DISCLAIMER: All characters and properties are copyright their respective owners. All original characters, plot, and concept is copyright 2008-2010 Shen. The author is in no way associated or affiliated with any third-party. This original fiction was created with no intention of any copyright infringement against any third-party, and is purely for fan enjoyment. Do not redistribute.

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Thunder rippled in the darkening sky over Oldenshire Forest. It was a gloomy twilight, the last bits of bright sky from the sunset disappearing behind thick clouds. There were no Tailow or Starly in the sky, all huddled in their nests to keep warm during the storm the clouds must surely unleash. It was quiet...

Suddenly, lightning lanced through the sky, throwing Havoc Tower into sharp relief. Even in the darkness, one could tell that evil emanated from it.

High in the tower, Seth looked out of the ruined, damaged windows of his room at the top. He grinned as he caught sight of the white pelts of the Zangoose and the Absol he had lured here with his false allegations of capturing their friend.

Behind Seth, near the entrance to the room, were three figures cloaked in darkness. The malicious, wide, white smile of one of the figures could be seen, as did one large eye on one of the others. All was silent in the room, save for Seth's soft, yet still insane, chuckle to himself.

"Perfect, now it's all been set," he muttered, more to himself than his three servants, "They'll soon be mine to control... However... You three can have a little... fun with them," Seth addressed his servants without even looking back. He grinned ever wider. "If they die, they are of no use to me, so don't hold back. If they prove to be strong... bring them here."

There was a slight shuffling as they bowed low, and a small gust of wind blew through the room when the three teleported.

Seth cackled. "It's all going as planned..."

~*****~

"Kilia, stop!" Nakkura yelled as he trailed behind Kilia; he was losing strength, while she only seemed to be gaining it the longer she ran. Nakkura's chest was on fire, but he persisted; he wouldn't allow Kilia to get hurt again...She had already almost died, wasn't that enough? "Please..."

Kilia's ears were deaf to his pleas as she surged forward. The only thing on her mind was saving Shinko from that maniac. She ignored and overcame the obstacles Seth had thrown their way, intent only on catching him. However, the Ghost was faster than he looked, having flown far ahead already. The further away he was, the farther Kilia was from saving the poor Buizel, and that would not do for her. She put on an extra burst of speed as she ran forward.

Eventually, the sound of ragged breathing behind her made her instinctually slow up a little for Nakkura, but not much. After he cried out and pleaded for her to stop one more time, Kilia's gallop finally began to slow drastically, actually slowing to walking speed in a few seconds. Kilia stopped completely as Nakkura stumbled up to her, his sides heaving as he drank in the oxygen around them greedily. Kilia instantly felt bad for him; she had ignored him, and yet he continued to follow her as closely as he could. If she had had just a bit more sense and patience, he wouldn't have to wind himself so badly to keep up with her.

Nakkura stopped by Kilia and panted, leaning against her a little. "D...damn, Kilia...you're...fast..." he gasped out in between breaths. Still, he managed to grin at her.

Kilia touched her nose to his cheek. "Nakkura, I'm sorry...Are you alright?" she asked, very concerned.

Nakkura grinned and stood straight, beating at his chest with his paw. "What, me? Kilia, you underestimate...me," He may've been breathing a little harder and deeper now, but he wasn't gasping for air anymore, at least. "I just needed to catch my breath for a second. No need to worry about me yet."

"That's good, because we'd be very disappointed if our new play toys were too tuckered out to play!"

Kilia and Nakkura jumped in surprise, looking in the direction of the noise. There, standing together, were a trio of Ghost Pokémon: a Gengar, a Dusclops, and a Mismagius. Lightning forked in the sky, and Kilia noticed the outline of the base of what looked like a tower behind the ghosts. It was a startling site, but Kilia replaced the look of shock and surprise by one of anger and hatred, baring her fangs at them. Nakkura, finally having caught his breath, unfolded his claws out and took a battle stance. His icy glare, however, didn't faze the Ghost Pokémon.

"Well, well, looks like we're all ready to play, then," The Gengar mocked, crossing his arms and leering at them, the wide grin still on his face. "Let's just get to having fun, shall we?"

Immediately, the Mismagius vanished, only to reappear right in front of Kilia in a split second and launch a Shadow Ball at the Absol. Kilia only just managed to jump over it and avoid it. When she landed and turned to face the Ghost and attack, she saw the Mismagius glowing a grayish color, the aura of the glow flowing like smoke. This smoke then began forming in front of the Mismagius, in the shape of a nail, which then impaled the Ghost harshly in a Curse technique. As the nail pierced the Mismagius, a small orb shot out from the wound right at Kilia. She tried to jump and avoid it, but to no avail; the orb connected, and Kilia felt her strength begin to fade from her body.

The Zangoose would've tried to help if he could, but currently his eyes were on the Gengar's. The red lights within its gaze seemed to swirl, and the white-and-red mongoose tried to fight back within his mind. However, he felt himself starting to succumb to the sleep the ghost was trying to inflict upon him. As the Mismagius took a moment to recover from the Curse, the Dusclops landed before Nakkura and fired off a Confuse Ray, followed by an Ice Beam. Eyes narrowing, Kilia lunged forward and slammed hard into the Zangoose's side, knocking him out of the path of the attacks. He landed and rolled to his feet quickly. Kilia, however, tumbled to the side, just in time, as the Absol could feel the cold passing of the Ice Beam over her back. Kilia hit the ground and laid there for a moment, stunned, feeling a bit more of her energy drain out of her. Kilia knew it wouldn't be long before the Curse took all her energy and she fainted, but she would fight as long as she could. After a moment she struggled to her paws, the claws popping out of their sheathes as she shook slightly. Kilia was still a bit weak from all the blood loss because of the shot wound earlier, and it was hitting with a vengeance now. Still, the Absol didn't let it get to her as she bared her fangs in a snarl, her fur vibrating like mad as the rain started again and the sky was torn open by a huge tongue of lightening. She collapsed into a sitting position, however, her breathing a little erratic; she was at their mercy.

Nakkura laid his ears back with a growl of his own. Drawing back his lips to bare his fangs, he started toward the ghosts. Presently, the Gengar rammed forward, hurling his fist at the Zangoose as a shadowy light consumed his arm. The attack seemed to go through him; he grinned and swung an iron-hardened tail around into the creature. With a smug grin, he watched the Gengar stagger to his feet and begin to stumble as he hissed in reply to the strike. "So, the Normal-type has a little fight in him after all. Fine then...TAKE HIM DOWN!" he yelled.

The Dusclops and the Mismagius both turned their attention from the Absol and directed their fury at Nakkura, flying forward in a flash. Nakkura was ready, though; the Ghosts' best attacks wouldn't affect him, and, though neither would his affect them, he was ready with his other techniques he had perfected. As soon as the Dusclops was in range, he unleashed a savage Night Slash upon him, opening a wound in the left side of the Ghost. The void within him began drawing in wind from the air around them, and he desperately tried to hold the wound closed to prevent himself being drawn into the vacuum. Meanwhile, the Mismagius zoomed forward and punched him under the chin hard, knocking him into a tree.

"Damn...Sucker Punch..." Nakkura, muttered, shaking the feeling back into his arms. The Zangoose lunged at the Mismagius, his paws glowing black and purple with another Night Slash. He struck hard, but she dodged to the side. Nakkura pursued her, slashing again and again in fruitless attempts to catch her. The Mismagius almost seemed to be toying with him. However, her luck ran out as Nakkura's claw caught her right side, causing a little of her essence to begin drifting into the air like smoke from the cut; it was as though she were bleeding, though instead of blood, which Ghost Pokémon have none of, she was bleeding the essence of her existence that tied her to this world. She almost fell out of the air, as if stumbling back, and it was all Nakkura needed to deliver a powerful Iron Tail to her face, knocking her back into the tower wall.

The Mismagius got up quickly and glared at Nakkura...or, where Nakkura was. She was surprised by this, and glanced around frantically for him, but couldn't find him. "Where is he?" she said, her voice merely a whisper.

"Look up!" a yell alerted her, and she looked up in time to get smacked in the face by a harsh Iron Tail. She quivered on the ground in pain as Nakkura stood above her and smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Sneak attack... me likes," He taunted, grinning maliciously.

Nakkura's gloating was interrupted by the black shock wave of a Dark Pulse emanating from the Gengar. The Zangoose was thrown head over heels, but he righted himself and landed on his feet in time. An icy glare passed between the two for a mere second before they ran at each other and engaged the other. Nakkura's Night Slashes and Iron Tails were parried and countered with Dark Pulses and Focus Blasts, the two trading immense blows between them without a single successful attack. It would only be a matter of time before fatigue caught up with them, and one fatal mistake would give the other the edge in the fight.

They took a second to catch their breath after a few more minutes of intense battle. The Gengar had several wounds that seeped his essence, and Nakkura bled from a cut above his brow and on his shoulders. The fight wouldn't last much longer, and if things continued, they'd both be down for the count. However, as they charged at one another again, the Gengar cringed in pain for a mere second; that was all Nakkura needed. Smirking, he gave a Night Slash to the Ghost Pokémon's face, raking deep wounds in his visage, before turning and slamming an Iron Tail right into him, sending him into a tree and knocking it over.

The Zangoose knew things weren't over yet, though; the Gengar was a fierce opponent, and would still be able to fight even after a blow like that...not to mention the other two Ghosts. He kept his ears primed for any indication of the enemy attacking...and shifted to the side as the Mismagius tried to Sucker Punch him again. He countered with another Iron Tail, knocking her to the ground. Nakkura grinned victoriously, seeing the Mismagius on her last legs, but in all honesty, he was very fatigued by the bout as well.

Nakkura didn't see the Dusclops dissolving and reappearing behind him. It pulled its fist back, ice coating its hand, before it rammed into his back with terrible force. Nakkura's mouth parted in a silent gasp as he collapsed. He crouched for a moment, breathing heavily as pain buzzed through him. His golden eyes enraged, he delivered another Iron Tail at it. The Dusclops struck with another Ice Punch that slammed into his shoulder. He fell again, extreme pain exploding through his shoulder.

The world swirled around the Zangoose as he hit the ground, slipping into unconsciousness.

"Nakkura!" Kilia yelled, panic blazing through her as she hurried to his side. The three Ghosts snickered and cackled as they pressed in close, and Kilia felt more of her strength fleeing her as she stood by Nakkura's side, snarling and growling as she tried to decide what to do. Finally, the Absol had to act.

As the Gengar tried to use Hypnosis on her, Kilia let out an angry bark and jumped at him, clamping her jaws on him in a Bite attack. The Absol gripped it tight and started shaking, feeling a sudden fury course into her being. Even as she felt her reason slipping away and being replaced by an awful force, she knew what was happening. Kilia was being overcome by the Blood Rage, the anger that engulfs an Absol in the heat of a critical situation and drives their sanity away. The Absol couldn't stop it, even though she was scared of what would happen after the Ghosts were taken care of. She didn't want to do anything bad to them, even though the Ghosts were attacking them, Kilia didn't want to hurt Nakkura or anyone who came across her if the Rage was still on her...

Kilia shook the Gengar in her jaws like a Mightyena with a rag doll, snarling and dripping drool all around as the Pokémon cried out in pain. The Disaster Pokémon felt her sharp fangs ripping through the Gengar's body, and suddenly he went limp and fell from her jaws, his essence leaking out in great quantities; he was dissolving away. Kilia whirled, saw her next victim, the Mismagius. The memory of her Cursing Kilia coursed into the Absol's veins, and she howled her rage before lunging for the Mismagius, claws slashing, fangs tearing. The Ghost fell quickly to her savagery. After taking out the Mismagius, Kilia turned on my last foe.

The Dusclops came at her, an Ice Punch at the ready. Even as the attack connected with her chest and she felt an icy pain spread through her front, Kilia buried her fangs into his thin body and tore into it. Kilia immediately threw the Dusclops into the tower wall, knowing what would happen to those near him upon death even in her enraged state. The Dusclops staggered up to his feet and glared at Kilia, before his eyes widening at the gravity on his body: he'd been wounded too badly, and the void within him was making him collapse upon himself like a black hole. A horrid scream fled his non-existent mouth before his body was crunched and flattened by the intense pressure of his inner black hole. He was gone in a split second. Kilia breathed hard, her chest heaving. As the rain fell and the lightening flared she released a mad howl, looking around wildly for another foe to rip to shreds. When her eyes landed on Nakkura, the Absol instantly jumped forward, claws out, ready to tear...

But her fatigue and Curse caught up to her Blood Rage, and Kilia collapsed right next to him, suddenly exhausted beyond belief. As fatigue swept over her, the Blood Rage slowly faded, until she was left with the horrible guilt of having killed, and the inconsolable grief of almost having attacked Nakkura. Kilia was grateful, at that moment, for the Curse that had been placed upon her. It had been draining her strength the whole time she'd been fighting, though she hadn't noticed it in her fury.

Now, as she gasped for breath and tried not to faint, Kilia steeled herself to the thought of having to leave the group. Kilia was a danger, a threat to her new friends. There was no way she could safely travel with them now that this monster had awoken within her... however, Kilia's fatigue was too great. She was too tired to go any further, even if it was to leave to save her friends. Kilia's thoughts turned to Shinko, and silently the Absol prayed for her forgiveness as she closed my eyes and fell into the inky blackness of unconsciousness...

~*****~

"Shinko!" Shen called out, running after her before she could get too far. Aya followed closely.

Shinko paused and turned to the calling voice, smiling and waving at the two. "Shen, hey! Er...who's you're new friend?" the Buizel asked, inclining her head toward Aya.

They caught up to her and smiled. "Thank goodness you're alright. How'd you get away from that Banette?" Shen asked quickly.

Shinko blinked. "Er...Banette?" she asked, befuddled, "I never met any Banettes, ever..." She looked down and furrowed her brow while trying to figure out what it was Shen meant.

Shen was flabbergasted; Shinko never met a single Banette? Then what did Seth mean when he- Shen's thoughts were interrupted as a streak of lightning crackled through the air above their heads.

"Shen, the Absol and the Zangoose don't know that Shinko's not in the tower," Aya informed him, "We gotta get them before they end up getting killed!"

"Tower? What...what are you talking about, er..." Shinko asked, but stopped short as she didn't know Aya's name.

"It's Aya, sorry..." Aya introduced herself apologetically; she knew she should've introduced herself earlier.

"Ah, that's okay, and thanks. You already know my name, obviously..." Shinko said with a slight smile. She then looked at Shen again. "Please explain..."

"Shinko, a Banette from earlier had come along, apparently wanting to join us, but he soon revealed his insanity," Shen explained. He thought back to Seth's little display back there to Nakkura and Kilia. "He floated off into the forest, saying he had you in some tower in the middle of the forest. Kilia and Nakkura followed him to get you outta there, and I followed them to help. These fires the Banette probably caused blocked my way, so I put most of them out, save the one you did. And now, here we are..."

The Buizel stared wide-eyed at Shen. The whole story sounded like some sort of horror film. "But-" Shinko shook her head and got on all fours, preparing to find the two, at all costs. They were her friends; if they died, she wouldn't know what to do.

"I'm going to find them. If they die, it will be my fault," Shinko explained, tears forming in her eyes. "You can come if you want, but that's your decision." She turned to where Kilia and Nakkura ran. "Bye!" The Buizel sped off.

"Come on, we can help." Shen said. Aya nodded, and the two gave chase. Once again, Shen got left in the dust due to the Buizel's speed, and Aya only went the same speed as him to make sure he didn't have to run alone. We've become friends so fast, it's amazing... Shen thought to himself.

The Larvitar looked up, shielding his eyes from the rain, and saw the bleak outline of a tower not far from where they were. Shen put on a burst of speed to try to catch up with Shinko. The two crashed through the foliage of bushes that seemed to border a larger, more open area, and stopped upon an appalling sight.

The smell of blood was pungent here. There had been a fierce battle, as shown by the marked landscape. There was a crater or two, not including in the rock wall of the tower, and a tree had been knocked upon itself. Two Ghost-type Pokémon, a Gengar and a Mismagius, lay a little ways off, dissolving into nothingness as their lives were swept away. Nakkura was a little closer, definitely unconscious, the fur on his shoulder and back coated with a thick layer of ice. Then Shen's eyes turned to Kilia and Shinko...

Shinko had her nose buried in Kilia's limp form, crying her eyes out. Kilia's body wasn't moving at all, not even to breathe.

Shen's own breath caught in his throat. No...Kilia can't be...

Aya quickly stepped forward and used a vine to examine Kilia's neck. A small smile painted her lips as she faced Shinko. "Do not worry, miss Shinko. She's alive...though barely. I can help, though."

Shinko sniffed and wiped her eyes and looked up at Aya. "R-really...?" she asked. Aya nodded, and Shinko sighed in relief.

Shen turned to the Tower and glared at its heights. Somewhere up there, Seth lay in wait, probably thinking he'd have all of them running up into the tower and into his grasp. Shen knew now that wouldn't happen, and he'd make sure of it. He wanted revenge for the pains that had been caused to his friends.

Without a second thought, but merely a glance back at his friends, Shen entered the open tower doors alone...

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Chapter End Notes:Oh no, Shen's gone in by himself! What will he find inside this evil place, and what will become of Kilia and Nakkura?

And... come to think of it... Where's Avaron