Author's Note: This story is a direct sequel to "Brothers to the End (2023 Remake)", so it is highly recommended that you read it before reading this one. Enjoy![]
It was only when my eyes opened that the cold sweats began to set in. My hand slithered over my heart and sat still. The beats were rapid, resembling a man who had just dodged a bullet. The nightmare was slightly different from the one I’d been having for the last four years now. In it, I had actually gone through with taking my own life with no one there to stop me. Every time I ran out of oxygen in that dream, I awoke feeling a deep pressure in my chest as if something was clogging my lungs. But this time, there was no pressure. Just the sweats. I laid back and sighed, reminiscing on that Christmas break. Pokemon Sun had just released that year and I had gotten both it and a Pikachu plushie as a gift. My artist skills had gotten better, I created a new character I named X, and had played through Sun to completion. However, that run was filled with enough eventful moments that I couldn't help but chronicle them online. Even if no one believed me, they wouldn’t be able to take away the memories I have for Sun; both the good and unfortunately, the bad.
I turned over and laid eyes on a soft green light. My 3DS was sitting in sleep mode, right next to my Pikachu plush. No matter where I went, I always had my 3DS with me just to bring X along. Even if it was off, just having it with me helped in a way. Sometime after I finished my run of Sun, I began to research various supernatural phenomena, trying to find some kind of explanation for X’s very existence. The closest match that I could find was one that I had heard of before but thought not possible unless purposefully made: a thoughtform. He was essentially an imaginary friend made manifest from my emotions. It seemed like I had gotten as close as I would to some kind of identification for what X was, but it truly didn’t matter what he was or even if he was actually a living being. All that mattered was that he was real to me and he had saved my life. I slipped my 3DS open and found that I had left off in Poke Refresh, with X curled up napping. I lightly tapped the Pikachu, watching him roll over and peer at me groggily. I could see the slight annoyance in his eyes, but he knew that I only woke him up if something was wrong. He didn’t even get up as words flowed out through the speakers.
“What’s up, Big Bro? The nightmares again?”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“But…something was different this time”.
His ears perked up slightly at that.
“What do you mean different?,” came the query.
“There was no pressure when I woke up this time. Just a cold sweat. But I do remember seeing something before I lost consciousness”.
“What was it?”
I shivered slightly before I spoke,
“A pair of pale, blue eyes”.
X’s eyes suddenly shot open, the fear made plain to the world. He knew something about this and I was determined to find out what.
“X, be honest with me. Do you know anything about the eyes?,” I asked. His response was slow and measured.
“I…I do. I’ve been seeing them in my dreams as well”.
Now it was my turn to have my eyes widen. I asked why he didn’t tell me about them and I was told that he didn’t recognize them. He had been seeing them in his sleep earlier than I was, but he knew that they weren’t just a floating set of eyes. They were attached to something, but he had no clue what. I pondered the situation slightly. Why did I only just start seeing the eyes if X and I were connected? What were those eyes even connected to? Did I even want to know what horrors would await us if we found out? I figured that we would have more time to think about this in the morning, when we weren’t delirious with sleep. I closed my 3DS and hugged my Pikachu plush close to me, telling X good night. Sleep nearly claimed me before I felt a slight shift in my arms and a face burying itself into them. A soft whisper,
“Good night, Mickey…”
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Sunlight was the first thing that greeted my eyes when I woke up. Filtering in through my rather crappy blackout curtains, it was pretty much a silent alarm clock. Even if that weren’t the case I would still have a little yellow plush to shake me out of my slumber. Sitting up with a long yawn, I looked down to see that X was waking up as well.
“Morning, pal,” I said groggily, trying to blink the crust from my eyes.
“Morning, Bro. Any ideas on what to do today?”
A hand slowly came to my chin as thoughts flew through my mind. What could we do today? I recalled the matter of the blue eyes in our dreams and figured that we needed to find out what could have been happening. As I looked down at the Pikachu, I could tell that he had a lot of questions on his mind as well. The choice was clear.
“We need to look into this dream situation,” I stated.
“For some reason, I feel like it might have something to do with the game”.
X looked over at the 3DS, my eyes soon following as well. The look in his eyes when he stared back up at me told me that he had an idea in mind.
“I’ll jump in and look around,” he confidently stated, clearly wanting to get started immediately.
With a nod I let him go and saw him sit near the 3DS; watching as with a flash, the plush returned to its normal state and a small yellow light floated into the handheld. I finally slipped out of bed and got started on my morning routine. While going through it, I couldn’t help but wonder just how X was looking around in-game. Would the game even let him wander or would it keep him locked to me until I did something? Was it like jumping into an alternate, completely functioning universe? I hoped for his sake that it was the latter. After hearing about the pitch-black Limbo that he ended up in after I defeated Lusamine, I did not want to subject him to that loneliness ever again. It had clearly affected both of us considering the emotional turmoil it threw me into, to the point that I almost took my own life. If X hadn’t saved me, I shudder to think what would have happened to both of us. If he would have come back to my limp, hanging body…A phone notification pulled me away from my morbid train of thought, thankfully. Whipping out my phone, I was surprised by an email from a completely random person. A “Jack Stevens”. As soon as I saw it, I was going to toss it into the scrap bin before I peeked the subject line.
“We Need to Talk. Immediately.”
A slight tingle traveled down my spine as I stared at the line. If this was meant for me, I had no idea who or what it would be about. I had never met or heard of a Jack Stevens, but figured that I should at least check the mail to see if it was actually for me. Opening it, I scrolled through its contents carefully.
“To Mr. Hollander,”
“Hello. I’m hoping that the subject line caught your attention because this is truly an urgent situation. My name is Jack Stevens and about a week ago, I stumbled upon a story of yours. Your supposed supernatural experience involving a Pokemon game. At first, I figured that you were a writer just trying to toss another random scary story out into the web. But the more I read through your experiences, the more I realized that we had something in common: we both have something supposedly fictional haunting us. So, I decided to contact you and share with you my story. One far less heartwarming and far more traumatizing. It is attached to this email, so please give it a read. Seeing what you supposedly have should help its contents make more sense. Please get back to me as soon as possible. I don’t have much time left.”
“With regards,”
“-Jack ‘Nova’ Stevens”
It had to be too good to be true. I was sure that this guy must have been pulling my leg, but it seemed that wasn't the case. Sure enough, at the bottom of the email was an attachment labeled “A Crack in Reality”. I didn’t open the file instantly, pocketing my phone and finishing my morning routine. I’d need to share this with X so I put the story on hold. My mind was racing with several thoughts after I finished reading the mail. Another person who had a supernatural experience with Pokemon? And a horrifying one at that? If Jack wasn’t pulling my leg, I might have been able to say that we had found a source for extra information; one who could possibly provide more details on the facts surrounding me and X’s situation. As I walked back into my room to pick up my 3DS and check on X, a thought had crossed my mind. Though the chance was slim, if not non-existent, I couldn’t help but wonder if Jack had similar dreams to mine. And if so, if he had also seen the eyes. If that was the case, I would know that things were not what they seemed. Flipping open my 3DS, I was greeted with Poke Refresh once more before noticing an unsettling sight. X came running back up to the screen, seemingly scared out of his mind. My brotherly instincts kicked into overdrive as I comforted him.
“What’s wrong,” I sputtered. His response filled me with dread.
“S-s-something’s wrong with t-the Altar of the S-sunne! I…I did s-some investigating a-and found some kind of puddle. When I got near it, it…it…”
The Pikachu couldn’t say anything else as he began to cry. I patted his head through the screen alongside a string of soothing words about how I wouldn’t let anything hurt him again. And I meant it. Whatever this was, it had to be linked to the eyes. X’s tears slowly faded as he looked at me, wondering what we should do. There was only one clear option for me.
“Let’s get to the altar,” I spouted with anger in my throat.
“B-but…what if-”
“No. I’m not going to let anything hurt you or this world that I love. This time, I’ll do anything for you, Little Bro”.
X’s face turned to one of slight shock before a small smile took its place.
“Thank you, Michael,” he said.
I then closed out of Poke Refresh, quickly opening my map and flying over to the Altar of the Sunne. I wasn’t going to let anyone or anything take this world or my friends away from me. I began my ascent up the steps to the altar, slow at first before turning into a full-on sprint. Soon, I noticed something that made me slow down and walk back down the steps. There was a small pile of some kind of black ooze dotted around the sides of the stairway. The interaction I got when I pressed A on it was chill-inducing.
“A strange black spot is eating into the steps”.
Eating into the steps, as if it were acidic. Moving forward, as I slowly continued up the stairs (I was now strictly walking to catch more details), I noticed something else odd. As I got closer to the altar, the sky would slowly get darker and darker. By the time I reached the top, the sky was pitch-black; no sun or light of any kind in sight. My hands subconsciously gripped the handheld tighter when I saw just how dark the sky was, soon realizing what the area started to resemble. X’s description of the abyss he found himself in. Pitch-black skies, an empty landscape, and near silence were my only guests as I found myself at the top of the Altar of the Sunne.
More of the darkened ooze greeted me as I walked up to the main platform, watching as the goop seemed to pulsate and morph at random intervals. As soon as I reached the center of the altar was when I saw it. The puddle that X had encountered; as dark as the rest of the ooze that covered the stone of this sacred place, but much larger. As I walked forward, I bumped into an invisible wall. Pressing the A button popped up a text box, but there was no description or observation of the dark pool. It was just the message “Are you sure?” with a yes/no prompt. Swallowing my fears, I tentatively pressed yes and watched as the screen faded to black.
As soon as the screen faded back in, a cutscene began to play. The puddle of ooze slowly began to expand as sickening, sludgy sounds dripped out of the speakers. The goop bounced slightly, as if something was trying to break out. That’s when I saw them and my heart nearly stopped. The same pale blue, pinprick eyes from my dream faded in before whatever figure they were connected to began to rise, drenched in the shadowy substance. A closer look finally revealed the identity of the mysterious figure. As soon as I saw the small, rounded body and the V-shaped ears, I immediately recognized that it was some kind of monstrous Victini. The camera had zoomed into its face before suddenly pulling back as the abomination let out a distorted, banshee-like Victini cry that made my heart do a flip. I was soon pulled back into reality as I saw that a battle had started with the shadowy figure, its identification doing it no favors.
“The Void has appeared!”
The Victini-like thing let out its soul-shattering cry once more before I sent out my Primarina, MJ. The music was like nothing I had ever heard in a Pokemon game, composed of rapid, hard-hitting drums and a chaotic, almost evil set of strings and horns. I was utterly stupefied. Could I truly defeat this vile thing? Could I even try to fight it? Clicking on the Fight button, I had MJ use Moonblast. Or rather, I tried to but was greeted with my Primarina shaking and emitting sweat icons before a text box appeared.
“MJ is too scared to move!”
My eyes widened as soon as I saw the message. No. No, no, no, no. This isn't happening right now. I watched as the entity made its move.
“The Void used Hyperspace Hole!”
The Victini sank into the puddle below it and moved over to MJ. However, instead of just striking him, it grabbed onto the Primarina, dragging him into the hole with it before returning to its side. When it settled, MJ was gone. Another text box.
“MJ has been consumed by The Void…”
My grip on the 3DS tightened as soon as the text appeared. MJ couldn’t have been gone! It was impossible! It was then that I sent out my next Pokemon, my Toucannon, Woody. Attempting to use Beak Blast only resulted in the same message as last time, leaving me stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“Woody is too scared to move!”
I watched as the ooze-covered monster once again used Hyperspace Hole, dragging one of my friends away right in front of me. The same message as before came up.
“Woody has been consumed by The Void…”
After that, the pattern kept going. Send out a Pokemon, try to use an attack, the Pokemon was too scared, and they’d be dragged away into The Void. And I was just made to sit and watch as all of my friends were taken from me.
“Falzar has been consumed by The Void…”
“Rose has been consumed by The Void…”
“Masamune has been consumed by The Void…”
Which of course only left me one option.
X.
Sending him out, I watched as he slightly shook before being greeted by that ever-present text box. However, this message was different.
“X is scared, but ready”.
Choosing Fight, I had X use Thunder, praying to whatever god would listen. But it seemed like my prayers were ignored.
“X used Thunder!”
“It’s useless against The Void...”
It was over. Even if I could attack the thing, nothing would harm it. I was out of options. At least I thought I was before I tried the Run button. As soon as I pressed it, the screen faded to black; no dialogue telling me if I could or couldn’t run. It and the music just faded to darkness. When it faded back in, the Victini slowly fell backwards into the dark sludge, its eyes fading before it was completely gone. Just as I thought we were safe, a sudden wave of the ooze shot forward, rushing towards X. I couldn’t hold back my emotions at that point as I screamed.
“X, GET OUT OF THERE!!!”
Just then my player character jumped in X’s way, throwing him away from the wave of darkness before he himself was swallowed. X faded into the same yellow flash of light as he flew up and out of the 3DS and into my Pikachu plush. I was left to watch as the wave grew to a monstrous size before it crashed into the screen, showering it in darkness. I looked behind me to see X, a shivering mess with tears streaming down his face. I couldn’t help but reach over to give him a warm embrace, knowing that he was completely wasted from the experience. But it seemed that the ride wasn’t over yet as there was one last surprise awaiting us when we looked back at the 3DS.
Staring over to the dark screen, X and I tensely watched, wanting to make sure that nothing would follow him out. After a minute or two, I finally was able to breathe as I reached over to close that damn handheld. As soon as I did however, we were greeted by something vile. As suddenly as my fingers grabbed the 3DS, the horrific, mutilated face of the Victini blasted onto the screen. Its fur was a dull gray and its ears were the same pale, icy blue as the pinpricks floating in its empty eye sockets. More of the black ooze leaked from its orifices, including the slack void of a smile that adorned its face. As soon as the face appeared, its cry suddenly played out once more as a text box appeared.
“ALL SHALL BE LOST TO THE VOID.”
I screamed bloody murder before slamming the 3DS shut and just sat there, a panting, shaking pile of fear and apprehension. I looked at X. The look on his face said everything. This…thing was the one that caused him to end up in Limbo. What it calls “The Void”. I sat back and stared up at the ceiling. The world of Alola was gone. Washed away by the oncoming darkness that was The Void. My world of fond memories was now nothing more than a pitch-black wasteland and we had no idea what to do about it. At least until I remembered the email I got that morning. I pulled out my phone and looked back at the mail, eyeing its attachment. X walked over to me, hugging my arm as if I was the plush toy.
“W-what are we going to do?”
I looked back at the name of the attachment, “A Crack in Reality”. Pulling X closer to study it with me, my response was to the point and filled with rage and determination.
“We’re going to need some help with this one”.
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The Chronicles of The Void[]
Part 1: Brothers to the End (2023 Remake)
Part 2: A Crack In Reality (2024 Remake)
Part 3: Below Zero
Part 4: The Oncoming Darkness (You are here)
Part 5: Dreams of My Deathly Cold Demise
Part 6: The Stillness of Eternity
Epilogue: Of Hearts and Hope