When The Sun Sets (Moon X Gladion)

Keeping Quiet

It was 3am when Dr. Orion awoke from another nightmare about losing Moon. Drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, he shakily reached for the glass of water on his nightstand. As he went to bring it to his dried lips, however, it slipped from his grasp and shattered onto the floor. He stared at the shards for a moment, a recollection of his shattered family. Oh, how he missed his old life. His beautiful wife, his two rowdy children... he thought about his wife, Diana, and the natural, never-fading glow of her tanned skin. He thought about Sun, and how he was always planning something. Lastly, he thought about his daughter, Moon, and the treacherous journey her and her friends were trapped on. Moon... Dr. Orion recalled his horrible nightmare, and the horrific scream his daughter made within it, as well as the glowing, purple eyes of a demon staring back at him from the darkness. Suddenly, Dr. Orion began to shake furiously. He couldn't lose another child, not after Sun, and he was prepared to confront Mewtwo head on. He had to save Moon. He had to. So, jumping out of bed and nearly tripping over his partner Electrode, Dr. Orion scrambled towards the lab.

When Dr. Orion barged into the lab unannounced, his peers were confused. However, the cold, unmoving glare upon his face was loud enough to make everyone step aside. Soon enough, however, his coworkers realized where he was headed.

"Sir-" One of the lab assistants began.

Dr. Orion cut them off. "I need to speak to it."

Soon enough, he reached the heavy pair of sleek, guarded iron doors. He held up his ID for the guards to see, to which they replied with nervous glances before unlocking the doors. The barrier opened before him and he stepped inside, listening for the sound of running water as he trudged towards the creature's home. His strides were long and heavy as his mind raced with tantalizing thoughts. He wasn't even sure what he was going to say to the foul beast, much less how to stop it. However, he knew he had to try. He needed to protect Moon.

It wasn't long until he reached the underground stream when he heard the voice. It came from the darkness as suddenly as a cold gust of wind, chilling the scientist down to the bone until the only thing he could see was his own rigid breath.

"I've been expecting you, Apollo. We need to talk."

Dr. Orion growled. "Yes, we do need to talk. Mewtwo, I'm done-"

Mewtwo cut him off before he could finish. "She's going to ask you about me, Apollo," the beast warned. "And when she does, I want you to say nothing."

"And what if I tell her everything?" Dr. Orion shot back, straightening his spine as he balled his fists at his side. "What if I tell her all about your vicious nature?"

"Then our game will be over, and I'll murder her and her friends," the beast snarled. "Don't test me, Apollo."

"You think this is a game?" Dr. Orion shouted through clenched teeth. "These are children we're talking about! My daughter! Spare her already and torture me instead, you foul bea-"

Suddenly, Dr. Orion was lifted from the ground and slammed violently into the rock behind him. "ENOUGH," Mewtwo demanded, his eyes glowing brightly as his psychic abilities detained the poor father. "The more you annoy me, the more unforgiving I'll be, Apollo."

Mewtwo dropped Dr. Orion, who slumped to the cold ground. The scientist lifted his head and gasped with pain. "I already lost my son. Please... don't take Moon from me."

"Then listen to me," the beast commanded harshly. "Just listen."

.....

Moon wasn't sure how long she spent with Hau. Somewhere along the line, however, she had begun to cry over Sun. She recalled how overjoyed she was when she first saw him in her dream. He was right there. He felt as real as Hau did and, yet, he was still gone. "I wanted to just reach out and hug him," she sobbed, tears rolling down her scuffed face.