Smoke and Flame chapter 2: THE ROGUE AND THE STORMCHASER

BSDuck · June 30

Warning: The following material is not suitable for under 12s, as it contains violence, darker themes, and very mild cursing.

Smoke and Flame

A PMD fanfic

Chapter 2

The Rogue and the Stormchaser

Saber the Chien-Pao was born with darkness inside him. When he meets a mysterious Pokemon, will his luck change? Or will he forever be destined on a collision course with Smoke and Amethyst, who are forced to face their dark pasts…

Saber felt a cold, metal object touch his chest. After he dropped unconscious, he had no idea what was going on, other than the Typhlosion had left him for dead. Well, apparently he wasn’t dead, as he could feel the damp moss underneath his feet, smell the rawst berries laying next to him on the floor, and hear a soft, calming whirring noise nearby. “Uhh…” he mumbled, trying to get a feel for his surroundings, “Where am I?” As he opened his eyes, a mechanical, lizard-like Pokemon appeared in front of him. It was a mix of violet and yellow, with pixelated eyes above an electrical generator of sorts, and a long metal tail with a spark of sorts on the end. “I don’t know either. The lines between reality are thin in this place." it said. He wanted to ask what it meant by that, but he was too tired to say anything. But at least he was alive. But was he really alive? Saber started to realise where it was coming from.

The silence was quickly interrupted, when it asked "Those flames look quite bad. What caused them?"

"Some… Typhlosion, I think. But this one looked different to the one they showed…"

"Typhlosion. I didn't think they'd be one of those around here… unless…"

“It was purple. And its flames were strange. Colder yet stronger. That was the difference."

"A… Amethyst?"

“Who?”

“Oh. She… never mind.” She let out a little tear of sadness, dripping down onto the mossy floor of the cave. Maybe… He shuddered at the thought. This Amethyst had not been as lucky as him. A strange feeling washed over him as he envisioned the flames. Something he had never felt before. Maybe he wasn't like those Pokemon said. But then again, he would have sliced through her heart without hesitation.

He snapped out of his thought when an item hit his paw. It was a stalagmite, an item that healed ice types and froze their bodies. Probably what she used to repair his body. “Here, take this.” she said as the piece of ice rolled into a dip in the carpet where Saber had been lying. “My name is Delta, by the way. And you?”

“The Sword of Ruin. Or at least that’s what they call me. Well, it’s the only name they call me. But… I call myself Saber.”

"That fits you well."

He responded with a quiet "Thanks."

This was the first time somebody was nice to him. Maybe she had taken pity on him. Maybe she needed a teammate. Maybe it was because she was just like him.
"Why… Why did you save me? You could have just killed me while I was down."

"I do not know," Delta responded, "Maybe I am just clinging on to the life I have left in me."

Saber didn't expect that response.

-*-

Something flashed violently inside Delta's mind. It was brief, but needed no time to deliver its message. You could have saved her. Images of fire, explosions, darkness, screaming, blood, and horror, all accompanied by one thought. You could have saved her. No. I couldn't. Not back then. She remembered her best friend walking into the flames. And she remembered they never came out. Trying to save her, desperately fighting against an invisible death. Smoke filled her lungs for the final time, and her last moments were spent watching her burnt alive. Now she had to pay for that. The only thing worse than death is an eternity of pain. Watching Pokemon die, over and over again, and not being able to feel a thing. But somehow, there was hope. She could still be alive in this world. I won't make the same mistake twice. Even if it costs my life.

-*-

Smoke saw a figure emerge outside his den, limping along like they had just stepped on a Stunfisk. As it came closer, Smoke realised that it was Amethyst, although he barely recognized her. Her jaw was bruised and bloodied, her chest had some nasty scratches from where something had scraped into her, and her flames dimly flickered, exhausted from whatever had happened. “Are you… okay?” Smoke asked, his voice still hoarse and tired.

“Frozen death itself… Blades of bitter hatred… Blood everywhere…” she mumbled shakily, traumatized from her recent brush with death. He could tell that she wasn’t in the best of conditions. “Here, I’ll get you a few berries and some herbs.”

“Th… Thanks.”

He wandered off, claws digging through piles of different herbs and berries until he found what he was looking for. A sitrus berry. Perfect for revitalizing even the most injured of Pokemon. He tossed it to Amethyst, who picked it up with a shaky paw and gulped the berry down. Immediately, the cuts began to heal, and the blood evaporated away. It wouldn’t heal her fully, but it would be enough to keep her going for a little while. “Now what did all of… this?” Smoke sarcastically asked while gesturing to Amethyst’s bruised body.

“I was out getting herbs. The normal route. Passed the cliffs, planning where to search for the White Herb, when it saw me. A being of pure evil, a body made of snow and fangs of ice. Something told me it wanted to kill me. I ran, but it was too fast. I reached the cliffs. There was no escape. Blood everywhere… Fire and Ice burning each other down until the bitter end. I barely made it out alive. I… think I want to stick to Skwovets." That was all Smoke needed to know. Something was out to get him, and Amethyst was just the start. At least the hunters weren’t this strong. On the other hand, it would adapt, it would learn to use his strengths against him, until nothing he could do could stop it. This was the moment he’d been dreading ever since they warned him. The Sword of Ruin had awakened, and it would stop at nothing to take his life.

“Are you alright?" Amethyst inquired "You look like you've seen a Gengar.”

“The hunters. I always thought they couldn’t do it. That they wouldn’t do it. They finally awakened it.”

“Awakened what?”

“The Sword of Ruin. A heartless killing machine. It will stop at nothing to take my life.”

With those words, Amethyst realised that it was far more dangerous than she thought. It would succeed. “Are… Are you saying you’re screwed? That… The end has come?” she stuttered, her voice growing shaky and tears of fire slowly burning in her eyes. Was her friend… gone?

“It’s… okay. I knew this moment was coming. I just didn’t realise I’d have to say goodbye so… soon.” His head drooped down, and small teardrops dripped from his eyes, painting the floor in a deep sorrow. Why did things have to be this way? Hope was something he wished for every day, only for it to be ripped away by the blood-coated claws of the hunters. Ever since he set foot on these mountains, they have been determined to ‘Save their village’. All they were really doing was hunting down an innocent Pokemon until it died. And she was caught up in all of it. What a messed up world, he thought to himself.

-*-

That night there was a furious thunderstorm the likes of which hadn't been witnessed in ages. She knew it was her chance. A loud, metallic roar shook the earth as Delta stood firmly on top of the hill. Heavy rain hammered down on the leaves, each drop crashing down almost as hard as the lightning. The feeling was familiar, the water running on her metal scales making her chest thrum as she called out to the sky. This would be her chance. To take her revenge on his cruel darkness. Suddenly, a bolt of charged electricity struck her, and she felt her tail jolt with energy and the rain around her ignite in a flurry of sparks. Energized by the strike, she roared again, chest thrumming with power and head reaching up to the sky. She was struck by another bolt of lightning, this time even more powerful. It shone like a diamond in the sky. Sparks flew and she thrummed with blinding light that caused the entire hill to glow for a few seconds, before dropping back into darkness. The rain began to calm, and the clouds started to fade away into thin wisps. Stormchasing was dangerous, and it could end her life. She did not know how much her body could handle. But the charge would be all she needed, with this amount Delta could burn down an entire forest. She had no plans for that. Her plans lay somewhere far more personal.

-*-

Neither of them had slept through the storm. What had happened jarred Amethyst too much to even try. Was her friendship really coming to an end? Meanwhile, Smoke had been shaken by Amethyst’s words, and was too busy looking out of the corner of his eye to check that they were safe. Just in case. The noise from the storm didn’t help either. Eventually, the thunder died down and Smoke couldn’t take it anymore, eventually collapsing into a deep slumber. He treasured every hour of sleep he got, because he knew that this would be the last time he would get rest in any shape or form.

After a few long hours of napping, dawn cracked the sky, bathing the frosty ground in shades of warm yellows and oranges. Smoke’s eyelids slowly opened as he took a gasp of fresh mountain air. Out of all the places to be hunted, this was by far the most serene. He watched the Frosmoths flutter elegantly in the sky, scattering silver powder on the forest beneath. I wonder what Amethyst is up to, he thought to himself. Wait! Where the heck is Amethyst?! Smoke immediately got up, searching the den for any signs of her. All he found was a half-eaten cheri berry and some pawprints leading out of the den. She must have left the den. What the heck?! Just a day ago she was nearly killed! His only friend was in danger, and it was all his fault. He had to find Amethyst ASAP, or there would be nothing left to find. And it would all be his fault. Not this time.

-*-

Was it just a hallucination? Those words echoed in Amethyst's mind like chimes, slowly making her lose sanity. Every step she took threatened to lull her into a dreamless sleep. Was it just a hallucination? The leaves rustled in the frostbitten air, spreading gleaming white powder on the forest floor. Don't be paranoid. There's nothing here. She didn't know what she was chasing anymore. Some strange noises in the thunder. Almost familiar. She remembered nothing. The trees began to part, giving way to a golden, sun-tinted clearing shrouded in a veil of light. The fresh wisps of wind blew across her face, sending shivers through her body. The wind almost sounded like a voice. It wanted to rescue her. It wanted to kill her. Stop being paranoid, Amethyst. A tree collapsed to the ground with a thundering crack. Probably just the wind. But it wasn’t the tree that she was scared of. It was what stood beneath its toppled remains.

It was here. The Sword of Ruin, or at least that’s what Smoke called it. Those same vicious claws. Those same pointed fangs. Those same heartless eyes. It was out to get her. “What in the name of Arceus?!”

Just as she said that, it pounced, teeth bared and ready to rip right through her. It growled aggressively, before slashing violently through the ground. Next time, it would be her on the wrong end of those blades. Once again, it unleashed a sacred sword, ripping through her side in the blink of an eye. A bloodcurdling cry reverberated through the forest, sending Swinubs cowering in fear in their burrows. A flamethrower roared from Amethyst’s back, tearing through the sky like a roaring Dreepy. Fire enveloped her bloodied body, as she launched a flare blitz to counter an ice spinner. Just one more flare blitz, and this nightmare will be over.

She saw it. Its eyes were filled with pure fear, its ears and tail drooped and its movements shaky. Yet it still fought. Fought with hatred so bitter the fire around it turned to ash. That hit changed everything. Blood was torn out of her chest as it sank its teeth into her underbelly. She wrenched in pain as she felt her lungs ache under the stress of the attack. Then it stopped. Its murderous fangs carefully raised themselves from her chest, dripping in boiling blood. Why had it spared her? She was lying on the floor, writhing in agony as her heart throbbed violently, clinging onto the last shavings of life. This was her end, her final, bloody goodbye. I guess it got me after all.

-*-

Saber stared reluctantly at her torn remains. What have I done?! I… couldn’t help it. Bitter tears of grief rolled down his cheeks, washing the crimson red away. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. No… no! He writhed in sorrow at what laid before him. Maybe I am a monster after all. Nervously, he put a paw gently down on her chest, feeling if her heart was still beating. A slow, violent thrum was all he felt. Her life was balancing on a rope between life and death, and it was all his fault. I need to get her back to Delta. Maybe she can help. Carefully, he wrapped his tail around her to avoid causing her further trauma. He had already done enough of that. Something inside him… he had an urge to kill. Almost like his instinct was out to get him. And he couldn’t stop it. Maybe I am a heartless killer after all. But he was determined to save her. Dragging her body through the forest, Saber pushed himself on, chasing the broken promise of her life. If he didn’t move fast, her body would be claimed by the frozen grip of death. This was his only shot. Failure was not an option. Eventually, he managed to reach Delta’s cave, his body aching from the heavy load. He set her down on a warm carpet of moss, and reached for a sitrus berry. A light flickered on in the corner of the cave. “Oh, you are back… AMETHYST?!” He turned to the side, and saw only a look of pure shock and horror in Delta’s pixelated eyes. He didn’t expect any less.