Fateful Decisions (1/3)

[Words: 1657]

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A quiet dripping of water was the only response he got for his revelation, and that was fair. It sounded smoother in his head than saying it out loud.

The others were staring at him while he stared at the cracks in the cave ceiling, grimacing at the uncomfortable rocks below him.

Yet even though it was uncomfortable, he continued to lay on the cold, hard ground as the alternative was sitting up or standing. And kicking that Granbull was a stupid reaction, it felt like he kicked a steel wall and just barely managed to budge it.

"That's so cool!" "That's so cliche it hurts!"

Joe scrambled towards his him and lifted his hand like it was a treasure while Lora groaned and flailed on the ground, breaking the gloomy atmosphere.

Izan almost snorted at Joe's reaction and sighed at Lora's.

Both of their reactions were how Izan mentally felt when hearing Lora's words. To anyone who'd played the Pokemon Colosseum series, the words 'closed its heart off' would be a huge, unnoticeable red flag.

That was almost word for word what the game described, after all.

Shadow Pokemon were a type of Pokemon that, in the game, were said to have the 'door to their hearts shut artifically'. They constantly attacked with full force and were referred to as soulless fighting machines with no regard for their own life.

Of course, just that line wasn't what confirmed it for him.

It was the fact that no one else had seen the dark aura that it was releasing, clear as day.

In the games, this dark aura was only seen by a character named Rui. She was instrumental in the game, with the ability to discern which Pokemon were Shadow or not to the main protagonist.

Some theorized her abilities were born from a psychic power, but it was never confirmed what exactly caused her to have this ability. Nor was it even explained what the ability did for her.

Did it allow her to see the aura of other Pokemon as well? Was it something she'd always had or was it something she developed when Shadow Pokemon were born?

There were more questions than answers, which was typical of the Pokemon world.

Her eyes didn't change like his, so maybe it wasn't the same. Or maybe she just had a weaker version? For now, there were too many questions to make a conclusion.

What he did know though, was that his power was almost 90% certainly linked with Shadow Pokemon. It just made sense. If Shadow Pokemon closed their heart off to everything for the sake of mindless power, he had the exact opposite power.

He could link with Sandshrew on a level that was frankly staggering and even share some of his… 'light' to make her attacks stronger.

Add to the fact that he was only on this mission because of a 'gut feeling' and it all fit into the idea that he was 'supposed' to come here. He was 'supposed' to deal with that Shadow Granbull.

Questions about the origins of things could be answered later

Now, the only question was what to do next.

"Yeah, it is pretty cliche." He agreed.

Robin tilted her head at them. "Am I the only person who's confused?"

"Nah, I'm lost too. It's still cool though," Joe agreed, staring intensely at his hand still.

"Okay, so-" "Basically-" Both he and Lora started, stopped, and then stared at each other.

Izan blinked, shrugged, and nodded at her. He was sort of curious about what she thought he meant, so he'd let her go first.

"Right, so, have you guys ever heard those stories about the 'Hero' defeating the great 'Demon King'?" Lora asked.

That wasn't what he was expecting her to say first. Or second.

"Oh yeah, I remember those." Joe perked up. "The lady at the library used to tell those types of stories to all the kids when we were younger."

"Well, I've never heard it." Robin scoffed.

Joe furrowed his brows. "What? Yes you have, you were there."

Robin rolled her eyes. "I wasn't paying attention to that old hag. She kept asking questions, getting in my business."

Okay, this girl was beyond ridiculous.

"Dude, how were you a delinquent even as a kid? You couldn't have been older than like eight." Izan had to comment.

"I wasn't a delinquent and I'm not one now! I just didn't like the bitch, okay?" Robin whisper-yelled back at him.

"Whatever you say" Izan held his hands up in a placating gesture. "Knife-wielding maniac." He muttered.

"Anyway," Joe interrupted the ensuing argument. "What does this have to do with Izan's oddly cool light power thing? Most of those stories are just sad."

"Well, maybe they're sad now." Lora agreed. "People have tried to change the Demon King format into a tragedy story ever since Aura Guardians became way more popular.

"Before that, however, the format was pretty simple. A Demon King appears one day, razing villages and being a general tyrant with their evil Pokemon. People try and fight back, but it doesn't work, and then they eventually have to summon a Hero from 'another world' with the ability to turn Pokemon into 'Light' type. The Hero trains, adventures, builds a Pokemon team and then defeats the Demon King. Happily ever after and all that." She ranted.

That was… eerily similar to his actual circumstances. He was summoned by… someone. He did have a light power. And if he was correct, he was the key to combatting Shadow Pokemon.

But it's not as if Shadow Pokemon were undefeatable. The world didn't 'need' him.

Robin, being ever helpful, scoffed. "That sounds way lamer than stories about the Aura Guardians. At least those stories are somewhat true."

Lora hummed. "Well, that's the thing. The story of the Hero versus the Demon King has been changed over the years and lost to time so… could it have been true?" She subtly gestured toward Izan.

Joe's eyes widened, "Are you saying…?"

"Okay, no. I mean, that's a very interesting theory and the similarities are uncanny but no." Izan interrupted.

Lora raised a disapproving eyebrow. "No? And why not? Unless you know where your power comes from…?"

"Well, no, I don't." He admitted. "Buuuut I do know where Shadow Pokemon come from. Shadow Pokemon originated in Orre from a group of scientists, not some weirdo Demon King."

"Yeah? And how long ago did that happen? And what process was used to did to create the Shadow Pokemon? They could be using an artifact leftover from the late Demon King." She challenged.

"That… I don't know, man." He once again admitted. "Why are you so insistent on this?"

"Wait, wait, wait. Back up. You said it originated in the Orre region from a group of scientists. Why the hell is one of them over here?" Robin interrupted.

That was a good question. He had a few theories, but there were only two that seemed genuinely plausible.

One, this was an alternate universe to the canon games and shows, so the 'main plot' could be anything. Meaning Team Cipher could just be migrating to Kanto for some odd reason, bringing along their garbage Shadow Pokemon as well.

Or two, Team Rocket. In the Pokemon Go games, there were a few events where Team Rocket were using shadow Pokemon for some reason or another.

He hadn't kept up with that game, so he didn't know all the details, but he did remember debating replaying it just for that event.

It was the event that added Shadow Mewtwo after all, and who didn't want their own Shadow Mewtwo?

"I think I know, but it doesn't matter. It's here now and I feel like I have to deal with it. Are any of you gonna help me?" He asked, ending the questions and getting to the root of the whole discussion.

The silence he got in response was disappointing, but he couldn't blame them.

Izan was confident in himself and Sandshrew. That much anyone could see from how he carried himself.

A regular Granbull was already way above his level. A Shadow one on top of that? It was a bit much to handle- understatement on 'a bit'.

He couldn't even put into words 'why' he had to do this. He just… he just HAD to. The only thing he could compare the feeling to was hunger or thirst. He just needed to fix this… or else.

"I say we put it to a vote." Joe spat out abruptly. He had a serious look on his face for the first time since Izan had met him. "Either we all go or none of us go. Splitting up is only gonna cause problems and we'll be stronger together."

"What happens if it's a 50/50?" Lora asked, looking nervous.

Joe mulled it over for a moment before nodding. "If it's an even split, then we won't go. Majority rule."

"Well, obviously I vote to go." Izan began, taking the opportunity for what it was.

"I also vote to go. I think I've already expressed my feelings about this whole thing." Joe continued.

"Well, I fuckin' don't!" Lora snapped. "Don't be stupid, people. That… thing in there isn't a Pokemon any longer. It's an abomination, a complete defiance of what nature should be and I want nothing to do it."

Izan wrinkled his nose at the way she said that. It's not like it was past the point of no return. Even without his linking power, the regular people in the games managed to find a way to purify Shadow Pokemon.

She was probably letting her bias from looking into its mind affect her. A fair judgment based on that, but a harsh one.

"Oh, uh…" Robin fidgeted in place, probably just realizing everyone was waiting for her vote with bated breath.

"Well, I guess I vote to…"

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(A/N: I vote to end the chapter!)