The GATEON Team

Dave followed the others back to Club Krabby after taking some food from the Poke Mart, but slowed down when he got to the entrance to the hideout. Alex's final resting place. He stopped and looked at the closed off hideout. The Ampharos tried not to cry at the "burial", as he said goodbye to his friend. 'Goodbye, friend...' Dave looked up at the sky, his friends all looking down on him, admiring him for his bravery through this hell. Viator. Taro. Alex. They would all be so proud of him and how far he's come.

Dave entered the club with the bags of food in his hand and set it down on a table. He decided to wait for the others before eating some of the food.

And with that, another task was finished. The Infected were slayed, food was taken, and now the survivor could feast on their treasure inside Club Krabby.
Padding back to the hideout, Acid was satisfied by seeing that all of the dead bodies of the Mightyena were still at their place...of course, the air was full of the horrible scent of death. A hound surely wasn't needed to smell it.

Hoping that the "perfume" of the Dark types couldn't ruin the meal of the group, the Toxicroak just gave a groan of disgust as he jumped against the nearest bodies, all of them mauled and burned, making them almost impossible to recognize and enhaching the smell of rotting. Glad I don't have a sensitive nose as Phantom's..., Acid thought, almost joking despite the looks of the Port.

Opening Club Krabby's door, the Poison type gave a croak of happiness, already feeling the warm cushion of the armchair he found. "Well, it's time to rest these old bones..." jumping on his thrusty armchair, the military opened one of his Poke-snacks packs, slowly chewing the small food spheres: when he thought that his stomach was full, Acid placed his food on the table where Dave was lying just a few minutes ago.

He stopped, looking around: not one noise in the air, except the rumor of food being eaten and the chrashing slam of the waves...finally, Gateon was at peace once more...at least, for now. Acid sighed. It was just like the war against Cipher, maybe even worse...his body wasn't used for action for a long time. And after one day and one night versus the Infected, he felt weak...even though he ate enough and the Black Sludge healed him, he was terribly tired.

With a calm, croaking sound, the Toxicroak jumped on his armchair, keeping balanced in his classic frog-like position...he never felt so exausted.

On the brisk walk back to Club Krabby, Phantom could almost taste the odor of carnage in the air. He was almost content with the smell, the scent itself almost seemed to give off non tangible aura of triumph. But now that the victorious streak had subsided, the odor became a bit disgusting and annoying to Phantom. The scent of burnt flesh and fur settled on his tongue. He coughed, almost dropping the snacks in his teeth's grip.

As Acid opened the door to Club Krabby, Phantom held his breath, almost unable to take the stench of sizzling flesh any longer. He was courteous, allowing Dave and Acid to walk in first, then he leaped in, falling on his belly, having the snacks roll out of his mouth. He disregarded the fact that his meal was rolling about on the uneven floor. He inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet air as he rolled over on his back and pawed at the ceiling. He placed his paws high above his head, stretching until they met a small sphere, and he pulled the item back and placed it on his fluffy belly. It was one of the Poke Snacks that looked exceptionally delicious, which galvanized him into devouring it whole.

Phantom laughed, finally feeling the paranoia of the day seeping from his bones. He prayed there would be no more fights today. They had put a lot of stress on the poor Growlithe. He wanted to feel carefree for a while, but he knew under these circumstances, not even the largest star he could wish on would bring his dreams to fruition.

These fools didn't know what power he held. As Hydreigon resumed his perch high on the lighthouse, noise once more attracted his attention. His three gaping, drooling maws turned all at the distraction, spotting the now dwindling group of survivors. They had slain a pack of curs that only were mere shadows of what he was, what power he stood for. They congratulated themselves, celebrated their falseness... Hydreigon's crimson eyes flashed with a spark of bloodmongering. They so thought the danger was past, feasting on a weakling's diet. But above them, the true danger lurked.

He had feasted on the heart of a Legend. He had torn little pawns like these limb from limb, finding only true statisfaction in the dying cries of Cresselia. The death of dreams, of hope. He'd swallowed it whole. He turned more to face the small grouping as a little masked pup made its way away from the building they took shelter in. How many times did he have to kill these little weaklings for them to understand that there was no hope? That he'd killed her, swallowed her heart and eaten her very skin from her muscles? Letting loose a roar, he dove down, colliding with the building that housed them, three mouths tearing through the rubble for flesh.

They found it quickly. Heaving up the electric type in their jaws, the main head glared at his captor; the ampharos. He had been there all along, a veteran of the little caravan that had been constantly defying him. Yes... their continued existance was defiance, as was Cresselia's existance. There would be none of that here. None. He would cleave this damned fool apart like he had her. Snarling, he leaned in close, twin heads keeping the sheep secured.

"...Do you... know why I... kill your... pathetic... kind?" he growled, his lips forming words sloppily. "Because... your existance is... an insult... Your kind is... too stupid... to know you've been beat..." He chuckled, face widening with a grin that oozed with blood from hundreds, if not thousands of previous victims, his teeth permanently stained. [i]"Allow me... to remedy that..."

Using his other two heads to stretch the ampharos, the sheep cried in vain as his right arm an left leg were slowly pulled apart from their mounts, the joints dislocating with a sickening pop. But Hydreigon, in rare form, did not pull them out together. Using the now limp, useless limbs as a pair of handles, he held the sheep aloft as his main head snaked toward the poor victim and began to feast.

Sharp, disgusting teeth tore into the ampharos' side easily, fragile ribs breaking like flimsy kindling beneath his powerful jaws. The screams cut through the air like a knife, ringing out over the abandoned city and waters for nothing. No amount of screaming would help him now. Intestines fell like slop out of a pig's trough, the stomach and diaphram hanging by the stressed, stretched tendons that precariously kept them attached to their rightful place. His teeth hungrily bit into the intestines, tearing them further from their owner. The cries turned more into gutteral, choking grunts as the body died in his grasp, the mind unable to keep up. Once the intestines were lapped up as noodles would be, Hydreigon rose his gaze to see the light already gone from his victim. Scoffing, already bored with such a useless body, he tore the carcass apart and flung the halves aside. Useless.

He had tasted the flesh of a god... such menial tripe was nothing.

No matter how hard the Toxicroak tried to sleep, or even rest, he failed. No matter how many times he tried to fell into slumber, something just kept waking him up...like...like an invisible force that was between the group. Something like...


"...Do you... know why I... kill your... pathetic... kind?"

...Something like that. The voice was pulling out words with fatigue, but it was powerful enough for Acid to hear it. He did not even knew who spoke like that, but it was fairly obvious that the owner of such speech was a trouble-maker. Jumping out the chair with a single bounce, like a cat sprayed with water, Acid rushed out of Club Krabby.
One hell of a troublemaker too...

The Poison type wasn't a genius, but he didn't need one to understand that it was the same Hydreigon that assaulted Deadpool some time ago: and now, it was back for more. It was back for Dave."Don't even think about it, you--" the military's voice were cut short as the three-headed Dragon got a solid grip out of Dave, and started mauling him, emitting a sickening noise after another.

Acid couldn' react. He was just standing there, frozen in pure, simple fear. The haunted scene of his old team getting devoured by the Infected was the only thing he saw there, and when his flashback ended, so did Dave's life. The Hydreigon wasn't there anymore, his hunger satiated with the Ampharos's flesh. Dave, a gentle yet fierce Ampharos, a rare Pokemon among others, was just a giant pulp of red meat lying on the ground.

The Poison/Fighting type didn't know what to do anymore...once more, he fucked up. Badly. He fell to his knees, unable to watch Daves's "corpse"...granted, he saw a lot of dead Pokemon in his life, but this one was different...Dave was a comrade of his, a friend. "DAMN IT! WHY?! WHYY?!" Acid yelled, letting out his frustration, slamming his fists on the ground covered with asphalt, breaking it.

Nothing changed since the beginning of the Epidemic: he was a soldier, but unable to protect his region...hell, even a single Pokemon. Why was he so useless...?

Phantom lay still almost on the verge of sleep in a moderately warm spot on the floor. The stress of the day, the pressure his nerves had had to endure, was almost gone as sleep lulled him into a dazed stared of near slumber. Yes, a nice a bit of rest was exactly what he needed. With his belly full, two friends near, and a place of safety, for a moment it was peaceful. Phantom was so close to sleep, so out of it that the cries that now filled the room only dimly registered.

That too, only lasted a moment. Shrieks pierced his ears causing his orange-brown eyes to thrust open and a stark gasp to escape his muzzle. The Growlithe turned on sleep-tired paws only to see the horrifying seen of a Hydreigon feasting upon Dave. The gargled cried of the Ampharos didn't last long which seemed to please and irritate the Dragon. Swiftly it decapitated its prey and flung the pieces to the floor before making a hasty exit. Blood pooled around what could no longer be recognized as limbs.

"NO!" The whine creaked from his jaw. He couldn't move, his paws felt like stones. Dave was gone. He was dead. His small legs trembled and threatened to be unable to support him. Dry heaves and wrenching overtook his small body as bile burned the back of his throat. Those PokeSnacks he had eaten earlier threatened to make a reappearance. Dave had been murdered right under his nose, and he hadn't even tried to save him. "DAMN IT! WHY?! WHYY?!" Acids voiced roared through the room riddled with pain.

"No.. why him.." Phantom couldn't control the shaking of his body. He had failed to protect his friend, he hadn't even attempted to help. Small teeth clenched as he forced himself to go rigid. "Come back here!" He cried, pain clouding his voice and judgement. He couldn't save Dave, but maybe he could avenge him.

Darting outside he looked for the damned Dragon, but he had long since vanished. That was it. Phantoms legs crumpled beneath him and he fell to the ground. "Im sorry Dave.."

Soon, even Phantom started mourning Dave's fresh death, yelping out-loud. Uselessly.
Taking all of his force gained in his army's life, the Toxicroak stood up, firm, looking at the Ampharos's crushed body: Acid gave a military salute, and kept his stance for a few seconds, giving all of his respect for the brave Electric type.
"Rest in peace, soldier."

Shaking himself up, the Poison type turned to the crying Growlithe, giving him the most reassuring smile he could. "Get up, son." the veteran said, crouching in his frog-like position. I know what yer feelin' right now, trust me. But if we stay here, there's a big chance that Hydreigon'll come back to finish the job. We don't want that, mh?

Looking around, he realized how much stuff happened since he came to Gateon...he fought a group of Infected not once, but twice, with an Infected Metagross in the middle...and he lost three companions, too. All of this in two, single, fuckin' days. Orre would always be unsafe, zombies or not. Was it even safe for the two survivors to remain there?

It was just a matter of hours, heck, even minutes before some other Infected could crash the party, assaulting Acid and Phantom another time, and the Toxicroak surely couldn't keep uo with all of those fights. He'd wait for Phantom to recover, and then he'd decide along him what to do.

He couldn't hear what Acid said over his own sobbing. A cold feeling had seeped into his bones, a hole lingered where his heart should of been. It hurt. He had lost another friend to the undead, unable to do a single thing.. "Get up, son." The Toxicroak coxed firm but gently. The Growlithe complied as he forced the tears to stop falling from his eyes. This wasn't very soldierly of him. Embarrassment added to his list of emotions.

"I know what yer feelin' right now, trust me. But if we stay here, there's a big chance that Hydreigon'll come back to finish the job. We don't want that, mh? It was true. If they stayed, He.. Acid, they could be next. His voice sounded weaker then he had hoped, "Y-yeah, we should move away from here." His heart ached at the thought, knowing all too well it was true. Maybe things around here weren't that safe anymore, but this was still his home. No, it's OUR home.. Mimic.. Three friends lost to the undead. Phantom wondered, if he died now, would he just be another lost life or would he be able to go out fighting. What would he leave behind in his memory.. A sigh leaked from his muzzle. Only one life to live. Living on for Dave, Alex, and Mimic.. too..

Phantom sat up as tall as the weight on his shoulders would allow, looking around Gateon with glossy eyes. The Port city had seen better days, before all this blood had been spilled and when the humans still inhabited it. It was still his home, and to leave it.. was abandoning all the friends he had lost, leaving the memories of Mimic and happier times behind.. He looked to Acid for reassurance that he wouldn't have to give it up, "Are we, going to have to leave Gateon Acid?" He prayed they wouldn't have to, but things hadn't really been going his way lately.

Acid stayed with his head full of thoughts as he heard the small Growlithe question.

Gateon wasn't safe, plain and simple: two different hideouts wasted in a matter of hours, with two extremely powerful Infected killing the same number of survivors...and as many others lost in Arceus knows where.
Of course, Phantom wasn't the only one to have a good relationship with the port. The Toxicroak passed many days with his old team during patrols, and he always remained astonished by the beautiful blue sea that was everywhere.

But now, the sea was grim and blood-stained, even more unsafe than before...damn, the entire world was more unsafe than before, even without Cipher. "It's...a difficult decision, Phantom. Yer not the only one here who passed good times in this place." Acid croaked, looking at the extremely dark blue ocean. 'F course, the temptation of remaining here is strong. We could stay here. Slaining the Infected as long as we could."

Turning around, the ex-military looked at the Pokemart, the sign of Alex's death, not counting Deadpool and Ariana's misterious disappearances. "But for how long could we keep the fight against 'em? Sure, we defeated every Infected who came ruining the party, but...even then, what are we gonna do once the Pokemart's food runs out?" Acid continued croaking, looking at his Black Sludge. "I have this gift o' mine that heals me, but I need to eat an' drink too. And the same thing applies to you."

With a sudden bounce, the Toxicroak pointed Gateon's gates with a quick gesture, looking at Phantom right into the eyes. "I came to Gateon by the main entrance...I had no goal at the time, still tryin' to understand how the Infected worked." Half-closing his eyes for a brief second, turning to thr Metagross's body and then to Phantom once again, he continued. "But this time, I think I understand how they function. I can survive in open spaces a bit more easily. And what about you, son?"

Bouncing a bit nearer to the small Growlithe, Acid concluded his speech with a question: "Are you with me or not?"

The Growlithes eyes were glossy as he listened to Acid, "It's...a difficult decision, Phantom. Yer not the only one here who passed good times in this place." Instantly his memories threw him back to his times with Mimic. The best days of his life.. Mimic.. The Toxicroak continued, "'F course, the temptation of remaining here is strong. We could stay here. Slaying the Infected as long as we could."

"I.. don't think temptation is the right word. This, this is my home. Regardless if the undead roam it. They don't belong here like I do." He knew very well his argument was weak. They're group verse the undead; they were being picked off like flies. "But for how long could we keep the fight against 'em? Sure, we defeated every Infected who came ruining the party, but...even then, what are we gonna do once the Pokemart's food runs out?" The Toxicroaks facts were piling up and Phantom knew he was beat before he even started. He couldn't hold the tears back and a few dripped down his face. "I have this gift o' mine that heals me, but I need to eat an' drink too. And the same thing applies to you."

Desperately he bit them back. The pain was welling in his chest and he knew Acid was right, "The humans probably had more.. somewhere?" He paused with a small sigh, "But they probably took it with them.. and what he have wont last much longer." The frogs honestly wasn't meant to be mean but it only made his heart hurt. He gestured the entrance to Gateon that the humans used to use. "I came to Gateon by the main entrance...I had no goal at the time, still tryin' to understand how the Infected worked." The infected.. Phantoms small claws curled into a 'fist'. They had done this to his home, to his friends, to him. Now, he was about to lose it all because of them.

"But this time, I think I understand how they function. I can survive in open spaces a bit more easily. And what about you, son?" Phantom thought for a moment, unsure of what to say. "I've only ever lived here, or back with my parents long ago. I don't really know much about whats out there. Wouldn't know where to go or what to do.." Staring longingly towards the bay he took a deep breath of the salty flavored air. His heart left as though it was breaking as he spoke. "Here.. I know everything. Its.. my home. But I guess its not really anymore. The undead have tainted it, its hardly the same place I remember." Fearful he would toppled over the Growlithe sat down. "Those monsters have taken that all away."

Acid had definately made up his mind, and moving a bit closer to the Growlithe asked, "Are you with me or not?" Hesitation made him continue to stare. This was it. "Yeah.. Im with you." He rose to shaky paws and followed the Toxicroak out of Gateon. Phantom took one last breath of the salty air, looking back as he padded through the gates. Goodbye Mimic.. One clawed paw touched the mask on his facey lightly. A smile crossed his muzzle as he realized something. No, Im taking your memory with me, we'll always be together. Phantom could almost hear the Seels cheerful voice once more. With one last look, he turned to face forward. Everything that lie beyond was foreign to the puppy Pokemon. "Where are we going, Acid?" He asked trying to shake the sadness from his voice.

Gliscor was still in Orre. He’d found he’d had his work cut out for him, the region practically infested with the vermin known as the living. Drifting between cities, gradually handling the infestation of their miserable kind with sweet, bloody violence, the Harbinger’s hunt had brought him to Gateon City.

To his surprise, the bat caught the scent of one of his comrades in the air. He glided over the city, content in the knowledge that his brethren had already cleansed the area and strained to catch glimpse of the beast’s handiwork. It took a moment, the bat’s blood-red glare absorbing every minute detail of his empire until they latched onto the broken, bloodied ampharos. Cackling loudly, his laugh soon transformed into a fearsome snarl upon seeing the impurities lurking around its form. The two of them were practically begging to join their fallen companion.

Diving down at a frightening speed, the Harbinger set his sights on the toxicroak. The creature had no chance to react, the bat silent on his descent to appear literally out of nowhere. His pincers grasped the frog’s shoulders harshly, his victim uttering a pained cry as flesh was torn on impact –but Gliscor held tight. Beating his large, powerful wings, the Harbinger rose into the skies, his dangling victim accompanying him – helpless as they gained altitude.

“Inferior…” The Harbinger growled, flying higher, deaf to his victim’s cries. “Vermin… “ Gliscor was hovering now, looking down to upon the frog’s companion – little more than a speck from their height. He huffed, shaking his head in disgust. Without another word, Gliscor released his grip on the toxicroak’s shoulders, watching him plummet towards the hard, merciless ground below.

The scream that escaped the frog on his descent was painful, echoing across the land as Gliscor soon dived after it. When the creature was mere metres from his inevitable collision with solid land, the Harbinger launched himself through the falling frog, an x-scissor ensuring the bat moved like a blade.

The toxicroak exploded in a shower of blood and guts. Its scream abruptly silenced as the enormous bat sliced it into sections. Gliscor, now decorated in a layer of blood, watched as the corpse fell to the ground in five separate, gory chunks. He grinned, chuckling darkly as its innards were strewn lazily about its canine companion. So weak… To see the frog break so easily, Gliscor turned away from the Growlithe. It would only be a matter of time before she joined him.

Content with his work, the Harbinger turned and continued on his hunt for the unworthy.

It came out of nowhere. The Gliscor dove out of the sky and flew back up with Acid in tow. The little Growlithe stood horrified, hesitating for a a moment but then launching multiple bursts of Ember toward them. None made it, all falling short and fading away in the sky before they even came close to the Harbinger. "Acid!" He cried desperately, wishing he had a better ranged attack. "No.. no!" He whined, hopping up and flailing his paws in a feeble attempt to reach the shrinking forms.

Then, horror. The sight of it petrified him with shock. The undead had released Acid, letting him fall helplessly through the sky before slicing his body into pieces. He was dead long before even hitting the ground in a splatter of red. The sound of the pieces of flesh colliding with the ground made the Phantom wrench as he started to dry heave in place when the scent of blood came to him. Acid was dead. This time it was all on him. Again he had been useless to save his friend. His legs collapsed beneath him, unable to support the Growlithe and painful sadness overwhelmed his small body.

Tears welled from his eyes and down his eyes. He was alone again.. He hadn't been able to save a single one of his friends. He hadn't even the honor to be picked off as well, but left alone to suffer knowing he hadn't done a thing for them. "Oh Acid.. Why.. why..?" The overwhelming smell of the blood made him gag. The frog had been right, Gateon was no longer save. The undead would keep coming until he was dead as well. His teeth clenched with frustration and pain filled rage. To stay, to fight everyone that came his way would be suicide. Pointless death..

Acid wouldn't want that. Dave and Alex too, they wouldn't want him to die like that. Phantom forced his way to his paws on shaky legs. He took one look to the mess that was once his friend.. then to the place he had called him home. His muzzle angled to the sky, the Gliscor long gone now, and gently he began to sing with a broken voice.

"A warning to the people,
The good and the evil,
This is war..

To the soldier, the civilian,
The martyr, the victim,
This is war..

It's the moment of truth, and the moment to lie,
The moment to live and the moment to die,
The moment to fight, the moment to fight
To fight, to fight, to fight!

To the right, To the left
We will fight to the death!
To the edge of the earth
It's a brave new world
From the last to the first

To the right, To the left
We will fight to the death!
To the edge of the earth
It's a brave new world
It's a brave new world!

A warning to the prophet,
The liar, the honest,
This is war.

To the leader, the pariah,
The victor, the messiah,
This is war.."

This voice had evened out as he sang the chorus again, and was smoother yet as he finished the song.

"I believe in nothing
Not the end and not the start,
I believe in nothing
Not the earth and not the stars,
I believe in nothing
Not the day and not the dark,
I believe in nothing
But the beating of our hearts,
I believe in nothing
One hundred suns until we part,
I believe in nothing
Not in demons, not in legends,
I believe in nothing
Not in peace and not in war,
I believe in nothing
But the truth of who we are.."

He sniffed and wiped a tear from his eye with the conclusion. "Acid.. for you, I'll be brave I promise.. I will survive.. ." Then he was gone.