The shadow off Cresellia

Chapter 9: Hiding the Time Gears

Chapter 9: Hiding the Time Gears

Darkrai's POV

Wow... That was the only thing I could think as I stared wide eyed at Treeshrout forest. It was amazing. It was a dungeon housing 20 floors, which is quite a lot. After 16 floors one would get hungry, Zorro once told me. However I guessed that only applied when you were with two because now that we were with four my stomach started rumbling already on the 14th floor. Luckily I was used to being hungry ever since the accident with Cressie, I'd had to do deal with hunger for almost a week after the incident...

* Flashback*

When after two days I finally felt good enough to be able to walk again I was led before Arceus. He was furious that I had tried to attack the others, even if it had been out of self-defense.

"They are right! You're a danger to us all. That is why from now on your only job is to do the housekeeping!" He turned to the rest, who were all looking rather satisfied already. "Furthermore, from now on it's prohibited to be either kind or caring toward this little monster, as is it forbidden to help him, in any case." Arceus' furious eyes shot daggers in my direction, which made it hard for me not to burst into tears on the spot.

"And, if he ever even thinks of attacking someone, for whatever reason, Giratina no longer has to provide him with another body in case this one is destroyed."

At that exact moment my whole world fell apart. From now on my life would be hell; I would never be able to be happy again. I would be a slave in my own home, without anyone being able to stop it, and that was that.

That evening I was almost finished with my tasks for that day when it was dinner time. I simply wanted to take place at the table, just like the others, my stomach already rumbling. However when I had prepared everything for me to sit and eat, Arceus stopped me.

"Have you done everything I asked you to finish before dinner?" He asked me with a stern look, loud enough for everyone else in the dining hall to hear as well.

"No fath-, I mean lord. I thought I could continue as soon as I am done eating." I said as humble as possible. I knew that Arceus wouldn't want me to call him father from now on, as he no longer was my father. He was now my master, and so I had to address him accordingly, which meant keeping my head bowed a little as to not look him directly in the eye.

"I will have none of it! First you will finish your tasks, afterwards you can eat!" Arceus rumbled, his voice filled with authority. I looked up at him, startled and clasped my hands together in a begging motion. I knew that all the food would be gone by the time I finished everything, and I was already feeling so hungry.

"Please, lord. I promise that I will finish everything before bedtime, but let me eat right now. By the time I am done all the food will be gone!" I begged, but Arceus didn't want to hear me and before I could say anything else he was already moving to the head of the table to start his own meal, dismissing me with a careless gesture. I noticed everyone staring at me with smirks on their faces and felt the tears sting in my eyes. I ran out of the dining room feeling beyond horrible, hearing the others start their meals behind me, a meal I would never even get a taste of...

*End flashback*

"Ok guys, time for an apple!" Zorro exclaimed suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. It was just like the first time Zorro had taken me to Apple Woods. He handed me the apple in the exact same friendly and caring way he had done that first time. I took it with a smile and finished it in three bites. Zorro smiled this time, unlike Shapo and Rhyperior who looked at me with even more surprise than Zorro had shown that first time.

"Wow, for such a small pokemon you sure have a great appetite." Shapo chuckled with kind eyes. I nodded and grinned as I quickly grabbed another apple from Zorro's bag when he wasn't looking.