which begs the question, Dagger, why have you not done it?" Augury recalled his Pokémon and stepped closer to Dagger. "I could rip the circuitry psychically, but we both know that risks setting off the bomb. I could try to hold your finger in place, but you'd feel the tingle of the Umbreon fur on your finger as it resisted my psychic prying, giving you opportunity to release it. [FONT="]"[/FONT]
"I've seen a glimpse into your mind. You've tried to remove emotion and feeling from Bevan, but you don't practice what you preach. You're afraid of dying, aren't you, Dagger? Only if I push you into a corner will you release that finger."
"You want to risk that analysis being wrong?"
"There is no risk in zero percent. That battle was a pretext, allowing me to see your feelings. If I were to beat you in a full Pokémon battle, as I surely would, you would pull the trigger. If I were to try to use my own abilities, you would pull it. But if I leave now and let you have von Stauffenberg, who will be of no use to you, then I can save myself. So take him."
And with that, Augury simply walked out of the room, slowly and calmly, leaving a dumbstruck Dagger with his hostage.
