Pokemon: Swirling Shadows

°•Prologue•°

A bright yellow jolteon stood at the top of a rock, gazing at his home below. He let the light breeze ruffle his jagged, ruffled fur, and the sun cast a slight yellow glow around him. He watched as his three children tumbled in the grass, playing Don't Let the Shadows Get You! which was a game as obvious as it sounded. It was simple, really, don't let the shadows get you. You could flee from them, or fight them.

The Shadows were not just any shadow, however. They were a real threat...

Leo should know that.

"Leonardo," said a voice next to the jolteon. Leo's heart warmed as turned his head to see his mate, Moonlight, standing next to him.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Are you really up here again?" she asked. Her black fur seemed to be all sorts of different colors in the reflection of the sun. The blue ring-like patterns on her ears and limbs, however, seemed to be darker, since she was stronger in the night.

Leo smiled. "You know I am," he said. The umbreon sat close to him, pressing her muzzle into his shoulder.

"It is very calming up here."

He nuzzled the top of her head, licking between her ears. "It is," he said. "What brings you up here anyways?"

Moonlight shifted away, her golden eyes suddenly distant. "I. . . I need to tell you something."

Leo turned his whole body to face Moonlight, holding her gaze intensely. "What is it, my love?" His heart started to race, and thoughts swirled in his head. Does she want to leave me? Is she hurt? Has she fallen for someone else? He took a deep breath, trying to force the thoughts out of his head. "Are you okay?"

Moonlight's pelt prickled and she seemed all the more uneasy. "I made a mistake," she confessed.

Leo's heart dropped, and so did his ears. "What do you mean?" he said. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Moonlight looked away. "Of course I know that, it's just. . . it's really hard to explain."

Leo, however, kept his gaze steady on his mate. "I'm sure I'll understand," he murmured. He placed a paw on Moonlight's, gingerly like the fluttering wings of a butterfree.

Moonlight looked back up at him, tears shimmering in her eyes. Here it is, the secret she wants to tell me. Leo tensed his muscles, preparing his heart for whatever came out of that beautiful mouth.

Moonlight held his gaze once again, placing both of her paws on his. "I'm part of the Shadows."

Those words stabbed Leo in the heart. He felt like it was going to crumble in his chest and burn in flames. The Shadows?! What do you mean you're part of the Shadows?! "What?" he croaked, trying his best not to let his thoughts be out loud.

Moonlight sighed. "And not only am I part of the Shadows, I've been promoted to second in command."

Leo's mouth felt dry. He took a step back, his eyes wide in panic. "What do you mean? How long? When? Why?"

Moonlight stood to her paws, her pelt bushed out. "Leo, it's not what you think, I'm not an evil monster," she said. Her voice wavered and a single tear slipped down the side of her face. "I did it to protect you and our children."

"Why should I believe that?" he spat. He felt completely out of control. "The Shadows are evil!" They killed my parents.

Hurt reflected in Moonlight's eyes. "But I'm not evil. Have you ever seen me hurt anyone?" she said, her voice even softer than the clouds above.

Guilt washed over Leo. Of course he hadn't, he knew Moonlight. She was his mate, his light, his everything. He knew everything about her. Or at least. . . I thought he did. The fury wrapped around him once again, constricting him so tightly it was hard to breath.

"Answer my question," he hissed, his fangs bared. Moonlight's ears dropped against her head. There was a long pause.

"Since before we were together. Since I was just an eevee," she admitted after a long silence.

Leo stared at her, absolutely dumbfounded. "You kept it from me that long? You lied to me?"

Multiple tears started to cascade down Moonlight's cheeks. "Yes," she said. "But I love you, I needed to tell you."

"Why did you even tell me?"

"Because they're after you and I needed you to know how I knew it!" she cried. "There's a small army coming after you, because of my betrayal."

The surprises seemed to just keep being thrown and thrown. "What betrayal?!"

"I chose you and our family over the Shadows! They wanted me to kill you, because family makes me weak. Or that's what they said. But I couldn't do it, so I quit! I left the Shadows! So we need to hide. You need to hide."

Leo's heart felt like it was going to lunge out of his chest. Blood roared in his ears. "Moonlight," he said. His voice choked at the last syllable. He realized with a jolt that he was crying. He bowed his head, trying to hold back the tears. "I. . ."

"Leo, please, trust me."

He looked up, pain twisted on his snout. "Moon, I can't. I can't trust you. You just admitted a secret you've been keeping from me since before we even met. I thought we agreed on no secrets! I trusted you."

Moonlight lifted her head. Her golden eyes glimmered with pain. "Fine," she said shakily. "Don't trust me. But please, listen to me. Take our children and hide them! Somewhere no Shadows will find you!"

Leo clenched his jaws. His mouth was set to a straight line and his muscles were bunched. He lifted his gaze, narrowing his eyes. She's your mate, she knows what she's talking about. She's your best friend! She wouldn't hurt you. She loves you. Listen to her.

No. She lied to me. She couldn't even reveal her secret earlier on. Who knows what her true plan is? She could be faking her emotions, just like she faked being not a Shadow.

The whispers seemed to multiply in his head, the whispers of rage and fury and betrayal.

"No. I won't listen to you. I don't trust you."

Moonlight gasped. She took a step forward. Pain and anxiety was clearly written all over her face. She looked so shocked that she couldn't even speak. All she could muster was, "I-I-I. . . please!"

Leo shook his head, taking a step back. "No," he said firmly. "Get away from me."

Moonlight dipped her head and turned away. "As you wish, my love," she rasped. "Goodbye." Then, she bounded away into the forest, disappearing into the shadows.