Dungeon 27 – Blurring Together in Red

Meggie watched as Lance’s calm, collected demeanor crumbled apart. Her friend now stared at them, or more specifically, at the Gallade. Lance had the eyes of a crazy beast, his sharp fangs showed themselves as he grinned. The very air around him seemed to glow in a blue aura, much like his body. However, that glow changed into a purple color soon enough.

His blood-red eyes looked directly at Morgan. “For everything you did to me all those years ago… you’ll pay!”

Lance dashed forward so fast dust rose from the floor. He thrust his paw forward, forming an aura sphere. Once Lance launched it, the weapon hit a pink, almost translucent barrier of psychic power.

“W-What?!” Lance stumbled back, his heart was racing again. That failure made him shiver.

“Do you think I am that stupid?” Morgan raised his head. “A Reflect barrier, it might not be indestructible, but should be more than enough to restrain a failure like you.”

Gallade, however, flinched, seeing a small crack on his barrier. Maybe this was a good opportunity to test Lance’s limits.

“He’s… not a failure!” Meggie shouted, trying to move. Despite her best efforts, the telekinetic hold she was in stopped her attempts.

Morgan only glared at her, his crimson eyes had a nostalgic look to them, and Meggie gulped. Were they really close?

No, there’s no way I know this psychopath…

Lance hunched, his head throbbed inside, but that didn’t matter anymore. Nothing but his revenge did.

“I am going to tear your stupid body apart—”

---

A loud stomp drew his attention. Lance turned around to face his new enemy: the Garchomp from before. Like him, the dragon was mega evolved. Lance snarled. There was no way anyone was getting in the way of his revenge!

“Derek,” Morgan declared, smirking a bit. “Destroy him.”

“Yes, bo—”

Derek received a full punch to his gut, enough to make him stagger, but before he could properly react, he was hit by two canons of metallic energy, launching him even further back to the entrance of the building. He panted, looking ahead: Lance was staring at him; the Lucario’s hands were glowing in the same purple hue.

“Tsc!” Derek opened his mouth, releasing a strong stream of flames on his opponent.

However, once the flames hit Lance, they dispersed, turning purple from the canine’s aura. He was spinning a staff made of pure aura, and his bracelets were glowing in that same tone. His weapon soon dissipated and he lunged at Derek.

“You’re… pathetic! No wonder the boss threw you away!” Derek dashed at Lance, trying to use his scythes to cut him. However, that was interrupted by two staffs of aura that Lance firmly held together.

“Interesting,” Morgan paid attention to the bracelets Lance had around his arms. “Where did you get that, number ten?”

“Brother… gave me!” Lance cried out, doing his best to hold the scythes.

“Hm, this is curious. However, there’s no time for this. Finish him, Derek.”

Lance roared, kicking Derek on his belly. That was enough for the Garchomp to retreat, only to receive a bite on his arm. He screamed in pain, while Lance bit him deeper, enough to draw blood on his scales.

“Y-You…” Derek opened his mouth to release another flamethrower, but Lance took a chunk out of his skin, and Derek howled because of the pain.

---

Blood dripped on the floor, but Lance showed no signs of stopping, even after he spit out the piece of flesh, his teeth, now red, only made him look more deranged.

“I… can’t decide,” Lance finally said, slowly marching towards Derek. His fur stood on end, giving Lance the appearance of a wild Pokémon, and to make matters worse, he cackled in laughter all the way.

“What?!” Derek panted, slowly standing up. He could barely feel his left arm because of the bite from before, and his heart raced. There had to be something he could do!

“If you should live or die…” Lance continued. He created two more spheres, but they changed shape, turning into large blades.

“L-Lance, stop!” Meggie shouted, trying to move. With all her strength, she turned to Scar. “Can’t you do something?!”

Scar kept quiet, thinking. Right now, they were both trapped, and Lance couldn’t control himself anymore. For now, they were fine, but if Lance were to attack them…

“He lost it,” Morgan looked back. “Like most others, he’s berserk. It’s a shame that most of you savages can’t control this power, but at least he’s gonna destroy himself.”

Lance turned around, now pointing his blades to the barrier. “I am not a savage. You’re a monster, Morgan!”

“Says the one who’s fighting with his teeth.”

Lance lunged again, his paws glowing, when he felt teeth around his legs; Derek was returning the favor and spun around, throwing Lance to the floor with enough force it cracked.

“A-Argh!” Lance cried out, his leg didn’t move, even with his best efforts.

This time, Derek was the one to attack, biting Lance’s arm. Even with the pain, the Lucario didn’t quit. Instead, he took that opportunity to touch Derek’s belly, making it glow purple.

“…Wha? NO!” Derek protested, but fell on his knees, it was like his energy was being sucked away into Lance. Even the mega evolution faded away.

“Mister Williams, no!” Scar protested, but the psychic pressure on him stopped the Marowak from moving.

“W-What’s wrong?! What is Lance doing?!” Meggie asked, that scene made her spine shiver.

“He’s absorbing aura! Lance, cease it this instant! You’re going to die!”

Derek, on the other hand, began to panic. His thoughts slowed down, focused more on his survival, and he growled, the only sound that came out of his mouth.

Morgan blinked. “I didn’t know this was possible…”

Lance’s laughter filled the entire room, he didn’t want to stop, that intoxicating sensation clouded his thoughts even more. His wounded leg began to heal, becoming another scar.

“Hm, he used the aura to heal himself? How amusing. Derek, we’re leaving!”

Only when he saw Derek’s body fading into red energy did he stop, confused at that. Morgan was holding a white and red capsule, where what once was Derek’s body was sucked into.

“That’s… a Pokéball!” Meggie cried out, recognizing that capsule from her visions.

“What is that abomination?!” Scar roared, looking at Morgan.

“It’s really curious how long it took for me to make my own. Meggie, won’t you join me?”

She didn’t answer anything to that question. Morgan made the barrier disappear, approaching Lance.

Lance shivered, his body paralyzed in that one spot where all he wanted was to run away. He looked down, screaming his lungs away. Something grabbed his head, forcing him to look up; there, he saw Gallade, smirking.

“Even with all that power, you’re still weak.”

That distraction was enough for Scar to throw his club at Morgan’s head. The Gallade turned around, and multiple clones of him appeared in the area, until a blinding light surrounded them.

“I’m sure we’ll meet again, Meggie.”

Once the glow faded, Morgan was gone.

“Weak…” Lance fell on his knees, punching the floor until his hands began to bleed.

Scar was the first to leave the office and run to Lance’s side, and narrowly dodged a claw attack from the Lucario, who stared at him with dead eyes.

“Mister Williams, we’re your friends… please, do not attack us!”

Instead of doing that, Lance collapsed in pain, like his entire body was burning apart from the excess aura he took, he thrashed around the floor, everything hurt no matter what he did to try and calm down.

Meggie was still trying to process it all. She began to cry, not knowing what to do. She looked ahead, and saw Lance passing out from exhaustion, his body was back to normal.

“We need to leave!” Scar shouted. Meggie ran towards them, and with the white light of an orb, they left that area.

---

Nothing could make Meggie leave that hotel room, even after hours passed after the battle. She stared at the building, too many things happened that day.

That ferocity… this world is always like this?

She clenched her fists. Maybe Morgan was right… but Lance was hurt. Right now, she tried to ignore those questions, and hoped that her friend was okay. However, there was something she just couldn’t shake off.

What if I’m like him? That Gallade has his memories, but I don’t… what if I recover them and end up like him?

“I…”

Silence. Nobody was there, and that only made things worse. Meggie didn’t know what to do! If only she could talk to someone!

I don’t know… if I wanna stay here anymore. But that man! He’s insane!

Something stirred inside Meggie, some primal feeling of hopelessness, despite the lack of sound, it all felt deafening and that alone terrified her.

“Somebody help me!”

More silence. She plopped her face into the pillow and began to cry. Maybe that was for the best.

---

Lance woke up in a hospital bed. He was the only patient in the room, and somehow his head felt a lot heavier than it should be. Because of that, he didn’t even move, the memories of today were already on his mind.

“He’s still alive…”

He knew Morgan deserved to die. All the crimes he commited, all the pain he brought to countless innocents made Lance’s stomach grumble, and he had to hold his vomit in place.

Why? Why couldn’t I just… do it? He was right in front of me! I should have finished it right there!

Lance finally sat on the bed, taking time to organize his thoughts. He even went as far as to take someone’s aura! That was a taboo for his species, or at least that’s what he heard from his dad.

Right, if dad was here… I could talk to him about this.

He couldn’t help but be ashamed of himself, because Morgan was still free, and worse of all: he knew Meggie.

Meg… how much does she know about herself? What if she’s on his side?!

His mind wandered back to all the time he spent together, she didn’t give any signs of being able to betray them.

Aura doesn’t lie…

Lies. He lied so much to his team, none of them knew just how broken Lance was after everything. In that moment, Lance thought about what they would think of him if they found out. Would they abandon him? He didn’t want to disappoint them, but he thought he was doing the right thing.

“Greater good, huh?”

Even if he had that sense of justice, the fact he couldn’t even attack Morgan stung. What if… he was wrong? What if that wasn’t the right thing? He shook his head, trying to ignore that. Doubts would only make things worse and he needed to focus on the mission.

…That’s right, the mission! I still have a chance, I can put an end to him!

Trying to convince himself, Lance laughed at the madness of it all. His maniacal chuckling even made tears stream down. What was he doing with his life?

I did my best to make the world a better place, rid of filth like… him.

His thoughts shifted again. This time, he remembered that fateful day where he took the life of an Aggron he was searching for. That feeling of power, of being in control was amazing. However, if things were different, maybe Atlas would be his ally.

No! I am not like him! O-Or… am I?!

At that point, he didn’t know anymore what to do or what he was. Was he always like this? Or was it his upbringing from his captive days?

“…Who am I?”

“Mister Williams, I assure you, everything will be alright.”

Lance saw Scar standing in front of the door and closing it. At the very least, his friends were okay. But then he remembered something.

“Meggie… how is she?” Lance looked away in shame.

“She’s fine. At least physically, although I want to know a few things, like how she knew about Morgan…”

“She’s a human. That’s all I know,” Lance looked at him again. “I guess that means Morgan is a human as well, since he recognized her…”

Scar blinked, weren’t humans a myth? Still, he was well aware of how myths could have some sort of truth in them.

“Ok. I got it, that explains a few things, still, I want to know more about what you’re going through.”

“What… why are you doing this? What do you gain from all of this?”

“Nothing, I’m here to listen to what you have to say,” Scar sat on one of the chairs, looking at Lance. “Obviously, you’re not well. Would you like to share? I promise not to judge you.”

He didn’t know why, but Lance felt compelled to answer and tell him everything. Something about that Marowak made it easy for Lance to trust him, and just in case, he checked the aura, sensing it was normal.

“Please, go on, mister Williams. I’ve had my fair share of suffering, I can… take whatever you throw at me, for lack of a better word.”

“…I wanted to kill him.”

Scar didn’t even flinch. “I see, can you elaborate?”

His ears twitched. Scar somehow didn’t react to that? Regardless, that was a sign he could continue.

“I killed before. Six months ago, I was on a mission with my brother. I lured three mercenaries into a dungeon and… I killed one of them, dousing him in lava.”

Scar blinked, nodding. Lance tilted his head and continued. “The thing is, I didn’t regret that. I killed to survive when I was little, when that… monster kidnapped me, but those guys? It was different. I felt powerful.”

“You feel conflicted,” Scar finally said something. “You came here with the intention to do the same with Morgan, and yet—”

“I couldn’t do it,” Lance looked down, whining. “Even after everything, I didn’t have the strength to do it…”

Scar looked at him straight in the eye. “Understandable. Mister Williams, you are a victim. I don’t think you’re entirely on the wrong here.”

Lance’s ears perked up. “Y-You mean it?! But… maybe I was wrong in thinking like this. Maybe I shouldn’t have killed them.”

“And what makes you think that?”

“If I spared someone that brought nothing but pain and suffering, why didn’t I do it for those three? They were victims as well.”

Marowak didn’t have an immediate answer to that question. Instead, he took his time to think about what he would say.

“I understand. You need to think about the future, mister Williams… this battle was rough, I can tell. Not only did you lose control, but you’re hurt.”

Lance looked at the new scar he had, a bite mark on his leg. “Still, I took his aura, I… wasn’t supposed to do that.”

“Yet, you did it. Again, you’re a victim. You need time to think,” Scar stood up. “For what is worth, mister Williams, I’m not judging your decisions.”

“Why?” Lance raised his head, whining again. “Why aren’t you freaking out over this? I just confessed murders!”

Scar closed his eyes. For just one moment, Lance could see the faintest of smiles.

“In the end, everything will be forgiven. I’m… a firm believer of Necrozma. If you like, I could read you some of the things I gathered after many years of searching.”

“Necrozma? Hm, I see…” Lance laid down again, looking at the ceiling.

“As a matter of fact, I would like to know more about your decision. Once you’ve made up your mind, tell me.”

“…I’m not sure. I don’t know what I’m going to do anymore.”

Scar looked at him again, raising his head. “Let me tell you something, mister Williams. It’s something I learned after years of life experience: when we’re at our lowest point, we’re open to the greatest change.”

With that, Lance was left alone with his thoughts again. He was too tired to think properly, and soon fell asleep.

---

Morgan walked across the street with a cape covering his body to protect him from the heat. That last test was a failure, like he assumed, especially because someone he used to know didn’t even recognize him.

Hmph. If she prefers this primitive world, then so be it. I need to go back home.

He stopped to see a red Lycanroc right in front of him. The wolf panted and sniffed the air, giving a toothy grin once he recognized the scent.

“Boss! I’m so happy to see you!”

Morgan had no expression. “Oh, it’s you, Lunick. What brings you here? Did you finish your job?”

“Well, not really!” Lunick whined. “I-I mean, I followed my targets here, but they beat me up! There was this Lucario! Oh yeah, a Snorunt too, she healed me! I appreciate that, but we’re still enemies!”

“…I know them. The Snorunt is my former assistant, while the Lucario is one of my old test subjects,” a glare was all he gave Lunick. “So you’re telling me that you failed.”

Morgan’s hand glowed pink, which made Lunick stumble back.

“N-No! Well, I did fail, but that’s not the point! I have something that might be helpful!”

“Hmph. Tell me,” his hand stopped glowing.

“T-That Lucario is a murderer, I think? He tried to kill me, even saying I’m worthless, maybe we can use that to our advantage?!”

“I suppose we can, if they’re still after us… very well, you proved your worth,” Morgan sighed. “Come with me, we’re going back to HQ.”

Lunick smiled. “Really?!”

“I need to get back to my second office to get the orb, but yes, we’ll go back.”

They walked away into another building. Morgan didn’t really say anything on the way, but at least, he had another piece of canon fodder. Those creatures were only useful for that, anyway.

And if you stop being useful, I’ll just throw you in the garbage like all the others…