Living in the Shadows

CHAPTER 2 MALAMAR

(Third)

He couldn't stop thinking about the beautiful Shiny Gardevoir with the glowing spirit. There was something special about her, and not just because of her coloring. When he first saw her in that clearing surrounded by all those glowing crystals, his heart skipped a beat and then pounded so fast his hands grew sweaty.

He'd seen many beautiful female Pokémon before, but this Gardevoir literally outshined them all!

From time to time, he would catch himself humming the song she sang when he first laid eyes on her, or some of the castle's inhabitants would. Apparently, he doesn't have as good a singing voice as she does, for they would either shout: "My ears! My ears!" while covering their ears before running away and crashing into each other. Or a wall, depending on where they were.

Which was a little embarrassing. If they were going to fear him, he'd much prefer to be feared for his hypnotic powers, not his bad singing.

And when he saw little Zorua jump into Gardevoir's arms back at the summit, he questioned the Beheeyem about her. Sadly, the only information they had on her came from the memories of the Pokémon they accosted on the main road.

She had washed up on the same beach as Zorua; she's from the human world, and she's very powerful.

The Beheeyem told him that she had entered the World Fighters Tournament on a whim. She easily beat her opponents in one shot during the preliminaries and the first round. Then, after an emergency came up at Borac Town's hospital, she stayed behind to help the injured contestants in the medical tents.

She may have gone on to become the tournament's champion if she hadn't dropped out due to them showing up and asking about any new Pokémon in town.

"Strong, compassionate, talented, and very beautiful," Malamar said aloud. He was in the castle gardens, strolling through the flowers; the garden Pokémon were giving him a wide berth, per the norm. He sighed dreamily as he came upon an arch covered with yellow and sky-blue morning glories.

"Oh, how my heart yearns to see you again!" He raved as the flowers brought to mind the color of her hair and eyes.

"You do know you said that last part out loud, right?" A voice said from behind him.

He turned and saw Mismagius, Gothorita, and the five Beheeyem, each wearing equal looks of discomfort. (The question had come from Gothorita.)

Malamar smiled. "Yes, I am aware I said that out loud, Miss Gothorita."

Three of the Beheeyem were already aware of his behavior, but the other two, plus Mismagius and Gothorita, were a little uncomfortable with it.

Malamar still couldn't understand why no one was happy he had found someone to be his queen. When Mismagius first brought him and the Beheeyem back to the castle two nights ago, he publicly declared that the Shiny Gardevoir would become his queen, and everybody should rejoice. He even had the Beheeyem broadcast her performance from Deep Coral Lake, without sound, to show them all what she looked like.

Instead of cheers and expressions of joy, he was met with absolute silence and expressions of horror. He understood that the castle's inhabitants would be less than thrilled, as they are by anything he does. But when hardly any of his friends cheered or congratulated him, it left him confused.

Later that same night, while on his way to his room, he overheard some of the castle's inhabitants in the hallway say how his chosen queen has their deepest sympathies. Two of them even made a bet on when he'll use his hypnosis powers on her or just coerce her into being his queen.

The following morning, after the prisoners from Kusa Village were brought into the Throne Room, Grovyle and Meditite both loudly declared that Gardevoir would never in a thousand years be his queen.