Pokemon - Evil Reborn

Chapter 6 - Festive Ways

“Happy Birthday.” I smiled as Nelly awoke.

“Thank you...” She yawned, stretching out.

“It's snowing, too.” I pulled the curtain back to show the white snow falling heavily onto the streets outside.

“Wow... It really is pretty when it snows... It'll be a great Christmas again.”

“Isn't it always?” I stroked her hair.

“Hehe, you're right.”

She got up and went to the bathroom, so I stood and looked around the room. I caught myself looking into the mirror and wondered about what was going to happen in the near future.

“Wherever Tobi is, he'd better stay away... I won't let him ruin this...”

Slowly, I left the room and shut the door, before heading towards the stairs. As I placed my hand on the banister, something struck me. “Come to think of it, it's so close to Christmas... Surely if he was going to come for me, it would be now...”

After seconds of silence, watching the still front door from the top of the stairs, I sighed and climbed down. Maybe he was showing some kind of mercy. Either that, or he was doing something that merely prolonged his next visit.

*

Down in the depths of Cerulean Cave, Tobi was standing with his evil grin. Everything was silent, not even the gentle flow of water around the ground disturbed the quiet. All of the Pokemon were hiding, in fear of this beast. He had done nothing to them, yet they knew not to go near him. At one time, the creatures might have been protected by a certain Genetic Pokemon, but not any more.

Where the great Pokemon once stood was now a single pedestal, made of stone that rose up to about chest height. The top of the altar was square, but was indented in the centre with a spherical groove. Above the groove, not touching any solid surface, was a jewel. The jewel was as lifeless as the pedestal – grey and dull, with no signs of life. It was like a perfect diamond, in shape, and in size. The only thing that set it apart from any other gem, was the fact that it was levitating, centimetres above the altar. Though it was practically colourless, it reflected Tobi's face with little light, showing the glint of desire in his eyes.

“Those fools turned out to be of some use after all...” He said to himself, eyeing up the jewel. The criminals he had enlisted as his lackeys had found Tobi another motive to pursue, in the form of a very unique set of precious gems. “This is the first of five jewels that will grant me complete power...”

The Ryuusei Blade trembled in his grip, as it resonated with the latent energy deep inside the gemstone. “One touch... To bind the Emerald to my soul...”

He reached out with his right hand, fingers spread wide. The stone didn't move as he approached. Slowly, Tobi closed his fingers around the jewel and closed his eyes. He took it from the pedestal, and it no longer levitated, abiding by the laws of gravity just like any other object now. Quietly, the gem vibrated, and then a white flash burst out from within, dowsing the whole cave in a dazzling brightness. It began to change colour, from a lifeless grey, to a sick, deathly black. The dark shade swallowed the gem as if it were its natural colour, and it shone, like a real jewel once more.