Like Night and Day

"Emotions are like a good wine. Potent when drank, better with time, but bitter when left for too long."

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I stared at her face with sadness. How can such a broken creature still exist with even a small shred of sanity left? Any normal human being would already be nuts after even half of what she lived through, yet she still lives and survives like if nothing happen. Even if I wasn’t in love with her, I would still follow her out of sympathy.

She was born in what one would call the perfect living condition. Rich parents, stable living condition and everything she ever wanted. However, even in the brightest of situation can lie the darkest of shadows. It didn’t take long before she stepped into it.

Raped, attacked, the worst you can think, she went under. Her father scarred her for life and no one could help her. The only one who could were given a blindfold made of green bills. She truly was alone… if you didn’t count Mister Sycamore.

He was her psychologue, her caretaker and her only friend. He would sometime come and pick her up for ‘Pokemon Tutoring’ as he called it. Secretly, he would try to find solution to her problems. Sadly, her father didn’t want her to leave the house or own a Pokemon. Both being the most logical solutions to what was happening.

Everything changed during one of her tutoring session. They were supposed to go to a cafe in town, but was caught off guard when Pokemon came out from inside and ran away. They started with a boring meeting and ended up raiding the den of one of the biggest criminal organisation in Kalos.

That’s where I come in. I was nothing, but a simple Eevee at the time. Yet I still remember the event like if it was yesterday. I dream of it quite often, but it still doesn’t mean I want to relive it. Which is why I shall stop here and move over the even like if nothing happened.

We came out of the base and to Sycamore’s lab. After a go through a machine, all of my physical ailments were fixed. I wish it would have done the same for what was in my head however. At that time, I might have been as broken as Neige. Separated from my family a few months after being born and being stuck inside a cage, beaten and famished.

Two souls with injuries invisible to the naked eyes, linked together by a fateful encounter. After much arguing with Sycamore, Neige managed to sneak me into her home. I was able to hide from her parents for a long time. The only beings that would enter her room was the maids, but since they were also subjects to Michael’s tyranny, they were quite friendly to Neige and I.

Unluckily for us, even the most hidden secrets has to come into light one day. When Michael found me, he was… well, I don’t have a word for it. I would say angry, pissed, furious, but that was too tamed. He told Neige that she has to get rid of me by the day after. I didn’t sleep that night. Not because of fear of what would happen then, but from the sounds of pain coming from the other room.

When all was over, she entered the room looking like a mess. Her hair was all over the place, she had blood over her hands, arms and legs and she had a nasty red scar under her ear.. She looked at me, not with anger, but with what I can only call determination. I thought that, after everything that happened because of me, she would be the one ending my life, but I was wrong. She quickly packed up some clothes, basic washroom items and some trainer items.

She looked at me and placed a Pokeball on the bed. “Look. I know… what happened was horrible, but it’s my fault. I should have left a long time ago. If you want, you… could become my starting Pokemon. We could go on adventures, away from him. All you have to do is press the button on the ball.” At first, I was confused, but I agreed to her idea and entered the ball.

We escaped the residence with the help of a Gardevoir maid. She was so beautiful, yet looked so sick. “I know I will die soon. Helping you will be my ticket toward Arcancil, the eternal reward.” She said using telepathy. My knowledge of Arcancil was limited, but I knew that it was a place reserved for the best of this world. Our own personal paradise available when the last bit of life leaves your body. I don’t know what happened to her, but if she was there when Michael saw we disappeared, I wish her soul stands beside Arceus and his sons.

She started moving a bit in her sleep, breaking my chain of thoughts. In the end, she survived hell. Even when she got out of the pit, Arceus himself made sure she would fall again. It’s almost like if life itself was against her. One thing was certain, I would always be by her side.

The door of the bedroom opened, revealing a small figure who I assumed was Sweet Leaf. “Hey Tenebre. Mama made some soup for lunch. Want some?” He asked. If there was one thing that stayed since I started travelling with Neige was the lack of lunchtime. You get used to eating only twice a day after a few weeks. I shook my head, keeping my internal promise.

I looked around, trying to find a way to know what time it was. If there was a window, I might have been able to figure it out, but I was in an enclosed room. I mentally facepawed when I remembered that not even ten seconds ago, Leaf invited me for lunch.

I placed my head in a comfortable position, deciding that getting a power nap would be the best thing to do right now. Plus, having the mate of your dreams in a diminutive state cuddling with you is certainly a great way to fall asleep. I might be a gentlemon, but in the end, I am still a male.

However, I couldn’t get to sleep. Something was still pushing it’s way in my mind and I had to answer it. What would happen in the future? Fighting gyms? There is none left. Running away? We don’t even know if Michael is on this planet. Humans were transferred, but was there a filter? Some kind of condition that had to be filled? I hate when your question can only be answered by a god.

I looked at Neige as she started moving a bit in her sleep. Seems like I wasn’t the only one with a busy mind. I hoped her dreams were pleasant… who am I kidding? With what she lived, I should hope that her nightmares wouldn’t involved events rated for adults.

I didn’t realise that, as I was thinking about everything I could think about, I was actually dozing off. upon the discovery, I stopped thinking, which is a rare sight, and closed my eyes, letting the heat emanating from Neige relaxing my muscles.

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Grunting. Grunting means life, means someone is awake. However, I am not grunting. Was I sleeping with someone? Wait, obviously I was. Was I so deeply asleep that my memory has to boot up again? Knowing my body, this power nap might have been longer than expected.

“Urg… T-Tenebre!?” I heard beside my sleepy head. I was about to question the tone of fear and shock that came with this realisation, but quickly fell backward on the floor. The impact placed my body in overdrive, allowing me to analyse what just happened.

Neige was sitting on the bed, her face mixing both shock and worry. Her front paws were folded in front of her, maybe because she just used them to push me off. However, even by using all of my skills, I couldn’t understand why the sudden reaction. Did I do something wrong?

“Uhh… had a good nap?” Step one, start the conversation with an unopinionated statement that can lead the target to a sense of familiarity and peace. Huh, I guess I really learned something from that psychology book I found.

“Yeaaah… WHAT WERE YOU DOING SPOONING ME?!” Oh, so that’s why she was pissed. Does she remember anything that happened earlier today? I guess I will have to reason her before anything else.

“Neige, do you remember anything that happened before you fell asleep?” I asked, hoping that we’ll be able to reach an understanding. She retreated to a position akin to a normal Espeon sitting down. My reasoning is that these positions are part of the reflex side of the brain and that they get… uploaded when the transformation happens. That might also explain Mister Sycamore’s calm and almost dead-like state.

She closed her eyes and stayed like this for a few seconds. Then, her face slowly turned from white to red, maybe due to her remembering what happened yesterday. "Oh... Uhh... Sorry?" She said, trying to bury her face inside the bed. I sighed, deciding to let this even go by. I jumped on the bed and tried to get closer to her without triggering another problem.

When I got close enough, I stroked her fur like she used to do to me. "So, how are you feeling Milady?" I asked, not realising that I used her nickname. She turned her head to look at me, but also held a slight look of confusion.

"Uhh... I feel fine. I am still confused, but I think I stabilised myself. Although I feel something stinging on my side, but I can't see anything." I nodded and poked her side, trying to get her to move so I could see. To my surprise, what was a gash of blood and red fur was now a scar.

"I guess you want me to tell you what happened while you slept." I asked. She opened her mouth her mouth to answer, but before a sound was made, her stomach started to roar like the beast she had become.

"I really wanna know, but can we get something to eat? I. Am. Starving." She said while standing up. Before I could do anything, she stretched her body by keeping her back legs up and folding her back down. I knew that she made that movement unconsciously, but I had a front row seat for something I never would have thought she would show me.

"So, coming?" She said, looking at me. I was looking back with a face comparable to an apple. I couldn't believe she was oblivious to what she just did. Actually, knowing how lost and oblivious she can be, I shouldn't be surprised. I nodded and followed her out of the room.

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“That’s when I grabbed you and ran away from the psycho. Let’s just say that I never did as much exercise as that… well, except that time when Korrina made me try her new Pokemon roller skates and then pushed me off a 45 degree slope.” I shivered at the memory that still torments me this very day. Who knew that a mother Gogoat decided to make her home at the bottom.

“All of that happened when I was out!? Wow, I am impressed that you managed to save me like that. As far as I know, I took care of you so much you might have gone a bit too… domesticated and lazy.” I glared at her. “But still, I am glad to have you by my side. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

I smiled as I swallowed another mouthful of soup. It seemed that, even though some technical information was transferred to the brain after the transformation, other details were left out. Well, either that or only reflex-based data gets changed on the way. Anyway, all of that only to say that I had to teach her proper Pokemon table manner that didn’t involve eating like a newborn Eevee.

“Mmm, by the way, Heart, that minestrone soup is delicious. Although I will miss protein-filled red meat.” That was a disadvantage of living with a population of herbivores. The slaughter of animals for food would almost be considered cannibalism. That would make most Pokemon monsters… well, more monster than some already are.

“I love it… your name is Heart? What kind of na- Uhh… I mean, your soup was amazing!” Neige said while keeping her trademark smile. I truly hoped that Heart didn’t notice the slip up. It’s amazing how Milady can think out loud without realising it.

“Well, no problem. I am glad I can be of some help to both of you.” Heart answered while placing the pot of leftovers back in what they called ‘ice box’. It’s such a basic device, but can do so much. I remember refrigerators back home, but they required electricity. Here, everything seemed to be powered either by magic or by nothing. It was incredibly peculiar that such an advanced specie was so late in the technological timeline.

“I forgot to ask though… how can you speak Pokemon? You can answer my questions just fine, but that would be impossible.” Neige stated. Oh, I guess I forgot to explain the idea of magical potions to her. I guess I have the excuse that I wasn’t there yet in the story.

“Oh, that? You should thank your… friend? Mate?” Heart winked as Neige choked on some soup. “...him for that. While he got some salve for your injury, he also managed to get custom-made translation potion… or something like that. Sure, it taste like rotten berries, but it does what is written on the tag.” She turned around to start cleaning the dishes before a loud knock came from the front door.

“Be right back.” She simply said. She made her way to the door, which was still in our view due to the kitchen and the living room being one open area. She looked through the sight-hole and sighed in relief. “Okay, we’re safe, it’s my old neighbor.” She stated before unchaining the door.

While I went back to my food, Neige looked at the window with shock. “Tenebre, prepare yourself and quick!” She exclaimed. I looked at her confused, but was met with glowing eyes and a face of fear. “The person behind the door is not what he looks like.” I stared at her. “Look Tenebre… trust me on this one.” She jumped off her chair right when I heard screaming outside the now open door.

I quickly jumped down and ran toward the door with Neige. Suddenly, a bright aura got hold of Milady’s body. “Well, well. The white one is alive and well. It’s surprising to see your beautiful piece of fur back in pristine shape, but sadly, you must meet the coat filling.” I looked outside to see Crazy Nail. However, he had some kind of horn on his forehead that wasn’t there last time.

As he was raising the poor Espeon toward the bag he was carrying, I quickly jumped and threw a watered down shadow ball. I knew I could take this one by myself, but I didn’t want to cause collateral damage, both to Neige and the house.

Even then, the ball had the expected effect. Nail staggered back, releasing whatever grasp he had on Neige. Right when she landed, she quickly ran away somewhere away from Nail, but still be able to see him. When he recovered from the shock, he looked at me with his injured face.

“You… little BASTARD!” Before I could react, he grabbed me using the same energy and slammed me on a wall in front of him. “You beat my men!” He slammed me again. I started to shiver. The madness I could see on this pony’s face was the image of nightmare itself. “You steal my primary resources!” This time, blood was pouring under my nose. I think something just broke.

He raised me right in front of his face, allowing me to see his anger. “And now, you still ruin my plans. You’re exactly like that bitch right there. However, I can kill you and no one will bat an eye. That is a plus when dealing with brainless animals.” He raised me and started to increase the pressure of what I considered an energy field. I would die crushed by a mad creature.

However, nothing like that happened. The energy field disappeared and I was dropped unceremoniously on the floor. At first, I was confused. How can such a being, so lost in it’s wrath to see anything else, drop his prey like without killing it. I looked at him and saw that he was as confused as me, but for other reasons.

“You harmed the creature that made me see the truth.” I heard in my mind. I looked around for the source of the mental message and saw Neige. Her face was plain. There was no emotion showing on the canvas that normally held her smile. Her eyes were red, both physically and metaphorically. Her gem, which was attached to her forehead, was also glowing bright.

“You injured both Tenebre and I.” Crazy Nail started to move, his actions mixed with trembling. It seemed like his movements weren’t his, like if… wait, can fear fuel the strength of an Espeon? If so, does that mean that Neige, the most innocent girl I have ever seen, is dominating another being?

“You broke through this house and treated us like animals.” I heard the captive whine in fear. Does that mean that Neige is communicating with him using her mind. I knew high-level psychic Pokemon were able of such a feat, but she just woke up in this new form…

“Now look at me.” The male turned and looked at her, his eyes wide with raw fear. He looked like he was no longer controlling his movement. When their gaze crossed each other, Crazy’s eyes went from large and afraid to half opened and… empty.

“Fuel by wrath, can’t see the light,

Like night and day, our wills shall fight,

Your mind in emptiness, only you can see,

You are nothing, now bow down to me.”

I remembered reading a book where humans were able to use words as a way to channel powers beyond imagination. That was where the idiom ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ came from. However, I never saw a Pokemon using such techniques. Maybe that was the way her mind was using to control those newfound powers.

When she finished her… ‘incantation’, Nail bowed down in front of Neige, his eyes showing that whoever was inside left the place. I looked at the scene with… to my surprise, I was afraid. Sure, I should be happy that Neige was able to use her power against him, but was that really the Neige I knew?

“Now, bring me back Heart.” She ordered. Like a puppet, he left the room and came back with the attached form of our host. He lowered her with care in front of me. “Now what should I do with you. Maybe we could ruin your bad reputation. Oh, maybe show you how painful it is to jab a knife through your side. I am sure that yo-”

“Please… stop.” I weakly said. Neige stopped talking and looked at me. I was crying. I was afraid and revolted. “Why… what happened Neige? Please, calm down.” I asked, tears streaming down my eyes. It seemed to work as Neige’s eyes returned to their original color.

“Tenebre? Wait, w-what happened?” Like if out of a trance, she looked around and gasped. On the wall was my blood and on the other side of the room was Nail, still under control. Heart was gagged and clearly afraid of the entire event. However, when she saw my crying face, she immediately rushed to my help.

“Tenebre! What happened!? Why are you crying? Are you hurt? Wait, your nose is bleeding! Is that the blood from the wall?” She quickly asked. I sighed as I cleaned my tears. I guess that was just a breakdown, but I’ll have to look more into it.

“When I was attacked, your psychic powers woke up and you took control of Crazy Nail.” I pointed at the standing puppet. “It seems that you have the power to overpower people’s mind to a point where they become puppets of your own control.” I harshly stated, not realising that Neige was still shocked.

“I… took control of him? How… why…” Aaand we’re off for another round. I really need to work on my bad news delivery. It didn’t help that I always talked like that. I grabbed her shaking body into a big hug, trying to comfort her the best that I could.

“Look Neige, you have to calm down. First, let’s free Heart.” She looked at me and nodded. I grabbed one of the robe holding her and chewed my way through it. After five minutes, I’ve finally freed the captive. Sure, I wanted Neige to help me, but I wanted to leave her some time to think and relax.

“Oh, Tenebre, thank you so much.” She glared at Nail, still standing there, motionless. “I can’t believe that psycho broke into my house!” I wanted to tell her that, technically, she opened the door to him, but it was useless. He was still mad. “Now, can you help me clean this u-”

“What in tartarus happened here?”