**** BE WARNED that past this point, events from my other stories will begin to be spoiled. Make sure that you've read anything and everything else from my books that you want to before reading onward (or if you don't care about spoiling events, read on). While reading out of sequence may not detract from the story at hand, some of the other books will be much less entertaining out of order. ****

"Who... Who are you?!" I ask the mysterious Espeon, immediately backing away towards the door I had come into the library from,

"And how do you know my name?!"

The Espeon laughs- a quiet, yet dignified sound,

"Silly little Umbreon, you announced it at the door to the security camera, remember?"

I stand there, trying to think of my next question for the Pokemon.

"I have a feeling that you're awfully curious about me, Sombra. Not everyone gets to see me, and there's a few men in this world that would kill to even say a word to me. I'd say you're pretty lucky," the Espeon tells me. The gears in the back of my mind begin to spin- I have a feeling that I've heard this Espeon's voice from before, but I don't know where.

She smiles, but, since what she says doesn't answer my question, I ask it again.

"But who are you? And how'd you get in here, in the first place? Percy told me that he had security setup to "keep out unwanted guests." Did he add you to the security as well?"

The Espeon laughs again.

"No, silly, I'm not actually here. That's why I could get into the library without tripping Percy's security. Plus, I knew you'd turn up in front of me eventually- I've been wanting to meet you for so long, Sombra. Ever since I first talked to you in the forest."

The implication hits me like the force of the Arbok's coil.

"So... That voice that talked into my head... The one that told me to come to town, and to stop Percival? That was... you?" I ask, dumbfounded.

The Espeon nods.

"Yes, I spoke to you using telekinesis. By virtue of my Psychic powers, I can communicate directly into a Pokemon's mind at will..."

"But what's your name?!" I interrupt her,

"Isn't there something that I can call you? Like how my name is 'Sombra'? Surely, you have a name!"

"My name... You'll figure out my name soon enough... But, for now, I've come here to show you something very specific- another Pokemon that I want you to meet, nay, you must meet him. Please, Sombra, you're the last hope that I have!"

The Espeon begins to fade into nothingness, becoming more and more transparent with each passing second.

"Wait!" I frantically call,

"Don't go! I don't even know your name! And who is this Pokemon you want me to meet?!"

"We will meet again, soon, Sombra. Do not fret, all will be answered in due time." the Espeon answers, and it fades into light and disappears.

"No..." I ponder, leaping at the spot where the Espeon had been, but my laws touch nothing but the wooden floor of the library.

A few seconds later, the library's red doors slide open, and a bewildered Percy steps into the room.

"You OK, Sombra?" he asks,

"I heard you shouting at something, so I came as quickly as I could. You're not hurt, are you?"

I shake my head, and he breathes a sigh of relief.

"So what was all the shouting about? You seem that be the only one here, besides me, of course..." he adds.

I try to wrap my head around Percy's question, but my head begins to feel heavy, like the world's worst headache. Before I can ask for help from Percy, my stomach begins to churn, and black out from what appears to be acute trauma.

.. .

In my subconscious state, shapes begin to drift together in front of my darkened vision, like I could see without seeing, yet not. It's next to impossible to describe the feelings and stimuli passing in and out of my mind. I can feel myself in an entirely new world- a natural world, as opposed to Percy's "virtual reality."

Is this a dream? Is this real? Or is it something different entirely?! What's going on?!

Then, before I can comprehend the apparent transformation, the strangest thing happens- the shapes slowly change into trees, into water, and even into Pokemon. Before my very (closed) eyes, an entire forest unravels itself, the green fabric of life weaving itself into a beautiful night-time tapestry all around me. Trees spring up out of nothingness and bear their multicolored fruit with vigor. A myriad of Pokemon, from the colorful Pidgey of the air, to the hordes of maned, black-hooded quadrupeds on the ground. By the way they howl at the moon above them, I guess the lot of them to be Mightyena. I watch the group for a few seconds, until the tallest one lets out a roar, and they run off into the distance.

I hesitantly think about moving my left forepaw a few inches forward, to follow them, and the scene in front of me shifts to register the change.

Woah...! Am... Am I really here? In this forest? There's no way that this can be just more of Percy's "virtual reality." This feels too real... Wait! I wonder if that Espeon has something to do with this! Maybe... Maybe the next time we meet, she'll explain what's going on. For now, I guess I just have to explore this forest.

I take a few more steps forward, now that I'd grown accustomed to controlling myself in this new world, and I am suddenly strengthened by the warm glow of the full moon above me. This feeling is completely new to me; at first, I had only felt inklings of security from the moonlight, but, now, it's almost as if the very presence of the light is giving me strength. With an unexplainable smile on my face, I stand there in silence as the white beams of resolution lend me their power.

This... Is this power real? I have so much energy inside me... I'll bet I could even outdistance Pyre if I wanted to right now! I wonder if I could...

"Aroooo....!"

A loud, low howl in the distance jars me back to reality, and I immediately remember that I'm in the middle of a forest at night.

Predators lurk here during the night. I've already seen those Mightyena, so I have a pack of those wolves to worry about. I wonder, could that howl have come from them? If so, I'm glad that they went the way that they did- I'd rather not be the poor soul that inherits the wrath of them all...

"Aroooo...!"

"No! Stay away from me!"

Two voices... I think to myself,

One- the howl of a Mightyena... But the other- who was that? Definitely an injured Pokemon, presumably at the mercy of the wolves that went in that direction. I've got to do something!

I take a few more steps towards where the Mightyena had run, and my nervous mind attempts to make me reconsider. I quickly dismiss it faster than I've ever done before.

No, if I save myself, I'm guilty of murder, listening to a Pokemon be ripped apart by those canines! That innocent Pokemon's blood will be on my hands if I don't do something!

With that parting thought, I quickly sprint into the forest in the direction of the scream.

...

A few minutes later, a vicious snarl pierces my eardrums, coupled with a chorus of howls that sound much more like a death knell that anything. I can't seem to hear the other voice, but that makes me think that the Pokemon's probably already dead. Scared for both my life and the other Pokemon's, I tear through more of the underbrush, piece after piece, until, without meaning to, I stumble over an overgrown tree root, fall through the bush in front of me, and directly into the area where the Mightyena had gathered.

Each of the overgrown wolves stares at me like I had just descended from the heavens. None of them move; they just continue to stare at me.

I've only got a few seconds before that shock quickly turns to hunger- rage even...

Immediately, I turn my head from side to side, trying to find that other Pokemon, the one that had uttered the scream, and my eyes immediately light on a small blue figure, laying on its back with blood coming out of numerous wounds, partially concealed by a bush. I assume that the Mightyena had inflicted those injuries and placed the Pokemon there.

I open my mouth to call out to the beaten Pokemon, but a loud howl from one of the Mightyena quickly silences me. The entire pack soon shifts its focus from finding that other Pokemon to killing me, and I have a sinking feeling that they won't fail if they get the chance. My mind races for a solution- anything that could possibly subdue all the wolves before they pilfer my inside like I'm some sort of bloody treasure chest.

...

I can see the hunger-driven insanity in their eyes- the same wavering paws and body that had caused Pyre to kill my family. The same gleam in their malicious smiles...

The same... The same...! Wait, that's it! My father Imprisoned Pyre when he glimpsed Pyre going crazy over starvation! I'm willing to bet that's why it didn't work on the Arbok, and I'll stake my life on the fact that it's going to work now!"

"No, I won't let you do to me what that same lunacy did to my best friend! Or that Pokemon over there!" I yell, and I take a deep breath, knowing that what I'm about to do is a complete shot in the dark, but every nerve in my body is on overdrive- I don't have a choice but to go with my gut.

"Impri..." I begin to shout the word, and the familiar taste of blood pools in my mouth. I cringe, preparing for the worst, preparing for when my attempt at Imprisoning the Mightyena fails.

I can feel the red substance oozing into my teeth and gums once again, but, this time, things become different very quickly. Instead of overpowering and choking the life out of me, the blood begins to conglomerate- to mix together- into a new substance. I know exactly what's forming behind me teeth before anyone has to tell me.

Fire. The light of Imprison.

The burning sensation quickly creeps across my lips, searing my skin from the inside. My body begs for me to release the unstable object, to free it from the pain it's currently going through, but I force my mouth shut. I can tell the fireball is still maturing- still waiting for the right time to strike.

Three seconds later, the feeling of fire quickly escalates into the notion of cauterized flesh, and I realize that the inside of my mouth is being charred to bits. My insides feel like they're set ablaze, immolated as part of this freak accident known as Imprison. Finally, I can stand the pain no longer, and I shout, with as loud a voice I can muster,

"Imprison!"

Instantly, the flame shoots out of my mouth faster than I can react, splitting into innumerable smaller projectiles in the air in front of me. To my shock, each one manages to find its mark on a Mightyena's right leg, and the entire pack of wolves begin to bay and whimper. For a moment, nothing happens, and I wonder if it actually worked. Then, I remember,

This happened to Pyre, too... He thought he'd won, then...

As if on cue, a pair of two jet-black chains emerge from each and every point my flames had penetrated the Mightyena's skin. I close my eyes and tense my body- and the chains respond like clockwork, turning and writhing in the air, grabbing each of the black canines by the legs and pulling their entire body uncomfortable close to itself. It's almost as if each wolf is being dragged by a single point to which their entire body is affixed and beheld.

By the immediate response of whining from the pack in extreme agony, I'm almost afraid that their frail bodies will snap under the weight of the chains. I turn my head for a moment, not wanting to witness one of the wolves literally exploding, but I soon remember that Imprison isn't over. As much as I don't want to do it, I know that they'll break free of the chains, eventually, so I mouth the spellbound word once more.

"Imprison!"

The dark chains respond instantly, tightening around the pack of Mightyena and causing another round of nervous whimpering. A few seconds later, the dreaded spikes appear, exuding from the chains like an angry animal, digging into the black wolves with their never-ending, tyrannical strength.

As much as I can feel my power over the Mightyena growing, I can't help but feel sorry for them, sorry for the pained look on their face that I caused by my own Imprison, sorry for their blood that now stains the forest floor a red hue. Yet, at the same time, I realize that it can't be helped- if I hadn't Imprisoned them, they would have torn me apart, as well as that small blue Pokemon.

I take one more fleeting glance at the Mightyena, and command, in a loud voice,

"Imprison."

The chains slacken a small bit, and a few of the wolves are able to extricate themselves. They stare at me with awe and respect.

"Imprison," I say again. This time, the chains crumble to dust and dissolve back into the ground, although I never take my gaze off of the Mightyena the entire time. Something inside me warns that if I give them an opportunity, they will still take it, bleeding and punctured.

I stamp my paw on the ensanguined soil indignantly.

"Go on, leave us alone!" I shout.

The pack looks at the ground, then at me, then back at the ground. A hungry look forms on one's face, and another licks its lips. But I refuse to be intimidated by either sign of aggression.

"You heard me!" I address the horde like an angry mother would,

"Or do I need to use Imprison again?!"

Although I have no intention of putting the wolves through that suffering once again, the apparent leader of the pack howls at me and turns back into the surrounding forest.

Luckily for me, the rest of the Mightyena soon follow their leader. I had successfully driven them off, at least for now, so I turn my attention to the badly-bloodied Pokemon behind the bush.

Drawing closer to it, now that the danger is gone, I can finally get a clearer picture of what Pokemon it is. The two-and-a-half foot blue jackal-like creature lies flat on its back, with a long, bloody gash down its thin spine. I can see a small red scarf peeking out from the wound, barely distinguishable from the blood.

The Pokemon uses its small arms and forepaws to slowly pull itself off the ground and face me when I approach. It's then that I truly see the scope of its injuries. Behind the black mask-like structure that covers most of its face, two green eyes stare back at me, jaded with agony. Two blue ears stick up out of its head, which has a large, red claw-mark down the middle of it, and two small black structures adorn either side of its head. While I had never seen a Pokemon quite like this before, I couldn't just not introduce myself after warding off the Mightyena that probably would have finished it off very quickly.

"That was..." The Pokemon begins to speak. While its body is emaciated and worn out, its voice reflects adventure and fortitude, two characteristics that I hadn't seen in a Pokemon since the days of my childhood.

"What was that?! Those chains, were they real?!" it asks me.

I slowly nod my head, begrudgingly at first, because I didn't want to reveal how Imprison works to a Pokemon that I'd barely even met.

"T... Thanks for saving me..." the Pokemon says weakly,

"I owe you my life."

But my mind isn't dissecting what the Pokemon is telling me, it's focused on the claw marks on its face.

With a wound like that, how are you even still fighting?! Any normal Pokemon would have given up in a harsh place like this... He must have a purpose for being here- no one else would be that resolute in a forest like this.

But before I can ask about the Pokemon's fortitude, it holds out its paw to me in gratitude.

"I guess I should probably introduce myself first! I'm Risk. Risk the Riolu! What's your name?"

Risk... the Riolu? Well, he seems like a nice Pokemon, but, so did Pyre. I wonder...

Disregarding my premonitions about Risk, I hold out my own paw and clasp Risk's. It's warm to the touch, like I can feel the energy crackling through it, but it's also surprisingly sturdy.

I'm so focused on the persona of Risk that I almost forget to answer his question. Then, I remember and deadpan,

"My name is Sombra... I don't even know why I exist..."

The memory of my dead parents brings a tear to my eye, and Risk quickly wipes it away with his paw and places it around my shoulder.

"Don't cry, Sombra," he consoles me,

"I'm sure you have a purpose! We'll find it, together."

At that gesture, I catch a glimpse of a small metal object in his hand, with a red needle on its opaque face. He seems to immediately know that I'm looking at it, as he quickly conceals it by turning his paw away from me.

"What was that?" I quickly ask,

"That thing in your paw?!"

He looks at me for a moment, then at the thing in his hand, then back at me. His eyes are full of pain.

"Sombra, do you know what's it's like to lose someone close to you?" Risk asks.

Unfortunately, I know the feeling all too well, so I can't just say, "No," to save face. On the contrary, I would probably be adding to his pain, but I can't stop myself from saying,

"Yes, Risk, yes... My parents are dead- killed by my childhood friend, and, now, I don't even know where he is!"

I can't help it anymore- the tears begin to freely fall from my eyes, and I embrace the Riolu, sobbing,

"Risk, what am I supposed to do?! I don't even know why I still exist!"

The frustration is apparent in my tone, and Risk's voice drops to a whisper.

"Don't worry, Sombra!" he tells me,

"I'm looking for a friend of mine, too! We can find them together- both my Riku and your friend, too!..."

He gazes at the moon above us absentmindedly and finally says,

"But it's getting late- come on, I'll show you a place where we can sleep for the night."

Risk begins to walk deeper into the forest, directing me to follow him. Unable to think of a better plan, myself, I stumble after him past tree roots, overgrown bush branches, and every other small object that could possibly plant itself in my way.

...

After what seems like hours, Risk finally points to a small tree in front of us. Nothing seems special about it to me, but I'm willing to trust Risk on this one.

"This is it," he says, tightening his scarf around his neck,

"I've made a small base here to wait out lengthy nights... This isn't the first time that I've been attacked in this forest, you know?"

I laugh and almost tell him,

"That's how the forest works- you eat, or you're eaten, yourself..."

But I hold my tongue, deciding that sarcasm wouldn't help the situation at all.

Risk doesn't seem to understand my nervous laugh, but he doesn't ask about. Instead, he grabs a low hanging branch from the tree and pushes it back towards the tree's trunk.

To my amazement, as soon as the branch had been bent far enough, a hole opens up underneath it, a little wider than me in diameter.

"Down here," Risk says, and he slowly descends into the hole. Nervously, I follow him; I don't tell him this, but the hole and tunnel that he apparently had dug reminds me of my home back when I had a family.

Risk points down a widening tunnel, now big enough for me to walk in comfortably and lit with small blue torches. He motions for me to stay close, warning that "creatures can still show up down here." I nod, and we continue walking.

After about thirty seconds of walking, the tunnel widens a second time- into a large room that seemed like it had been crafted by an expert. In one corner of the room lies two small patches of straw. By one, I could see a small metallic badge, coupled with a few gold coin-like objects. I assume that the laden bed is Risk's, but I can't guess why the other straw is there. A few feet away is a small wooden shelf, stocked to the brim with all sorts of edible Berries and other goodies. This, I have a feeling, is where he keeps a stockpile of food to save for later.

We used to have something like that at home... I think to myself,

But it got raided so often, Father had to risk his life for just out daily rations... I wonder how Risk keeps his so hidden?...

Although the air down here is musty, it doesn't bother me. I have a feeling that I'll be safe here with Risk, something that I've so desperately wanted- a sense of security.

Risk seems to understand this, as he places a paw on my shoulder and leads me to the other mat of straw.

"I was saving that bed for my friend whenever I found him, but I think you should use it for now, Sombra. You look like you need a place to sleep until we begin searching for our friends in the morning. Plus, after all that fighting, you must be exhausted!"

He nods his head in the direction of the bed, and I don't waste a second to argue.

He's right, I'm still quite exhausted after Imprisoning all those Mightyena, but how he knows that is beyond me...

As soon as my paws touch the scratchy straw, I sigh in relief. Although the yellow plant fibre isn't as comforting as the soft grass of the forest, it's worlds better than sleeping on the hard earth, and my eyes begin to droop immediately.

Risk lies down on his own bed of straw and laughs.

"Straw really is something a lot of Pokemon aren't thankful for... You're not one of them, are you?" he asks, jokingly.

I nod, and I let my eyelids fall without a second thought. A yawn escapes my mouth before I can stop it.

"Tired?" Risk asks,

"Well, good night, Sombra- sleep all you want, Sombra. In the morning, we'll find both Riku and Pyre, I swear it!"

With that, I hear Risk shift about a few times on his bed of straw until his breathing becomes monotonous, indicating that he's asleep.

Before I can figure out how the Riolu falls asleep so fast, I lay my head down and the unconsciousness of sleep takes me.

...

...

...

"Sombra?!"

A voice... Is it Risk waking me up? Is it morning already?! But I don't feel well-rested at all... Ngh...

"Sombra!"

The voice again, this time more urgent than before... Wait a minute... That's not Risk's voice... That's not Risk!

"Where am I?!" I shout as soon as the idea comes to my mind. I open my eyes with a start to see Percy, concerned, staring down at me.

"Ah, you're awake!" he exclaims,

"For a minute, I thought I had lost you- thank goodness that you're alright! Listen..."

His voice suddenly grows much lower in pitch and more serious a few times over.

"There isn't much time for me to explain... My research... The Cosmos have found the location of my lab; Sombra, we're all in serious danger! If they get their hands on my research, they'll... Well, I don't even know what they'll do, but I know that it won't be good! Listen, you have to come with me, quickly!"

"Wha... Why...?" is the first thing out of my mouth. I'm still trying to wake up, when Percy nervously ruffles the fur on my head.

"Please, Sombra, if they find my research and abuse it..." he coos, and I slowly nod my head in agreement. Although I'm still too drowsy to fully understand the severity of what's happening, I can tell that Percy is quite worried about it.

"Come with me, Sombra! We don't have any time to lose!" Percy exclaims, hastily jamming his hand into the door to open it.

As soon as the door opens and we step out into the hallway, a large pattern of red lights begins to flash along the walls. It looks sort of like an arrow pointing down to the east, and, for now, it absorbs most of my mind's focus. Percy points in the same direction as the arrow and breaks out into a sprint; my body responds automatically, each leg and muscle siphoning exactly enough energy to keep up with him as he runs, entryway past entryway, corridor past corridor.

A few minutes of running downwards later, Percy points to a small door with a label on it, written in a language that I've never seen before. Percy places his hand on the door without hesitation, and it opens as if it's been waiting for us for an eternity.

I step inside, and I'm immediately confused about why Percy brought me here. On one end of the room, a large table lies open, while a few chains hang from its sides to serve as restraints. Next to it, separated by a small wall of glass, is what looks like another metal of buttons, what I've since come to refer as the "controls" to something. A single red button is the only one on its chrome surface to shine. On its surface, unbeknownst to me, is one small word:

"Transfer."

Besides that, however, the rest of the rooms seems to be barren- unfinished, almost.

"Alright, Sombra, you're going to have to trust me on this one," Percy turns to me, stroking the top of my my head once again. This time, however, his touch doesn't feel nearly so inviting.

He leads me in the direction of the table, and my fur immediately stands on end.

"Wha... What are you going to do to me?!" I suddenly cry out. Something about this... new... Percy had given me the chills. However, instead of another warm touch, Percy is already at the control panel, pushing a few buttons, seemingly readying something.

He motions for me to lie down on the table, and his hands are clammy- he's shaking.

"It's just one more test..." he mumbles, barely audibly,

"Just one more before they get here...!"

I really want to ask which "they" that he's referring to, but the look of panic on his face is enough to keep my mind away from the question. Something tells me that I don't want to meet this "they" if Percy's scared of them...

"Sombra, are you ready?" he asks, though he doesn't wait for an answer and walks over to me with a small box in his hands.

"When I push this button, a few things will happen that will help you. I don't have time to list them all off, but I need you to trust me- what I'm about to do isn't going to hurt you."

As he says this, he points to the table, and I wonder, for a moment, if he actually wants me to willingly submit to being bound again.

I shake my head in defiance.

"I... I can't do that again..." I finally decide. Part of me wants to follow along with Percy, but another part would sooner die than lose control of myself once again.

Percy looks at me with a mixture of pity and what appears to be disgust. The latter is quickly hidden behind his smile.

"Sombra," he coos, stroking the back of my neck with the side of his hand,

"If I don't do this right here and now, you're never going to see me again. I'm... I'm just creating a way to track you. Th... That's all!"

He seems to be panicking much more, as if an invisible assailant waits at the door of the room, ready to pounce on the Scientist. I look at him for a moment, and I'm not sure whether to feel angry or sorry for him.

"Please, Sombra. Just let me... I don't want to lose you forever!"

Although he flinches quickly, disguising it with fear, I swear that I can make out a single tear under one of his eyes for a fraction of a second.

One single tear. But it's all I have to see to believe that he's sincere. Alright, Percy, I'll let you "create a way to find me again."

Against my better judgment, I climb onto the table, and Percy slowly smiles when I do. The Scientist turns back to his control panel, gazes at the display, and looks back at me.

"This might hurt a bit, but I trust that you've been through much worse. After all, you went through that Arbok, did you not? And you lost your parents... And so much more. You poor thing- just remember that I'll always be here to help you... Now, give me a few minutes..."

He walks back over to me and binds the chains around me, locking me in place. A mixture of panic and comfort weaves its way into my subconscious. On one end, I'd rather not be bound again, but I don't want to leave Percy after meeting him so soon.

He seems like a nice person, even though his research is a little weird... Like that virtual reality program of his... In any case...

I let my body go slack in the metal constraint, and I wonder, for a moment, if this is what it feels like to be Imprisoned by an attack of mine.

No. I quickly decide,

The Pokemon trapped by Imprison are stabbed and hurt by it. Percy is different- these chains are meant to keep me still while he gives me sort of tracker. They're to help, not to hurt.

While I continue to mentally pick apart my entire situation, Percy rambles to himself, switching his attention from me, to my chains, to my control panel, and back again. He continues this pattern for a few minutes, and I can even catch bits and pieces of his mutterings:
"Poor Sombra... He's gone through so much, it pains me to do this to him..."

"Sometimes I wish there was an easier way to do this..."

"I just hope nothing happens to Sombra..."

Finally, Percy walks over to me and dexterously places his hand through the chains, so that he doesn't accidentally move any of them and cause them to dig into me from recoil. He tentatives brushes the back of his hand past my ears, which are, thankfully, not bound by the chains.

"Thanks, Sombra," he tells me warmly, petting me one last time before standing up again and walking to his control panel. I watch him with my eyes, unable to turn my head much, but it doesn't seem to matter. My peripheral vision is good enough that I can see him talking to himself once more. Then, an odd smile crosses his face, and he slams his fist down, hard, on the red button labeled, "Transfer."

Before I can fully process Percy's odd change of mood, an intense electric current conducts itself through the chains and into me. Immediately, my back arcs violently, and I cry out, wracking my paws against the chains.

"Percy!" I yell, in both astonishment and agony.

But my cries fall on deaf ears- Percy doesn't seem to be listening to me anymore, like he doesn't even care. Without another word to me, he quickly places his hand on the door, opens it, and steps outside- leaving me alone in the room, with electricity coursing through my veins.

I droop my head in shame, practically encouraging my body to shut down, to be overridden by the chain's electric shock. I had given up- Pyre had betrayed me, and, now, it's almost as if Percy has gone and done the very same thing.

My shock is quickly replaced by anger, and I begin to struggle against the electrified chains, not caring about the pain or the voltage in the slightest.

This world... Why is this world so cruel to me?! I don't understand! Why are the good Pokemon tortured while those that commit atrocities run free?! Risk was a good Pokemon, and he almost was killed. I'm a good Pokemon, and I've lost my parents, my friends, and my home! Why does the world work this way?!?... Agh..."

The electric current starts to mesh with my nervous system, gradually shutting down my body. I immediately feel my paws go numb and unresponsive as the charge continues its rampage through my helpless body. I grit my teeth in pain, trying to fight the shock with all of my willpower, but, after a few seconds of an eternity of pain, even that is starting to seem irrelevant in light of my supercharged skin.

"Percy... Why...?" I mumble with the last of my strength, before I close my eyes and fully submit myself to the electricity. This invitation, it seems, is happily accepted, and, within a fraction of a second, I can barely think clearly. I could already tell that if the shock didn't dissipate soon, I would die to it.

The situation feels just as hopeless as when I was digesting away inside that Arbok's stomach, but, for some odd reason, the connection gives me a glimmer of hope.

Could this just be another "virtual reality" program of Percy's? Yes, that's gotta be it- there's no way that Percy would abandon me like he did...

I try to convince myself of what I'm thinking, but my mind is having a hard time believing a word of it.

"Electricity... Please..." I choke out, as the paralyzing current takes over my upper body, slowly crawling up to and through my neck.

Then, in an instant, my life, quite literally, flashes before my eyes:

There I was again, playing Hide-and-Seek with Pyre all those years ago. And there was an image of an Umbreon- I assumed it to be my mother, as I had never truly met her. Then, the scene shifts to a backdrop of the forest where we used to live together. The colors begin to darken, until the scene is thrust into a violent thunderstorm, the leaves of every tree for miles whistling in the crescendo of wind. Amidst the chaos, I could see Pyre, ripping out my mother's insides with his claws. Then, he does the same to my father. Tears stream down my face, but I could tell that this sudden nightmare is far from over. A few seconds later, I could hear the pitter-patter of paws running through the forest- I didn't even have to guess to realize that they're my own footfalls, running for the town that Pyre had told me about.

The scene shifts to the inside of the house of the old woman from the town, where Hestia can be seen pacing in the corner of a room. The old woman is nowhere to be found, and Hestia now possesses several cuts across her once-pristine fur. I could practically hear her piteous mews as she attempts to figure out what to do.

And all of this... This happens to the... good Pokemon in the world... Why does this happen?! And what happened to Percy?!... I'll stake my life on those mysteries! I'm going to do it! I'm going to change the world!... Ngh...

My mind still wants to continue to wander, but the electricity finally reaches its apparent target- my skull, and its precious cargo, and I pass out from the shock.

...

...

...

Urgh...

...

...

My head... Am I alive?...

...

...

...

I... I can feel my legs again... So... I'm not dead?!

...

Come on, Sombra, you're still not dead yet! Get up!

I try to reassure my jaded body, but it just doesn't want to respond.

Ngh... Come on! Move, Sombra!

I concentrate as hard as I can, and I am rewarded with the movement of my paw about an inch or so. My eyes are still completely shut and unresponsive, but at least I'm beginning to regain control of myself after that electric shock all-but fried me.

"Hel... Hello?" I whimper into the darkness around my closed eyelids, desperately hoping for a way to open my eyes and experience some light.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the only answer I get is in the form of a small stream of water gracing my paw. It's quite cold, and the freezing feeling stings a bit, but, to me, the touch is life, itself.

"Hello?! Is anyone there?"

A quick flurry of footsteps answers me, and a calm, commanding voice states,

"There he is. Basque...?"

The response is only four words, yet those four simple words send more fear and adrenaline through my veins than anything else in my life ever did. Perhaps it's because I can't open my eyes to look at either the source of the voice or 'Basque.' Perhaps it's just because I'm still paranoid after almost being shocked to death. Or perhaps it's simple because I'm terrified of anything and everything right now.

Whatever the cause, it doesn't matter. I begin to hear the sound of wet paws walking closer to me, and my body instinctively tenses up. As long as I can't see what it is that's approaching, I don't want anything to do with it.

I try to move- to get away, anything, but I quickly remember that I'm probably bound by chains; that must have been why a simple movement of my paw didn't cause any pain.

Because Percy did the very same thing with his own hand. It's like he knew that I was going to go through this or something. But I'd rather think it as coincidence until I debunk it completely...

Nevertheless, I strain my body in the opposite direction of the squelching sound, and a searing pain grabs me by the gut; sure enough, the chains are still there, just as tight as before. However, this time, they don't feel as comforting as they did when Percy first put them on. They feel more like a prison and not at all like an embrace..

Still, the paw-steps continue to approach me, and I tentatively decide to talk.

"Um... Who are you? And why do you sound like you're all wet?" I ask, hoping that this mystery creature, Pokemon or whatever it is, would answer me. However, I don't get a response- only the continued approach of the mysterious water-paws.

"Hello?" I ask again, this time much more nervously than before. I cautiously wait a few seconds. Then, I can feel a weight being lifted off of my chest, my legs, and my entire body.

The chains! Whoever this is, they're removing the chains! They're freeing me!

I almost can't contain my excitement- that I would have the luck to be found by someone who wants me to escape this place!

Maybe, just maybe, the world is finally turning around for me... I begin to think to myself, wishing I could see the face of my rescuer.

Then, just as quickly as the chains are removed from me, a massive volume of water envelops me, jumping down my throat as well as every possible orifice in my skin, and I immediately pass out from trauma before I can react.