<3
With a thrust of his ghostly appendage, frantically desperate to keep the little Eevee from retreating into the waking world with her newfound savior, Darkrai seemingly raised a door out of nowhere, and paused for dramatic effect, a snide smirk playing out across his lips. The door was like no other Radian had ever seen before, and seemed to let off a particularly eery aura around itself. Radian's eyes awidened in shock, and her entire being filled with dread as her heart plummeted fearfully to the pit of her stomach. Though she knew not yet what lie behind the door of darkness, she already had a sickening suspicion of what it might be. Opposite the ominous door a set of stairs had formed ascending upward. Contrary to the sinister door, these stairs were a vision of loveliness, shining with a rainbow array of all sorts of bright colors from the spectrum, these colors shifting constantly so that the overall effect was a multi-colored surface. Circling the very top of this magnificent staircase was a halo of golden light, so holy and pure Radian thought that it must be heaven itself. With Leon holding her form gently within his arms, standing directly inbetween the the two passageways, Radian tensed up a bit, knowing that the appearance of these two structures completely opposite in character had to be leading up to something big. As she again looked over at the door, a shiver crept down her spine and she found herself quaking in the tiniest bit as the deathly aura continued wafting from the closed doorway, and now was making its way toward the couple. Radian burrowed up against Leon, or the shadow of him rather, knowing that if anything tried to claim her, he would surely fight it off. This thought soothed her, and gave her the tiniest nit of courage as bravely she glared over at Darkrai. He grinned at the Eevee, and slowly began approaching the two. As his shadowy figure loomed closer and closer to them, Radian quickly burrowed her face into Leon's chest.
"Radian, if you choose to, you can return with Leon to the world of the awake." Just hearing her name pass from the sinister pokemon's tongue made Radian's skin crawl, and she found herself quaking harder now as Darkrai's words became softer and softer, yet his form became larger and larger. She glanced upward at Leon, and though he showed now signs of fear, his face was contorting in a strange yet familiar way.
"Leon..?" Radian asked quietly, her soft golden eyes emanating concern as she continued shivering, staring up at him in worry.
"What's wrong?" Darkrai's snide little grin grew wider, and he crossed his arms smugly as he turned his head downward to direct his coal-like eyes on the frail little Eevee. Radian's heart leapt, and froze instantly with terror as his gaze locked upon hrt. She glanced up at Leon, sending him a silent and urgent plea for help, yet he remained in his painful trance, his face contorting ever and ever more with agony.
"He can take you away from here." Darkrai continued slowly, pausing every so often as nonchalantly, he turned his gaze away from Radian's body and onto the door.
"However.." He grinned, preparing himself for the grand finale. "I think it might be in your best interest to stay."
The diabolical door swung open, and as Radian caught the first glimpse of what, or rather who was contained inside it, she froze up completely, her heartbeat seeming to stop the second she caught sight of the pokemon inside, and the very breath she drew from her lungs halting as her mind forgot about even the simplest of functions, and focused completely on Marc, who by some strange stroke of ill fortune had fallen into Darkrai's grasp. Radian's eyes bulged, wide with terror, as instinctively they began to fill with tears. She was in complete and total shock, and her horrified reaction couldn't cause Darkrai anymore pleasure, as this is what he fed from, this is what made him powerful, more invincible. He had seen opportunity, and he had struck, dragging those people Radian cared about most into her nightmare, making it not just a fiery arena full of illusions that deep down even Radian knew were just imaginary, but a living breathing hell where everyone she loved was in pain. Radian shook her head violently, hoping to god it was just another one of Darkrai's tricks, but as she grew too weak to even shake her head one way or the other, as her Totodile friend contined to lie miserably inside the door, she knew it wasn't just a bad dream. It was reality. And this was the worst kind of torture there was.
I can't do this! She thought blindly, tears gushing sorrowfully from her golden eyes as her body seemed to kick back in gear, though her heartbeat and breathing seemed strangely irregular and out of sync. Her head swam with a variety of emotions, ranging from agony to heartbreak, despair to shock. Her face flooded with tears, she didn't utter a word, just shook weakly as heartbroken, she stared at her downed partner.
Marc.. She thought, never taking her eyes from his form once as the tears continued to come, and splatter down her body. She didn't even bother to wipe them away from her eyes.
Marc.. If you can hear me.. Please.. please hold on.. Please.. It's my fault you're here.. You shouldn't be here like this.. Oh God.. What have I done.
Radian sobbed violently, her head turning now so that her face was pressed against Leon's chest once more, and as she cried into him, her tears drenching his fur, she realized that it was hopeless, Marc was ailing, and the whole thing was her fault.
Please.. She thought, her face still buried into Leon's chest. Her sobs were muffled, but were still clearly audible. Her entire body shook with sorrow.
He shouldn't be here. None of this has anything to do with him.. This is my nightmare, I should be the one dying! I'm the one who deserves to be dying.
"He is not doing very well." Darkrai snarled, his tone hinting at his immense pleasure in this statement. "At this rate, he will be dead before too long. You can just try to heal him up back there, but even if you heal all of his wounds completely, there is nothing you can do mentally for him. You can only help him down here. If you go now, he will surely die."
Darkrai let out a deep, booming laugh that roared over the entirety of Radian's mind. She only stared forward at him, her golden eyes burning into him as they overflowed with tear after tear.
Why..? She thought, surprised that she was able to form even one comprehensible thought, as she was so consumed by pain.
Why..? She repeated herself, shaking her head again as she clung pathetically to Leon.
Why did you have to hurt him?! It was me you wanted, not Marc! And now..
She paused, as a loud sob again erupted from her lips, and she buried her face into her paws, forcing herself to try and concentrate.
And now I don't even know if he's going to live or die, and it's all because of you! Please, just let him live, and you can have me! I'll be your servant! And i'll do whatever you say.. Radian stared pleadingly at Darkrai, who was watching her actions with a bemused, cool little grin.
As Radian was trying to bargain with Darkrai, she felt her body weight shifting, and Leon, who had been supporting her, seemingly reluctantly set her down on the ground. Confused, Radian stared up at him, tears still pouring from her golden eyes as slowly, he turned his back to her and began walking up the stairs. She didn't understand. Her heart was torn. She knew that Leon was returning to the waking world, and oh how nice it would be to return with him. She could rest once she got back, or eat, whatever she wanted.
But on the other hand.. Radian thought, glancing back over to inside the door, where Marc lie weakly, just barely alive, and in desperate need of help. Her eyes watered again at her friend so weak and helpless, and she realized that for once, Darkrai wasn't lying. If she took the easy way out, and returned with Leon, he would die.
He's one of us. Radian thought, looking to Leon, then Tiffany, and finally Taro, who still hung suspended by the chains of darkness.
They all are.. Radian thought back to what she had said several nights ago, ironically to Marc, when he had thought about leaving the group.
"We have to stick together.." Radian repeated, a tiny smile forming across her lips as the tears continued to flow. She sniffled, and stared sadly after Leon.
"You go protect that Totodile, and I will protect you. That is an even trade." He told her, and his expression was heartwrenching. Radian fought against another bout of tears, her lower lip trembling as she wrapped her arms around the Chimchar. She stared up at him, and bravely pulled herself away.
"I have to do this.." She replied, to both herself and her friend. She turned away from him, and focused again on Marc. She drew in a breath, and forced herself forward, one step at a time, though everything in her was screaming against moving toward the door.
"Wait!" Darkrai called after Radian, to which she didn't even turn her head. She was focused on one thing and one thing only now, and that was getting to Marc.
"Don't forget what I told you Radian!" Darkrai bellowed, beginning to grow frantic as she only progressed closer and closer to the door.
"You're a pathetic healer! This is way different from healing a couple of scratches or bruises! You're too late! You'll never be able to save him, do you hear me?! I'm in control, only I can save him! You know that, right?! The only way he'll live is if you give yourself to me!"
Radian tensed up, hearing every word that Darkrai threw at her, but refusing to physically acknowledge it. It took everything she had to keep from breaking down again, but forcefully, she willed herself on.
What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.. Radian told herself again and again, as she approached the door, and hesistantly halted in her tracks. She turned to Tiffany, and worriedly cast a glance up at Taro, the Munchlax, who still hung suspended helplessly.
"Please!" She called out, hoping that her friend would understand. She was too exhausted to utter anything else.
Okay.. Here it goes. Radian thought, honing everything and everyone out besides Marc, and cautiously entering the door, wary of a trap. The door slammed shut, locking instantly behind Radian the moment she stepped in. Marc lied before her, slumped helplessly against the ground, his entire body shaking with a cold sweat as his chest erupted in shallow, ragged gasps. Kneeling before her friend, Radian was sure he could hear her heartbeat, it was thumping so loudly against her chest. The nightmare had been endless, and now that Darkrai, Alfonse, Taro, and the roar of the flames were out of the picture, Radian found herself unsure of what to do. It was strange, eery actually, to be rid of all the extra distractions and just be alone with her friend, but in a way, it was more terrifying than the nightmare Dakrai had contruscted.
Well.. Here we are. Radian thought toward Marc, trying to remain calm as the tears continued pouring rapidly down her face. Her heart was practically pounding in her ears, and that was all she seemed to hear. Even the imagined voice inside her head was drowned out by the throbbing of her heart, and Radian feared it would keep Marc from hearing her.
Again, here I am with no clue what to do or how to help you. Radian thought with a bit of a laugh, knowing how Marc loved a bit of humor in any situation.
Maybe something will just pop up, like that Protect did when we were fighting in that cave. There was no response from Marc, just as Radian had expected.
Okay.. She thought sheepishly, slumping her head a bit in humiliation as she looked away from him, cheeks burning brightly red.
That wasn't funny.. That was pathetic.. A couple moments of silence pursued, before Radian just gently lay down, her body curling up protectively against his as she just lay her head atop him.
Usually, I just do what comes to me, and here it is. She thought to him, as her tears splattered onto his body, before drizzling down this sides in thin rivulets.
I know it's not much but.. i'm here for you, Marc. And if anything comes after you, i'll be right here to fight it off. Her tears continued to wash over his body, and as she spoke these words, glowed a faint golden, the same hue of her paw when it was healing another. She gulped once, and faltered in her little speech, as again, her heart racked with sorrow.
Please.. She thought in a whisper, her tone soothing as her golden eyes watched over him, silently begging him to wake up.
You can't die now.. We still have so much to do, and I know that none of us can do it without you, Marc. You're part of the team, and without you, or any others of our kind, we're doomed..
Radian trailed off, her fatigued body trembling weakly as silently she lay alongside Marc, hoping and praying against all odds that her efforts would awaken him.
