Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: The Search of a Soul

Chapter 10

 The Absol, who's name was Shade, was actually very pleasant to talk to despite his rough appearance and original outburst. Raven and Crystal remained wary of him as we spoke. I wasn't surprised, for you see Absol is a Pokemon known to be a sign of disaster. Wherever it appears, disaster and destruction tend to follow. This doesn't mean, however, that the Absol in question has malicious intent. Shade spoke of his travels and how many towns he had been run out of due to the terrible rumor attached to his species. His knowledge of the world was quite expansive because of this. I had quite a wonderful time chatting with him and was somehow able to categorize and remember every detail he spat out. I almost forgot the original reason we had sought him out in the first place. Then Raven cut in.

 "Hey Yellow, aren't we supposed to be doing something?" she asked impatiently.

 "Oh yes," I said, my brain reset itself, " I almost forgot. This is you isn't it?" I held up the wanted poster.

 "Unfortunately," Shade growled angrily, "that poster finds its way into every town no matter where I seem to run. I suppose you are going to try and bring me in?"

 "On the contrary," I responded pulling out my handwritten poster. "I would like to help you bring that Luxray in."

 He stared at me in disbelief for a few moments, as did Crystal and Raven. Then he said, "You want to help me?"

 "Absolutely," I showed him my sketch, "Someone is framing you, and I'd like to help you clear your name. People think you're an omen when in reality you can sense danger as it approaches. You feel what others don't feel, see in a way that others don't see. I can relate, in a way. I don't think many others can see the world in the way I do either. Maybe some other electric types, I don't know myself."

 "We're going to help the guy who's got wanted poster of his face everywhere?!" Crystal exclaimed, interrupting us. I had almost forgotten she was here, "Doesn't he seem even the least bit suspicious to you?"

 "Well, I don't know if all these wanted posters are painted over," I observed, "but this one certainly is."

 "Painted over?" Shade echoed.

 "Yes, these wanted posters, I believe, are painted over with your picture instead of that Luxray's. The question is why though? What's the motive? Who is the Luxray working with? What's the endgame? How...?" My thoughts began to trail off.

 "She used to work with me in a rescue team," Shade interrupted in a flat tone, "A few years ago she sold me out to a bad group of mons and ran off. I managed to get out with my life, thank Arceus, but I started hunting her right after that. She betrayed me and my trust and I don't think I will ever forgive her for that."

"Hey man, that's rough," I started, "but I don't think revenge is the right reason to pursue her."

 "I'll roast her alive next time she crosses my path!" Raven roared at the same time.

 "You might be right," Shade said slowly. This surprised me considering how long he'd been on this quest, "that may be why I haven't been able to catch her yet. My anger has been controlling me when I should be the one in control. If I pursue her for justice instead of my own selfish ambitions maybe I'll be more successful. When the world is against you it's hard not to pursue things in anger and hate, it's all that's being put into me after all."

Traveling had given Shade much wisdom, I was impressed. Raven then spoke up, "But she betrayed you! I don't blame you for being angry! Why shouldn't you take her down for doing something so horrible to you?"

 "If I let anger lead me through life I'll be lone for the rest of it." Shade responded, flatly once again.

 "Anger is a very powerful emotion," I said slowly. The authority I had put into my voice made everyone else go silent, "and if used in the wrong way will cause pain and destruction everywhere it goes. Only when it is channeled correctly can it be used for the good of others. As long as you can keep a hold on your anger, as long as you can keep it in check, then you can use it the way you want not the way the anger leads you." I surprised myself with how wise I sounded.