FSE

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I sighed, sitting in the shadows across the street from Sara's house. I had been sitting there for about twenty minutes, trying to get the courage I needed to walk the last few steps. My mindset about everything had changed, but I still felt a cold sense of dread at what lay ahead, about what I could end up facing. When I was around Sinori I was so sure everything would turn out fine, but now, sitting alone in the dark, my doubts crept back into my mind. What would Clara say when she saw me? Would Feren attack me when I tried to get back to Sara? What if Sara didn't see me the same way the Ninetales had, what if her parents just saw another Dark Pokemon and wouldn't let Sara keep me? I wanted everything to go back to the way they were... but I was still terrified of what might happen instead.

I felt like I was on the verge of choosing the rest of my life. I could choose to be afraid and run away again, or choose to be the type of Umbreon Sinori had described- the kind that stuck by his trainer and kept her safe, even if it meant being alone in the dark. The choice was obvious, but it was still scary, so I sat in the grass of the neighbor's yard, trying to work up the courage to walk up to the house... until I heard noises coming from Sara's yard. First it was just a faint rustling sound, but then came a series of thumps. My ears twitched at the noise, and I slinked close to the ground and walked across the street, trying to figure out what was happening. I stopped at the edge of a streetlight, still in the shadows, but I couldn't see what had made the noise- the angles were wrong and my view was blocked by the fence. I looked to the porch and double checked the rest of the yard that I could see, but Feren was nowhere in sight. There was another thud, followed by a crunch, and then a sobbing noise. I ran forward and jumped onto the fencepost- somebody was getting hurt and needed my help.

I looked over the yard and finally saw Feren. He was lying motionless on the ground before the tree. His breathing was shallow, and I realized he wasn't conscious- something had hurt him bad enough to knock him out. I looked over the rest of the yard, but it was otherwise empty. I heard grass rustling again, and at first I thought it was just the wind, but I quickly realized it was too irregular to be wind.

I hopped off the post, reaching Feren in two quick bounds. "What's going on? Is anybody out here?"

I listened and scanned the yard, but the rustling slowly died down, leaving me with just the sound of Feren's slow breathing. I looked around the yard one last time, then turned back to the Nidorino. "Feren? Are you okay?" I leaned towards him, about to poke him with my foot until a chill ran from my ears to my tail. It was a shock, but I felt stronger from it somehow. I turned to look around but nothing had changed- the yard was just as empty as when I had first jumped into it. I'm not ashamed to admit it- I was scared, and I whined, a low-pitched "Breee".

I didn't really mean anything with the noise, but it had an effect. The yard changed, growing darker, as a thin fog rose from the grass, congealing into a medium sized head that floated a few feet off the ground. "Ha, ha, ha... so you're finally back. I wondered what had happened to you; I was looking forward to the chance of nabbing the family's cute little Eevee. But here you are, already an Umbreon... I just hope you're not as disappointing as that Nidorino was."

I rose to my feet and stepped over Feren, placing myself between him and the fog creature. "Who are you? What did you do to Feren?"

The fog form laughed again, a scary sound that lacked any sense of the joy a laugh should have. "I guess I can spare some time to chat... It isn't like we're rushed for time or anything. I'm Haunter. Your buddy's fine- for now- a little forced sleep never hurt anybody. Well, not a little bit of it, anyways. I didn't particularly want to hurt him, but he just kept poking around, and he's just a little too smart for his own good. As soon as he figured out I was here he attacked me, so I had no choice but to take care of him."

I looked at the Haunter, watching as a pair of hands formed from the fog, matching the floating head. "What do you mean? Why are you here?"

The Haunter laughed again- he was obviously enjoying himself. "Oh, lots of reasons... but right now, I'm here for you." The Haunter's grin grew as he watched me. "See, right now things aren't going so well, and we need a little help. Houndoom is furious at getting beaten by that Espeon, but he's still too hurt to do anything about it, we need to make sure nothing like that happens again. We can't get what we need if this entire town is out to get us, so we need to take a more subtle approach. We need somewhere to hide, and we need somebody who knows a little bit about the other Pokemon who live in this town to help us out. I've decided that place is here, and that somebody is you."

"I don't think so. You're the one behind everything, aren't you? The one who brought Houndoom and Honchkrow here, the reason they've been attacking everybody? If you think I'm helping you then you're crazy."

"Oh, but why ever not? You don't actually think you still belong with these people, do you? You saw what that Espeon did to my friends; you saw how your trainer's parents reacted to Honckhrow. And you have to know how they'll treat you, now. Your own trainer's father threw you out that very window just a few days ago; you have to know you can't go back to them. You belong with us, with other Dark Pokemon, ones who can teach you and show you what it really means to be a creature of the night." The Haunter pointed up to the window, reaching his other hand out to me, palm open. For a minute I thought about it, all my doubts coming back, and I looked up at the window. Some sort of plastic had been taped over it, shattered pieces of glass still littering the windowsill, and I stared at it in silence.

And it was in the silence I remembered Sinori's words, almost as if they were being whispered to me again. "You're a light, Opal."

I looked down from the window and shook my head at the Haunter. "No. I already know what I am, Haunter, and who I belong with. I won't help you." My rings began glowing and I took a step forward, moving closer to the Haunter and farther away Feren.

"You can't really be that stupid, can you? You're making a huge mistake; your trainer won't even be around much longer."

I froze, suddenly worried. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? I want this place to hide in, and I can't have humans around for that, so I have to chase them away. No parents want to live in the house their child died in; no other couple would want to buy it. That's right, Umbreon- I poisoned your trainer, sneaking poisons into her food and her drinks when nobody was looking, or filling the room with a toxic fog while you both slept. You see, I'm just fine- in this whole city, there's only two or three creatures that have a chance of finding me. My friends are not so lucky- they're strong enough to tear down a gym, but they're just too visible. If they're out in the open, well, it won't be long before the gym leader here corners them. They need a place to hide in while we take this city apart, and a cursed, haunted house with a tragic story is the perfect place. In a few days I'll have your trainer's parents running for the hills, and Houndoom and Honchkrow can move in to a nice haunted house. You can't hope to stop us. Stronger Pokemon than you have already tried, and look where it got them?" The Haunter looked at Feren, glaring, then leaned forward and looked straight at me.

"He won't be a problem anymore. Honchkrow should already be on the way back here. This Nidorino will just... disappear... and nobody will have any idea what happened. That kind of mystery will just add to the mystery and fear of this house, so I guess he helped us out in the end."

I moved, putting myself directly between Feren and the Haunter, and growled angrily. "I don't think so. You're stopping this, right now! I won't let you hurt anyone else!"

The Haunter shook his head, then looked at me and raised a hand. "Well, if you insist..." The air between us shimmered, distorting somewhat, and my head started to hurt. I felt an odd feeling- as if I should be sleepy, even though I wasn't- but I shook my head, fighting it off, and the feeling faded.

"I don't think so, Haunter." I spat the name, filling it with all the anger I felt. This was the Pokemon that was responsible for Sara's recent sickness, the gym being destroyed, the attack in the forest, and who knows how many other horrible things that had happened the past few days. "I don't know what you did to Feren, or how strong or clever you think you are, but I'm not letting you do this. You're leaving this town, and never touching anyone here again!"

Something snapped inside me, and I felt it as my rings began glowing, some sort of power filling them. I growled and rushed at the Haunter, feeling my fur stand on end as I ran forward. My anger seemed to become tangible, a presence around me that I could shape and direct, and I noticed my rings were blazing, lighting up a good foot of the ground around me. As I rushed the Haunter I felt something line up in my thoughts, an impression of steps I should follow, and I grinned as I realized I was learning a new move, like when Sara had asked me to tackle Growlithe what seemed like so long ago. I followed through the images in my thoughts... and everything went dark. The Haunter blinked, looking around in confusion, as if he couldn't see me anymore. My view shattered, and I saw the Haunter from thousands of different angles. I saw myself in random positions too- a shadow of myself, a half image that didn't really exist. I realized this was a part of the move, and I focused on one of my images. The image solidified, and everything shifted as my body rematerialized in that position, right behind the Haunter. I pounced on the ghost, slamming into but yet still passing through him. It felt like jumping through water, and the lack of resistance threw me off balance. At first I thought the Haunter had been unaffected... but as I hit the ground I heard a cry of pain from behind me, and felt a wave of pain radiate off of my opponent. I turned back to face the ghost, and saw yellow streaks passing through it, burn marks that lined up with my rings. I smiled a little, relishing the knowledge that the ghost was in some pain of its own after attacking my trainer.

"A Faint Attack... well you're just a little menace, aren't you? I'll teach you to attack me, you annoying brat!" The Haunter waved its hands, and lights began flashing randomly, twisting through the air and changing colors. I realized what the Haunter was doing as images flashed through my head, and I realized somehow that I could do the same thing- it was a Confuse Ray attack. I braced myself against it, trying to focus on the Haunter... but I fell victim to the effects anyways. The world tilted and I had trouble even staying on my feet. I thought I saw the Haunter again, and I leaped at it- a Quick Attack, darting at it before I lost sight of it again. I hit it- or rather I hit something- with a loud crack, and I felt a sharp pain in my head. The pain pulled me out of my confusion and I blinked, clearing my vision. I looked before me and saw that I had just leapt straight into the tree, leaving a slight indent in the bark. I growled as I turned back to the Haunter, stepping carefully over Feren, and crouched low to the ground. My rings brightened more, and I think my eyes even began to glow- the Haunter's grin faded while he watched me, and he paused.

The Haunter didn't stay scared for long, though, and he began another Confuse Ray. I decided it was fitting to give him a taste of his own medicine, so I focused on the images I had felt when the Haunter had used his earlier Confuse Ray. My instincts told me what to do, and my body followed through, as my rings began to brighten and dim rapidly, distorting the air around me. The move worked- I saw the Haunter tilt a little as he finished his own Confuse Ray, the multicolored lights swirling around me. It wasn't as bad this time- I was sure where the Haunter was, though it was only a hazy outline- so I rushed at him again, energy gathering into my rings as I went through the motions of another Faint Attack.

The move hit him dead on, and I saw another set of yellow streaks fading from the Haunter's body- right before the confused image I had of him hit me with his fist, the air around his hand somehow darker than it should be. A name popped into my head for the move- Payback- and I had a confused set of images linked with it, though I couldn't understand how to do it. I didn't have time to wonder what that meant - searing pain shot through my body, worst at the part of me the Haunter had just hit- and the force of the blow sent me flying, landing and skidding onto the fence. The pain was too much, and I lay there with the breath knocked out of me, wanting to get back onto my feet but overwhelmed by the shock and pain. The Haunter looked badly hurt, and I felt sure another Faint Attack would finish him... but I just couldn't get back up. The Haunter laughed and began to form a blob of dark energy between his hands, and I knew he was about to attack me again. I struggled, trying to get out of the way, trying to move, trying even to get enough breath to do anything... but I was just too hurt from his last attack.

The Haunter's blob glowed, a dim purple glow that radiated shadowy energy... but suddenly the Haunter wasn't laughing anymore. A shocked expression replaced his grin, and with a grin of my own I realized that he wasn't in control of the move anymore. My confuse ray had hit him, and it was finally taking its toll- the Haunter's attack was backfiring on him. I smiled from my collapsed position near the gate and growled again. "Find a new town, Haunter- if you ever come near my trainer again, I'll be here to stop you." The blob exploded, a shockwave of energy radiating out from it, and the Haunter dissolved, defeated.

My body hurt- aching in general, but my left leg and my nose really hurt. I turned back to the tree to check on Feren... but the Nidorino was gone. I blinked and shook my head, just in case I was still affected by the Confuse Ray... but when I checked again, he still wasn't there. I walked through the place he had been, and sniffed the ground, but there was nothing besides a faint smell. I didn't remember him leaving... but the fight had been hectic; maybe I had missed it. I did spot my collar, still lying in the dirt and broken from the night I had become an Umbreon. I took a step to pick it back up, but then stopped before I got to it. Sara was sick and needed my help- I wanted it back, but the collar could wait.

I put Feren at the back of my mind too- I could ask what happened the next time I saw him, even if I was a little angry he hadn't helped me fight the Haunter, since he was well enough to just get up and leave in the middle of the battle. I stayed focused instead on Sara- she was sick because of the Haunter and I had to let somebody know so they could help her. I started to hobble towards the front door, but as I got close I heard a voice from above me. "Nuh-uh... that's far enough for now. Go to sleep, Umbreon..."

I looked up, trying to figure out what was going on, why it sounded like Tule was above me... but some kind of powder drifted down from the tree, filling the air around me. I sniffed it, and sneezed, but the smell filled my nose, seeming familiar. Finally it clicked- it smelled like the cake Sara had offered me on her birthday, what seemed like so long ago.

For some reason, smelling it made me tired, and I had trouble focusing. My head hurt, and my back hurt, and my leg hurt, and sleep seemed like such a good idea. The Haunter was gone, I was back home, and I had just won a difficult battle. There was nothing wrong with taking a quick nap, just for a little bit...

As I fell forward and collapsed into sleep, my mind followed the memory of the cake, and my dreams took me back to the first day I met Sara...

---

Todd followed the blueish light, wondering again what he was doing. He had two Pokemon with him, but Feren was at Sara's house, and he felt weird not having the trusty rabbit Pokemon nearby. He knew it was stupid to be this far out in the forest, especially this late at night, but each time he looked up at the soft blue glow before him he felt compelled to keep following it. He wondered if this was what it was like to be hypnotized- knowing you were doing something stupid, or something you normally wouldn't, but not being worried that you were. He thought about bringing one of his other Pokemon out just in case, but as he reached for one the light came to a stop next to a tree.

Todd stepped closer to it and saw the Honchkrow lying on the ground at the base of the tree. The bird glared at him angrily and tried to get up, but stumbled back down. It was obviously hurt- it had been in a fight with something, but there was nothing else in sight. "You must be the Honchkrow that's been causing so much trouble lately." Todd reached into his backpack and grabbed a Pokeball, keeping his eyes on the Pokemon the entire time. He tossed the ball at the wounded bird, and as the Honchkrow vanished, caught in the Pokeball, Todd looked back the way he came. "PokeCenter first... get you better, and then you get to answer some questions for us."

Sinori watched from besides the tree, and the blue flame vanished as she ended her hypnosis of the trainer. Hidden safely behind her veil the Ninetales went unnoticed, but Sinori smiled to herself as Todd carried the Honchkrow off to its new home.