Now that Kellyn had mastered Vatonage, even though he didn't know how, his confidence skyrocketed, growing more when he, Wendy, Ash, Brock, and Dawn reached Hia Valley, home of Almia Castle, that evening on their Staraptor. Sven, being Sven and having a Luxray as a Partner, took Crysta Cave.
"I'll meet you guys at Shiver Camp," he had said outside the cave, located at the back of Vien Forest. He tightened his coat around him.
"Be careful, Sven." Wendy lifted her hand and lowered it again. "Call if you need us."
Sven gripped his hips (Kellyn had forgotten that was normal for him—he guessed to make himself look tougher). "I'm the eldest. I think I know what I'm doing."
That was the first time in a while Kellyn had seen Wendy fearful. "You're twenty-three," she fought, and Sven blushed.
"I'll be fine," he quipped, turning on his heel. "Let's go, Luxray." Those were the last words he said before flicking his wrist and disappearing into the towering mouth of Crysta Cave.
And Kellyn thought he was the Big Shot. Whatever, Sven would be Sven. The most important thing was that the Gem Guardians would be a breeze, now that Kellyn had channeled his power. It only took a day, too. Now, he could complete the mission on his own, hopefully.
The Ranger Union had provided Kellyn, Wendy, and Sven with coats. It was a good thing, too, because Kellyn had forgotten how nippy and snowy Hia Valley was. A kind, elderly woman, Ms. Winter, lived in a log cabin at the foot of Ice Lake, which Kellyn would take to reach the castle. He had a plan; he merely needed to wait until everyone else was asleep that night. While he hated lying to Ash, Brock, and Dawn, at least he got them that far.
Ash, Brock, and Dawn, wearing their own coats, looked down at the white plain below, with trees grouped in clusters around the area.
"Ooh, it's cold." Ash blew on his hands and tucked Pikachu into his coat.
"Oh, Ash, man up," Dawn giggled. "I'm sure you've suffered a lot worse. Even the Staraptor are toughing it out." She patted her mount's neck.
"But to be safe..." Brock looked at Kellyn. "Where's Shiver Camp, Kellyn?"
With Blu cuddled in his arm, Kellyn peeped over his shoulder at him, smiling. "It's just a short flight from here." He noticed storm clouds on the horizon, covering the area where Ice Lake and Almia Castle were. "Come on, follow me. It looks like a storm's coming."
"A storm?" Wendy, too, noticed the clouds. "What about Sven?"
"He's big, tough Sven," Kellyn argued. "I'm sure he's fine." It was actually a little peaceful without him around.
"Still…" Wendy opened her Capture Styler. "Rangers need to look out for one another." She pressed the voicemail button on her Styler. "Sven?"
"Hey, Wendy," Sven soon said on the other line. "What's up? You guys at Shiver Camp yet?"
"Almost," Wendy answered. "Where are you?"
"We're about halfway through the cave," Sven said. "The Pokémon are feisty in here."
"Feisty?" Did Wendy sweat? "Do you need help?"
"No, Luxray and I can handle it. You need to get yourself to Shiver Camp, Wendy, before you both freeze."
"But, Sven, a storm's coming…"
"Wendy, you heard me. We'll be there soon." And just like that, Sven hung up. Kellyn guessed that would be a new thing for him.
For a minute, Ash, his friends, and Kellyn examined Wendy, who eventually said, "You guys go on—beat the storm. I'm going to help Sven."
Great idea. Wait, no! What was with the sudden dark thought? Kellyn had mastered Vatonage.
"Yes—no!" he argued, shaking his head. "We're going with you, Wendy."
Brock nodded. "Yes, if anything, we can stay in the cave until the storm passes."
"I have Chimchar," Ash explained. "It can keep us warm."
"Are you sure, guys?" Wendy inquired. "You heard Sven: the Pokémon are feisty."
Ash clenched his fist. "It's nothing we can't handle. Brock, Dawn, and I have our teams backing you guys up."
"Kellyn, what do you think?" Wendy glanced at him. "Hm? Kellyn?"
Why was there so much negative energy all of a sudden? "Yes—no!" Kellyn closed his eyes and gripped his head.
"What's wrong with him?" Dawn wondered, backing up her Staraptor.
Brock's mouth dropped. "Not good. He's giving into darkness again." He parked his Staraptor beside Kellyn's. "Change of plans. You guys help, Sven. I'm going to get him to Shiver Camp."
"Good idea, Brock," Wendy agreed. She pointed at a cluster of trees a short distance away. "See that tree cluster there? Turn right, and you'll be in Shiver Camp in no time. There's a Ranger Depot."
I'm not good enough, I'm not good enough. "No!" Kellyn fought. "I'm going."
"You used your power today, Kellyn," Brock calmly recalled. "I think it wore you out."
I need to prove myself. "No," Kellyn tried again.
"Please, Brock," Wendy begged. "Get him out of here. If the Pokémon in the cave are already feisty, I don't want to think what will happen if Kellyn goes with us."
"Me, either." Brock examined Blu, who now hovered beside Kellyn. "Blu, I hate to do this to him, but do you know Hypnosis?"
"Blu, yes. Blu, yes," Blu answered, facing Kellyn. "Sorry, Kellyn." His eyes glowed, and rainbow rays escaped them, hitting him in the face.
Kellyn's mind cleared, and he slumped over Staraptor's neck, breathing steadily.
"Perfect," Brock said, nodding at the others. "Good luck, guys. Blu and I will take care of him."
"Thanks, Brock," Wendy said. "We'll be back soon. Let's go, Ash and Dawn."
"Lead the way," Ash returned, grinning. He followed Wendy first, soon accompanied by Dawn, and Brock, Blu, and Kellyn went the opposite direction, toward Shiver Camp.
An image soon formed in Kellyn's mind. There he was, standing in the iced-over throne room of Almia Castle.
Sunlight passed through the cracks in the castle and shimmered over the ice.
The six torches surrounding Kellyn burst into flames, warming him, and a cry sounded before him.
A bipedal Pokémon appeared: tall, muscular, and corrupted with shadow energy.
"Balance," someone said behind the Pokémon from the throne. "Teamwork. Don't be like me. It's the only way to save Lucario and the other Gem Guardians."
"Car." Lucario stepped aside and raised the four appendages behind its head.
Kellyn closed his eyes against a gust of wind. He waited until it settled to open them again, and his eyes widened.
All torches had been blown out, and a new figure emerged before the throne, standing on two shadowy legs.
"Don't be like me." Darkrai's plume wafted behind it, and Kellyn saw doubt and hope in its blue eye. "I can't lose you, too. Practice, corruption."
Silence, and then Kellyn stumbled. No way! He dropped to his knees before Darkrai and lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Darkrai."
"Balance," it repeated. "Teamwork. Balance. Don't be like me." With those words, a shadow appeared on the throne's head, and Darkrai flew into it, leaving Kellyn alone with the Gem Guardian.
How had he not figured it out sooner? It was so simple.
But why couldn't Kellyn stop himself from giving in to darkness? He thought he got it that day, but no. The King of Olde said otherwise, and now Kellyn was trapped, once again, between an endless battle of light and darkness.
That said, he still had to protect the others before another Wendy Incident occurred.
Kellyn never meant to hurt her, but he was growing stronger. However, as of now, it was more a curse than a blessing, and Kellyn didn't know how to fight it.
One thing was sure, though: Almia Castle would determine everything.