Eternals

The nightmare was haunting him to no end, every single night. Each and every night, it would just intensify. He had no control of it and he was slowly losing the mental battle with his own mind.

His brother had been the one he was leaning on, the one who he would break down in front of and the one who would prop him back up when he fell. He had tried to tell him to tell the others, the ones in his nightmare, but each time, he refused, terrified of their possible rejection.

He had agreed to not do anything rash but the thing was, his sensitive brother never made him Pinkie Promise and thus, he had decided to help him in the only way he could.

He had woken the two from their sleep and, after a very painful conversation, had been able to drag them to the sleeping and clearly disturbed Nyarth. He had gently checked his mind to make sure he was having the nightmare before he pried him carefully off of him to go and get his adopted brother and sister.

By his disturbed side was his lover, Pikachuu, who would occasionally nuzzle the scratch cat when he softly cried out. Each gentle touch would seemingly calm him to an extend and would even nuzzle into the electric mouse when he had wrapped his tail almost protectively around him.

Musashi and Kojiro were careful as they followed Master Nyarth, recalling what he had told him earlier. That Nyarth's nightmare was consistent and it was something he was refusing to confront. The source of said nightmare was none other than them.

They had pushed the maniac on how he knew this but had received an aggressive response. They should've known that he would've become protective over his obviously weaker brother. Since they became biologically related, he had been acting more and more like that. They had eventually agreed into talking to their friend but they didn't know what to expect from him.

The maniac's eyes were saddened as he slipped to the other side of the sleeping Nyarth, noticing that he was shaking, not from the cold but from whatever ordeal he was being put through inside his own mind. One single prob in his mind made him pull back, taken aback by the severity of the nightmare. Never had he once seen to the full extent just what he put himself through every night. No wonder he was so protective of him. But this was one thing he couldn't protect him from.

Stealing a knowing glance with Pikachuu, someone he often times clashed with, he looked towards the other two, who had crouched down by them, looking at their friend, their adopted brother worriedly.

"I can wake him up, as gently as I can" Masty simply said, his ears lowering as he remembered what happened last time when he woke him up. Even though it had been gently, he still woke up to an illusion. He was going to try and prevent that now.

With a simple nod from the two of them, Masty looked to Pikachuu once more, watching him hold onto his lover tighter, knowing full well what would happen when he woke up.

Taking a steady breath in, he raised his burnt paw and placed it against Nyarth's charm, unknowingly creating no pain for his blood brother. Carefully, and with great self-hatred, he began to press against his charm, looking away as he felt him beginning to react, his cries becoming more and more clearer and the shaking in his body intensifying. No doubt that he was hurting more and more in said nightmare.

He continued to push and continued to create pain against his brother, reminding himself to hurt himself later. Then, he turned back to him and, with his free paw, grabbed his arm and slipped their minds together, his invading his nightmare. He couldn't witness it but he knew it was bad. "Nyarth, wake up!" he telepathically yelled at him.

Almost immediately, his blue eyes shot open, his black ears flattening against his head, his right ear sticking up slightly from the nail straight through it. He breathed heavily, his gaze darting around until it rested on both Pikachuu and Masty, making him somewhat relax. But when he noticed Musashi and Kojiro, his heart seemed to stop, the nightmare repeating in his brain. It was only when Pikachuu nuzzled the side of his head did he realize he was in reality and not in that awful nightmare.

Realizing that he was the cause of his friends' worries, he seemed to begin to try and pull away from his lover and his brother, tears threatening the corners of his eyes. But they held onto him, silently reassuring him that it was alright.

Gaining control of himself, he bravely glanced up to his partners, his best friends, and his adopted family. They were the source of his terrible nightmare, but they wouldn't do that to him, right?

"M-Musashi, K-Kojiro. What are ya doin' here?" he asked simply, grabbing a hold of his voice before it could become a stuttering mess.

Sharing a glance with Kojiro, Musashi reached her hand towards him, to which he made the smallest of flinches. Noticing it, she pulled her hand away and spoke. "You need to face your nightmares. We want to help you, Nyarth"

A part of him ceased to function, as if he had been hit over the head. Then, he bit his tongue and dug his claws deep into the arm of his blood brother who barely reacted and continued to hold onto him. He deserved that for hurting him before.

Narrowing his blue eyes slightly, he glared at him, a dangerous glint in his gaze. "Masty, what da fuck?" he growled lowly, causing the maniac to meet his brother's angered eyes.

"W-What do ya mean?" he asked simply. Musashi and Kojiro shared a brief glance in response. Masty never stuttered and here he was, stuttering in front of his brother. In fact, he didn't seem bothered by this fact at all.

Digging his claws deeper into his arm, he responded, "Ya promised ya wouldn't tell anyone. Ya broke yer promise ta me" His voice may have been accusing but the others noticed that he wasn't being harsh or aggressive.

Blinking once, Masty regained his composure before he said, "Nyarth, da only t'in' dat can hold me down is a Pinkie Promise, somet'in' ya didn't make me do" His voice should've been confident but it was instead firm and straight. When with his brother, Masty almost seemed like a different person.

Biting his tongue and pulling his gaze away, Nyarth recalled the conversation he had with Masty, making him promise not to tell anyone. He did, indeed, forget to tell him to Pinkie Promise. "B-But-"

"Dun brin' dat up again. For da last time, I did not break dat Pinkie Promise. I dun care how many times ya tell me I did, I fuckin' didn't" Masty cut him off, a slight growl seeping into his tone.

Pricking his ears slightly, he turned his gaze slightly behind him. "Dun even t'ink 'bout it. It's a long ass story dat no one wants ta explain right now" he growled softly to Kojiro, who he had caught a stray thought in his head. Kojiro simply gave him a small, surprised nod before he snapped his attention back to Nyarth.

"Ya're avoidin' yer fears. Ya need ta face it Nyarth. If ya won't say or do anyt'in' yerself, dan I'll do it for ya"

"What makes ya t'ink dat ya can-" Nyarth tried but was cut off again. Although irritated, he didn't attempt to stop Masty.

"I care 'bout ya. More dan I can express. I hate sittin' here every night seein' ya suffa from yer own mind. Ya need ta face it, an' not be like me. I keep runnin' away from ma problems. Me an' ya are not one an' da same. Prove dat, for me" he spoke softly, his voice deprived of it's usual spark. It was more gentle and caring, one that seemed to mesmerize his brother.

After a long moment of silence, Nyarth retracted his claws and allowed the anger to slip away. "I-I'm sorry" he whispered.

Releasing his arm, Masty stepped back, the smallest and weakest of smiles on his face. Pikachuu was careful as he nuzzled the side of his lover's head, assuring him silently that he loved him. "I have to go Nyarth. The Roketto-Dan trio needs to handle this alone" he telepathically told him. Leaning towards him to hug him, Nyarth, who had found a new burst of energy, wrapped his arm around a clearly retreating Master Nyarth, pulling him into the hug as well.

Nyarth himself was a too big fan of hugs but both Musashi and Kojiro supposed that being around Pinkie Pie all day might've triggered that.

Releasing his two friends, Nyarth allowed them to retreat together, watching them with saddened eyes as they left his point of view. Great, now he was alone with the source of his nightmares.

He wasn't meeting their eyes, which worried them. He also didn't speak which worried them even more. That sudden distant look in his eyes, that's just what sealed the deal.

Carefully, both Musashi and Kojiro moved to Nyarth's sides, very gently touching his arms, trying to show him that they wouldn't hurt him. Their touches caused a small flinch from him, but this time, they didn't pull away. Their touches made the nightmare repeat in his mind, causing none other than an emotional reaction from him.

He shut his eyes and tried to pull away from them but the moment he tried, they gently grabbed his arms, holding him there. This caused a strained whimper to escape his throat as a part of his nightmare bounced back to the front of his mind.

"Nyarth, it's alright. You're safe" Kojiro reassured him gently.

The scratch cat couldn't help but to whimper again causing Musashi to respond, "Just calm down Nyarth. We won't hurt you" gently as well, knowing all too well on how sensitive their friend had become.

Ignoring the small shaking in his body, Nyarth finally opened his eyes and looked up to his best friends, his blue eyes darkened and nervous. Very carefully, both Musashi and Kojiro moved their other hands up to his head and began to pet him, trying to show him that they wouldn't hurt him like he was probably expecting them to.

Tears welling in his eyes, he tried his hardest to hold back his shameful cries but the more and more the two next to him held onto him and continued to pet him, the harder it was to hide the fact that he was breaking. And without so much as a warning, he broke down.

Letting a choked sob escape his throat, he allowed the tears to spill from his eyes, his tail finally going limp and falling to his side. He couldn't hide it anymore. He gave up.

The tears were the only thing Musashi and Kojiro needed for they released his arms and pulled him into a hug, continuing to pet him, gently reassuring him that it was okay and that he was safe. At first, he seemed alarmed by the affectionate movement but he soon relaxed and held tightly onto them, crying into them.

Kojiro had bore witness to Nyarth's emotional breaks before and so had Musashi but she was more unused to it than anyone. She never was good with people who were crying and even worse with people crying and trying to get comfort from her. It was still hard to believe for her that the confident and tough Pokemon she had grown to love like a brother was the one right in front of her, sensitive and emotionally broken. But hidden underneath, she knew that he was still the same. And nothing would change that.

"I-I'm s-sorr-ry..." he choked out. He was sorry, not just because of him crying but because of a lot of things. Too many to list, in fact. His tears continued to flow, his emotions flying out of him as he felt his two friends hug him tighter.

Gaining control of himself again, Nyarth carefully pried himself away from his friends, a guilty glint in his eyes as he realized that he was burdening his best friends with his problems. Well, he guessed it was their problems now.

"M-Musashi, K-Kojiro..." he simply said, trying to gain his confidence up. "M-Ma nightmares, dey have n-ot-t'in ta do wid ya. De-Dey're all me. All m-ma messed up min-nd" He chose that approach. The self-hating approach. He should've known that his friends wouldn't let him sink into that pit of misery.

"It's not your fault, Nyarth. We don't blame you" Kojiro reassured him, petting the side of his head gently. The feline barely reacted to the touch.

"B-But youse guys dun need ta witness dem. I would neva wish dat onta ya" he stated, gaining control of his voice, despite the tears threatening his eyes once more.

Exchanging a glance with Musashi, Kojiro allowed himself to respond, "Nyarth, we want to help you and that means to understand your nightmares. We know it's hard for you but..."

Noticing Kojiro's trailed off pause, Musashi finished for him. "Just try, Nyarth. That's all we ask of you" Carefully, she pet the top of his head, avoiding his charm, fearing that she would create pain for him.

He seemed to notice this for he spoke clearly and simply, "Touch it"

"Huh?"

"Ma charm. Touch it. Bot' of ya. If it creates no pain, den I'll show ya, 'kay?"

His voice was so calm and different from a few seconds before and even then, they couldn't help but wonder if he was tricking them, knowing it was going to hurt and not showing them. But they couldn't not do it.

Carefully, both Musashi and Kojiro reached one hand up to their friend's charm, preparing themselves for his recoil from them in pain. No such reaction happened however.

Nyarth glanced up to his charm before he met the wondering eyes of his friends, a familiar glint sparking in his eyes. "I knew it. Not'in'"

Removing her hand from his charm, Musashi glanced at Nyarth, the spark in his eyes stopping her for a moment. "What do you mean, nothing?" she asked carefully.

A slight smirk crept onto the scratch cat's face. "Yer touches dun emit any pain from ma charm. Which means dat I trust ya an' dat also means dat I... have ta show ya ma nightmares" The smirk faded and the spark in his eyes vanished as he realized what that meant. Curse him for not thinking ahead.

Noticing his sudden change in mood, both Musashi and Kojiro gently pulled himself into another hug, having seen the tears beginning to build in his eyes once more.

Being careful, they pet the top of his head, his tears and cries muffled as he buried his face into them. Breathing deeply, he struggled to control himself once more, the tears in eyes slipping out uncontrollably.

After a few long moments, he pulled away, wiping the liquid from his eyes as he did so. "O-Okay. I-I'll try" he whispered, more to himself than anyone.

Shakingly, he lifted one paw and twisted it in the air in a complicated yet seemingly easy fashion. Magic built into his paw and he was just about to reach up to his charm when he paused, a lingering thought in his mind.

"Like, I said before, none of dis is ya're fault. It's all ma mind's but please... Please dun hate me" he stated, his voice fading to a soft whisper. Without waiting for a response, he placed his paw against his charm and allowed the projection of his nightmare to start, all the while looking away, already with tears in his eyes.

Pain. That was all he knew.

He woke up to blackness and suddenly, he was kicked to the ground, the pain erupting much like a volcano. His tormentors loomed over him, their shadows hiding them. But he could see their faded outlines.

A surprised whimper escaped his throat as he hit the ground, to which he attempted to get up. Almost immediately , he was kicked back to the ground, this time much harder. Breathing heavily, he dared a glance up but the moment he tried to, he received a sharp kick to the head. This time, the foot of one of his tormentors held him down, preventing him from seeing who was doing this to him.

**"So, look who's the weak and helpless Nyarth. Unable to protect himself from mere kicks, huh?"* A voice mockingly asked, malice dominating her voice.*

He breath caught in his throat. That voice. No, she couldn't be doing this to him...

Another voice laughed as they promptly held down his tail, stealing a soft whimper from him in the process. *"Ha, you were right Musashi. He really is just a useless little freak. So how about that great power you have Nyarth?"***

No, Musashi. Now that voice. His mind had to be playing with him. There was just no way...

"Of course I was right Kojiro. Since when has he ever been anything more than weak?'

No. Musashi. Kojiro. His partners in crime. His best friends. His brother and sister. Why? Why were they doing this to him? Surely it wasn't a sick joke, right? Surely it was Sasaki's doing. Mind control perhaps?

The pressure in his tail suddenly intensified as Kojiro pushed his foot against his bone, a familiar wave of pain washing throughout his senses. He bit his tongue as he struggled to not whimper but the more and more pressure that was put on him, the more and more he was unable to hold it.

Suddenly, Musashi removed her foot from his head and instead, grabbed one of his arms and yanked him harshly into the air. In doing so, Kojiro, who continued to step on his tail, stomped on it, causing a low screech of pain to emit from him as he felt the bone snap once more. He was used to this pain but here, it seemed like the pain was more there than anywhere else.

She dangled him there, watching him whimper softly and the tears threatening his blue eyes. Blood leaked from the wounds of his tail but she wasn't focused on that now. No, she was focused on him. He could feel her penetrating gaze and he could barely contain himself, let alone look up to her harsh eyes.

**"You know, we should've let J, Plasma-Dan, and even Sasaki have their way with you. At least then you would be out of our hair"* she growled softly.*

**"But now since we have you all to ourselves, it's about time you pay for all of the pain you burdened onto us"* Kojiro said as he grabbed his other arm, yanking him further into the air.*

Their grips were not gentle like he was used to. They were tight and hurtful and he could feel the blood coursing through his veins. He could hear his heart beating a mile a minute. He knew from experience that he was a goner at the hands of his adopted brother and sister.

He was then struck over the top of the head, hard. He held back a strangled whimper as he registered a voice filled with hatred towards him.

**"Weak and helpless"* Another hit, this time, harder.*

**"Undeserving of anything he has"* He knew it was Kojiro that hit him next. It hurt just as much.*

"A useless excuse for a Pokemon"

'Could never be anything more than a Pokemon that can walk and talk"

"Untrue to what he should be"

"Nothing but a 'powerful' weakling"

His head was aching by the time they seemingly stopped, tears having begun to run down Nyarth's face as their words hit his heart. They were right. He was in the wrong. He deserved this punishment.

Without any warning, he was thrown to the ground but was soon yanked back to the air. His head spun and his eyes became unfocused but without a second thought, he was thrown back to the concrete floor once more, this time with the every intention to hurt him.

Their tauntings continued.

"Unable to defend himself"

"The weakest link in the whole team"

"Could never be human"

"A monster waiting to kill"

"A demon without a heart"

"A brainless lunatic"

He couldn't help but to screech as he felt not just one but both of his legs snap underneath him. His one arm limply lay, bleeding heavily in Musashi's grip. He was losing this battle. But he deserved it.

With much force, they flung him to the ground, watching him whimper in sheer physical and emotional pain as he skidded across the floor. He didn't even attempt to get up. Blood leaked out of wounds all over his body, his tears mixing with the blood as he whimpered. He  carefully shut his eyes and curled into a painful ball.

"An unloved and unwanted creature"

"Someone who could never be accepted"

They kicked him, hard. They taunted him, hard. He took it. He took it all, whimpering with tears streaming down his face. He never looked up, not even when the pain suddenly intensified. But then, the pain vanished as did their voices as a familiar voice rang throughout his head.

"Nyarth, wake up!"

Fighting everything his mind told him to do, he snapped his eyes open, leaving the hell that was his own mind and left into reality.

The projection snapped shut as tears flowed freely from Nyarth's eyes. He continued to look away, unable to face the fact that he had just shown his brother and sister the nightmare that he had just had, and just how much it was affecting him. He hated appearing weak around them but that seemed to be happening a lot more often than he liked to admit.

To say that Musashi and Kojiro were surprised was an understatement. They knew that Nyarth's nightmares were bad but this bad to both physically and emotionally torture him? Just what did he have to go through whenever he closed his eyes?

And why could they not protect him from his own mind?

Without a word, both Musashi and Kojiro reached as arm out to Nyarth and pulled the crying feline to them, wrapping him in a warm and loving hug. He clung to them as he cried, never once letting go. If he knew they wouldn't hurt him, could that possibly stop the nightmares from returning?

Carefully, they resumed to petting the top of his head, very briefly running their fingers over his charm whenever he let out a choked sob.

They remained together for a long while before Nyarth finally shakingly pulled away just a bit, just so that he could look up to his friends while remaining in their grip. He didn't want to break that symbol of safety anytime soon.

Tears still continued to leak down his face and his ears were still flattened against his head, most likely in an act of fear. His eyes were darkened, a distant yet fearful and saddened layer covering his deep blue gaze. Although he looked up to them, he avoided both of their eye contacts, as if expecting to find the same hatred from his nightmares. In fact, that was just what he was expecting.

"Nyarth..." Musashi and Kojiro said gently in unison as they continued to pet him, their voices soft. Even then, the scratch cat couldn't help but to flinch slightly but he never pulled away from them. If anything, he inched closer to them as if out of possible comfort and safety.

But that was something from his nightmare that confused them, especially Musashi. When their nightmare-selves had beaten him to no end, he never fought back. He just took it when it was obvious that he could've easily shoved them away. Then why didn't he?

"Nyarth, if this hurts you too much, then don't answer but... In your nightmare, why did you not fight back?" Musashi asked gently.

The feline seemed to freeze at her question, a million thoughts consuming his fragile mind. Yes, why didn't he fight back?

How was it not obvious?

He remained silent and she assumed that no answer would follow but the moment she resumed in petting him, he spoke, his voice clear and unwavering.

"I can't"

Kojiro cast a glance towards Musashi who had stopped petting him to simply stare at him in surprise and confusion. But before she could begin to ask the question, he had already beaten her to it.

"I can't fight back. Ma heart won't let me"

"But Nyarth... you don't-" Kojiro attempted to reason but he was cut off.

"I dun listen ta ma heart, I know. But in ma nightmares, ma heart just ovapowas ma mind. It tells me not ta fight back an' I listen. Ma mind wants ta, but it wants ta hurt ya an'-an'... I can't force maself ta fight youse guys" Tears leaked clearly down his face as he choked on his own words, averting his gaze downwards as he cried.