FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 5

"Tod...Help...please..." The creature above them said slowly in their heads, and the Abra beside Rook began to shake violently.

Rook looked down at him. "Enzlo? Who is Tod?"

Enzlo didn't respond, shaking while staring up at the tube and the pokémon within before suddenly his eyes snapped wide open and he sprinted towards the machine while shouting. "Riley!"

The Abra began to frantically press buttons on the machine in a random order. "Riley! I'll help you! Don't worry!"

"Hey! Stop what you're doing! You might just hurt the poor thing even more!" Rook turned towards the voice, snarling and raising his hackles at the sight of the Weavile once again planted on a monitor placed just above the doorway.

Enzlo snapped around himself, eyes still wide open as he shouted furiously. "You monster! You knew it was him!"

Jack sneered and took that infuriating stance, making both the Lycanroc and Abra clench their paws into fists. "I have no idea what you're talking about. He appeared here in our lab when we came to this world, just like I said. But this is an interesting development...you call him Riley, like that boy who died the same day Tod did...wait...I'd forgotten! You're an Abra of the Corsova Clan. That means...oh dear Tod, I'm both delighted and angered to see you again."

"Damn it Jack!" The Abra shouted, swinging an arm in a wide motion. "Haven't you done enough damage!?"

"You're one to talk boy. You destroyed my previous lab, neigh, basically blew it up. If it's anyone's fault that Riley died that day it's your own. I was sure that both of you were out of my hair after all that but here you both are once again. I'm not sure what caused Riley's spirit to cling to my lab, but I'm sure I can probably excuse quite a few of my underlings for certain...actions they took during the ten years I had been rebuilding to my goals. He probably possessed them as a ghost type, hiding under my nose for years...clever boy. It's too bad the journey through time and space knocked him out." The Weavile cackled and clicked his claws together once more.

"Let him go!" Enzlo shouted out once more.

Now Rook had to speak up, curiosity and the need to know what was going on making him ask. "Who is Tod? Who is Riley?"

"You should remember that Rook." Enzlo said next to him, suddenly much more calm, and Rook looked over at him to see that his eyes were once again fully closed. "Tod was the name of the boy I was with that day you were rescued."

Rook took a moment, then nodded as he remembered the boy Lilian had called Tod. "Yeah...sandy blonde boy...he jumped from the boat as Lilian left."

"Foolish." Jack giggled above them. "They both died that day. I thought the Abra had too, but it seems he used his clan's magics to bind the dying boy's mind to his own and went into hiding. As for Riley, I guess his determination to derail my studies turned him into that." Jack waved a claw dismissively.

"Clan magic?" Rook asked to Enzlo.

"The Corsova Clan was a clan who deeply valued the connections humans and pokémon share. They believe that we share a common ancestor, and that humans and pokémon were once one and the same. Tod was a part of that clan, and so was I. From an early age we were both assigned as each others partner in life. As part of their trials to understand nature, members of the Corsova clan leave their home when they come of age and travel the world for twenty years with their companion pokémon."

Enzlo turned away from both Rook and Jack, his paws gently starting to push buttons on the machine as he kept speaking, ignoring the Weavile's repeated demand to stop messing with the machine. "The Corsova end up sharing such a deep connection to their companion that their very life forces are tied together...should the human die, so does his partner pokémon."

In front of them, the machine clacked. One of the arms holding one of Riley's legs let go, and Jack shouted, "STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW! I'M WARNING YOU!" But Enzlo continued to slowly tap away at the machine, pausing every now and then as if to think hard on what to do next while he kept speaking over Jack's shouting to Rook.

"My connection to Tod was already very close, even when we were growing up together we were nearly never far apart from one another." Enzlo's voice started to shake as he spoke, and Rook's ears folded back at the sadness he could hear in the words. "But...it's a bit of a one sided connection. Should the pokémon die, the human remains..."

"I held resentment towards this small factor..." Enzlo said sadly. "Why should my life be forfeit either way but not my human's? That resentment kept our connection from fully developing. Until I saw Tod dying in front of me..."

The machine beeped once more, the other leg now free as Riley was listening right alongside Rook. The Lycanroc had the feeling that Enzlo was speaking more to Tod even while he was letting them listen.

"He was dying...right there in front of me..." He chuckled slightly as he shook his head, a small grin on his face. "Until that moment, I had always thought that what I'd feel if that ever happened would be anger and fear that I was going to die along with him. But no...I felt pain, sadness. My soul felt like it was being torn apart. I realized that I didn't want to lose him, even if my own life was forfeit. Something happened that day. That resentment was gone, and at that moment, my life force did merge with Tod's and then shortly after...he died..." Another beep as Riley's left arm was released, and Enzlo put one paw on his chest. "yet I lived, and I could feel him still, but inside me."

"I wouldn't find out until later from a Corsova elder after escaping the explosion that followed in the lab...that there's an event so rare that the Corsova think of it like a legend themselves; if the bond between pokémon and human is strong enough, and the pokémon willing and able, the human's soul can merge with that of the pokémon."

Enzlo began tapping buttons carefully once more. "Tod's soul wouldn't wake up until much later, in fact it just recently did when I came into this world. I don't think that's a coincidence we were unfrozen by Mega Alakazam now with Jack having returned. Tod now lives on inside me, and we both have a duty to finish."

"This is all very touching!" Jack shouted over them. "But if you don't stop touching that machine-"

"You'll what Jack?" Enzlo asked calmly as he kept up his work. "Do you want to know something? It's not just myself who has a human living inside his body, or gave up his soul for him either. There's another pokémon in this world just like me."

"Who?!"

"Ruli." The Abra said and turned away from the console as he stared at the monitor. "I did lie earlier. You should be afraid of him Jack, for several good reasons. Not just because he's a Mega, but because he's a human in a pokémon body just like yourself. Ruli's real name is Zane, a human from the future you had created, a future where all that precious energy you harvested from the pokémon you killed is starting to run dry. Pokémon back in our world went extinct over 18000 years ago."

Jack's face froze in a look of horrific revelation, and the Abra seized on it. "That's right Jack, the future you desired for mankind is starting to slowly fade away.Your greed carried on to the next generations and they eventually killed off the last of the pokémon. Now, as that life energy fades away, all of mankind is slowly starting to starve. Within the next two thousand years...it'll all be gone..."

"Zane had been sent here at first to destroy the barrier...but as he learned the truth and the real horrors of what you did, he decided to defend and save this world. It wasn't easy, as a human he was instantly hated by most of this worlds defenders, but the trust and love he'd gained from those he'd been with turned them around eventually. That's something you'd never understand."

"You're right to be afraid of the other pokémon here Jack. They don't like you, you're practically the anti-Arceus. They'll see you destroyed." He reached back behind himself, hovering his paw over the last button. "You raised this barrier out of that fear!"

"How...?" Jack stammered on the other end of the monitor. "How? You shouldn't be able to operate that machine...the language on it shouldn't be known to you!"

"I know...that's the only reason you really allowed us into this room. You believed we wouldn't be able to turn this off, and that while we tried to desperately figure it out you could carry on with trying to develop a plan." Enzlo grinned.

He reached up and tapped the side of his head, "But it's not just myself in here. With my partner reading the letters for me, I can turn off your barrier and open you up to a literal world of hurt."

"What about all the other humans here? Wouldn't they be assaulted just the same as myself?" Jack rambled, trying to buy himself a way out.

"It's well known that Ruli was once a human in this world, and he is very well trusted amongst its leaders now. Unlike you, Ruli is kind hearted. He won't let those who don't truly deserve their punishment be harmed. I'll make sure of it myself as well." And with that, Enzlo pressed down on the final button.

The machine behind them whirred as the final arm holding Riley in the air let go, and then the helmet began to slowly descend to the ground. Riley slumped as he touched the cold floor, unable to remain standing, as the helmet released itself. Jack shouted out in rage and his picture blinked off from the monitor.

Enzlo stood still for a brief moment and he turned toward Rook. "Please...can you carry Riley? We need to leave as soon as possible, the barrier is starting to fade."

The Lycanroc nodded. There were several questions swirling through his brain but he knew now wasn't the time to ask them, and he stepped over to the barely moving ghost type and knelt down to pick him up.

"Easy there Riley." Rook said as he picked up and held the small gray pokémon in one arm, cradling him against his side. "We'll get you out of here first and then put a stop to Jack."

The ghost types eyes had already closed again. He seemed completely wiped out.

"That machine was using him to power the barrier." Enzlo said sadly. "He's been constantly drained of nearly everything, just barely kept alive..." Enzlo stared at the machine behind them. "This machine...it's used when they drain pokémon of their lifeforce."

Rook looked over at the machine and he growled, and he lifted the other paw that wasn't holding Riley and it glowed yellow. "Allow me then." He snarled and clenched his paw into a fist. Just a few seconds later, four slabs of hard rock suddenly burst through the white tiles of the lab from the walls, ceiling, and floor, crushing the machine in front of them.

"With the barrier gone, I have no doubt that it's only a matter of time before the Eeveelutions rush the island. We have a duty to make sure that no one that doesn't deserve it gets harmed." Enzlo said, and he teleported and landed on the Lycanroc's shoulders.

"Quickly!" Enzlo said, his paws holding onto Rook's ears. Rook didn't bother trying to tell the Abra off for riding him because he knew he was right and that he was faster.

__________________

The pair reached the reception area of the lab shortly after, and as they entered the room and moved to the elevator, the monitor behind them flicked on.

"Do you have any idea the trouble you've caused me over my career you blasted Abra?!" Jack snarled on the other end of the monitor.

"No." Enzlo replied slyly as he slid the card through the card reader. "I wasn't entirely, but I'm glad to know that I've caused you enough annoyance that I set back your goals for at least ten years."

"You want to know something that I'm surprised of?" Jack asked coldly, and Rook turned his gaze over his shoulder to see the look on the Weavile's face. Jack's eyes were narrowed dangerously. The rumble of the descending elevator was growing closer.

"You both failed to ask yourselves. 'Where are all the other scientists?'" Jack sneered and grinned. The rumbling was still growing, but Rook was beginning to realize; that wasn't the elevator approaching.

From the other end of the reception room, the wall suddenly burst open as a giant ape pokémon barrelled through it. The Slaking held in its hands a rather large piece of metal, which it threw towards the group. Rook protected himself, Riley, and Enzlo from the flying debris by crouching low and rolling, the large chunk of metal crashing into the elevator door behind them, smashing it beyond functionality. Sparks lazily flew from the control panel as Rook growled and stood up slowly.

"Rook..." The Slaking growled out and he reared up on its hindlegs and pounded its chest rapidly before slamming its fists onto the ground. The slam left a rather good sized hole in the floor.

From the monitor hanging over the reception desk, Jack giggled. "Rook, you remember Oscar, don't you?"

Rook's eyes widened at the Slaking in front of him. "Oscar...?" The brief vision of the pudgy, mustached man that had raised him replaced the Slaking for just a moment. The ape snorted and grunted angrily while thumping the ground in front of himself excitedly. A large metal collar was secured snugly around his neck.

"That's right. His mind isn't quite what it used to be now...since I infused him with the energy of every single scientist here." Jack chortled.

"You did what?!" Enzlo shouted from Rook's shoulders.

Jack clicked his claws. "Like I said; I was surprised you never questioned where all the other scientists went. You went through empty room after empty room, and so far you've only seen myself on these screens. The fools were useless to me, but they'd been turned into pokémon, so it was a fairly simple equation. After extraction of all their life forces while they slept, I decided to infuse it all into Oscar. As a Slaking I believed it would turn him into a real powerhouse, and it has, though at the cost of his mind."

"Rook..." Oscar grunted once more while staring down the Lycanroc. Rook stared wide eyed still at the Slaking in front of him. Oscar had betrayed him...yet to see him in such a wild state...

"Enzlo...you'll have to take Riley and Teleport away to someplace safe to hide for the moment." He said softly while his eyes softened.

He felt the paws on his ears tighten and the relax once more, as Enzlo answered. "I understand...be careful."

The Abra vanished, taking Riley with him, leaving Rook's arm empty as he took a fighting stance. "Oscar...if you're in there. Fight it..." Rook's fur bunched up all along his body as the ape snorted.

"I know you can." Rook growled as he snarled. "I've gone over that day so many times in my head...the words you said to Lilian."

There was a softening in the eyes of the Slaking in front of him as he continued. "You didn't want that for me either did you? You hated seeing me like that just as much as she did. You had said it yourself that you knew what it felt like to Lilian and you just couldn't allow yourself to feel that again. You felt that same pain before, because other pokémon you've raised have been tormented and used. It's Jack...he forces you to do these things, you know they're wrong, fight him."

The ape turned its head to the monitor, and the Weavile snickered while clicking its claws. "Nonsense. Oscar did those things for the same reasons I did. The advancement of man above all else." His gaze turned towards the Slaking. "Oscar, kill Rook."

Oscar turned his head back to Rook, breathing and huffing, his eyes squinting and opening repeatedly as the human inside was trying to regain his full control. Rook remained in his fighting stance, but the glow of his eyes dimmed slightly as he could tell, Oscar was winning.

Seeing this as well, Jack sighed. "And so the last of my underlings betrays me as well. Enough then." He claws tapped at the controls of his console and the collar around Oscar's neck beeped. The big gorilla shouted out and his hands tried to grab at the metal collar as it plunged needles into his neck.

Oscar fell forward, face slamming into the ground and Rook called out. "Oscar!" He glared at the monitor. "Stop it Jack! Enough!"

Jack grinned and took that damned stance once more, cackling. "Just like when I had you Rook, I've planned for every contingency when it comes to disobedience. Remember what I told you about Salazzle? Their pheromones can induce and control any male of any species to do their bidding. Including fighting."

The Slaking was huffing and growling, his body shaking as the commanding mixture of Salazzle pheromone coursed through his blood.

"Oscar..." Rook said sadly.

Oscar's head snapped up to stare at Rook, the slowly calming look that had been in his eyes now replaced with an intense and burning state of rage. The look didn't even phase Rook, who remained looking sadly at his handler. He knew it wasn't a look of anger intendedly directly at him. It was induced by the pheromones.

Suddenly Oscar roared and flung himself forward from his crouching position, and swung a mighty fist forward. Rook brought up his arms and grunted as the first collided with his steel like fur. The Lycanroc was sent back through the air, crashing against the opposite wall. Again, his fur protected him from the impact mostly, but the sudden jostling knocked a bit of the wind from him as he fell and caught himself on the floor. Kneeling, Rook panted softly to catch his breath back and looked with a stern gaze towards the raging ape, who again beat his chest with his fists several times while grunting in challenge.

Rook stood up and he grimaced. "Sorry Oscar...I didn't want to have to do this to you." His paws glowed yellow as he grasped them together and slabs of rock emerged from the ground around the Slaking. They surrounded him, quickly forming a pyramid of solid rock and covering him.

Rook sighed and lowered his paws, and then turned towards Jack. The Weavile was grinning slyly, but before Rook could say anything the blue furred weasel chuckled. "You really don't think that's enough to hold him do you?"

Right after he asked that, a part of the rock pyramid burst open as Oscar smashed through it with both of his balled up fists, which glowed a bright white.

Rook spun in surprise. His summoned rocks were as sturdy as any metal! Oscar shouldn't be strong enough to do that!

"Oscars been empowered by the life energies of dozens of scientists turned pokémon. While he's not able to control the energy as well as you do your own, he's already on par with your strength just based on how much of it he has at his disposal." Jack sneered as the ape charged at Rook

Rook acted quickly. He knelt and clapped his paws against the ground. A thick wall of rock sprang up a few feet in front of him. It wasn't enough. Oscar's wild charge broke through the large wall, snapping the blockade into several large pieces that fell over both him and Rook. The large ape managed to grab hold of the Lycanroc, one hand pinning him against the ground.

Rook gasped and struggled, his arms bound by the tight grip covering his upper body. Desperately, Rook kicked with his hindpaws, his claws raking against Oscar's muscle gut. Oscar growled, the claws raking into his body drew blood, but even as Rook kept up the attack, he refused to budge, his paw crushing the Lycanroc against the ground, breaking the tiles apart under them. The pheromones had him all but immune to any sense of pain.

With Rook's earlier rock weakening the structure, the floor gave way, and Rook howled as they fell to the next floor under them. Oscar's firm grip on his body kept him powerless, and even with his fur protecting him, the weight of the ape shoving him into the floor of the next level with the momentum of the fall caused Rook to feel something in his chest crack. He gasped and coughed up blood, splattering it across Oscar's large hand.

"Rook!" Enzlo's voice shouted out, the Abra and Riley were close by. Apparently the psychic type had only been able to Teleport to the floor below them. It was a small research lab, several desks were scattered about.

The monitor in this room above the doorway flickered to live with Jack's image, grinning with glee as Oscar's paw squeezed around Rook tightly. Rook whined, the tight grip was too powerful for him to wiggle free, and suddenly, his own defense was being used against him. His fur was being crushed against his body, crushing his chest and the rest of his body slowly as the ape constricted him more and more.

"You think I didn't know what your own weaknesses are Rook? I created you, molded you. Your defense may be incredibly strong, but it can also be your biggest weakness when you meet the wrong opponent."

Rook had to disagree. He wasn't about to let Jack be proven right on anything about him! His eyes glowed and he desperately tried to touch the ground with his paw to channel his power into it. He finally managed to tap one claw and he growled as he focused as best he could while feeling his body being crushed by the immense grip. The slab of rock from part of his pyramid broke apart from the structure that rose up from the depths behind Oscar and slammed across the back of the Slaking.

Oscar's grip momentarily loosened from the distraction and Rook pulled his arms free, slamming them both against the ground above his head, eyes glowing brightly. A pointed spire emerged from the wall and shoot right for the big apes body.

Oscar roared as his chest was impaled upon the pointed end of the rock, and then pressed against the opposite wall of the room. Jack shouted out in rage. "No!"

Rook panted, clutching his chest as he slowly lifted himself up from the dent in the ground. He gazed upon Oscar with his glowing eyes, the light dimming as he took in what he'd just done.

Oscar was pinned against the wall by the sharp spire, the jagged tip buried in the left part of his chest. Right through his heart. Blood poured down from the wound and dripped onto the ground underneath. His right paw was grasping the thick spear, unmoving, and his eyes were fixed on Rook. The rage was gone, recognition and sense returned, but the heavy look in his eyes also marked his fading life. He gave a shaky grin towards Rook when the Lycanroc had looked up.

"Oscar!" Rook shouted, and he tried to rise up, but whatever bones had broken in his chest sparked a lance of pain that froze him. It felt like the collars venom all over again except this time, an actual injury. Rook had never been actually injured before in all his life. He coughed up blood once more, staring at the red liquid on the ground. His own blood.

He looked back up to Oscar, but the ape's head had dipped, chin to chest, his paw still gripping the spire of rock. He was already gone,

Seeing this, something in Rook's mind snapped. The glow of his eyes turned into coals, the light as bright as two purple suns, encasing the whole room in a blinding ray. His paws became covered in the brightest yellow glow he'd ever produced as he slammed them to the ground and howled out in despair.

The entire island began to shake. The denizens shouted out in fear as their homes were rocked from their very foundations, precious items falling from shelves as the island suffered the Lycanroc's fury. Several buildings began to collapse, unable to withstand the powerful tremors quaking through them.

Jack visibly lost balance as the very earth under his feet jostled him, disappearing under the console of his computer while dust and pieces of the roof detached and feel all around him. Soon after, the monitor lost connection as the shaking caused it to fall from it's support and crash onto the rumbling floor.

"Rook!" Enzlo shouted out, his eyes blinded by the bright light. "Rook!"

Rook couldn't hear him. He couldn't hear anything. The only thing he could hear was his own howls of anguish. His power raged uncontrollably. The pillars of rock shattered apart, littering the ground and threatening to wash over Enzlo and Riley.

Enzlo sensed the falling debris and lifted his hands, a blue glow emanating from them as he created an invisible barrier around himself and Riley. The rocks tumbled across the invisible shield, covering it entirely, leaving Enzlo and the ghost type inside a small bubble under the rubble. The stones and caving ceiling covered Rook as well, unprotected he was buried. It muffled the sounds of the Lycanroc's howls, but the quake continued unabated, as even while buried, Rook's fury and anger raged on, fed into the earth by his power.

"Rook! Calm down!" Enzlo shouted out. He had to do something to help the Lycanroc, but as more debris crashed over his Light Screen, he couldn't do anything but maintain the barrier with all his power.

Suddenly, beside Enzlo, Riley groggily spoke. "Tod? What's happening?"

Enzlo turned his head, gritting his teeth as he held up his shield. Riley was slowly rising, waking up from his previous condition. The fear of the citizens above them were reviving the ghost type! "Riley! Do what you can to hold this shield please! I have to help Rook!"

The smokey ghost pokémon still was recovering, but upon realizing the danger they were in, nodded and lifted his arms up, taking over some of Enzlo's burden of holding the shield. Enzlo instead focused on finding Rook's mind through the debris.

It wasn't very difficult. The Lycanroc's sorrow and rage shined like a beacon to him. He latched onto it and tried to pry into his mind. "Rook!"

The only thing that Enzlo received back in response was loud wails of rage and a feeling of completely and utter despair. Enzlo felt it all from him. Oscar had been one of the two humans who had raised him. For the last eighteen years, Rook felt betrayed by him, but when seeing his previous caregiver reduced to what he was and had seen he'd been fighting it, and then to be forced to kill him...It was tearing the Lycanroc apart.

"Rook! Please stop! You're going to bury us all!"

Finally, Enzlo received an actual response from the anguished rock type. "It doesn't matter anymore! Nothing does!"

"Rook enough! Would Lilian or Oscar want you to kill yourself like this!?"

The shaking of the earth eased slightly, if only for a moment, but the sorrow remained. "Why?! Why is it me?! Why did I have to be the one cursed for this life?!"

Within Enzlo's mind's eye, the Lycanroc materialized. Tears were streaming down his muzzle, eyes still glowing like mad suns as he stared down at the Abra. Enzlo's ears twitched back sadly and he slowly approached him.

"After everything you endured at Jack's hands...you learned that they weren't to blame anymore, you forgave them. I know that deep in your heart, despite your anger at what they had done to you, you still loved Oscar and Lilian. I know that pain, you know I do." Enzlo put his paw over his chest.

Rook growled, eyes clenched tight as he rapidly shook his head. "Easy for you to say! Your human is still with you!" The power of the quake strengthened, as Rook's paws clenched into tight fists.

Enzlo remained calm. "I know...but that doesn't mean I don't understand what you're feeling. Tod's soul may be with me...but I'll never be able to see him in front of me again, never be able to hug him, to ride on his shoulders..."

Enzlo's eyes glowed blue, as he travelled through various memories of his own, and with Rook next to him, the Lycanroc could see and feel the same emotions that Enzlo had ever felt. Slowly, as the memories of Enzlo and Tod flew by, Rook's eyes dimmed. The earthquake in the real world finally subsided, while Rook looked on with a whimper.

"Why Enzlo?" Rook whined. "Why do I feel like this?" He clasped his chest with both paws. "It hurts..."

"It's like a wound deeper than any other, isn't it?" Enzlo asked and he approached and floated up in front of his companion. He put one of his yellow hands over the Lycanroc's. "The Corsova teach that every pokémon in the world creates ties with humans it has extended contact with, particularly those in a loving nature...when one of those humans die, it creates a tear in the pokémon's soul."

"A tear?" The rock type narrowed his eyes, the light dimming and the tears starting to stop. "How many do I have...?" His voice choked a bit.

"Rook...you now have two tears." Enzlo said softly, knowing exactly what was being asked.

The Lycanroc's ears pinned back, rather than become more upset, he only sighed. He looked to the side, closing his eyes and taking a single deep breath, before he opened them again, the glow was gone. "I thought so. This pain...I've felt it before. Just a few days after Lilian rescued me. I thought it was just me wishing I had gone with her instead, but now I know..."

Rook growled, as back in the real world, the rubble in the lab began to rise up off the shield and Riley blinked in surprise as the rocks grated and ground themselves into smaller pieces. Slowly, the three pokémon came to be wading in a sea of small stones. Rook stood among the rubble, his eyes glowing once more and paws held up as he focused. Throughout the island, cracks and fissures closed up and slowly repaired themselves. Though he could not undo the damage done to the buildings of the island, Rook did his best to fix what he'd done.

"I'm sorry." Enzlo continued in their shared thoughts.

"You have nothing you need to apologize to me for, Enzlo." Rook said out loud. He grimaced as he focused his energy through the earth, clearing out the rest of the lab as best as he could.

"It's Jack who will be sorry..." The Lycanroc growled deeply, eyes narrowed dangerously.

_______________________

Despite the injury he'd sustained, Rook refused to retreat like Enzlo wanted.

"I'm going on alone if I must." He had growled when Enzlo had tried to convince him. "Jack has to pay for what he's done."

"You know I can't let you do that alone." The Abra had answered right back, but didn't argue and instead followed right behind him as Rook used his power to clear a pathway deeper into the lab to wherever Jack may have been hiding.

Rook emotions were still boiling inside him, but with the Abra's help, he had managed to reil himself back from self destruction. Enzlo could feel this turmoil, and so also could Riley; the ghost silently following them through the tunnel Rook was digging with his power.

While he had been raging, Rook had sensed a larger room deeper in the lab and had focused most of his earthquake at that center point. This was the room he believed Jack was hiding in, and was where he was currently tunnelling.

"Riley." Enzlo looked over his shoulder at the ghost. It appeared that the fear energy that Rook had caused had mostly revived the ghost. "Just what are you anyway?"

Riley gave a lopsided grin, his yellow eyes glowing like candle flames. "I've taken to calling myself a Marshadow. As far as I can tell I've yet to see another ghost like me. I sometimes don't know if I really am a pokémon, but I seem to be able to use their abilities so I can only think I'm a new kind."

Enzlo smiled. "Either way, it is good to see you. I always knew your spirit was very strong."

"Yours too Enzlo. I'm glad you saved Tod."

"In whatever way I could save him anyway." Enzlo murmurred, and silence fell between them all again. For a few minutes they continued deeper into the earth of the island.

Finally, Rook scowled as he felt them reaching near the room. "We're almost there..."

Seconds later, the tunnel dug into the wall and broke it open, revealing a large lab room covered nearly completely in rubble, and the Weavile was standing at his console with his back to them. While most of the electrical equipment in the room was destroyed, it seemed the main computer was still online.

He didn't even react as the tunnel was opened. Jack continued to type on his console with one claw, his left arm holding onto the right, where blood was dripping onto the ground. The quake had wounded him.

"So the valiant heroes arrive to stop the dreaded villain." Jack crowed, still not even turning around.

Rook snarled. Instantly, two spears of rock pulled themselves out from the walls of the tunnel behind him and came to hover over his shoulders, spinning slowly in place as he slowly walked forward. "Bark all you want Jack...you're finished."

"I think not." Jack stated back, continuing to tap away.

"You've got nowhere to run anymore Jack." Enzlo added in as he was just a few paces behind the Lycanroc. He knew he couldn't really interfere with Rook's mission anymore. Rook had several vendetta's against Jack and needed this more than he did.

"I have plenty of places to run to dear Enzlo." Jack coolly replied while he reached down to a datadisc that was spat out from the large computer he was working on. Rook growled and he flung his right paw forward, the spear at his right shot out to destroy the disc, but before it even reached halfway, it shattered in midair against an invisible barrier.

A sudden cackling filled the room, and from the floor a dark blob with eyes and a large grin appeared, staring at the trio. "Naughty naughty! No hurt the great Jack!"

From the blob, the form of a Sableye rose, twitching his head madly while rubbing his small, shadowy hands together. "Vane protect! Great Jack is back! Jack will finish what we started!"

Jack finally turned, holding the disc with his right hand as the left kept hold of his bleeding arm. Sweat was dripping down his face, but he still had a sly grin as he giggled. "Vane here appeared just after your little tantrum Rook...and he's told me some most interesting facts, at least if I'm understanding his odd speech right. It seems you yet again lied to me. I know what I have to do now to save my people."

Jack grinned widely, his eyes going mad. Perhaps the pain from his wound had broken him slightly. "Those Mirrors...must be destroyed!"

"Rook! Stop him!" Enzlo shouted, but Vane teleported with a small puff of purple smoke, and stood next to Jack. Rook ran forward, but he collided with the invisible barrier that Vane had created between them and stumbled back.

"Run! Run! Keep Jack safe! Will find Mirrors together! Destroy them and destroy barrier!" Vane cackled wildly, his entire body twitching while he smiled up at the Weavile and Jack sneered.

"I quite agree my oddly disturbed new friend." Jack chuckled and reached down, placing his hand over the Sableye's head. Rook reached down and put his paws on the ground.

A rock slab sprang up from the ground underneath Vane and Jack, rocketing them up to the ceiling, but before it could impact, the both of them vanished in a puff of dark smoke. The slab crumbled back to the ground as Rook cursed out everything that he could think of.

Jack had escaped.