*Risk's POV*

"We need a plan, and we need it now," I said, trying to remain as calm as I possibly could.

"But we don't know where..." he started to say something, but a loud screech from above us cut him off.

Articuno! My eyes widened.

I had forgotten about it being here!

I whirled around, and the bird spread its wings in mock outrage, descending to the summit of the mountain. I noticed that the dark film had disappeared from its eyes.

"Be calm, Riolu. We are not enemies. I know what must be done, as do you. Here, let me help with that goal."

The bird moved over to my comrades, still frozen in a wall of ice, and pecked at it for a second. At first, nothing happened, but, soon, the ice began to fall apart.

I walked over to them and was astonished- they were all perfectly alive and intact!

"These are your friends, I assume?" Articuno pointed a blue wing at them and asked.

I nodded.

"Good, now, off you go. I'm afraid that they have bound me to these icy slopes, so I will not be able to leave this mountain, should you fail. I wish you the best of luck in fighting those Ghostly adversaries- Please, save our world before that Pokemon succeeds in uniting the Seven Treasures! And take this," Articuno says, plucking a feather from its right wing and letting fall to me.

I caught it before it landed on the ground and, I was slightly surprised- it was warm to the touch!

"Keep that feather with you," the bird said,

"And if another comrade falls prey to the sort of cold that afflicts Mount Avalanche, that will restore them. Good luck!"

With those final words, Articuno took to the skies. It was majestic to watch as its blue down glistened in the moonlight.

Articuno... Zapdos... Is there really a connection?

"Well," Alakazam said from behind me, brushing the excess snow off of himself,

"You heard the bird- we have a world to save!"

"Right! Come on, Crusaders- we should be heading back to the Guild and..." I stopped when I saw a familiar form emerge from the cave, grunt in pain, and walk right through the side of the peak. It all happened in less than a second, but it was enough to overclock my senses again.

What did I... That... That was Blade!

"Quickly, follow me!" I said, pointing to the wall that the Pokemon had walked through.

"I think I found our ticket to finding Spectre's hideout!"

My fist slammed into the icy wall without a second thought, and, to my surprise, it revealed another cave that seemed to lead to a completely different area.

I don't know where this goes, but I know we have to follow it to its end! I thought, motioning for the team to follow me into the darkness. Alakazam stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. I turned around in surprise.

"We must venture on in smaller groups. That cave seems to be a Mystery Dungeon, and I don't believe it wise for all of us to group together. If Spectre's forces ambush us, we will all be concentrated and quickly eradicated." he said calmly.

As much as I hate to admit that splitting up is our best shot at getting through here, he's right...

"I guess we have no choice but to explore the place in smaller groups..." I said glumly. Immediately, the waiting Crusaders arranged themselves into teams of two, with a member of Team ACT as the pseudo-leader of each group. I looked at Riku and laughed,

"So is this what you've been teaching them while I was gone?" A smile crept across my face when the Shaymin defended himself, exasperated.

"Wait a minute! I didn't... Alakazam picked the groups while we were searching for the Seven Treasures..."

"Seven Treasures?" I wanted to know more, but Alakazam held up a hand in protest,

"I'll explain later. For now, you, Riku, and I need to find whatever Pokemon you just saw go into that cave. Come, the more time we waste, the farther we stray from our goal."

*Frigid Underpass, B1F*

As soon as we entered, the light of my pendant quickly began to dim, and Riku, wondering why our light was failing, quickly caught up to me, asking,

"Do you think we will be able to see after your light source is gone?..."

A loud ringing sound emanated from behind me, and, suddenly, the cavern shone with a bright green light. A host of Golbat that had been perched on the ceiling flitted deeper into the cavern in an explosion of blue and purple. Alakazam didn't seem to care,

"Look, on the wall," he pointed. I followed his gaze to a cluster of green crystalline structures. The Psi Pokemon struck them again, and they gave off even more light. Seeing my recognition, Alakazam continued to explain,

"These crystals seem to be able to produce light when afflicted with trauma. If we continue to hit them as we pass, we may be able to press onwards. Remember not to forget to hit one- I have no idea how long they will..."

Suddenly, the cavern went dark again.

"They don't seem to give off light for very long... This will be interesting. Well, come along, you two," Alakazam said, slamming another crystal with his fist. I hit the same crystal as we passed for good measure.

*Frigid Underpass, B2F*

Riku started, abruptly, when I mentioned what it was that I saw,

"Do you really think that was actually Blade? I mean, I saw the Absol, too, but Blade is dead..."

Slowly, I told him about what I found in the Dreary Depths with Cedric, before we "fought" Von Spectre for the first time. He was shocked,

"So you're saying that Blade is still alive?" The Shaymin shook with excitement,

"That's got to be him! Come on, we need to follow him!" Riku said, as he took off into the darkness.

"Riku!"

...

I've got to catch up to him! I just hope Alakazam follows me, wherever it is that this cave leads... I thought, chasing after the Shaymin, making sure that I could always feel his Aura nearby.

*Frigid Underpass, B3F*

"Risk!"

An earsplitting cry echoed down the corridor, and I heard the sound of a sharp object being sharpened on the wall of the cavern.

My heart rate a few dozen beats above normal, I continued to run toward the commotion.

Another grating Tzzzng... reached my ears, and I began to panic, running faster than I ever did in Riku's direction.

I palmed one of the nearby crystals, and its green glow illuminated two figures in front of me. One was obviously Riku, but the other Pokemon had backed him against the wall and was currently sharpening its horn on the cave wall.

The Absol from before... But if that's really Blade, why would he...

"Grudges... Why do they exist? That's a silly question, Riku. Grudges are why the Dark Arts exist, and they will soon seal your doom, too!" Blade cooed, in an odd, ghostly voice that I had never heard before. It seemed to be a mix of Blade's broken voice and...

Gengar... That intonation tells me all I need to know. But why would you possess your own master's necromanced minion?

The thought barely had time to cross my mind when Blade finished whetting his horn and lunged at Riku. I tried to run toward the two, but an odd barrier of ghostly energy had formed between us. My fist slammed into the wall with all the force that I could muster, but the barrier just absorbed my attack and sent me recoiling. The sound of ripping flesh also signaled my failure.

...

Ugh... Painstakingly, I picked myself up off the ground and charged the barricade once more. This time, it gave way, and I leapt, headlong, into Blade's attack.

The Absol paused, mid-strike, and, in that fraction of a moment, I shoved him away from Riku with a strong punch to his gut. Blade's voice seemed to bounce around the room, appearing from all sides,

"Ugegege... Can you never leave a proper haunting along, Risk?! But- it doesn't matter. I've stalled for enough time. See you later! Kekekek!" At this, Blade fell to the ground in a heap, drained and exhausted.

A weak voice called from behind me,

"Risk? Risk, is that you?..."

I turned around to Riku, who had slash marks all across his face and body. A trace of blood trickled from a large gash in his side, but he was still breathing. I assessed the wounds,

None of them seemed to have impacted any of Riku's vitals, but he will definitely bleed out if I don't get him bandaged soon...

Another voice shouted from behind me, and I felt the familiar presence of Alakazam drawing closer.

"Risk!"

I heard him hit another crystal, and green light filled the room once again. The Psi Pokemon made sure that we both were safe before pulling a few bandages from his pack and addressing Riku's wounds. There were too many to be covered, but the blood loss slowed to a gradual trickle.

Then, Alakazam's eyes settled on the unconscious Blade. His horn was stained with crimson, and Alakazam's gaze narrowed, closing his eyes. He muttered something about Dark-type Pokemon before turning back to me,

"This is the Pokemon that you brought the entire team into this cave to find? An Absol that just about killed Riku?! I think it would be best if we got rid of him now!"

"No! You just can't do that!" My voice rose to as high a volume as I could.

"No? And why should I spare him, after that Pokemon made an attempt on Riku's life? It's only fair that..."

I planted myself between him and Blade,

"If you want to kill him, you'll have to do the same to me, first! Necromanced minion or not, Blade was part of the Crusaders, and, although I may not be the leader anymore, I have a vow to this team that I cannot break!"

Alakazam seemed to be taken aback. Then, he laughed slightly,

"Hmm... I can see that your near-death experience didn't change you at all, Risk, did it? Now I understand why Lucario was such a successful and powerful explorer. He harbored an unwavering spirit such as the one you exhibit toward me..."

"Ngh..." I turned around, as Blade had begun to stir. As he stood up, his emotions told me that he was greatly distressed.

"It's OK, Blade. You're just fine," I said, trying to calm him down. It didn't really do much good.

"That purple little..." Blade's body shook with anger. Then, he saw Riku, wounded and bandaged, and his face changed to one of repentance.

"It... it caught me off guard, and it made me do this... I... I don't know what I can do with myself anymore... But I do know what must be done! Follow me- you can stop him."

Without another word, Blade placed Riku on his back and took off into the darkness.

*Frigid Underpass, B8F*

It took the majority of my stamina to keep pace with him, and Blade finally came to a stop in front of a large wall. I sized up the massive obstacle- the only way up seemed to be a group of small, jagged stones etched in the wall.

"Well," Blade said, turning to Alakazam and me,

"This is as far as I can take you- I will not be able to ascend to follow you. I'm afraid that it is up to you three from here on out.

I looked at Alakazam, the only thing on my mind being to find a way to take Blade with us,

"Can't you do something? Like lift him up there with Psychic or something?"

"Negative. There is some sort of witchery in this area. I'm afraid my telekinetic powers have no effect here... I am sorry."

"But... There has to be some way..." A single tear fell down my cheek. The clear liquid stung each and every wound I had on the way down, finally lodging itself in a small crevasse in my chest.

"Risk," Blade placed a paw on my shoulder,

"There's one last thing I want you to do before you leave..." Blade looked at me solemnly, obviously knowing something that I did not.

"Anything for my team, dead or alive! Blade, just ask!"

"Risk, can you... I need you to... To kill me."

The Absol looked at me like it was a perfectly normal proposition, but my shock at the request kept me from saying much,

"You... You WHAT?!"

"Yes, Risk, you heard me correctly. If you do not vanquish me here, Von Spectre will call me to be part of its army. Risk... Please... I don't want to fight you, or anyone else. I want this to be my last stand against Spectre- by robbing the infernal marionette of one of its 'best men.' Please..."

Tears filled my eyes as Blade dropped Riku to the ground and walked to the corner of the room. He just stared at me, the same fire in his eyes as before he died,

"You know just as well as I do that if you don't do this right here and now, you will have to do it later, and it will hurt much more then, because you'll be forced into it."

"But... Blade... I just can't... I can't bring myself to... To end your life, after it was already taken from you... before!" I stammered, as my tears made cohesiveness near impossible.

Blade nodded his head slowly,

"I can understand the pain that you're going through right now. But, at the same time, death is something we all go through, Risk. I really know what that means now. Make it quick for my sake- and for yours."

With that, he turned displayed his acid wound to me once again. I could tell that if I hit that spot, Blade would probably keel over from the pain.

But... I just can't bring myself to do this! It... It isn't right! There's got to be a way to take him away from Spectre's spell without killing him!

"Blade... Please... Don't make me do this!" I ran over to the Absol and embraced him. He looked at me with true pain in his eyes,

"As much as it tears me apart inside to see you like this, I know that we will all be more than torn up if that infernal Pokemon gets its claws on me. Let me put it to you this way, Risk. There's something... A part of me that Spectre needs, desperately, to secure its power. While I am still alive, it has a chance to take that object from me. But if you kill me, you can utilize it and stop the Necromancer- you can stop Von Spectre!"

Slowly, I raised my fists to my chest,

Am I really going through with this? How do I know this isn't Spectre talking through Blade?!

He seemed to understand the conflict in my mind almost immediately,

"Risk," Blade laughed,

"I didn't gain my reputation as the 'Disaster Pokemon' for nothing, you know. But will you trust me to predict the doom of this world? That is the question that you must answer for yourself."

"I... I just... I just can't do it..." I cried out.

"But if you could, would you?" he asked.

"If that's what you want, then it's something that I... I would do... But it would... It would hurt more than the belly of that Serperior."

"Then, I shall spare you of some of the pain," Blade said, smiling fondly at me.

"Be strong, Risk. This will be the last time that we meet, and, if we ever do again, make sure it isn't in this world for me."

With that, Blade held one of his paws to his chest and raked a huge hole in the flesh. A steady stream of blood poured from the gaping wound, and I gasped,

He's going to rip himself open!

Blade continued to tear at himself, grimacing in pain the entire time, but his gaze never left me, even when he fell over from the internal shock.

"Goodbye, Risk. And good luck. Find Felix- he'll take you to where you need to go," Blade said, before he sliced through his exposed heart and fell to the ground in a heap.

"Blade...!" I ran to him and caught his head before it could hit the ground. Through my tears, I barely noticed the glowing stone that was lodged inside his heart's left atrium. It seemed to reflect the glow of the crystals on the wall, dancing shadows across the wall.

Is this the "part of him" that Blade was talking about? I thought, as the shadows began to take shape- a shape that I recognized.

That's... That's Alpha! What could this thing possibly be?
I leaned down to pick up the object, and it began to give off light. The light danced around my paws, and I thought I heard a voice- Blade's voice- telling me to give it to him.

Him? Does he mean to give it to Alpha?

"Blade?" I called, like he could actually still hear me.

"I'm going to give this to Alpha. I... I hope that's what you wanted me to do with it," I said, calmly, to his corpse. Hugging the fur one last time, I stood up and said to the others,

"Well, we should probably get going..." before I turned to the wall in front of us and began to climb.

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