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What Lies at the Core	By : Twill Category: Pokemon > General Views: 6203 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. I'm not worth anything so don't sue.

Chapter List
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Time didn't change in her open cell. The florescent lights above were always on, shining their unnatural light down on her. Rel didn't know how long it had been anymore. It could have been only a few weeks, though it felt like years. She would give almost anything for just a glimpse of the sun again. Escape.

It was a thought she found herself pushing to the back of her mind once again. There was no reason to dwell on it; she wasn't going anywhere. That man whose name she still didn't know owned her. Her master. He would probably be coming down for her again soon.

Ever since that first time, the man had brought her up daily and forced her to perform illusions for him. For what purpose he was doing it Rel had no idea. He didn't want anything exotic or entertaining. Fire, smoke, invisibility, various human forms, but none of it seemed to have a purpose. And for every failure she was punished, every success ignored. He didn't understand how hard it was, and the fact that she was trying her best for him was even worse. But the pain, he was ruthless.

Rel ran a paw through her once lustrous fur. Now it lay in a mess, dull and lifeless. There was food, if it could even be called that, a tasteless, dry substance. Nutrients and nothing more, there was no pleasure in it, just something to keep her alive. And if she didn't eat, he would hurt her until she did. Her hand shook.

As she sat up on the cold, concrete floor, Rel wrapped her bushy mane around herself, hugging it to her. There was nothing for her to sleep on, just the cold ground, and she spent a lot of time asleep, as much as she could. If she could never wake to this place again, she would. They had to be looking for her, and that was the only thing that kept her going.

Rel dragged herself to where the food was and ate slowly. She had no desire to eat, but it would dull the ache of hunger, and it would save her from more suffering at the man's sadistic hand. It was like eating ash. After stomaching as much as she could bring herself to, Rel sat back against one of the walls. With nothing but time, she hugged her mane tightly, one of the only comforts she still had.

Footsteps clicked against the bare floor from the hallway that led to her concrete box. There was only one person who ever came to see her.

“Get up,” the man's voice called, cold and demanding, and she obeyed. Rel dragged herself to her feet, not taking her eyes off the floor. Those cold features had been emblazoned into her mind; she didn't need to look up to feel the contempt he felt for her. The two of them made their way up to the main room of the facility, as Rel wondered what it would be this time.

The man lead her to the large battle arena which for the second time wasn't empty, but Hydreigon was nowhere in sight. Instead, against the far wall, a white and red furred pokemon was chained. The Zangoose hissed at them as they approached.

“I don't underst-”

“Kill it,” the man commanded.

Rel jerked back and looked up at him, eyes wide. “What?”

“I said kill it,” he spat. A hand grabbed her by the head and thrust her towards the chained pokemon. “Tear its throat out, kill it.”

Rel fell awkwardly to her knees from the push, catching herself with a hand, still in shock from what he was asking. Slowly she looked up into the pokemon's pink eyes. Zangoose growled fiercely at her, tugging at the bindings holding its hands and feet.

“Kill. It. That's an order, and don't you dare disobey me.” The man's words chilled her as she looked up at the struggling Zangoose. Sharp teeth gleamed as Zangoose bared its fangs at Rel's approach. She placed a clawed hand against the chained pokemon's fur, feeling it racing heart. Zangoose snarled.

“Kill it!”

“I can't,” Rel whispered, unable to look Zangoose in the eye. “I can't do it, I-” but the man didn't let her finish. Heavy whip blows peppered her back, making her grunt in pain as she fell to the ground. She writhed, but no longer tried to ward off the invisible lashings, it would be no use. The blows stopped, leaving her gasping on the floor. There was no way she would bend this time. Creating illusions was one thing, but to kill an innocent pokemon, especially chained up and helpless. Not even he could make her do that.

“You're only making this harder on both of you. Just end it, look at how scared he is. Tear his throat out, it will be quick. Don't make it harder for him,” the man taunted. “Or maybe you enjoy watching him squirm, helpless to fend you off. You can smell the fear can't you? Do you enjoy this perhaps?”

“No! I won't.” And the pain returned. Rel screamed this time. The acrid stench of singed fur should have filled the air as burning irons touched her. Red hot pokers licked her arms, caressed her ribs and stomach.

“Please stop,” Rel begged as the brands assaulted her.

“Then kill it,” the man snarled, briefly relenting.

“I-I can't, I can't do it, not that.”

“Then this is as it must be. You are doing this to yourself. Only you can end it.” Her captor was a very creative person, and her sobs seemed to inspire him. Electric shocks, knives that sliced and tore, burning metal pressed against her most sensitive skin. It was too much; she would do anything to make it stop. Even damn herself. With a bestial roar she lifted herself from the ground, and threw herself at Zangoose. The pain stopped. Rel half laid against the chained pokemon, unable to stand on her own. She could feel its heart racing, smell the fear as her face was pressed against red and white fur, a clawed paw reaching for Zangoose's throat

“Please don't kill me,” Zangoose whispered, and Rel froze.

“Y-you can talk?” Rel asked with a mix of horror and surprise.

“Of course I can, please don't kill me, I don't want to die, my family, my-my mate, she...” Tears ran down the Zangoose's fur, the fight having left him. He was now slumped against the metal bindings. Rel knew very little of the pokemon who lived outside the Core nations. They were different from her and the pokemon she knew, dormant as they were called. But it had talked to her. No.

Rel ran a claw through the bushy fur of the Zangoose's neck, feeling him try and pull away from her. She cried into his warm chest.

“Well? Do it, kill! You're just tormenting the poor thing. Stop toying with him you sick fuck and end it!”

A blunt object struck Rel across the back. “I'll do anything, just not this, please not this. Anything else, I can't do it, please don't make me.” When her master saw that she wasn't going to do it, he brought Rel sobbing to her knees again.

Pain was the only thing she processed anymore. Pain that should have killed her. She wished it would. She'd give anything for the release of death, but it was denied her. Instead, her only option was pain. Why did the Zangoose have to talk? It was no longer an innocent animal. Dormant or not, it was an intelligent, sentient pokemon. Murder was the ultimate infringement of a person's natural rights. I can't...

But as her screams rang through the warehouse, she could feel herself giving in. It's just a dormant, it doesn't really understand. He would kill it anyway. I could make it quick, painless. Excuses, rationalizations, but they sang so sweetly to her. Pain dragged her tortured body closer to the Zangoose as if she no longer controlled her limbs. Rel ran her paws up Zangoose, feeling his fur, using him to help pick herself up off the floor. Tears had dampened the fur around her eyes. The physical pain had ceased. Each breath was ragged as she stood, bringing herself up to look Zangoose directly in the eyes. Eyes that looked back petrified.

“P-Please, please don't, my family, I, we just-” Zangoose blurted out, shaking in his bindings. His eyes begged her very soul.

“I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,” Rel choked out as she ran a paw across the fur of Zangoose's neck.

“H-He said he'd let me go, if you didn't kill me. Please.”

“I'm so sorry.” In Rel's mind, every fiber of her being was screaming, pleading with her to stop. But she was weak, she couldn't take the pain any more. She'd do anything to make it stop. “Forgive me.” With one movement, she betrayed all of her most fundamental beliefs. Blood. There was so much of it. The wet gasps that now came from Zangoose's throat sent Rel to her knees. She sobbed uncontrollably into her victim's chest, whispering endless apologies. Zangoose thrashed against her, struggling frantically against the chains as his life poured from his throat.

Rel hugged the dying pokemon, burying her face in his soft fur. Blood soaked into her fur, warm and thick, but she couldn't leave him.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered. Eventually, the movement stopped. The gasping stopped, and Zangoose was still, only held up by the bonds. With one last sob into the pokemon's still warm chest she threw herself from him and emptied her stomach on the ground. I'm a monster. Without thinking Rel wiped her mouth with the back of a paw. A very bloody paw. If there had been anything left in her stomach she would have vomited again. The metallic scent overwhelmed her senses. It was still warm.

The silence that had fallen over the arena horrified her. She wished her master would come back and torture her, make her pay for what she had done. A shaking claw tried to open her own neck as tears splashed to the ground, but it was a futile attempt. Her master wouldn't allow her to die, to escape this fate. I killed him, my own hands. Rel cried herself to sleep.

It was still dark when she woke, tormented awake by dreams. Nightmares where she killed again. Zoroark's lifeless hung from the wall, standing accusingly over her. She had to get away from it, seeing her handiwork.

Cold water hit her skin after Rel had retreated to the shower. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, the blood never left her dark fur. It wasn't visible, but she could feel the thick liquid covering her hands. The warm blood marking her as a murderer. Tears mixed with the cold water as Rel shook beneath the torrent. There was nothing that would make up for what she had done, for what she had become. And in those last few moments, before she had slit the poor Zoroark's throat, she had wanted to do it. Anything to make the pain stop, a selfish desire in which she would kill another. Death would be a blessing.

The following days passed in a fog. Rel couldn't bring herself to eat. She spent as little time awake as possible. The only thing worse than her nightmares was being awake to face her reality. Her master didn't seem interested in her anymore either, as he didn't come to drag her out of the least secure yet inescapable cell. Maybe he would just let her wither away down here. But then what did it even matter any more? What more could be done to her?

“Get up.”

Rel's eyes snapped open. It had been too much to hope. She followed silently back up towards the warehouse, her master not giving any other commands. But when they reached the top of the stairs, he led her back to the arena, and she froze at what was there.

“No, not again. Not this.” Rel's voice shook. It was a Linoone this time. “Why?” she whispered, starring in horror at the chained pokemon.

“Because I need to know that you'll do anything I ask of you,” her master said, shoving her forward. “And I thought you enjoyed it last time. You dragged it out marvelously, you practically terrified that poor Zangoose to death,” he laughed. “Now, kill it.”

Rel couldn't do it, not again. Linoone didn't try and make a brave showing like the Zangoose. In fact the bound pokemon didn't even look up at their voices. It was complete resignation; there was no fight left in it. She still couldn't do it.

And it began again. Linoone didn't look up as her screams rent the air while she writhed in front of him. This time however, she could already feel her resolve slipping away. What was the point in trying to fight it anymore? She was too weak to fight it, to endure the pain. And what was one more murder, she had already crossed the line, blackened her soul. There was no going back. Slowly, she pulled herself towards her victim.

Linoone's fur was soft against her paws. The ferret-like pokemon shied away from her touch but never looked up at her.

“I don't want to die,” it mumbled, sending chills through her tortured body. It wasn't enough to stop her though.

“I-I can't resist him,” Rel cried, bending down close to the small pokemon. “I don't want you to die, but I can't. I'm so sorry.” She cradled the pokemon as best she could, stroking its soft fur gently, and she slit its throat. Rel couldn't help the sobs as she felt Linoone thrash in her arms. She held Linoone tight until it was over. Agonizing minuets passed until the wet gargling stopped. Movement stopped. And blood covered her, its thick scent permeating the air.

“Pathetic,” a voice came from behind her but said nothing more as footsteps retreated from behind. Rel didn't care. She held the still form of the corpse and cried. Cried because of what she had done, what she was turning into, what the world had done to her. There was nothing she could do to change it.

“I'm sorry.” Tears still ran down Rel's cheeks as she spoke to the body. “I never wanted anything like this. Nothing like this was supposed to happen. I just wanted to help people. Mewtwo, Professor Eric, the people of this country. Maybe even the pokemon here someday. That's all I wanted.”

But the hypocrisy of her thoughts were never more apparent than right then as she cradled the small corpse, soaked in its blood. There was no one coming to save her. This was all that was left; this is what she was now.

Blood and tears both traced a path as Rel made her way to the shower in a daze. The water would never remove the blood from her though, not truly. Once under the cold force of the simple jet, she couldn't hold herself together anymore. With a feral scream Rel collapsed to the floor. Her body forced her face away from where the water pooled, forced her claws to stop just past dimpling the skin on her wrist, on her neck. It was a futile struggle.

She thrashed on the floor, pink water swirling around her. If only it was her blood coloring the liquid. After a while Rel simply lie there. Lie and wait in defeat as Linoone had. But there would be no release from this waiting for her.

Time didn't matter to Rel. It was all the same, nothing changed, and nothing would change. She finally made the effort to leave the shower and drag herself back down into her concrete cell. Why she even bothered she couldn't say, but maybe he would leave her be. Maybe just this once. Forever.

When she arrived, she went to her corner and sank to the ground. Her fur was a mess, she couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten, but there was no way she could stomach anything right then. I should just be put down, and with that final though, Rel closed her eyes and slept.

With a jerk Rel was thrown awake. A surprised gasp escaped her lips as she looked around, only to see her master dragging her to the middle of the concrete room.

“What are-” Rel stammered.

“Shut up,” her master said, cutting her off and throwing her to the ground. “Now, I must apologize. As of late I've been all business, but things have been busy. And with your arrival I have been preparing a great many things. But now that we've been working together I feel like it's time that we get to know each other a little better.” Her master stepped over her and sat down on her stomach, knees pinning her arms to her side. He smiled down at her.

Rel was frozen, unsure of what to do or what her insane master was planning on doing to her. Her eyes nervously looked towards a long, thin device in his right hand, but his words brought her attention back to his face.

“You know it's exciting, having you here. I haven't been able to talk with anyone from the Core since I left. Quite a few years ago now. It's just a shame that everything that comes out of your mouth is unintelligible drivel, but then I guess there's no helping it” He placed the device on the ground next to her head and brought his hand to run along the side of her face. She jerked away from his touch but he didn't relent.

“But a Zoroark, well, this pitiful excuse for what they call civilization over here has no defenses against your powers. You remember why your kind was all but wiped out in the past. And for good reason. Untrustworthy, deceitful, you were dangerous. And now that I have you...” He trailed a finger along her jaw and to her chin.

Rel bared her fangs. “I-I won't help you. Besides, there's only one of me.”

“Oh come now, even you must know what we could accomplish together, even with just you. Imagine the fun we could have,” he said with a broad smile. “And you will do as I ask. I admit you have fought valiantly, but that just makes it all the more enjoyable. And in the end, you will be all the more loyal. But now that you bring it up, there is something we must discuss.” Her master picked up the thing he had placed down and tapped her on the nose with the thin, metal portion of it. The tip was pointy with an addition symbol on the end. The other side was a handle. It looked like some kind of primitive construction tool.

Rel didn't know why he had the tool, but she couldn't imagine it was going to be good for her. And the dark look that came over her master's face didn't do anything to calm her fears. She trembled beneath him.

“If you don't start cooperating, we will have a hard time working together.” He shifted his grip on the tool, holding it by the end opposite the handle. “I have a job for you, and I really do need you to listen, cleaning up messes out here is such a pain.” In one quick motion he slammed he handle against the side of her muzzle. Pain lanced through her face at the impact, bringing tears to her eyes. She tried to bring a paw to her injured face but her hands were trapped at her side.

Her master grabbed her around the muzzle with a surprisingly strong grip. “Do you know why I left? I'm sure you don't, you seem young, naive, innocent to what those monsters you call legendary pokemon are really up to behind the scenes. I worked for them.

“They gave us a lot of orders, a lot of money, and not many restrictions. But they were quick to vilify us when our research made it to the public eye, and as the acting head of the research company, I was the one who received the blame. Not that I wasn't innocent in the whole thing of course. I always did enjoy my work. It presented so many enticing opportunities.” The tip of the metal tool began to dig into her shoulder. Rel grit her teeth against the pressure of the blunt yet sharp tip. “The neural computer just doesn't have the same intimacy,” he leaned in close to give her a wicked smile.

Rel couldn't help it, and let out a scream as the tool plunged into the flesh of her shoulder. “Why?” she gasped out.

“Your Mewtwo is no better you know,” he said, levering the tool and causing fresh screams. “He knows who I am, and I'll bet that he knows exactly where you are right now. He could even be watching this right now.”

“Shut up, you're lying,” Rel snarled through the pain. Her master pulled the tool out of her body and punched her across the face.

“Never speak to me like that,” he growled. “But I assure you he does. The device in your arm is still transmitting, and I am not blocking the frequency. It's been over two weeks, you think he doesn't have eyes on this region? He knows where you are.”

“No,” Rel panted, “that's not true.”

He chuckled. “Adorable.” He brought the tool under her chin, pressing up painfully. “But stop kidding yourself. Or don't, I don't care, but what I do care, is that you listen. Now the next time I tell you to kill something, human or pokemon, you will do it without hesitation, do you understand?” He pressed harder. Rel tried to shake her head in protest, but the metal tip dug painfully into her chin.

“I'm not asking. You have already killed. Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it.” The terrifying gleam shone in his eyes as he moved in close, keeping his voice low. “I watched as you ended their lives, killed them, permanently removed them from the world. I know that feeling, know what it looks like, know what it feels like. And I know you felt it to.”

Rel shook her head violently, the tool cutting into her flesh but she freed herself from it. “No, you made me do it, forced me to,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut, not looking at his knowing eyes.

“I didn't force you to, you didn't have to do it. You wanted to. You killed them, only you.”

Rel sputtered as tears flooded her vision. “Stop lying, I didn't! I didn't.” But the fight had died out of her. She had felt something as she killed them. Relief at the pain ending, but was there more? So many emotions were running through her at the time. Could she have enjoyed it? No, she was an abomination, but wouldn't a monster like herself enjoy it?

“Ah, I can see the realization in your eyes. Then I trust we won't have any further problems correct? Good.” Rel stopped fighting, lost in the dark corners of her mind.

“I thought about capturing you, to mark you as mine, but you aren't worth the cost of one of the petty containment balls humans use in these lands. Even as insignificant as the cost may be. So I decided on something special, just for you. It will always remind you of who you belong to, in case you forget,” he grinned wickedly at her and stood up. Rel tried to rise but he kicked her onto her stomach and brought a knee down on her back.

“What are you-” but she didn't have to wait long. The tool her master had was brought to her back, and then it was dug into her skin. It was sharp enough to tear open her hide, but blunt and jagged enough to rip wide gashes. Rel let out a scream into the cold concrete below her as her flesh was rent by the man on top of her back.

“You are forever mine,” a voice growled into her ear, and then he was gone. Walking back down the hallway towards the warehouse above, leaving Rel to weep gently into the ground. A warm dampness spread along her back and she could smell the blood leaking from her shoulder. The pain didn't go away this time like it did when he used the computer implanted in her neck.

Her back burned, and she could feel the deep, jagged cuts that her master had left. She didn't even want to try moving her left arm. The shoulder he had stabbed her in still felt as if the metal object was digging around the joint. Hopefully he had done permanent damage and crippled her. Maybe then he'd let her die.

Rel had fallen asleep in pain, and awoke in agony. Thirst parched her mouth, but her bowl was at the other side of the room. Movement was torture. Tears stung her eyes as she tried to use her good arm to drag herself. Even the slight movement caused the dried blood on her back to crackle and rip. Her wounds burned with the onset of infection. And her shoulder...

She tried, smearing blood across the concrete a few feet before she collapsed, the pain exceeded her need to drink. Instead she lay there, unable to do anything but gasp, wishing for a drink and fantasizing about an end to the pain. Rel tried to move her left arm. Blinding pain like lightning shot through her body, and she blacked out.

Everything was a blur. Pain. Shadows. Thirst. Hot. Pain. She remembered little of it, and what she did was indistinguishable from fevered nightmares. The concrete cell was the same as it had been when she came to, her mind still cloudy. She moved gingerly. With her good hand, Rel felt at her shoulder, gently feeling the blood crusted fur. The skin below was tender but healed. It would scar. Rising, she checked herself. Her arm worked well enough, and while her back was still sore, she could move. Hunger and thirst dominated her mind.

Rel practically dove onto the bowls that held food and water provided by her master. Her skin felt tight as she moved, and dried blood snagged her fur, but at the moment she only had one thing on her mind. Once she was finished, she fell to the ground, exhausted as her mind spun. She tried to remember everything that had happened.

He had lied to her. Mewtwo was looking for her, and she hadn't wanted to kill those pokemon, never wanted anything like that. It made her sick. Her shoulder seemed to work fine, but how long had she been out for it to heal? In fact, judging by the blood still smeared on the floor, she had lost quite a lot.

Hesitantly she reached for her back to feel out where her hide had been shredded. Dry blood still matted her fur heavily, but she could feel where the skin was tender underneath. There was a pattern, though in her current feeble mindedness she couldn't make out what it was. She would have plenty of time to figure it out though; she would carry those marks for the rest of her life.

“Good, you've eaten.” His voice was calm and arrogant. Rel barely looked up at him, afraid of what he wanted with her this time. “Now, come with me, we're going out into the world today. I'd like to try something new for a change, I'm sure you'll enjoy it,” he sneered.

“Please don't, I don't want to,” Rel whispered into the ground.

“Ungrateful bitch. You owe me your life twice over now for saving you. Now get going.”

Rel watched as he turned her back to her but didn't wait long before getting up to follow. What was the point anymore. Resisting him was a laughable ideal; she knew she would break as soon as he began to torture her. She would do anything he wanted and she knew it.

“Go clean yourself up, you're disgusting,” her master said once they were above ground, and Rel slunk off to the shower. “And be quick about it,” he called after her.

The cold waters didn't even manage to shock Rel out of her stupor. Dried blood didn't come out of her fur easily, especially without warm water, and tugging at the clumped fur hurt the tender skin beneath. It wasn't fully healed, though if what her master had said was true, and he had no reason to lie, he had done something to heal her. Though whatever he had done was only partially successful. He could have healed her fully, and not left any marks behind. Unova had procedures that would clear her of the scarring, but for her life here, they would be a constant reminder.

She ran a paw over the mark on her shoulder. Her gray fur covered up the new pink flesh below, but even once it had scarred over it would still be visible. The marks on her back would hopefully be covered by her mane and fur, but there was nothing to reflect her injured back for inspection. Her flowing, unmarred coat had always been one of her favorite features, next to her eyes. Fashion had never interested her, but Seon had always said her fur was beautiful. None of that mattered anymore though. She would never see him, or any of them again, but now anyone who saw her would see the marks her master had left.

After she cleaned herself the best she could in the frigid waters, she dried herself off and returned to where her master usually waited for her.

“You still look like shit,” he glared as Rel walked towards him.

“I tried. I-I'm sorry,” Rel mumbled.

“Of course, why would you be able to do anything correctly,” he snorted. “Come.” The way he lead was one Rel hadn't seen before. A long, poorly lit hallway stretched away from the main room. Thinking about it now, there could be a number of hidden or unnoticed passages through the huge interior. As soon as she began thinking about it though Rel pushed the tiny voice down. There was no use in wasting time with frivolous thoughts.

The passage was long, and made the same way as the room she was kept in. Stark concrete with barely enough light to see. Once the two of them reached the end, her master entered numbers into a keypad, and a huge door began to swing open. It was thick, and locked with three large metallic bars that retracted into the door. Obviously not something an average warehouse would be equipped with.

When she followed her master outside though, she realized how no one ever found him out. Besides the door they just left through, there was nothing to indicate there was anything but a large hill there with a dirt road leading to a small door. The entire facility must have been constructed underneath the small mountain. Rel's eyes widened at how much effort must have gone into its construction with such primitive tools available in this land.

Seconds after they exited the complex the door began to swing shut, and a large shadow swept over the two of them. With a cry that stood every hair on Rel's body on end, her master's Hydreigon landed right in front of them. Rel cowered from the large dragon, remembering their last encounter all too well.

”So you live, pathetic creature,” it rumbled in a deep voice, causing Rel to take a nervous step back. Hydreigon followed, moving with astounding speed for such a large creature. One of its heads slithered around her, flecks of drool landing on her fur.

“Get away from me,” Rel choked out, her chest tightening under the imposing form of the pokemon that had killed her.

Hydreigon laughed. “Such a pitiful little thing you are,” the beast said, moving just inches from her. Rel trembled, throwing a clawed paw up to ward the dragon away. It only made him laugh harder. “Maybe I'll just-”

“Enough, let's go,” her master's voice snapped. Oddly enough, as soon as he spoke, Hydreigon settled, calm and waiting. Rel still trembled. “Come.” Hydreigon spun, now ignoring her, and Rel pulled herself together, bringing up the rear. After a short walk the three of them came to a surprisingly well hidden garage. Hydreigon remained outside.

“You know what to do,” her master said as they came to a device that was not from this region. Rel looked at the stasis chamber, a tiny box that could preserve her life nearly indefinitely. Where were they going? “Get in,” he ordered again. She didn't really have a choice, and what did it matter anyway. With a brief touch to the top of the device, Rel was sucked inside.
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What Lies at the Core