Book Two: Vengeance, Chapter Eleven-
After her grieving over her lost friend, Rei constructed a grave for Behemoth on the spot of her demise. For its sanctity, she dragged the bodies of Gamble and Suicide King far off to rot away like the worthless scum they were. During the period of fabrication, she not only repaired the cane she received from Flubit from broken pieces but improved it with aid of her father's knife. This way, if she were to have to use it, the ensuing results would come more swiftly. She knew that the creature was old and did not have much more time on this world, but she wished the Nidoqueen could have lived her last moments in tranquility instead of ...
The entire affair raced through Rei's mind several times as she walked away from the burning building. Each time, it made her weaker and sicker to the point where she had to bear herself upon a spear; however, each time, it made her madder and more determined as well. Her mind, consumed by sadness and rage, became overcrowded until a single beam of light cleared her mind. It replaced these thoughts with fear. Barely throwing herself out of its path, the misty ray erupted into a frozen tower at impact with the earth. Gathering herself and her pike firmly, she spun around to face her aggressor with weapon poised.
"Aw, and I thought that you'd be happy to see," figure babied. "It's been so long since we've last seen each other, sweetheart." Rei could not believe her eyes.
"Serenity?" she gasped. "What are you doing here?" The woman acted surprised.
"Oh, you remembered my name," she fakingly exclaimed, "and after you tricked me and left me for dead. I've got to say, I'm touched." After she wiped away no tear, her arms dropped stiffly to her sides, clenched tight. "I bet you're amazed that I even survived that catastrophe let alone can stand before you. And I'll tell you how I'm able to be here and why: to make you pay. We've been following you, tracking you, predicting where you were heading and when to put a stop to you once and for all." Her gaze briefly shifted over to the searing wreckage. "Obviously not soon enough." Clearing her throat, she tossed a menacing finger at Rei as she proclaimed, "You should have stopped when you were ahead, little girl, for it ends here. Kamaitachi!" From out behind Serenity jumped a small, dark critter. As the thing cut through the air with its long claws, Rei caught it on the shaft of the lance, rolling it over her head. As her hand slipped into her pockets, she noticed the scientist heading at her with a war flail, so only one monster was freed in time for her to guard herself.
As Rei and Serenity struggled with one another, the spear entangled with the flail, Poppy rose from the single dropped ball. His skin darkened to a violet with a flower sprouting from his top, arms from his sides, dribble from his mouth, and an odor from his being that brought tears to his opponent's eyes. Failing to rub its eyes with its massive talons, the Sneasel discharged a chilling ray at the Gloom. Although struck and shaken, the flower's wounds were easily replenished as roots entwined both him and the long eared devil and transmitted its life-force. Changing its strategy, it cut itself loose and bound at its foe, fangs bared. In rapid movements, it repetitively hacked the blossom. Unable to move in the onslaught of blows, the bud burst forth a cloud of pollen all around. With each pass, Kamaitachi grew slower and more rigid until it could hardly move itself. Calling the rootstock back from the ground, he finished draining the mischief maker dry.
Refreshing himself, Poppy shambled back to Rei, who was currently positioned atop Serenity while trying to strangle her with her pole arm. Confused by their behavior, he gently tugged on his master's sleeve to get her attention, not knowing the distraction would allow her adversary to throw her off. Still able to recognize hostility from the Rocket raising her flail to him, he blasted her with corrosive fluids before he was struck down. With the acids eating away at her face, she blindly tossed out her another monster to allow her time to recuperate. Rei followed in her example and bought herself time. As the massive pile of purple, putrid ooze known as Goopy poured forth, a fuzzy, brown foe, completely dwarfed, appeared on the other side.
The beast was short and round with stubby limbs ending in sharply clawed, broad feet. Most peculiar about it, it had three heads, each dotted with a tiny, pink nose. As soon as its entire body finished materializing, which did not take long at all, it burrowed down until only its noses and up peeked over the hole it made. Unsure of how to deal with his miniascule opponent, it sprang into action in the Muk's place. Tearing through dirt as most things walk through air, it was at the blob in no time, showering his face in a cloud of dust and debris. His viscid eyes riddled with filings, he dropped into a puddle just in time for the mole's claw to pass through his being. As the slime attempted to engulf its small body, it plunged into the earth. Several holes began piercing the melted Goopy as the emerging burrower broke through the surface. Finally appearing far off, the Dugtrio plowed a straight line carving through the Muk, causing it to seep down into the twisted tunnels it forged. Satisfied with its performance, a great shadow loomed over it. Turning, it only caught the eclipsing visage of the tendrilled monster for a moment before it was blow from the earth on a turret of water.
"Just give it up now, Serenity," Rei demanded. "You know full well that I can take whatever you try to dish out." The scientist laughed hysterically, removing the last of the acid from her scarred face.
"My, my, my. You sure are the haughty one," she accused. She held up a decorated globe, completely covered in gemstones. "We'll see how you are after this, darling." The device put off a dazzling display of lights and flashes as life inside was released. At first, it could not be distinguished, just a huddled mass lying on the ground. Once it whipped back its long, pale blond hair, it took shape, a human one. It pulled itself up, sparing its finely embroidered, red, silk dress that wrapped its graceful, dark form from getting dirty. It had full lips and fuller parts still. Its mouth began to spout strange sounds, some unknown tongue, yet their meaning rang out clearly in her mind.
"Is it already that time again?" she groaned. "I'm still tired from the last ti-"
"No," interjected Serenity, "this is a battle, Calamity, an important on at that."
"Oh, she does look good," the Jynx sharply exclaimed as she looked out into the field. "I bet she fares well in a fight, too." With the present awkwardness aside, the maiden swayed her way forward. Squishy sat in anticipation for her action and braced himself as she went into a sprint. When she was mere moments away with a glowing fist raised, his body shimmered with an eerie glow, but his expectation never came. She froze, barely an inch from his body. As her glossy lips parted, her long, pointed tongue slipped out and ran along the Tentacruel's form. He could literally not move, unnerved by the act, either by fright or, worse yet... Gently, she placed her hands on him, securing his position, as a glowing beam channeled from her brain to his, knocking him away. She scoffed as her thoughts echoed "All too easy." Her moment was ruined, however, by a sharp whistling that rived through the air and ended in an eruption upon her, splattering filth on her elegant vestment. Dripping in disgusted horror, her eyes brought her to the fissure forged by the triplet mole and the sinuous ooze rising out from it. As skin and cloth alike were consumed, in blind rage, Calamity threw forth her hand and with it launched a bolt of chilling energy that solidified the escaping Muk's fluid anatomy in a flash.
The field cleared of opposition, nothing stood between the Jynx and Rei but her spear. Having her destiny locked, the sorceress toyed with the girl's mind, mocking her, as she tended to her vain tendencies, fixing her hair and what remained of her dress, before the death blow, even going as far as a kissy face. Cold winds circled around the two as a brimming light gathered in her hands. It was not long before white flurries shrouded their view past the fringe. Rei held no other choice but to wait and watch. The accumulated force spilling forth, the witch swung her arms around to a dance like movement before releasing it. And it came. What seemed like halfway through the routine, the stored light burst away, scattering aimlessly and harmlessly. She fell forward and, in her stead, was a clenched, golden fist.
The white veil began to diminish and at that, a hunched figure emerged. Crooked ears and nose with squinty eyes on a round head surrounded by an untamed mane atop a built, arched body. In haste, Calamity tumbled her way to the creature till she had it wrapped in her arms. Pressing herself close, her lips planted on its forehead sweetly, and its eyes shut. Arrogantly, she pushed the slumbering creature away. Stumbling, it miraculously maintained its balance. More amazing yet, as the enchantress turned to finish her first task, its arms lifted as babbled in its trance. Electricity crackled between its figures, finally exploding in a series of swells that surged through every muscle in her body, stiffening and hardening. As she stayed stopped, the dreaming creature threw its fist hard against her, hurtling her back to her master. Its eyes, stirring and awakening, aimed at Rei.
"Looks like I got here just in time," a voice in the manor of the Jynx rang through her thoughts. She smiled and nodded before it ran back out to fight. Slowly, a notion came to her: Who was this? Her question needed no answer as Serenity fumbled her bludgeon from and Calamity's apparel was pinned down by metallic streaks. Casting attention skywards, the four, silent wings of Yasha bore a grim soldier and a large cargo. Leaping from his mount, the dark figures mantle caught wind, spreading to mirror that of the bat. Guarding his grand scimitar as he fell to earth, his many silver trinkets rattled as he struck dirt. From behind his raven hair, Rei was pierced by his cold, black eyes and wide, shining smile.
"Just in time, indeed, Tengu," none other than Shade told the Hypno. She did not know whether to be shocked or relieved.
"What are you doing here?" Rei found the question to cover both grounds.
"There will time for that later," the knight insisted as he unsheathed his blade. "It looks like you're a bit busy now. Am I right?"
"So," Serenity's voice shot from across the field, "you brought a friend? That's just great."
"Hey," whispered Shade, "is that Serenity?" Rei nodded. His only reply was a content smile.
"The problem is," the Rocket continued, "that he has no one to play with. Oh, wait, that's right. I was saving a surprise for you for if you got out of hand." Her acting was not improving. "Oh, brother," she called in a singsong voice, "your friend is here, Frenzy." From the shadows stepped out a Rocket.
"Why, Rei. It's been a while," he greeting in a sickening tone. "Me an' Holocaust have been dying to see you again." His face like a ghost from a dreadful past, Rei was overcome by rage. Teeth grinding and fist clenched, the only thing keeping her from utterly beating him then and there was the anger itself.
"I don't understand," Shade wondered. "Do you know this guy?"
"Yes, I do," Rei stiffly remarked. "He's the one who slaughtered my hometown. I could have killed him long ago, but I didn't have the guts to finish him off then." She readied her spear. "I will not make that mistake twice."
