PMD: Mission 7, Chapter 2 (PAST)

Chapter 2 (Past)

In a time long gone...

It was intensely black. The dark world, made of nothing more than vague, gray shapes, swirled around her vision. Marcia blinked, reaching for a grip on her environment. She stretched out a paw and felt the hard bark of a tree. She fluttered her eyelids, finally regaining some of her eyesight.

Marcia felt panic pulse through her body when she realized she had no idea where she was. There were trees everywhere, surrounding her in a dense jungle. Vines drooped from branches, exotic flowers bloomed and unfamiliar scents wafted through the foliage. The young quilava rolled over onto her right side, feeling spiky grass and moist earth rubbing her fur. It was a drastic change from the soft, calm forest that consisted of Tao's wilderness. Marcia had never been in a jungle, but she'd heard many tales about such locations- mostly tales that included dangerous pokemon lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting pokemon.

Then again, Zayn was the one who told her all those stories. Maybe he was just trying to frighten her. Regardless, Marcia disliked remaining in the jungle. She had to escape. She shifted her limbs until they were under her body. Straining her sore muscles, Marcia stood up and looked around. Her eyes were met with plants she had never seen before. Several other pokemon lay around her, some she recognized as Rescuers, but Solace nor Zayn were anywhere to be found.

"S-Sol..." Marcia murmured fearfully, taking a few exploring steps. "Sol, where are you? Sol, this isn't funny..."

Panic crept into Marcia again when her efforts seemed fruitless. It was clear she was here alone, without any of her team.

Stay calm... you're a Rescuer... there's got to be something you can do. You were trying to save Jasmine, right? Maybe you still can... and what about that zoroark? And where's Mike? The quilava collected her thoughts.

The only present member of Team Shirona detected another flicker of worry when she considered Mike's fate. What if he was hurt? Or lost? Was he alone, or with others?

Questions and worries about the Rescuer leader buzzed in Marcia's head while pokemon nearby recollected themselves and began discussing their predicament. Marcia finally noticed that Dr. Quaak, Devonshire, Vergil, and an unfamiliar chandelure were holding a conference among themselves. Marcia padded up to them, looking questioningly at Devonshire.

Devonshire was the leader of the Rogues, she knew, but what was he doing here? He hadn't been on the mission to save Jasmine. Then again, Vergil, the doctor, and the strange chandelure hadn't been on the mission, either.

"Hey, everyone!" Marcia heard Vergil call out. "We have to stick together, okay? This place is a bit wonky, but stay calm. We're bringing down a zoroark, so be careful.

"Why don't you tell the whole world about it?" Devonshire commented, a dangerous, impatient gleam in his jeweled eyes.

Marcia was too frightened to be cheerful right away, even with the new directions she and everyone else were given. She just wished Zayn or Sol was with her.

The nervous quilava followed as Vergil and Devonshire led the way. The jungle loomed around the group- which seemed to be composed of solely Rescuers. This was the one circumstance that made Marcia feel slightly comforted.

Suddenly, Marcia let out a yip of surprise as she felt something furry bump into her hindquarters. Instinctively, Marcia flared up, causing the pokemon around her to jump back, patting their singed coats. The panicked quilava whirled around to see the pokemon that had spooked her, flames leaping furiously from her body.

"I'm sooooo sorry!" A small, slightly singed skitty apologized. Marcia began to tone down, willing her flames to stop burning.

"N-no, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to burn you! I was just frightened when you bumped into me..." Marcia stammered.

"Oh, it's nothing, really!" The skitty produced a berry in her paw, grabbing the fruit from wherever she had stashed it. In one gulp, the skitty swallowed the berry, and her burns began to heal immediately.

"I'm Dulce, pleased to meet you!" The skitty offered a paw of friendship. Marcia took it and smiled, relieved to know someone. Even if she had just met this Rescuer, Marcia was glad to have someone to know.

The other pokemon had begun to move around the scene, but Devonshire noticed the holdup. "Well, if you two are done igniting the rest of the group, perhaps we should proceed? A more quiet and stealthy manner would be appropriate."

Marcia drooped visibly with embarrassment. "S-sorry, Devonshire..."

The Rogue leader drifted away, and Marcia and her new friend followed him and the rest of the Rescuers.

"I-I'm Marcia, by the way." Marcia suddenly told Dulce.

The skitty grinned. "That's a nice name! Nice to meet you, Marcia. Us lone gals ought to stick together, eh?"

"I-I have a team, but I don't know where they went..."

"Ah, I used to have a man around with me, but things changed recently." Dulce replied, a distant look in her squinty skitty eyes. "We used to be a good team... but I'm on my own now."

"That's a bit sad," Marcia sympathized, hopping over a large root. "I mean... I've got Zayn, who's been with me forever, and there's Sol. He nice, but..."

"But what?" The pink feline-like pokemon asked, with genuine interest.

"He's... distant, you know?" Marcia tried to explain.

"I think I understand. Still, I should meet your friends, when we get back! It's been ages since I had anybody to work with."

"R-really?" Marcia asked, surprised. "That would be great! I-I mean, we've only just met, but thanks. I'd like that. Maybe we could go to the cafe after all this and get something to eat..." the quliava's stomach gave a well-timed growl.

"Aha!" Dulce giggled. "I know what you mean. That berry wasn't at all filling."

The two chatted sparingly from that point on, since Devonshire gave a signal to keep low and quiet. It was painful, sneaking in silence. There was tension in the air, something that kept everyone from relaxing, but muffled their alertness, as well.

They're all worried about their teammates. They just want to get this mission over-with so that they can all return to their friends and family. Marcia pondered.

Perhaps it was that the pokemon were worried, or perhaps it was the murky shadows in the trees. The shadows danced, always moving, but when you tried to look at it directly, they seemed motionless. Marcia thought she could see Zayn, sometimes Solace. However, it always turned out to be a trick of the darkness. It was merely her imagination, right? She often looked at Dulce, who gave her an encouraging smile and a wink. Marcia knew it was all an act, though. She noticed when Dulce got a far away look in her eyes, as if seeing her lost teammate. Marcia could only imagine how awful the illusions must be to her.

And yet there was a part of her that thought that no ones' illusions were as terrible as those she received. The memories grew more intense as they traveled onwards. The shadows flitted, prancing across the foliage that grew thicker as the group advanced. The pokemon around her became edgier than before. A single sharp breath would make them jump. Their ears twitched, and their mingled scents smelled of slight variations of fear.

Marcia only smelled fire.


Her past flashed before her eyes. Burning, choking smoke filled the air. The sweet-smelling alfalfa, grass, flowers and meadows all went up in flames. The thatched, simple huts were set alight before anyone could stop the fire from catching. She saw pokemon everywhere, fleeing to save their possessions, their land, or their lives. She looked up at her mother, a towering typhlosion, leaned over her young hatchling cyndaquil. Marcia turned and saw her father, a menacing mightyena. He crouched and snarled, glancing fearfully at Marcia's mother.

"Celia, things are bad. This isn't an ordinary fire. It has to be one of the other fighting clans-" the mightyena growled, his tail twitching in contained fury.

"No, Sarge" the typhlosion interrupted, "it's not one of the rival villages. They wouldn't avoid a straight-up fight. This is someone else."

"Marauders?" Sarge spat.

"Could be." Celia grumbled. "Quickly, get the kids out of here. I have to help the others, maybe gather the militia..."

"I'm not leaving your side, Celia." Sarge snapped.

"You stubborn fool, you'd damn our children? Get the hell out of here!" Marcia's mother roared, fire alighting along her neck ruff.

The mightyena hesitated. "Don't die on me, Celia."

"I should be telling you that, Sarge."

The couple embraced briefly, then Celia charged into the flames of the burning village. Marcia felt her father grab her by the scruff and stuff her into a whicker basket. Marcia felt other warm bodies with her, along with the hard, smooth shells of eggs unhatched. She squeaked in unison with her siblings, her surroundings whisking past her as Sarge charged away from the village. Then there was a sudden halt. Sarge skidded to a stop and set down the basket. Marcia caught a glance of his face, wrought with anger.

"You!? I should've known. Come to reap revenge, like the scum you are?"

Marcia could only hear the roar of flames and a harsh hissing, like a thousand coiled serpents. Her father vanished from view. She heard vicious snarling and hissing, the tearing of flesh and the spattering of blood. She smelled death for the first time in her short existence. Then the hissing became overwhelmingly loud, so close, she could smell the venom dripping off the fangs of her would-be killer...


Marcia snapped back into reality, her eyes watering, moments before she felt tears rushing down her cheeks.

"Be cautious," she heard in the background "the visions she summons are far more intense here, but she is weak. If we push on, we can catch her off-guard."

It sounded like Devonshire. She couldn't see him, for it was hard for Marcia to see past her tears and the remnants of her illusion.

Dulce nudged her side. "Hey there, don't cry..."

Marcia held back her sobs, bringing up a paw to rub the leaking tears from her face. "I-it... it was so real..."

"I know, gal. It'll be alright, you just see, okay?" Dulce reassured Marcia, smiling as brightly as she could. "We'll bring that zoroark down, okay? Then everyone will be happy and reunited again!"

Marcia nodded and stopped crying, but she didn't see how making one pokemon pay would make everything better. Did it really change anything? Perhaps the illusions would be gone, but the memories were still there, haunting her. No one could un-see the visions they'd endured. Making the zoroark pay may make everyone feel better, but Marcia didn't think it was justice.

She wished for the millionth time that Zayn were with her.

The whole group suddenly halted when Devonshire raised a hand. "Our quarry is nearby. I suggest we divide into two groups and surround her."

The plan was discussed in length by Vergil and Devonshire, but eventually it was explained to the Rescuers. The teams would divide into three groups, instead of two. The first would advance on the zoroark, while the second followed her from a distance, trying to flank her and approach from a blind spot. The third party would travel ahead and lay a trap of sorts to disable or contain the prey.

Vergil sifted through the teams and assigned everyone to groups. Marcia stuck close enough to Dulce, to imply that they were a team, so they were placed in group two together. Dulce smiled, eager to proceed with their task.

"Excellent, I shall lead group three to lay a trap," the unfamiliar chandelure offered.

"Very well, Caldera. I will head the second team," Devonshire agreed.

"That'll leave me with the first group. Fine by me." Vergil concluded the discussion.

Caldera escorted his team ahead, stalking around the zoroark's location to lay a trap.

Marcia nudged Dulce. "How do you suppose Caldera and Devonshire know where the zoroark is? I can't see her anywhere."

"You mean you don't sense her?" Dulce cocked her head to the side in a questioning gesture. "I can sorta... sense her presence, y'know? I bet Caldera and Devonshire sense her, too."

"I can't sense a thing. My flames aren't even getting sparky," Marcia answered. Zayn had always teased her, saying that her flames sparked whenever she sensed danger. Whenever Marcia was nervous, things nearby tended to catch on fire. However, the zoroark's presence was completely masked, to her.

"Must be 'nother one of the sly fox's tricks," Dulce growled. "C'mon, let's go deliver a little justice!"

Marcia followed Devonshire, Dulce, and the rest of group two. They were the second to proceed, since they would need a head start to see where the zoroark would flee. The mob of pokemon journeyed a short distance, then bunkered down behind some thick foliage. Marcia and Dulce peered through the leaves, hearing a din of pokemon.

Marcia instantly had her worries about the plan. What if the zoroark used more of her illusions? Maybe she would meld into the shadows and be lost to sight.

Devonshire seemed to read her mind. "Our quarry is weak, too weak to create any viable trickery. Stay focused."

A little creeped out at Devonshire's insight, Marcia stayed quiet. Suddenly, a crashing through the bushes alerted the entire group. A dark, sly figure flickered through the jungle, avoiding thick foliage and dense undergrowth. Hot on her heels was the first group, roaring and speeding as fast as they could. Devonshire gave a wave of his hand, and the second group chased the solitary figure, coming at her for the side. As Marcia flared up, her flames bellowing in full, she caught a glimpse of the zoroark's eyes. They were wide with fear, filled with rage and horror. The moment of eye-contact passed in a flash, and the zoroark turned on a dime. The two groups closed in on their prey, howling and growling to spread the thrill of the hunt. Marcia could hear Dulce's hearty yowls as they trampled through the damp jungle. Marcia barely had enough breath to keep up her furious dash, let alone roar and strike fear into the heart of their enemy.

The trap that group three sprung was unexpected and cleverly laid out. Bug pokemon spat web and string across the path where the zoroark was headed. The prey was caught neatly in a mess of sticky threads. Once she was caught, electric pokemon sent shocks through the webbing, then water pokemon shot jets of water at the zoroark's feet. Electrified, confused, and soaked, the zoroark was subjected to further punishment as ice pokemon stepped forth, freezing the water around her paws. The zoroark was thoroughly caught.

Devonshire had a devilish look in his eye. Marcia grew anxious as he advanced toward the zoroark.

"Well," he pondered, examining their catch, "you've caused us a lot of trouble."

"Come on, we have the culprit, let's get out of here." Vergil encouraged.

Devonshire seemed to pause, as if giving the order some thought. Marcia thought the Rogue leader would do something to Vergil and the zoroark, but he remained silent and simply followed the eager watchog through the dense foliage. The Rescuers all crowded around the zoroark, wrapping her up in the webs. Marcia defrosted the ice around her feet, then two large pokemon (a grumpig and a machoke) picked up the zoroark and followed their leaders. Marcia and Dulce skipped after the precession, bringing up the rear of the group.

"What do you think will happen to the zoroark when we get back?" Marcia asked Dulce.

"I hope she gets a good dose of justice!" Dulce mewed with zeal.

Pokemon nearby nodded and grunted their approval, but Marcia was silent. She wasn't sure why the zoroark had done these horrible things, but no one was hurt, right? Maybe Jasmine, but Marcia didn't know for sure. All she knew is that justice could often be as cruel as the wrongs done by the criminal.

Led by the animated watchog, the group of Rescuers reached Monochrome Tower after a few hours of travel. The captive zoroark struggled rarely, thoroughly bound with webbing. Periodically, the bug pokemon would give her an extra dose of sticky string to keep her contained. Marcia couldn't help constantly feeling sorry for the zoroark.

I suppose it doesn't matter now. She thought, as the group huddled around Monochrome Tower. As long as I can get back to Zayn and Solace, maybe introduce Dulce to them, then everything will be fine. I can worry about other stuff later. I just want to go home.