Dark Energy
A Clover Guild Story
By Ribombee-anon
Chapter 1: Gone Fishing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ1IuVQ81KU (BGM: Wigglytuff’s Guild - PMD: Explorers (arranged by The Noble Demon))
The Clover Guild had been in business for a bit over a month, and although we still didn’t have the best reputation, townsfolk were beginning to accept that we could do good work when we weren’t goofing off. People began posting more requests and missions on the guildhall’s job board instead of the public one in the town square, making it more convenient for me and the other guild members to find work. Every morning now, a small crowd jostled around the board to see what jobs needed doing. It was a nice change. At first, the unused board had simply been covered in jokes, crude drawings, and fake missions made by the rowdier members of the guild, but now we were starting to look like a proper business. As long as the townsfolk didn’t venture any deeper than the orderly lobby, maybe we could actually maintain that appearance.
As one of the tallest guild members, my partner Sneasel could tower over the crowd, and since I usually perched on her head, we both always had a good view of the jobs on offer. She enjoyed taking missions that involved combat, and we had already defeated quite a few outlaws and monsters by now. Although fighting always made me nervous, I had to admit these jobs were a good way for me to confront my fears and practice sensing enemies with my budding Aura powers.
To that end, our focus was drawn to this bounty poster one morning:
——XXX—— BOUNTY ——XXX—— ROGUE FERAL BASCULEGION Requester: Dolina of Cotton Valley Location: Pecha Bridge “I have no idea what dungeon this stupid fish came flopping out of, but someone’s gotta take him down! He’s huge and strong, and attacking everyone in the area! I can’t care for my beautiful rows of trees while he’s there! Can anyone help? I’ll be super grateful! And so will the trees!” Reward: 800 Poke + Clear Gummi
“This job looks alright,” Sneasel said. “Clear’s my favorite type of Gummi, and the money’s good. And I’m pretty sure that bridge is just an hour or two away. What do you think, Booker?”
Despite the ruckus of the small crowd of Pokemon around us, my spot next to Sneasel’s ear let her hear my quiet voice. “I guess we can take the job. Fighting a Ghost-type shouldn’t be too big of a challenge for us, s-since you’re a Dark-type.”
I paused. A change had come over Sneasel. It was faint, but I could sense some sort of negative emotion within her.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, no prob,” Sneasel said quickly. “Honestly, I bet I can beat this thing without using any darkness at all. I could even do it with an arm tied behind my back. I got this.”
“D-don’t get overconfident, please...”
Sneasel ripped the paper off the board and shoved in her left-side belt pouch. “You ain’t got nothing to worry about,” she said.
I wasn’t convinced. I fidgeted atop her head and clutched at her fur as we went down to the basement to get items. Once we were alone, Sneasel added quietly, “Y’know, Booker... You worry about me a lot, and I appreciate that. Nice to have a partner who cares about me. But trust me, this fish ain’t gonna take me down—especially cuz I’ve got you to back me up.”
“Thanks... I’ll d-do what I can,” I said with a smile.
We entered the basement storeroom. It had always been impressively messy, which made it hard to locate anything. The guild really needed to find someone who could organize this place. Regardless, Sneasel and I managed to collect some essentials, then we left Capim Town and took a wide dirt road heading southwest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxI06r8K6P8 (BGM: Shinshu Field (Guitar Arrange) - Okamiden)
We traveled across the sunny, grassy fields toward our destination, chatting to pass the time as a cool morning breeze blew over us. The serene surroundings and pleasant conversation almost made me forget my concerns about the upcoming battle. Almost, but not quite.
Ever since I first met Sneasel, it had been clear that she was a powerful fighter, but her eager and headstrong personality was her biggest stumbling block. This was abundantly clear again today as she refused to use her most effective moves against our target.
In fact, as I thought it over, I realized something surprising: I’d never seen Sneasel use a Dark-type move at all.
Why? Was she just that stubbornly determined to prove her own strength, to the point where she’d massively handicap herself? Did she simply think using super-effective moves was the coward’s way to fight? Did she not know any Dark-type attacks, and she was embarrassed to admit it?
The question was still bugging me by the time we heard the gentle babbling of Serenity River. The gray stone of Pecha Bridge came into view up ahead, and dozens of Pecha trees began lining either side of the road between us and it. As it was springtime, the canopies were alive with beautiful pink flowers, and a constant sprinkling of petals drifted down onto the path. I caught one in my hands and looked at it with a smile. Meanwhile, Sneasel swatted a few others away, slicing one clean in half with her claws.
“I hate pink,” she said.
The road split at the stone arched bridge, and a tall signpost stood nearby, pointing out different locations that could be reached from here. Sneasel walked to the midway point of the bridge and stood at the edge. She rested her forearms on the stone wall, while I dropped down and sat beside her elbow. The wide river was partially covered in a layer of scattered petals, while the bare water was glimmering in the late morning sun. I watched the scenery contentedly until Sneasel nudged me with her elbow.
“Well, here we are,” she said. She squinted and leaned over the wall of the bridge. “Don’t see that fish yet. You picking up anything with that Aura of yours?”
“No,” I replied. “I’ve only been training with KFC for a week or two, so... i-it’ll be a while until I’m able to use my powers properly.”
“Too bad. Well, I’m sure you’ll get it down someday. For now, maybe we oughta try throwing out some bait to bring it to us.”
“Bait? Like what?”
“Well, if I thought about it sooner, I coulda grabbed a stick and some string from the storeroom, and tied you to the end to make a nice fishing rod.”
She laughed, but I just shuddered. “P-please don’t even joke about that,” I said. “Come to think of it, I’m s-surprised you know what a fishing rod is. I didn’t think Pokemon went fishing, since, you know... in this world, fish are people too.”
“I’ve always known about fishing. Back home, ferals didn’t fade into smoke when they died, so feral fish were a pretty common food. Basculin were my favorite.” She sighed and put her chin in her palms. “Whenever I see a Basculin now, I gotta admit my mouth starts watering. But I can’t exactly eat other Pokemon around here, so I dunno if I’m ever gonna get a chance to have Basculin again.”
“At least Veluza f-fillets are a good substitute, right? I know you love those.”
Licking her lips, she replied, “Yeah, I do. And now my mouth’s all watery again. When we finish this job, let’s grab lunch.”
“Sure. What about Basculegion? D-did you ever see any in your homeland?”
“Yeah, but they were super rare, and we didn’t eat them. They’re... cursed.” Her voice faltered at that. I wondered if she was simply anxious about the upcoming fight, but she cleared her throat and added, “They’re super ornery too.”
I sensed a chance to voice the concerns that were still eating at me. “So this won’t be an easy fight? I mean, the posting s-specifically mentioned this Basculegion was strong, and if they’re cursed too—”
“It’ll be fine,” Sneasel said, waving a paw dismissively. “I don’t even know if the ones around here are... y’know, cursed like the ones back home. And when it comes down to it, it’s just some stupid fish. Remember what I said: I literally eat their kind for breakfast!”
“Still, overconfidence is dangerous. I really hope you’ll reconsider not using Dark-type moves.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uTiqnazTZU (BGM: Amaterasu’s Sorrow - Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus)
The response to my probing question was immediate. Just like when I mentioned Sneasel’s type at the guildhall, an undeniable feeling of discomfort hit me. The air around my partner was always soothingly chilly, but it got colder all of a sudden, and the vibrant red hue of her life force grew duller.
She didn’t reply to my comment. I tried pressing the issue: “If you don’t mind my asking... w-why do you not want to use Dark moves? They’re perfect for fighting a ghost like this. Are you unable to use Dark-type moves? Is that why—”
“I can use the darkness,” she said. “That ain’t the problem.”
“Th-then what is? Sorry to prod you, but...”
Sneasel still wouldn’t look at me. She was staring out at the river, and from my low angle, I could barely catch a glimpse of the sharp frown on her face, emphasized by the lone fang poking down from between her lips. “Look, I told you I don’t need to use those moves,” Sneasel growled softly. “I know my type’s good against ghosts, but I’m strong enough to gut this fish without taking the easy way.”
“Are you sure? Y-you don’t have to prove anything to me.”
“I know that,” Sneasel snapped, making me flinch. She looked down at me briefly, then shut her eyes and hung her head. “Sorry. Look, Booker, it’s... hard to explain. Just don’t ask me about it anymore.”
I sighed and gently patted her arm. “I wish you were willing t-to talk about it,” I said. “But if you really want me to drop it, I will. Just... be careful, okay?”
“Sure. Thanks, partner,” she said.
We stood in silence. The river flowed quietly under the bridge, carrying its blanket of pretty pink petals with it. I could have watched it for hours, but Sneasel was becoming fidgety. She eventually took an apple from her belt pouch, cut off a small piece for me, then ate the rest. By the time we were done snacking, I could tell she was bored of waiting.
“How about we walk around and look for the fish?” she asked, tossing the apple core up and down. “I don’t wanna waste time standing here.”
“Fair enough,” I said.
Sneasel chucked the apple core into the river, then offered an upturned paw to me. As I went to climb into her palm, I noticed her give a start and focus on something in the water behind me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZY6NK195TQ (BGM: Gashadokuro Appears - Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus)
I turned around quickly. A patch of the river’s surface was roiling where the apple core had splashed down. The blanket of petals was disturbed as the ripples and bubbles grew in intensity. Then there was an explosion of water, petals, and blood-red mist from the center of the river.
Up from the spray rose a massive green fish surrounded by wisps of swirling crimson energy.
It was the feral Basculegion. He twisted in midair and began to hover, swimming through the air as deftly as he could through water. For a moment, my wings twitched with envy, and I grit my teeth. Even a giant fish was better at flying than I was. Of course, we had bigger things to worry about now. The rogue monster was here, and it was time to fight.
* * *
Chapter 2: Shadows in the Petals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFW3mm6SpAg (BGM: Spirit Extermination - Okami)
“Hey, looks like the li’l fishy came to us,” Sneasel said. “Fine by me. Guess I won’t have to use you as bait after all, Booker. Let’s take him down!”
She held the flap of her right-side pouch open, letting me dive in. She closed it up, and I peered out through the gap as she hopped back to the center of the bridge and raised her claws in her typical fighting stance: one paw outstretched and one beside her head. The flying fish let out a deep unearthly howl that made me shudder, then he gathered a sphere of purple energy before his mouth and launched it at us. Sneasel dodged it easily. The attack left a scorch mark where it struck the stone bridge. I winced and clutched an Oran Berry, ready to heal my partner if an attack hit.
Sneasel summoned large shards of ice in her claws and brandished them, waiting for the enemy to get closer. The ghost fish shot off another Shadow Ball, then cloaked his front half in water and charged at us. Sneasel hopped sideways to evade the first attack, and similarly dodged the following Wave Crash. The Basculegion slammed into the bridge, shaking the entire structure and making Sneasel lose her footing for a moment. Now that it was mere feet away, I was startled to realize just how huge it was—three times Sneasel’s size, and far bigger than any whale from my perspective. It was the largest foe we’d seen yet, and arguably the most intimidating.
As soon as Sneasel recovered, she threw her icy projectiles at our foe from close range. They stabbed into him, but his scales were tough, so they didn’t penetrate far. Plus, the ice shards rapidly melted and burned away from the heat of the red spectral flames drifting around the feral’s body. Small wisps of black smoke floated from the shallow wounds. The fish barely reacted to the injuries. He howled and came at us again, gnashing his ferocious jaws and driving Sneasel away. She backpedaled down the curve of the bridge, tossing more ice shards as she went. They had little effect, just like the first volley.
In seconds, we’d reached the shore, and the fight continued on the dirt path beneath the rows of blooming berry trees. Water coalesced around the Basculegion’s tail, then exploded in a violent spray as he rocketed through the fluttering petals with startling speed. Sneasel dodged the bulk of the attack, but it grazed her enough to send her spinning and sprawling on the ground. She grunted in pain. Slightly dazed by the tumble, I poked my head out from the pouch and saw her clutching her shoulder.
“Berry,” I said, holding out a healing Oran.
“Not yet,” she said.
The enemy used Shadow Ball again, and Sneasel barely scrambled to her feet and avoided it. The Basculegion snarled, then flew up and circled overhead.
“He moved real fast for a sec back there,” Sneasel remarked.
“He m-must have been using Aqua Jet,” I noted. “I noticed something... The water gathered around his head when he used Wave Crash, and a-around the tail for Aqua Jet. Keep an eye on that, and u-use your Quick Attack to dodge the faster move.”
“Got it,” Sneasel said, calling up another pair of icy knives.
The Basculegion dove down between two trees, then summoned water around his head. Predicting the slower move, Sneasel waited until he started charging and then rolled to evade it. The enemy passed us and slammed into a tree with enough force to make its trunk crack. It creaked and groaned as if in pain. Then it split and toppled over with a boom, sending up a dense pink cloud.
The beauty of the delicate flowers did little to offset the terror of the enemy’s sheer power. I didn’t even want to think about what direct hit from that attack would do to Sneasel.
The fish circled around the fallen tree and attacked us with another series of vicious chomps. While I hugged my healing berry tight and braced myself against the walls of the pouch, Sneasel evaded the attacks and countered by throwing shards over and over. Her attacks still hardly bothered the enemy. She even tried slashing him with her claws, but since he was a Ghost-type, they simply passed through his body like he wasn’t even there. She barely retracted her arm before he bit down, avoiding losing a limb.
I flinched. I’d only ever seen Sneasel use Ice- and Normal-type moves, and Basculegion could easily withstand both. The only option was to use a Dark-type attack. And considering the enemy’s formidable power, we couldn’t afford to hold back any longer. Sneasel hated the thought for some reason, and I’d promised not to bring it up again, but we had no choice.
“Sneasel, this isn’t working!” I shouted. “Y-you need to use a dark move!”
“No!” she yelled. “I won’t! And I thought I told you not to talk about that again!”
“I know, and I’m sorry, b-but this is just too dangerous! You have to change your strategy!”
Sneasel began to give an angry response, but in her moment of distraction, she was struck by a sudden headbutt from the Basculegion. It knocked her flat on her back with a grunt. She scrambled back as the huge fish tried to bite her, then she twisted her body and kicked him in the face. Her foot phased through him just like her claws had done earlier. The Basculegion responded by chomping her leg before she could recover from the failed strike. Sneasel cried out in pain as the enemy swung its head and flung her off to the side. She trailed blood behind her, and was airborne for a second or two before landing near a tree.
Sneasel groaned and reached toward me, wordlessly asking for a healing berry. I handed her the Oran, and she grabbed and ate it immediately. She grunted and leaned on the tree to stand upright again.
The enemy didn’t let us relax. He gathered water around his tail, and I shouted a warning. Sneasel used Quick Attack to dash and dodge it before the enemy could unleash his own move. She stumbled and fell due to her wounded leg, but she successfully evaded, causing the fish to headbutt the tree. This one stood firm, as the attack had traded power for speed. The fish was stunned briefly, and Sneasel took the chance to push herself back up.
“How’s your leg?” I asked.
“I’ll be fine,” she said through clenched teeth. I could tell she wasn’t really fine.
“Sneasel, th-this isn’t going well...”
“I got this.”
A howl interrupted us. The Basculegion was charging at us again.
“Use the trees for cover!” I shouted.
Sneasel ran with a limping gait and began weaving and ducking behind the trees as the ghost fish pursued us. He was significantly less agile than my partner, even with her injury, but he was persistent. Fortunately, I’d thought to bring a Stun Seed, and Sneasel threw it to slow him down and temporarily make it easier to avoid him.
As we continued to keep our distance from the enemy, the fear and frustration within me kept growing. I wriggled and forced an arm out from the pouch, using it to smack Sneasel’s side as I chided her.
“We can’t evade forever, and we can’t damage him like this. Please s-stop restricting yourself! You have to fight in-intelligently!”
Sneasel narrowed her eyes at me. “You calling me stupid?”
“No! But... you’re making a stupid decision right now. You’re putting us both in danger, a-and for what? Just so you can challenge yourself and feel strong? Just to feel g-good about yourself?”
“That ain’t the reason!”
“Sneasel, y-you can do better than this! Why aren’t you using your full power?”
“I... Booker, I can’t—”
“It doesn’t make sense! You have s-so much strength, but you j-just won’t use it! We can’t win like this! W-why won’t you use the darkness?”
“Cuz I wanna protect you!” Sneasel screamed.
Dead silence fell over us.
“Huh?” I murmured. “W-what do you mean?”
Once again, a change seemed to come over my partner. The same chill I’d previously sensed from her returned, but it seemed different now—sharp and biting, like a blizzard. She continued keeping her distance from the Basculegion, but most of her attention was aimed squarely at me. Her red eyes were glowing unnaturally, and her lip curled back to expose her sharp fangs.
“You wanna know?” Sneasel asked, her voice a low growl. “I gotta show you, huh? That’s what I gotta do to make you stop pestering me and calling me stupid?”
“Sneasel, I don’t—”
In an instant, she threw open the flap of the pouch and grabbed me from inside. I yelped as she lifted me up high and hurled me away.
“Stay back, Booker!” she yelled. “Don’t you dare get anywhere near me!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD9aHTcsaPo (BGM: Helplessness (Outro) - Ender Lilies)
My wings caught the air and let me drift down gently. As I descended, I watched Sneasel turn away from me and confront the huge ghost fish. He’d shaken off the effects of the Stun Seed by now. He loomed over her and howled again, his misty red flames dancing more rapidly as he gathered up his watery cloak for another devastating ram.
But Sneasel was preparing something too. She hugged herself, hunched over, and began to shudder. I stared with wide eyes as foul black mist began to gather around her. Then she spread her arms wide, and darkness coalesced around her paws. Her bright white claws turned purple, and inky ethereal flames seemed to writhe and rise from the surface. With her arms wreathed in mist and energy, she let out a terrifying bestial roar. I’d never heard her make a sound like that.
I touched the ground at the same time Sneasel leaped into the air. She sank her claws deep into the Basculegion’s head, stabbing right through his hard scales like a hot knife through butter. Black mist poured from the wounds as the fish screeched and writhed in midair, his water cloak falling apart. Sneasel clung to his face tenaciously and continued to stab and slash with her claws. I watched in a paralyzing mix of awe and horror as she ripped the Basculegion’s head apart. Even though this was a feral, meaning all traces of blood and gore were replaced with smoke, the brutality was still a stomach-turning sight.
The mutilated Basculegion collapsed to the ground. Sneasel landed beside him and began making her way to his tail, cutting and ripping the motionless body to shreds as she went. The sheer amount of smoke pouring from the massive feral’s ruined body quickly—and mercifully—obscured the violence. I only heard the sound of claws rending flesh, mixed with the feral grunts and snarls of my partner.
I couldn’t tell how long Sneasel was lost in her bloodlust. It seemed to drag on for hours. Eventually, the feral was no more, and the smoke thinned and dissipated like blood on water. Sneasel was left alone among the fluttering petals, hunched over and panting heavily, her arms hanging limp as dark energy continued to seethe around them.
She held up a paw and stared at her twitching claws. A low moan emitted from her, her voice sounding much more gravelly than usual. She clutched her head as if struck by a splitting headache.
I couldn’t look away. I’d never seen Sneasel lose control like this. Despite my minimal amount of Aura training, I could feel a bizarre darkness infesting her life force, like a cold, dark abyss at the heart of her fiery red core. Something was horribly wrong.
What had happened to my partner?
* * *
Chapter 3: The Curse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMmSEXb_x64 (BGM: Great Monster in Wait - Okami)
Sneasel continued to stand there, shuddering and groaning faintly as she held her head. I felt like a deer in the headlights. Terror froze me in place, and a voice in my head began frantically warning me about imminent danger.
You’re next.
She’s a monster.
She’ll come after you and tear you up.
You’ll be gutted just like the Basculegion.
RUN
Sneasel certainly looked monstrous right now. The only other time I’d been frightened of her was the day we met, when she attacked me after mistaking me for a feral. Even though she was massive compared to me, wielded intimidating claws and fangs, and was part of a species with a reputation for violence and cruelty, I’d quickly grown to like her and trust her deeply. At this moment, though, I began to wonder if I’d made a mistake. Maybe she really was dangerous to be around.
As quickly as those chilling fears arose, hot shame crept into my heart. How dare I call Sneasel a dangerous monster? No matter what she looked like, this was my partner. Something had overtaken her when she used this attack, but the Sneasel I knew was still in there. I refused to cower from my friend—especially when she was struggling and suffering, judging by her constant shaking and pained noises.
My desire to once again see her smiling face and hear her playful tone of voice gave me strength. I had to be there for her.
Fighting against the anxiety that seized my body, I moved closer and closer to Sneasel, even though each step was unsteady. She didn’t notice my approach at first, but she finally heard my light footsteps when I was just a couple feet to her side. Her ear twitched and she snapped her head toward me. She still had a paw on her face, covering almost everything except one blazing eye that peered from between her dark claws. A fierce snarl tore from her, but she cut it off and fell silent the instant her gaze fell on me. It was enough to terrify me briefly, but I took deep breaths and clenched my fists.
I managed to speak, though it came out as a fearful, squeaky stammer. “S-Sneasel! It’s okay! Th-the feral’s gone! You did it. We... We’re both safe. P-please go back to normal. ...Please c-c-come back to me...”
Her glowing eye relentlessly bored into me. Her claws curled, gripping her face harder. I winced, worried she’d cut into her own skin. She continued to shudder, and her chest heaved as she took breath after shaky breath, as if she was struggling to hold herself back from driving her claws deeper into her head—or into me.
I felt my heart racing. That frightened voice in my head kept yelling at me, warning me that this giant beast was going to lunge and crush me any second now. With effort, I ignored it and tried figuring out what to do—before those fears came true.
As I took another measured breath to remain calm, I recalled my recent meditation lessons with my new mentor, KFC the Combusken. He taught me to clear my head and relax, and that definitely sounded like advice Sneasel could use.
“Sneasel, p-please focus on me, okay?” I said, putting a hand on my heart. “Take deep, s-slow breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth, and c-count them. Forget about the fighting, and forget w-whatever power is flowing through you now. Just th-think about me and your breath, and... r-relax. In. One. Out. One. In. Two. Out. Two...”
I demonstrated the breathing exercise. Sneasel stared at me. Initially, it seemed like my words had failed to reach her ears. But then her heaving breaths began to stabilize. Her eye shut, and the quaking of her body subsided, as she breathed in and out deeply and slowly. This went on for a minute. Then with one last major shake of her legs, she collapsed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65rKYyylXJg (BGM: Kaguya’s Departure - Okami)
“Sneasel!” I yelled, running to her.
She’d fallen to her hands and knees. She bowed her head and gasped for breath. The shadows consuming her claws were no more, and their pure white gleam had returned. When she lifted her head to me, the abnormal glow of her eyes was gone as well. And yet, a look of pure sadness and regret darkened her face.
“Booker...” she groaned. “I t-told you not to get anywhere near me...”
“I know, but I couldn’t just s-stand back while you were hurting,” I said. Tugging at my scarf, I let out a big sigh of relief. “I’m so glad you got over... whatever that was. How do you feel now? A-are you all better?”
“No,” she said flatly. “This ain’t the kinda problem that just goes away.”
Sneasel crawled over to the nearest tree and slumped back against the trunk. She stuck her injured leg straight out in front, then dug some bandages out of her left-side pouch and our last Oran Berry from the right side. She squashed the berry and put its healing juice on the white fabric, then wrapped the bandages tightly around the wounds. I meekly approached and helped hold the bandages in place as she worked. It was all I could do.
Once she was done, I backed off and quietly asked, “C-can we please talk about this? I don’t want to pressure you, but... what happened just now was t-terrifying. We really should discuss it.”
Sneasel looked down at me and bit her lip as she often did when nervous. After internally debating for a while, she reached out and offered an upturned hand to me. I flinched a bit as the huge claws drew near. She noticed my moment of fear, and her ear drooped.
“Wanna hop on?” she asked. “Or... are you too, y’know, scared? I wouldn’t blame you...”
Admittedly, that voice of fear still lingered in my mind and told me to stay far away from her sharp, tearing claws. But I wanted to prove to her—and also myself—that I still believed in her, and whatever fear I felt toward her wasn’t enough to override the friendship we’d built over the last several weeks.
And so, I climbed into her palm and sat down. She brought me up to her face. Her ear stood up again like usual, and a hint of a smile crossed her face as she saw that I still trusted her. But sadness quickly overtook her like a storm darkening the sky, and she averted her eyes.
“I didn’t wanna talk about this,” she moaned. “I really, really didn’t. I was hoping we’d just get this dumb mission over with quickly, and I wouldn’t have to use the darkness, and I’d never have to tell you about my problem. I was afraid you’d hate me or be scared of me if I told you the truth. But there ain’t no hiding it now.”
She gathered her strength before admitting what she had kept secret: “Booker, I... I’m cursed.”
“Cursed?” I echoed quietly.
“Not just me. My whole tribe. We call it the curse of the berserker. If we try using our Dark-type energy without training, it’ll make us go crazy. That’s basically what happened to me just now. I’m untrained, and I haven’t tried using that power in so long. So when I called it up, it just... took over me. It could’ve been worse, but what you saw was like the first stage.”
“That’s terrible... How... How did this happen?”
“Long story. But I remember it pretty well, cuz folks told it to me and the other kids all the time. Really wanted to drive it into our skulls. You sure you wanna hear about it?”
“Yes. If it’s a serious problem you’re facing, I w-want to know about it. I want to know if I can help you.”
“I dunno if there’s anything you can do, but I’ll dump the story on you anyway.”
Sneasel tilted her head back and rested it against the tree trunk as she stared up through the pink canopy above us. Gazing at the blue sky, she recounted the sad tale of her people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ohgIpLSI8 (BGM: Kamiki’s Sorrowful Tradition - Okami)
“Here’s the legend. Long ago, our tribe had a chieftain. He was super strong and loved fighting, and he was a master at using the darkness. But he loved fighting too much. He was mean and aggressive, and he always beat people up for the slightest little thing. He was really brutal whenever he fought monsters, too—and he fought every single one he came across. Nothing could stand up to him.
“Eventually, this icy white ghost started lurking around the village. She never hurt anyone, but the chieftain wanted to fight her too, cuz he never fought a ghost before. The seers told him not to, cuz this was a spirit of the snow, and fighting her would make Articuno Herself angry. But the chieftain didn’t care. He beat up the seers for telling him no, then he ran out and fought the ghost for a whole day. In the end, he won.
“But the ghost wasn’t done. She rose up and spoke with the voice of the gods, telling the chieftain that Articuno was pissed at him. He’d been too aggressive for too long, and he crossed the line by hurting the seers and fighting a sacred ghost of the snow. So he had to be punished. Articuno said She was gonna show him exactly what happens if you don’t care about anything except power.
“At first, it didn’t look like anything changed. But the next time the chieftain tried using the darkness, it was way stronger than he expected. Then he realized what the curse was: Articuno had powered him up so his energy would go outta control. It took over his mind, and he went totally berserk and started attacking the village. The guards tried to fight him off, but they went crazy too. It turned out everyone in the tribe had been cursed along with the chieftain. That’s cuz the leader’s failure reflects on his followers—if the boss screws up, everyone is hurt, so Articuno gave everyone the same curse to drive the lesson home. In the end, a whole bunch of villagers ripped each other to shreds. Even the super-strong chieftain was killed in the fighting.
“When the chaos was all over, the survivors were terrified. They prayed for mercy, and the same snow ghost came back to talk with them. She explained what happened, and reminded everyone to be careful from now on so they wouldn’t lose control of their powers.
“Ever since then, we’ve been living with that curse. The darkness can take us over if we use Dark-type moves too much or lose control of our emotions, cuz both of those things let the darkness inside us grow too strong. So everyone in my tribe—ever since we’re little—has to train and get better at self-control. That doesn’t mean we’re totally emotionless and can never use Dark-type moves, though—we just gotta control ourselves better than the old chieftain did. That’s the lesson Articuno gave us: caution and respect for our own power, so we don’t hurt people without good reason.”
Sneasel concluded her story by glancing down at me and saying, “Well, there you go, Booker. That’s what’s wrong with me.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR4VSwJ0yPA (BGM: Chibiterasu’s Crisis - Okamiden)
With that, Sneasel shut her eyes and tilted her head back against the tree again. She let out a deep sigh and allowed her ear to droop once more. I stared at her, turning the legend over in my head. I had no way of knowing if this was a true story about a genuine divine curse, or a myth to explain a genetic anomaly affecting Sneasel’s tribe. Either way, the danger was as real as it was terrifying.
I gently rubbed a hand on Sneasel’s palm. “I... I’m so sorry,” I murmured. “I never knew you had this problem. I-I’m sorry for getting upset and pushing you to use your dark moves. I really thought you were just being reckless, but y-you were actually trying to avoid g-going berserk, huh?”
Sneasel looked down at me with a nod. “Yeah. I was... Honestly, I was terrified of losing control and hurting you. I know I can’t take that kinda risk when you’re with me, but... I still gave into the pressure. I got so frustrated at you, and I used the darkness anyway. That was stupid. I’m stupid. I shoulda controlled myself better.”
“Y-you still managed to regain control in the end,” I pointed out. “That’s c-commendable.”
“Only cuz of you. By the way, thanks for snapping me out of it. Hearing your voice and getting that advice helped a lot. I needed that.”
“Don’t mention it—I’m just glad I could give you the help you needed.”
“Me too. You know, when the darkness took over, I just felt so... angry. I wanted to tear up everything around me. Even when I looked at you, something was telling me to... attack you.” She spat the last few words, as if it hurt to say them out loud. “I held myself back, but I dunno how long I could’ve kept it up if you didn’t save me.”
That thought made me shudder. “W-well, if you ever start losing control again, we know how to stop it. Of course, I-I hope we never have to deal with this again...”
“Yeah,” Sneasel muttered.
She seemed to fall into deep thought, turning her attention back to the rustling canopy over us. Eventually, she quietly murmured, “You said sorry earlier, but I’m the one who’s gotta apologize. I screwed up big time. And I can’t promise I’ll keep myself under control from now on. As long as you’re with me, you ain’t safe, Booker. One little mistake on my end, and...”
Silence. Uncomfortable silence.
“Listen, Booker...” Sneasel continued. Once more, she bit her lip before forcing the words out. “M-maybe it’d be better if we, y’know... split up.”
My heart skipped a beat. I stared at my partner with wide eyes. “S-split up?!” I stammered.
“Believe me, I don’t wanna do it! I know we’re supposed to be a team, and I like having you as a partner. B-but if I go berserk, either cuz I’m forced to use the darkness or cuz I just can’t control my emotions, I could really hurt you! It’s important to be tough and face your fears, but... after what you learned today, I’d understand if you don’t wanna stay with me anymore. It’s... up to you, Booker.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fPnlOb0TQ (BGM: True Strength - Okami)
Abandoning my partner...? The thought was abhorrent. And yet it was clearly the safest route. If Sneasel succumbed to the darkness again, and my words failed to reach her, my new life would come to an abrupt end. And of course, that would ruin Sneasel as well. Was it worth the risk to remain with her?
Sneasel simply held me and looked off into the distance, giving me ample time to think it over. My mind was racing, filled to bursting with indecision and fear. What should I do? I wished there was an easy answer.
I thought back on what I’d been through since meeting her. I remembered how scared and confused I’d been when I first awoke in Oran Forest, torn from my family and trapped in the form of a tiny Ribombee. I remembered how happy I’d been to encounter a friendly Pokemon who was willing to become my partner. I remembered the missions we’d completed, the training we’d done, the free time we’d spent together in town or the guildhall. Being with Sneasel made my new life truly enjoyable.
I didn’t want to lose that. I didn’t want to lose my partner. I knew what to say.
“Sneasel... Remember the talk we had after I finished my first m-meditation lesson?” I said. “It was just a week or two ago. You talked about how you want to k-keep me safe, and how you hate seeing me in danger.”
She nodded silently.
“Well... th-those words were important to me. I really appreciate that you care about me. I’m grateful that you partnered with me, and I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent together. And... I trust you. I know this curse is d-dangerous. But I believe you’re strong enough to fight against it, and I promise I’ll do whatever I can to help you work through it. So... I know it’s a risk, but...”
I stood up in her paw and held out a hand. “Please, c-can we keep being partners, Sneasel?”
She simply stared at me, like she was expecting me to change my mind at any moment. But I’d been honest, and she could tell.
Her face glowed with joy and relief. There was the warm, familiar smile I’d been hoping to see again.
Sneasel held out a claw. I grabbed the tip in both hands, and we shook on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS7es9r61kQ (BGM: At the End of the Day (Remastered) - PMD: Explorers)
“Boy, that’s a huge weight off my chest,” Sneasel said. “I was really hoping you’d say that. You ain’t gonna regret this! One way or another, I’ll get the curse under control so I can use the darkness safely.”
“And I’ll be with you every step of the way,” I said. “We’ll come up with a plan together. You’ll probably need to p-practice using Dark-type moves—in a controlled, limited way—and meditate to manage your emotions and energy better.”
Sneasel groaned. “Ugh, I hate meditating. So boooring.”
“But i-it’s for a good cause,” I said.
“I mean... I can’t argue with that,” Sneasel said with a sigh. “But if I gotta meditate, you gotta make it up to me somehow.”
“How?”
“Well, the offer to be my fishing bait still stands.” She laughed as she saw nervousness creep onto my face, and she added, “I’m joking. But speaking of meditation, we actually did that in the tribe. That was part of the regimen for managing the curse. Never completed the whole regimen before that dumb dungeon shift brought me here, but I remember the basics.”
“That’s good news. We’ll use that as a basis for d-designing our own training course. And it might be smart to ask KFC for help too. I imagine he’d be willing to teach you about meditation, l-like he’s doing for me. As long as you’re okay with revealing the c-curse to him, that is.”
Sneasel shrugged. “I guess I could tell him, if that’s what I gotta do. I trust him. He ain’t a bad guy, from what I can tell. And now that I told you about my problem, I kinda feel better about opening up more. As for the rest of the guild... Might be best to keep it from them. I dunno what they’d think about me if they knew I can turn into a monster.”
“Don’t feel bad. Y-you’ve done a lot of great work for the guild so far, and you’re a valuable member of the group! I’m sure nobody will hate you for this. B-but I completely understand your concern. As long as you avoid Dark-type moves and keep your emotions in check, w-we should be safe for now. We can spread the word after you’ve s-started your training.”
“Sounds good to me,” Sneasel said. “Well... looks like we got a plan. I dunno how long it’ll take to get the curse under control, but no matter what, I’ll do it!”
* * *
Epilogue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8KdFu0JQ0c (BGM: It Is What It Is - Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon)
“Ugh, I can’t do iiitttt...”
I opened my eyes as I heard Sneasel’s whining over the gentle sound of falling water. I was sitting between her and KFC on the big flat stone in the waterfall pond where KFC and I had meditated several times already. The three of us sat side by side, each cross-legged and facing the glimmering waterfall coming down the short cliff ahead of us. I looked up and glanced back and forth between my partner and my trainer. KFC was frowning at Sneasel.
“Sneasel, stay focused,” the Combusken said. “I understand meditating can be a challenge, but you should be able to get it down as long as you stop complaining and concentrate. You just need to be patient.”
“Hey, I’m plenty patient!” she said, reaching over me to poke KFC in the shoulder.
“Says the Pokemon who was constantly asking ‘are we there yet?’ on our way over here,” KFC said flatly.
“Totally valid question. That was such a long walk through a super lame forest. Right, Booker?”
“It was only ten minutes...” I murmured.
“Gee, thanks,” said Sneasel.
KFC prodded her in return. “The real question is why you keep refusing to relax and empty your mind right now.”
“Cuz it’s boring!” she replied.
“I don’t care. Booker has only been meditating for two weeks and he’s been doing quite well despite the difficulties. Be like him. And be like him quickly, because we’re not going back to the guild until I’m satisfied with your progress.”
Sneasel groaned and closed her eyes, resting her hands on her legs and taking deep breaths like my trainer and I had instructed her to do earlier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urwd-HEJJak (BGM: Expedition Society (Music Box) - Super Mystery Dungeon)
I returned my attention to KFC. “Um... Thanks for agreeing to teach her,” I said. “I know you’re busy with your own work, as well as t-teaching me to balance my Aura and use moves, so... I-I’m really grateful you’re taking the time to help my partner too.”
“I couldn’t afford to ignore this,” KFC told me. “Her curse is unlike anything I’ve sensed before. It could be a major problem if not suppressed and managed. But even if it wasn’t so serious, I’d still be willing to train her. Like I told you before, teaching others is a great way to learn things yourself.”
“That’s true.”
“One more thing. Remember that I won’t be spending as much time training Sneasel as I’m spending with you. You’ll have to keep an eye on her and guide her whenever I’m not giving her lessons.”
“I understand,” I said. “I’ll do my best.”
With that, KFC and I joined Sneasel in meditating. It wasn’t long before I started hearing a quiet, rhythmic rumbling noise from Sneasel’s direction. It startled me at first. Then I recognized it. I’d heard it plenty of times in my dorm at night, when I was still awake and my partner was sound asleep.
I looked at Sneasel. She was slumped forward and faintly snoring.
With a sigh, I sidled over and tapped on her leg as strongly as I could.
She jolted awake and yelled, “I wasn’t asleep!”
I chuckled. Her face flushed as she smiled sheepishly at me, then she went back to attempting to meditate.
‘Well, nobody said this would be easy,’ I thought. ‘But she’s determined when she puts her mind to something, and this is something that’s important for both of us. I’m certain she’ll conquer the curse and control her dark energy someday. It could take a while, and it’ll require hard work and focus... but Sneasel is my partner, and I’ll never stop believing in her.’
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