Chapter 39

Whitney heard the giant pokemon roaring behind her as she ran between the trees. The Mightyena howled from behind her. She could see its narrow red eyes fixed on her.

She stopped and tried to grab a low tree branch, but she could barely see through the darkness. Whitney missed, and the Mightyena laughed harshly from behind her. Its high screechy voice rang out around the forest.

"I smell fear! Fear and cowardice! You'll be all mine! All mine!" it hissed.

Whitney felt tears slide down her cheeks as she saw the Mightyena five feet behind her.

It was going to kill her. It was going to rip her to pieces. She would never wake up from this nightmare. She would never see her brother again.

Just as the Mightyena took one step closer, a loud, thundering roar burst out from behind it. Whitney saw a circle made of fire behind the dark wolf.

A large lion like pokemon tore out of the bushes, leaving burnt grass behind it. Its fiery mane was throwing the forest into light. It's brown fur was shining, and its eyes were like fierce ocean waves.

The Mightyena yowled with horror and ran away from the enraged Pyroar. The new pokemon roared at the dark wolf and tossed its fierce head violently.

Whitney stepped backward. Every time she had this nightmare, the same thing would happen. Whitney had suffered from this same nightmare for over four years, each ending the same way.

The Pyroar's eyes landed on her, but made no sign of rage or hunger as they usually did. Its tail twitched as she took another step back.

"Who are you?" she finally hissed. The Pyroar didn't answer. It continued to observe Whitney with its bright eyes.

"You must go." It growled, "You are not safe."

"What does that mean?" Whitney snapped. The Pyroar gestured toward the place that the Mightyena disappeared from.

"Those Dark Type pokemon are not pokemon." said the Pyroar.

"They have to be!"

"No, they're not." It replied, shaking its head, "Those are the lies of the world. The sins of pokemon and man kind. The problems on your shoulders. The servants of the dark."

Whitney shook her head, unable to understand. "Than what are you?" she finally asked.

The Pyroar tilted its head and said "I am your guardian, and your enemy. Your family and friend. Your worst fear, and your only hope."

"How is that helpful?" she snarled.

"You are running out of time." It said quietly, "The creatures of the darkness will haunt you until your last breath. They will try and catch you and drag you down with them. They live in other living creatures, but they are nothing more than acts of sins in your world. They are disguised as lies, pain, torture, and murder. Their leader is death, and you will meet it more than once."

"What about other people?" she whispered, "Do they see the pokemon as well? Do they see them like I can?"

"You are a special case." the Pyroar told her, "Others will not see or notice them. You have been born with this ability, and is a rare one. I am here to warn you about this. You're surrounded by these creatures, in the outside world and here. I am here to make sure you will never speak of these dreams, or these meetings to anyone, not even to your brother."

Whitney opened her mouth to speak, but the large pokemon suddenly stiffened and disappeared into the trees. When it vanished, howls and shrieks echoed around the forest instantly. Whitney felt a scream escape her as the darkness closed in.

<^>~<^>~<^>

Whitney bolted up right, still screaming. She heard N yell next to her as she began to cry. The dream had felt so real, but she was still in the forest that she was raised in.

"Whitney, what happened?!" N asked over her sobs. She only cried harder, and N's Zorua woke up with a yelp.

"What happened?!" her brother repeated, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"I-I can't say!" Whitney sobbed, putting her head in her hands.

"Glad we cleared that up." growled Zorua, sarcastically. Pichu squeaked awake as Whitney gave another wail.

"What happened?!" Pichu asked urgently, apparently thinking of a raid. "That's what we're trying to figure out." N said irritability.

Whitney was breathing heavily now. She couldn't control herself. Everything that the Pyroar had said seemed to be burning her.

"Please try and calm down!" N begged her, "What happened? Was it a nightmare?"

"I can't tell you!" Whitney repeated, still crying.

"Why not?"

"Because I can't! Y-You wouldn't understand!"

Zorua and Pichu exchanged looks, but Whitney didn't care. She wasn't refusing because the Pyroar told her to. She was doing it so that N wouldn't think she was sick or insane.

Four years Whitney put up with the nightmares. If she could hide it for that long, she could do it again.

"Whitney," her brother started quietly, "Are you sure you're alright?" The true answer was no, but she nodded and wiped her eyes.

"I-I'm fine." Whitney said, shaking slightly. She knew N didn't believe her, but he turned away. Pichu leapt onto Whitney's shoulder as Zorua moved away from her.

Whitney ignored them and moved closer to her older brother. He flinched as she hugged him tightly, but he didn't shake her off.

Rapi, Darmanitan, and the other's never stayed with them at night anymore. Ray would come back occasionally, but never stayed long.

Whitney wanted Rapi now. The Ponyta was the closest thing she had to a mother, and was the only thing that made Whitney feel better. She wanted to tell the Ponyta, but she knew that she could never do it.

She cried silently into N's chest, feeling that she was safer now. Whitney felt him put his arms around her, and she calmed down a bit. She now thought that nothing could get to her here.

***

White's arms tightened around Hydreigon's long neck as he flew up to avoid a fallen boulder. The dark dragon made no objection, and started to fly around one of the rocky hills. She could barely see through the dusty clouds, but wasn't sure if it was because the sky was dark or because one of her eyes was swollen shut.

"We're almost there now!" White heard Mira call from her Dragonite, who was flying below them. White didn't reply, but continued to hold onto Hydreigon's neck.

Mira and her have been flying for almost two hours. Draco the Dragonite and Hydreigon were flying above the Reversal Mountain now. It was hard to avoid the sandstorm from below, so the Dragon Types had to fly high above the ground.

Draco flew up next to Hydreigon, and White could see Mira properly. Sparky the Pichu and Pinch the Pikachu were on each side of her, both were glowing faintly. Mira's blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her jacket was tied around her waist.

"You ok?" she asked White. She had just closed her eyes and had tightened her grip on Hydreigon's neck even more. White shook her head, not opening her eyes.

"What is it?" Mira said in a concerned tone.

"Just tired," White hissed, shaking her head slightly. She released Hydreigon's neck and collapsed on his back, her head throbbing.

"Is it the dreams?" her friend asked.

She nodded, still not looking at Mira. White had broken the promise to the Pyroar and had told Mira and Sky Blue about the dreams. They never talked about it much, but one of them would occasionally ask White about them.

"I hate them." White snarled. "I hate them! I wish they would go away! It's a curse! I-I wish I was dead! Then they would stop!"

She felt Hydreigon stiffen, and she could tell that he was listening for something to tell N. But she didn't care.

"Don't say that!" said Mira.

Draco smirked and started to bump into Hydreigon, trying to annoy the other dragon. The three headed pokemon ignored him but started to growl.

White didn't say anything and stayed silent. She felt her almost empty bag bump against her side. Most of the items were taken out before she left.

"Where's your jewelry box?" Mira suddenly asked. White didn't answer right away. She heard Pinch, Sparky, Draco, and Hydreigon arguing quietly.

"Ok, now stop ramming me." Hydreigon was growing. "Enough is enough."

"You're not my boss." Draco retorted, slamming his tail into Hydreigon's. The two mouse pokemon squealed as the three headed dragon bumped into the Dragonite.

"Stop, both of you!" Sparky squeaked as the two pokemon started bumping into each other. Pinch yelped as Hydreigon and Draco slammed into his tail.

"I buried it." White finally said, still not opening her eyes.

"You buried it?" Mira repeated, shocked.

When White nodded, she squeaked, "But why? All your stuff was in there! That pin! The brooch! The letters and photos!"

"It was a burden." She replied. "It would have given me away if anyone looked in it. It also reminds me that I am a burden."

Mira didn't press the subject. White knew what she was thinking. She did not bury as properly as she should have. There was a chance that one of the others had found it.

If one of the others were to find it, it had better be Amos. White felt that he was more trustworthy with her secrets than anyone else. He wasn't likely to tell his cousins about her past.

Before she knew what was happening, White heard loud screeches fill the air around her. She bolted up right, and forced her good eye to open up.

A Golbat swarm was surrounding the two Dragon Types, trying to bite at every part of them. Mira was shouting instructions to Pinch and Sparky, and the two Electric types were shooting off lightning. Draco and Hydreigon were slashing out at the bats, and were attempting to shoot fire at them.

"Dragon Rush!" White screamed at Hydreigon, who was being bitten in the neck by a Golbat. The dragon roared and slammed its tail into six Golbat.

She gripped one of the empty pokeballs in her pocket and threw it at the Golbat on Hydreigon's neck. It bounced off and fell to the earth below them.

"Their captured pokemon!" She screeched to Mira, swatting away the Golbat with her arm.

Fire was streaming from Draco's open mouth. Hydreigon was also shooting fire, making ten Golbat fall to earth. Pinch and Sparky were still shocking the Flying Types with Thunder and Lightning Bolt.

White suddenly felt a piercing pain near her throat. A Golbat had bitten into her neck. She screamed and tried to pull it off her, but it would not budge.

"THUNDER!" Mira shrieked from a head, and lightning struck through the bat and White's body. White's overcoat was lightning proof, so the shock only made her feel numb.

The Golbat jerked back and swung itself at Mira. Draco roared as the entire swarm started attacking at him. White saw Mira duck down, shielding her Pichu and Pikachu from harm.

"FLAMETHROWER!" White bellowed, and Hydreigon shot fire at the Golbat. Three flew away, but the other ignored it.

The Dragonite gave a roar of agony and fell from the sky, Mira still clutching to his back.

"FLY DOWN! FLY DOWN AFTER THEM! TRY AND CATCH THEM!" White screeched.

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?! THEY'RE PROBABLY DEAD!" Hydreigon roared back.

She had no choice but slapped the back of the Hydreigon's neck to make him fly down. Hydreigon shrieked and flew down after them.

The Golbat swarm didn't follow them but flew toward Undella Town on the other side of Reversal Mountain. Hydreigon was flying like lightning. The orange blur of Draco had disappeared below them.

As they grew closer, White could see the Dragonite's body sprawled on the ground. She saw Mira laying on his back, her legs in an awkward angle.

"MIRIAM!" White screamed, leaping off Hydreigon's back when he was still ten feet above the ground. She landed on her feet and ran to the fallen Dragonite, kneeling next to her friend's body.

Mira's eyes were closed. Her arms were around her two pokemon, who were both unconscious like their trainer and Draco. Bite marks covered her arms. It was clear that her legs were both broken.

"Mira?" White whispered, tears sliding down her face, "Mira? Please come back! Don't leave me!"

The young girl that made White's life so much more bearable was somewhere between life and death. The child that White had treated like her own sister. Now she was injured, and it was all her fault.

White put her hand on Mira's wrist, searching for a pulse. Relief spread through her as she felt the small beat.

She ignored Hydreigon's curses as she tried to pick Mira up in her arms. White set her down on the ground, and pulled a pokeball off her belt. Mira's hand twitched as White pressed the button, and Amycus the Pignite appeared out of it.

"What happened to her?" he yelped, his eyes falling on Mira.

"We were attacked by a swarm of Golbat." White explained hurriedly. "Amycus, get help, now! Go to Undella Town and find Sky Blue! He should be there! I can't carry her there!"

"But there's a volcano between us and Undella Town!"

"And it will make you stronger! Please get Sky Blue, Amycus!"

The Pignite gave her a frightened look before running off toward the large mountain. White collapsed next to Mira, clutching at the bite wound the Golbat made. It was stinging badly.

Hydreigon moved away from her and flew a little ways away. He laid down and glared at White. He was clearly annoyed and furious with her, but she ignored him.

White was about to go look around, but Mira's hand moved toward her's. "W-Whitney?" she wheezed, her eyes opening. White gave a small smile and took her hand.

"Miriam?" she said quietly.

Mira smiled. "The one and only." She replied quietly. White helped her straighten up, but Mira winced as she accidentally touched her leg.

"You broke your legs." White whispered. Mira's eyes filled with tears as her leg twitched. White put her arm around her as Mira began to cry.

"I'm sorry!" She sobbed. "I'm so sorry!"

"For what?"

"I-I must have messed something up!" Mira wailed. "You said those pokemon were already trained! Team Plasma knew you would be flying to Undella Town!"

"That's not your fault." White said instantly, "Team Plasma probably stationed them there just in case I did fly there. I'll be very surprised if there isn't any members inside the volcano."

Mira shook her head slightly and wiped her eyes.

"My legs hurt." She whimpered. "But it's nothing compared to what he did."

White froze. Mira rarely mentioned her own brother. Mira's brother had abused her, and made her steal from stores to survive.

"He never saw past his selfishness." Mira continued in a growl. "He only cared about himself and his pokemon. Never cared for me. Never! Just because I was a girl, and that I wasn't gifted with the ability from the Viridian Forest. It was a miracle that... that the other boy found me."

White knew what she meant. A boy, one of White's friends from Johto, had treated Mira like his own sister. He had even given her a rare pokemon egg. It was with a heavy heart that Mira had left Johto to join White and Sky Blue.

"You're lucky, Whitney." Mira suddenly said, looking up at White.

"What?" White snapped, more harsh than she meant to.

"N loves you." She whispered. "H-He cares about you."

"He never did." White hissed dismissively.

"He does!" Mira said quietly. "N cares about you very much! Whitney, I-I never told you about this, but N visited me before he went looking for you."

When White didn't answer, Mira continued to speak. "He asked about you. He asked if you would accept his request, and if you were capable of doing it. I said that you would, and that you were more than capable. N also asked how you were since he last met you. I told him that you were always by yourself, and refused to speak of him. I also said that you were lonely, and don't deny it! I've seen the way you were when Blake-"

"Don't you dare say his name!" White hissed loudly. "I-I was mistaken to like him. He didn't care! After what I did to his sister..."

"Whitney," Mira said soothingly. "N feels the same. He liked Rachel, you know, Blake's sister, just like you loved Blake. But all four of you were on two different sides. You and your brother were criminals to many people, and Blake and Rachel were the heroes. You attacked Blake and Rachel to try and take back Reshiram. You can understand why he told you all that stuff. He didn't understand your situation."

"He knew." White growled. "Blake said he didn't want to see me ever again. He told me not to come near him or his sister."

Mira took White's hand and looked at her. "Rachel said the same to N." She whispered. "He tried to explain things to her, but it didn't go well. He ended up leaving her. White, did you know that N came back because he had no one else to care for?"

White didn't reply. She knew none of this, but she didn't want to admit it. She knew N wouldn't lie to Mira, and Mira wouldn't lie to her.

"He's lonely, White. I don't think he has forgiven himself for leaving you. N knows that you need him, and that he needs you. Your siblings, no matter what you do. Please forgive him. N treats you with harshness because he forgot how he use to treat you. If you help him, he might remember."

White felt tears fall down her face again. Everything was confusing. N came back to her because he had no one else. She loved her brother, but after everything he put her through, it was hard to forgive him.

She finally nodded. "I'll see what I can do about this. I can't promise anything. I might end up swearing at him instead of helping." She growled.

Mira giggled and leaned against her older friend, and White felt comforted.

~~~

I. HATE. MY. SELF.

*Hits head with crowbar*

MIRA. NO MORE STUNTS. WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR LEGS AFTER THIS.

.-. I didn't want to leave you with a cliffhanger. AIN'T I NICE? No, no I'm not. So that's why the chapter is extra long.

I'm gonna repeat this: This book will not get any major editing done until it's completed. It will save me some time.

Good night. It's midnight where I live. Good bye. Please don't hate me.