Shadow Fire

As Ethan arrived, Lance was already inside. A Dragonite stood in front of him, looking fiercely at one of the two 'shop-owners'. "Draco..." he said firmly. "Hyper Beam." The Dragonite unleashed a Hyper Beam directly at the guy in front of him, knocking him into the wall. Lance then recalled the Dragonite and pushed the other guy aside, noticing the sticker that Silver had left. "The secret entrance..." he muttered. "It's here." Flicking a switch, he watched as a door opened, stairs leading downward. Casting a glance back at Ethan, the dragon trainer went down into the hideout. ***** Silver made his way through, eyes narrowed dangerously as members of Team Rocket avoided him. Cowards... all of them. What the hell are they planning?

Once again, a nostalgic smile appeared on the prince's face. "I thought so..." he said in his religiously soft voice. "They're the exact same as Rin used to make. They're really delicious." Returning to his breakfast, Len kept his smile on his face. I won't feel burdened, Rin. I know you wouldn't want that. You're... still here with me, aren't you? You always will be, sis.

"Damn it... that mist again." After killing off some nearby bugs, Link suddenly watched as Midna flew over to a stump that was sticking up out of the poison mist. No way... we have to jump onto THAT?

Assisting the smaller wolf, Link destroyed some of the bugs, collecting the tears that they left behind. The monkey looked around, wondering how the insects were killed, before wondering about what was happening in the temple. Filling the vessel, Link turned around. "C'mon... we should head off. There's still a few more left. I think they may be in the central expanse of the woods."

Welcome back, matey. I'd have done so earlier, but I was sleeping. I believe it had something to do with this thing called timezones... or something like that. Anyway, good to see you around again.

Giving his praise, Link once again felt the instincts of the wolf threatening to push his own down deep, but this time, he was more prepared, and pushed them away. "Good job. Let's head further in... we should find more." Back into that dark cave again...

Link growled slightly at Midna's teasing. I guess you can read my mind then. Okay... what am I thinking now? The wolf tried to think of something unrelated, and at first, succeeded. The image of a delicious plate of rabbit was in his mind, but all too quickly, it was replaced with something else when he heard a scuffling noise coming from the pup. Instantly, his mind shot back to their previous... encounter.

On the way, Link couldn't help but give a soft chuckle, before getting serious again. "Hey..." he deadpanned. "Don't eat it." As the two wolves made their way through the woods, Link suddenly stopped. His fur stood on end. "This doesn't feel right. We're being watched. Wait! 'In the shadows of twilight, the dark insects are as invisible as normal beings are here...'. So then... that means..." The bigger wolf closed his eyes, honing his senses, before opening them quickly again. "I can sense them nearby..."

Noticing the spring nearby, Link broke into a run, his four legs working into overtime to get him to the spring as quickly as possible. Something was wrong. When he arrived, he stopped in shock as he saw the shattered fragments of light. A weak voice called out to him. "...Please...be careful... These woods...have changed... The dark clouds of dusk cover this land... This drape of shadows is called...twilight. In this twilight, those who lived in the light...become as mere spirits...it is a place...where the dark ones and evil creatures dwell... I...am a spirit...of light... ...Blue-eyed beasts. Look...for my light... Retrieve the light stolen by the dark beasts...and keep it...in this vessel." A strange-shaped item suddenly floated in front of the wolves. "In the shadows of twilight...the dark insects are as...invisible...as normal beings are here... Let me use the last of my power...to reveal the locations of the dark insects...that consumed the light... ...Find...the insects of darkness... The dark insects... They are the form taken by evil...once it has latched on to...our scattered light... Mark...these words... In the shadows of twilight...the dark insects are as...invisible...as normal beings are here... Please...look in the places I have marked on your map and recover the Tears of Light from these...insects of darkness..." Link closed his eyes for a moment, before turning to the other wolf. "C'mon... it's time for a treasure hunt..."

The wolf's eyes seemed to pierce into the other's, a soft growl emanating from his throat as he looked down at the pup underneath him. Suddenly, he began moving his head towards the other's. At that moment, Link was able to regain control of himself, just in time to find himself flicking his tongue over the pup's maw. Realising that he'd been taken over by his wolf instincts, he stepped backwards as if he was splashed with icy cold water. "S-sorry! I don't... I don't know what came over me..." Turning around, he glanced up at the twilit sky, breathing a bit erratically. What the hell was I doing, anyway?! Shaking his head in embarrassment, he took a few steps forward, before glancing back at the other wolf, nodding for them to continue. Something about him seems really familiar. The taste... the scent... It's like... I've known them for a long time.

Silver continued to walk around, noticing strange Pokemon statues, their eyes gleaming suspiciously. The red-haired boy snorted. "Cameras..." he scoffed. "Like I care." Walking past the first statue, a small alarm sounded, before two Rocket Grunts raced out to investigate. Their expressions, smug, they changed quickly when they saw the teen smirk. "Alright..." he snickered. "If it's a battle you want, it's a battle you get. I should warn you though, I'm not your average opponent." The battle was quick, Silver becoming the victor with ease. "Hmph..." he snorted after winning. "No wonder my father broke up the team. You can't battle to save your own life." The Grunts' eyes widened. One of them took a step forward, clenching his hands into fists. "W-what?!" he exclaimed. "You're... but, sir... if you had told us it was you, then..." "Silence!" Silver snarled. "That's why you're so pathetic! Always needing your hands to be held by my father. It's easy to see why you were all defeated by some kid three years ago. You're all so weak! Get out of my way!" The red-haired boy shoved past the grunts, who looked perplexed, before giving a sigh and rushing back to where they were beforehand, but not before using a small radio to let the other grunts know that they had an important guest, who was not to be messed with. ***** Meanwhile, the mysterious Lance was already back at Mahogany Town, staring around. "The strange signal..." he murmured. "It seems to be coming from around this area. That store looks suspicious. I better go check it out." Gripping a Monster Ball, he went into the store, his black cape flowing behind him.

Len continue to eat silently, before just holding his fork over half-eaten pancakes. "Koto..." he said suddenly. "You used a dash of honey and icing sugar in these, didn't you?"

Link allowed his tail to curl around the smaller wolf's, before uncurling them and lunging. The Twilit Messengers were caught off guard, shrieking as they were all attacked very quickly. All three of them quickly fell down, before vanishing into black squares, which shot back up to the portal, causing the lines to change colour to a nice blue. ...something's... happening... His mind being subdued, Link found the instincts of the wolf were taking over. His own consciousness pushed down deep, the wolf turned around and began stalking towards the smaller. Quickly, he pounced.

Link got into a defensive stance, waiting for the creatures to come close to him. As soon as they were close enough, he felt a magic field surround him. Suddenly, he was aware of the internal power of the Twilit Messengers. "Hey... can you feel this?"

Watching as the pup attacked one of the Twilit Messengers, Link growled at another and lunged. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the beast that the pup attacked go down, the one he attacked going down after. However, as he gave a glance to the smaller wolf, preparing to suggest that they both finish off the final beast, said creature gave a horrific shriek, causing Link to freeze in place. Much to his horror, the creatures that had fallen both were revived. "Um... shit?"

Link gave his tail a swish, before scampering off towards Faron's Spring. However, as he neared, the two wolves were trapped inside the same pillars from before. This time, 3 Twilit Messengers appeared from the portal.

Link seemed to notice that the other wolf was bothered by something, and without thinking, moved closer to the pup, gently nosing his cheek, before flicking his tongue over it. "You okay?"

Letting out a howl as he was pulled into the twilight, Link shook his head to get his bearings. "Ungh... Dizzy..."

Link glanced over at the pup for a moment, before staring back at Midna and nodding. I'm ready. This form is driving me crazy. I keep wanting to chase my tail... To dig a big hole... Hunt some animals... Pounce on the other w-- guh...!

Link watched with amusement as the smaller wolf took off, before following close behind. The bigger wolf chuckled to himself. He reminds me so much of Diggs... He's... cute. Link slowed down, wondering where that last thought came from.

Link tensed up immediately, watching as a golden orb rose from the water, an Ordon Goat forming around the orb. The goat glanced at the two wolves, before speaking in a mysterious, echoing voice. "O brave youths... I am one of four light spirits that protect Hyrule at the behest of the gods. I am Ordona. The black beast you slayed was a shadow being. It had come to seize the power of light I wield." Link stared at Ordona in awe. The light spirit continued with its monologue. "My brethren in Hyrule have already had their light stolen by these fell beasts. The entire kingdom has been reduced to a netherworld ruled by the cursed powers of darkness. The blight will not stop with Hyrule. Before long, the entire world of light will fall into the hands of the king who rules the twilight. To save this land from the king of twilight, the lost light must be recovered. The three light spirits who have lost their light must be revived. There is but two who can revive them and redeem this land... The two of you. You still have not discovered your true power... Those transformed by twilight usually cannot recover their original forms... Unless... If you were to return Faron Woods where you were first brought into the twilight... If you were to revive the light spirit... There, by the power of the light spirit, you may find the means to regain your other state of being..." Ordona slowly began to dissipate, before the spring returned to its normal state.

The monster defeated, Link turned to the other wolf. "Are you okay?"

The next moments seemed to go by slowly, Link watching as the pup lunged at the creature. The creature was stunned, before its hand assumed an attack posture. Instantly, for reasons beyond his comprehension, Link snarled in rage, before letting out a deafening bark. RAWRF!!! The creature stopped, staring at the bigger wolf, who suddenly surged forward, leaping onto it and knocking it over. With a savage growl, he sunk his fangs into the creature's throat.

Staring down at the smaller wolf, Link gave as best a smile he could, before scampering back towards the wall of twilight. As he ran past the Ordona Spring, he stopped suddenly as a voice called out to him. "Wait... Come to... my spring." Realising that he was being spoken to by the spirit of light, Ordona, the wolf made a detour. "You have... been transformed... by the power... of shadow. Come... to me." As Link approached, pillars came down, trapping Link and Diggs in a forcefield. "Beware... A shadow being... It approaches..."

Shaking himself dry, Link glanced over at the pup. "I'm fine, thanks. I hate being wet like this." A sudden noise from Midna made Link jump.