The Children Are Hunted

"If you used your powers," Zaria commented. "They'd be looking at you like that." She rested a hand on Zanna's head, who had been wandering around lazily. The Pokemon seemed to coo, looking happy. "People fear what they don't understand." An image formed in her mind, the image of someone poking her with needles, examining her with eyes too cold, torn with fear and amusement, of a liquid as dark as the night sky. She thought about the memory and then pushed it aside. She wasn't sure she wanted Esper to look at her own memories of the Dawn Project. Alyss skimmed the water and came out with a Chinchou in her arms. It leapt out, following her as she soared over the water.

"There's nothing you can do about them Thomas, not now. But Theo said he would." She seemed to draw herself into a ball, a dazed tone entering her voice. "Theo said he'd make it better, he'd change the world. He said we would be allowed to defend ourselves. He told me. He told me his plan. It was a secret but he said I could tell people now, now that's it's starting."

Zanna shook her head. "We're screwed. He can brainwash ghosts."
 
"How? How can that be accomplished?" Thomas asked. He didn't think anything would do it, but he wanted to listen. He wanted to know what Theo was planning. Esper looked at Zanna. Thomas knew Theo wasn't to be trusted, after all, he had hurt every single one of his friends. And Zaria! This wasn't like her at all! Something was different, even when bits of herself shone through. Esper didn't even need to tell him what Zanna had said. Thomas already knew. Zoran had only gone with Theo because he felt he owed him, not because he believed his crap. And Zaria had been the same. But Thomas couldn't let her see that he was angry. He created a wisp. It was a light shade of purple, indicting how confused he felt. He made it just fly about lazily. He barely even felt the drain. Though when he had first created it, it took so much out of him. He was getting better, even though his control was still very shaky. He looked back at camp. Vulpix had returned, and he was talking with Robby and Marcus.
 
Zaria seemed to laugh. "Revolution and revenge," she replied simply. "They hurt us: we hurt back. It's just self-defense."

Zanna waved a paw in the girl's face, trying to wake her up. But there was no reaction. "I was right," the little fox muttered, turning to Esper. "Theo plans to let the children become scapegoats, let them be hit and so on. However, once they're struck, they're allowed to do what they want. After all, if they're attacked in a way that feels like they could be killed, they'd rebel and it'd be considered self-defense in many people's eyes. A few cases could be dismissed but if it happens all over Pangaea, everyone will take notice. And the world will change."

"And then they'll begin to fight over what's right," Zaria added dreamily. "They'll be fighting despite the point of why we stand there in pain: to end the suffering. It will get to be such a fierce battle, combined with the two opposing organizations struggling to find their own way to win."

"In the end, there will be so much death and destruction and confusion, no one will know what to do. No one will trust or believe ever again," Arca had walked over to them and was thinking aloud. "And if it gets too bad, it could severely dent the population. And from the darkness will rise the dawn. Theo wants this world to plunge itself into its own darkness and then beg for its hero. He wants despair."

(I'm torn about dramatic flair here. Probably reading too much manga. XD)
 
Esper passed Thomas what the pokemon had said. The wisp flared into a bright burst of light, then dissipated harmlessly. Thomas was going to stop Theo. He had too. No one else could. He burned with rage. He didn't know what the man had done to Zaria, but he was going to fix it. Zaria would never go along with this plan willingly. Esper joined his mind, and knew what to do.
"Zoran, forgive me. There's no way around this," Thomas muttered to himself. Esper created a psychic barrier. Marcus and the others wouldn't do anything, but when Alyss saw what they were doing, she might think he was trying to hurt her. Before Zaria could react, Thomas caught her in the light. It wouldn't hurt her, but she wasn't going anywhere. Esper took Thomas into her mind. Whatever Theo had done, Esper would find it. And Thomas would fix it.

(OOC: When you reveal your plans of world domination, there is no such thing as too much flair! And I'll let you say what is in Zaria's mind.)
 
Alyss saw the bright light and screamed. There was fear in her eyes as she flew over. "Stop!" she howled. "Leave it alone! Stop!" The wind began to lash out, attacking to crack the barrier. Yet. She screamed and beat furious fists on the shield when she landed there. He had to stop. There was nothing he could do. It wasn't his fight.

Zaria's mind was full of shadows just as Zoran's mind was, but there was something different about them, a blaze of pure psychic energy wrapped around them. There were voices but they weren't babbling as Zoran's did, his mind torn by insanity. They were eerily quiet and stared at the intruders of their home with a vacant sort of hate.

This isn't your place, they told the pair, staring at them with sightless black holes. Get out of this mind. There is nothing here for you. You will not touch the power here.

Leave!
 
Thomas was in shock. He hadn't expected this. He recovered quickly.
"I'm not interested in the power. But my friend is in trouble, and I will get to the bottom of this!" Thomas told the shadows. He asked Esper if there was anything here that shouldn't be. He didn't know if the shadows were a part of her or not. He was reluctant to do anything that might do any harm to her, but he couldn't leave things as they were. Esper felt his barrier under attack. He strengthened it. If that came down, the rest of the team would protect him. He started his search. This was the one thing that he knew he could do that would cause no harm. If Thomas was satisfied with what he found, they would leave. If not, Esper had the knowledge of the mind to fix it, and Thomas had the power.

Marcus saw the light, and he and the others ran over.
"What are you two doing?!" Marcus yelled. Robby looked helpless. Vulpix growled at Alyss.
"You know, you could trust that he knows what he's doing!" Vulpix said to her. Than Thomas spoke.
"If I can't figure out what is wrong, then we'll leave. But I am not going to sit here and do nothing while one of my best friends is not herself! I won't hurt her, I promise! If I do, then kill me. I'd welcome it!" Thomas said fiercely. He was not going to give up and leave. Something about the shadows that were there made him uneasy. Then it hit him! He couldn't even feel Zaria! It was like she wasn't there, or she was being blocked by the shadow. But, he still wasn't going to do anything until Esper was done looking, though he thought he had figured it out.
 
Alyss kept beating on it. "She's going to kill him! He has to stop!" Arca growled wildly at Vulpix.

"Get your friend to stop! He shouldn't be in there!"

Meanwhile the shadows coiled and twisted around them, observing him emotionlessly now. Fool, they rasped. Foolish, like all living beings. She is a part of us as we are a part of our master. And she has been stolen from him and us as well. Here yet no longer here, torn to pieces from us. You have your answer now go!

Underneath the shadow's echoing, haunted words, a little girl was crying. Go away, she said, soft and young. Leave me alone. Stop it. Stop... get away from me...

"Get out of here before I rip you to shreds!" It was Zaria's voice, cold and cruel, accompanied with a violent push at Thomas and Esper, forcing them away from her mind, images of knives and shadows and soaring glass becoming real as they began their attack.

Outside, Alyss shook her head miserably. "I told you."
 
Esper brought them out with a yowl. Thomas reacted. He let Zaria go, and created a dazzling light shield around them. When the light faded, Thomas was on the ground. He had been hit by several of the daggers. Esper and the pokemon were safe. Esper let down the barrier when it was safe for the others. Vulpix seethed.
"How could I have gotten him to stop!? If you couldn't break through that, how could I have?! And don't you ever say 'I told you' again! That never helps! Now tell me just what is going on here!" Vulpix raged.
"Calm down, Vulpix! I'm not hurt that bad!" Thomas said as he rolled over. He wasn't really that bad off. He had stopped the rest of it, but what had gotten through had hit him in the legs and arms. One had grazed his face.
"Don't worry about me, I'm just fine. As is Zaria, such as she is. Thomas did nothing but ask a question," Esper broadcasted to all of them. Thomas lay still.
 
Alyss looked near tears but instead she went over to the ghost, looking miserable. "Bad Zari," she whimpered. "You aren't supposed to do that! You're not supposed to hurt people anymore! You know you aren't!"

Zaria stirred and spat. "Only if they swear to never go into my head like that again! Scum..." Her hazel eyes had a violet shine to them and she was tensed for a fight of any sort. "And you," she hissed vilely at Vulpix. "You leave Alyss be you mangy furball! She's a child! Do you know what a child is?"

"Zaria..." The albino tugged futilely on her arm. "Stop... this is bad. Stop... please..." Zaria huffed, looking less like herself than before.
 
"Alright, I promise," Thomas said. He was never going into another mind again. Esper sent his apologies to Zaria. This wasn't her at all. Esper knew that for a fact. The two of them had shared minds before, and this was not her. Vulpix, however, drew himself up to his full height. It wasn't much.
"Mangy? MANGY?! How dare you!? You are not the Zaria I knew! You think you're so tough, we don't you-" Vulpix shouted.
"Vulpix! Enough! We were wrong, and it will never happen again. Can you forgive us?" Thomas said, forcing himself to stand. He looked her in the eyes, his own tearing up slightly. Zaria was beyond his help. There was nothing he could do.
"It was wrong to go into your mind like that without permission, but you must know why I did it at least! Surely even what you have become can recognize that!" Thomas said levely. Vulpix was still growling.
"Thomas, Vulpix, Zaria, please. Let's just go back to the way things were before. I want my friends back," Marcus said queitly. Robby wisely remained silent.
 
Alyss clutched Zaria's hand. She knew what was actually happening. She knew what the scientists had done to Zaria. The black-haired girl almost smiled. "You seem to get it," she told them, the cold look making her eyes bright. She floated away toward the sea, evidently thinking something else. "I understand why all right," she called mockingly. "And I truly don't care."

Alyss looked down guiltily. "I'm sorry..." She didn't know how to explain what was happening right now. But she had to try. They needed to understand. "Zari, the one you know, the shadows are guarding her from the-" She shook her head. There wasn't a word for it. "That. It's her despair made um-living I think." She pointed at the cold thing that had her friend. "She's not there anymore so it can do what it wants, including using her power. She hasn't become anything except a broken doll so they're trying to protect what's left." Alyss' expression was troubled. "Zora can't do anything now because he'll get hurt and she won't let him. It's why I was yelling. I'm sorry." Now she did cry, feeling she had messed it all up.
 
"I understand, I think. I can bet that Esper and I could shield Zoran, but we can't do that while he's so far away. If Zoran can help her, I'll do anything in my power to help him. And don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm a bit of a snoop, and it gets me into trouble. Combine that with one of my best friends acting unusual, and that's a recipe for diaster," Thomas said. Esper didn't bother to contact Zoran. Even if he could reach him, which he might not, Zoran would already know. He had a deeper conection to Zaria than Esper did. He had likely felt what they had done. Vulpix was still seething from that.
"How dare she!? That just makes me so mad!" Vulpix said. Deluge blasted him with a cool Water Gun. Vulpix was on his feet again, steam radiating from his body. He looked around at all of there faces, and simmered down. With as much dignity as he could, he walked back to the fire. Thomas knew that Zoran could do it. And he knew they would meet again soon. He just hoped Zoran hadn't worked himself into a frenzy by the time they met back up. Thomas knew how that would go. At best, Zoran would attack him, and then later calm down. At worst, the friendship the two of them enjoyed would be over. All because Thomas had to stick his nose in something that wasn't his buisiness. Thomas couldn't stand any longer, and fell into a sitting position.
 
Alyss went to go get her socks and shoes and didn't reply to Thomas.If Zari's this bad because of that guy... what's happened to Zora? They're tied together and all... She didn't want to think about it but she went to Zaria anyway. Zanna went after her. When she caught up with the ghost, she asked. "Is this fun?"

The girl snorted. "Hardly. Brats are annoying."

"I know you're not Zari," Alyss said firmly, sitting down. She wasn't afraid of this, not even close. "Zari probably hates you right now."

There was a shrug. "And your point is? Zaria's hated my guts since the beginning. It's perfectly fair because I hate her too. I don't care about this spirit or anything: I mean:" She snorted. "It's not like she's completely real. Zaria's just a bunch of Zoran's power given a form, the form of death. Maybe some of her spirit is in here. These idiots wouldn't be able to talk to her like that if it was just her. The only ones who can talk to those spirits are those who have relations to the dead, family or not, and those lucky ducks with the ability to." She laughed almost innocently at the odd look on Alyss' face. "Does that really surprise you?"

Alyss shook her head. "I saw it remember? It was four years ago."

"That's right, it was before you thought you were a hero and got yourself nearly killed," Zaria drawled. "So..." She jerked a thumb at the distant party. "What are they gonna do?"

"Get her brother to fix you."

Zaria starred at her for a moment before bursting into delighted laughter, almost bringing tears to her eyes. "Seriously? They're going to have Zoran take on me? When I have a piece of his power right now and Zaria's? That's beautiful! They're going to get him killed."

"Not if Asha's with him," Alyss countered and the other girl winced. She was afraid of Asha. Aura could hurt a ghost and those two were a dangerous team. Asha may have blown up the base due to a power meltdown but it was Zora who actually nearly killed Theo. Alyss stood, picking up Zanna. "So enjoy this while you can." Zanna smirked. His little human actually sounded arrogant and slightly sadistic. Good girl. The winged girl gave the fake a blazing look. "I'm going to enjoy hearing you scream even more."

"Do those brats know you're such a monster?"

"It shouldn't surprise anyone," Zanna muttered. "Theo trained her too. Only natural she has momentary lapses of her normal self. And when it comes to her friends..."

"They happen more often," Alyss mumbled, putting her shoes on and walking back.
 
"Come on, Thomas, let me help you!" Marcus said.
"No. They're just scratches. They aren't even that deep! Don't waste the first aid stuff. Who knows when we'll get more," Thomas said.
"But you can't even stand!" Marcus said urgently.
"I already told you, that was from using my powers on Zaria. It's hard to use that much power to hurt someone. It even harder to not hurt them with it. I'll be fine in the morning. For, just let me lay here for a while," Thomas said. The sun had gone down. Vulpix walked back to the camp. He sniffed at the fish and made a face. He grabbed his rabbit and walked away from the fish.
"At least let us bring you to the fire," Robby said. Thomas sighed. That was the last thing he wanted. He didn't want to be carried around like an indigent. His eyes were going wonky again. He wasn't blinded, but his vision was a lot brighter, and fuzzier. His depth perception had gone. He started to protest when Robby grabbed his shoulders. Marcus grabbed his feet, and the two of them carried him to the fire. They set him down, and Robby threw a fish at him. Thomas swung his arm out to catch it, and misjudged the distance. The fried fish hit him in the face. Thomas's team walked over and got themselves some fish, except for Amber. She sat down next to Thomas and looked worriedly at him.
"Hey, Alyss! Want some fish?" Robby said when the girl walked back to the camp. He waved a fish at her.
 
The girl nodded dazedly, taking one. She nibbled on it halfheartedly, blue eyes concentrating on something else. She handed most of it to her Pokemon and pulled out her last three Pokeballs, none of which had come out yet. They were perfectly ordinary Pokemon; she just wasn't sure if bringing them out would cause a problem. Arca purred in her arms, pawing the Pokeballs playfully. She nipped at her trainer's hand and nudged one of the spheres.
 
"Hey! I just had an idea on how we can get to Venice faster! Go by sea! If we just walk there, it will take a week or more. If we ride Marcus's Gyarados, we can get there in a day or two!" Vulpix said happily. Marcus looked up.
"You sure? It's a long way for his to swim," Marcus said.
"Gyarados were from the ocean. Most wild ones are in the ocean already! Your's can do it for sure!" Vulpix said.
"Well, you'll be confined to the back of the poekmon that tried to eat you for two days. Can you handle that?" Thomas asked with a grin. He wouldn't be trapped. He could always get Razor to lift him away for a while.
"Please! I'm tough! I can take anything! But, you do have that beast under control, right?" Vulpix said warily. Marcus nodded.
"Well, if you all want, we can do that!" Vulpix said. Thomas thought about it.
"It will get us there faster, and that's great! I'm all for it!" Robby said.
"Why? I don't get why you're driving us there so fast," Thomas said. Robby frowned a bit.
"Before Marcus took his visions back, I had one last one. I can't remember it well, just that something important will happen in Venice," Robby said.
"Gee, Robby, could you be a little more vague?" Vulpix said sarcasticly. Thomas wondered if the vision of Venice and the vision of the white Arcanine were conected in any way.
"Uh... I don't mind," Marcus said.
"It makes no difference to me. How about you two, Alyss and Zaria?" Thomas said, reminding everyone that they were as much a part of the group as he was.
 
Alyss smiled faintly. "It's okay with me and I'll just fly away if not." She retrieved her Pokemon and went to go sit nearby the group, while keeping a distance from them. She knew they didn't want her around as much as before. She had proved she wasn't as trustworthy as they thought. Alyss ignored the dark feeling in her chest and watched Zaria wander around. The girl would follow, whether she said anything or not. Zaria was still there so she wanted to see her brother. That would override any urge the shadow's control.
 
Esper sensed her unease. He sent her soothing images, trying to let her know that he and Thomas cared about her and trusted her. He couldn't speak for the others, but was sure they felt the same way. Thomas shrugged at what Alyss said. That had been his plan too.
"Alright. Do you have a route planned out?" Thomas asked. Vulpix nodded.
"I knew someone that did some work around here. He was a water type. He knew all the ocean currents. He told me about them. That's how I know we can go faster! They run around to the South. We can just ride the current around to the tip of Portugal, then go through the channel. After that we can just ride around the southern coast of Italy and head North. Venice is right on the coast!" Vulpix said. He used his paw to draw a rudimentary map of the route they would take. Thomas understood what he meant. And to camp, they would be next to the coast, so that would be covered. That would work, it really would. Now that they had a plan, it was time to sleep. Marcus yawned and rolled over.
"Good night everyone," he mumbled. Robby lay back as well. Thomas was thinking about what had happened. He didn't like what was going on. The further he went more trapped he would be. And if he went back, his friends would suffer. And not just his friends. Everyone would be thrown to the darkness. He couldn't give up, but the more he struggled, the tighter he was bound. He didn't see a way out of this. Esper sent him comfort. Esper also showed him that a way would present it's self. Thomas sighed. He was worrying too much. He leaned back.
"Sleep well everyone," Thomas said softly before going to sleep himself.
 
Zaria was floating over the camp, looking amused as she soared. "How does it feel to be the prey?" she hummed to the air. "That tightening feeling in your chest, it's scary right? Being trapped, lost, feeling the fangs in your throat, it's the worst." She smiled to herself. "Get used to it now, because it won't go away." Alyss looked at her dazedly then closed her eyes.

"Almost sounds like you feel bad for them," she muttered. The ghost huffed and said nothing.
 
Esper looked up at Zaria.
"The hunter is hunted. How ironic," he said to Zaria.

Thomas woke up early the next morning. He tested his arms and leg, and was satisfied by the dull ache. He was on his feet in no time at all. He walked around, stretching his muscles. He called his pokemon back, except for Esper. Vulpix walked back into camp, dragging a ferret.
"Where did you get that? I hope it wasn't anyones pet," Thomas said.
"Bite me," Vulpix grumbled. He began eating the ferret. TYhomas picked up one of the leftover fish and began eating as well. It was cold, but it still tasted fine. Marcus woke up and looked around.
"Morning," he mumbled. He grabbed a fish. He looked oddly at Vulpix.
"Some kids going to be really sad when he wakes up," Marcus said.
"It was a wild ferret! Please, as if I'd be that desperate that I'd steal from humans!" Vulpix said. He continued eating as though nothing had happened. Thomas raised his eyebrows at Marcus.
 
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