He hadn't been in town in a long while that it almost seemed foreign to him. The snow that covered everything in an inch or two sheet of pure white wasn't helping. Was he avoiding it? Probably. Most Likely. It held some memories of him that still kept him warm to the core because of what they represent. Yet as he got to the end of them a chill always ran down his body which if it was any colder he'd probably freeze right here on the street.

"Think you can give us some heat Knightmare? Could really use it." His Armorouge who was sharing the walk to the hot springs titled its head at him and nodded before cupping his hands together. A small sunny day formed into the palms as it held it and Kaz held his hands over the small orb. Already he could feel the warmth spread through his body as they passed by some alleyways, the shadows within holding a danger to this town without him even knowing.

For how long would he be in the dark? Who was to say?

Kazimir Wynter, former member of the Elite Four.[break][break]

Zev did not know Kazimir was also the masked vigilante he'd fought months ago, but the unsuspecting man was a good enough target for testing his new powers. But first, he would have to get rid of the Armarouge.[break][break]

Without warning, every street lamp, neon sign, and source of light around the pair walking down the snow-covered street went out. Even the small SUNNY DAY cupped in the Armarouge's hand blinked out of existence, leaving only the darkness and sudden, icy grip of night.[break][break]

And from the blackness ahead of them, a Marshadow emerged, lunging at the Armarouge with a fist cocked back for a SHADOW PUNCH.[break][break]

If Kazimir looked closely, he would recognize not only the Pokémon attacking his, but also the way the light vanished as if it had been devoured.

TAGS – Kazimir Wynter[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The lights went out. That wasn't good.

If it was just a random street light then one could say that it was just a bulb going out but no, everything that was light was disappearing even the Sunny Day that was their source of warmth. As it shrunk Kaz couldn't help but get a feeling of deja vu as he watched it disappear out of the Pokemon's hands. He's seen this before. The way light all around them just vanishes like its... "Being eaten up."

His loud though is all he can get out when he feels his Amarouge suddenly fall right into him and out of the corner of his eye he sees them. The familiar eyes of a Marshadow. One that looked awfully familiar. "Crap, Knightmare blast them back!"

The knight aims his hands turned cannon at the small ghost and fires his amor cannon as a ball of fire lights up the darkness surging towards the ghost.

The burning conflagration of ARMOR CANNON filled the street for a moment, illuminating the Marshadow as the attack struck true. The Ghost-type phased right through a Delibird Delivery sign as it was thrown backward.[break][break]

And then it surged forward again, darkness wreathing its tiny body as the flames of the Armarouge's attack dissipated on the night air. This time, Marshadow aimed POISON JAB at its foe, hoping to infect the Fire Warrior Pokémon with debilitating toxins.[break][break]

As the two fought across the street, a shadow moved behind Kazimir, one that bristled with void-black crystal from head to toe. Spiked tendrils emerged from his back as he neared the unsuspecting man.[break][break]

Though if Kazimir listened carefully, he would hear the sound of snow crunching underfoot with enough time to react.

TAGS – Kazimir Wynter[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The flames from the Armarouge lit up the streets for only a moment but it was long enough to see the Marshadow get sent flying away. The light left behind managed to show the faint shape of it coming right back and the Fire Warrior was a bit to slow to draw his cannon once more as he felt the toxic fist dig itself into his torso. With a simple touch toxins spread throughout its body as it took aim once more and fired off another Armor Cannon, this time looking to fire point blank since the little shadow was nice enough to get in right into his face for its counterattack.

Kaz could only faintly see the battle from where he was standing but the sounds of it were still too familiar for him to ignore. Just like the sound of crunching snow slowly approaching from behind.

Instinct took over as his leg suddenly shot out behind him in a kick right at whatever was coming up behind him. After so many recent fights with Rocket he wasn't going to take chances letting them sneak up on him so easily.

There was no doubt the second ARMOR CANNON would hit its mark. Marshadow tumbled across the wet asphalt before coming to a stop several yards away. Its body smoked from the immense power of the attack.[break][break]

For a moment, Marshadow was still. Then its little body trembled as it struggled to rise even halfway.[break][break]

Some distance away, Kazimir's leg shot out behind him in a kick aimed at Zev's torso. Déjà vu struck the Rocket Beast first, and instinct found him catching his opponent's leg before the kick landed. He pinched the limb between elbow and armpit to try unbalancing the other man.[break][break]

A merciful maneuver, for if Kazimir had hit Zev with full force, the bones of his foot would have shattered against the crystalline carapace that covered Zev from head to foot. A black void cut out of space, only his eyes were bright with color—bright and cold, like the distant stars.

TAGS – Kazimir Wynter[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"The hell...are you?" Seeing the stars that shone in the night was supposed to be a comfortable experience. This was different. All he felt was a shiver going down his spine as he looked deep into the bright lights before him before trying to pull his leg free from its grasp. A haunting feeling of deja vu was creeping up on him but this thing was already causing much more panic in him than a strange feeling of nostalgia.

"Knightmare! Light us up!" Was all he commanded his Armarouge who took his eyes off the small shadow and aimed his cannon upward. They were fighting blind here so a sunny day was called from the knight as a bright sun was shot into the sky and gave them all a moment of light to properly see their foes.

The being that held Kaz's leg was something straight out of a horror movie. It didn't look either human or Pokemon. It was...it was..."You're a real monster huh?"

Sunlight drove away the night's natural darkness as the Armarouge's SUNNY DAY burst to life overhead. Instinctively, Zev raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sudden, blinding brightness. In doing this, his grip on Kazimir's leg loosened; the other man could yank himself free, if he wished. [break][break]

At once, Zev knew he had lost the advantage. While light was not his weakness, it leveled the playing field for Kazimir and his Pokémon. [break][break]

And so he reached for the vast void of space between the stars. [break][break]

[break]

A dome of impenetrable darkness sprang up around them, taller than the buildings in Lavaridge. It engulfed every street and storefront, man and Pokémon, that stood within its boundary. It swallowed the SUNNY DAY whole and plunged the battlefield into pitch blackness. [break][break]

Zev's vision shifted in an instant. His surroundings stood out in clear detail—especially the reactions of Kazimir and his Armarouge. Before they could get their bearings, he leapt into action. [break][break]

Several crystalline spikes lanced forward, piercing Kazimir's flesh and spilling blood.

TAGS – Kazimir Wynter[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Kaz's leg was jerked to freedom and the giant only growled as he eyed the strange crystal beast in front of him. Him running into creatures like this seemed to be almost his forte at this point, first in Ultra Deep Sea and now here? Whatever it was he had to be quick in either driving it off or getting to stay still. He doubt he was going to be lucky and bring it with him back to Ever Grande for study or even halfway there. "Knightmare use A-"

The words of the trainer were cut off just like the light around them. Well more specifically the whole world around them went pitch black as solid darkness ate anything within its radius including the bright sun giving them both light and hope. Both warriors backed up to one another almost jumping out of their skins when they actually touched each other's backs. Feeling the familiarity of their bodies though they stared into nothing ready for whatever could be coming their way. "Ok let's just get-"

Words were not going to escape him. He was not going to escape this beast. Several spots in his body were replaced with hardened crystals that punctured him from his abdomen to even his torso. Arms and legs didn't fair any better as the only thing that could leave Kazimir was silent gasps and blood trickling down from his new holes. Through his gasps he stumbled back taking his body off of the spikes and falling backwards nearly landing on his Armarouge who managed to sidestep him at the last second and feel his trainer's body on his foot. Along the Pokemon's ankles he could also feel it, warm blood. "Blink..."

It was one word but one that the Fire Warrior knew instantly. A strategy that had been weeks in the making; so the warrior blinked out of existence and from Kaz's belt an Arcanine was pulled out thanks to an Ally Switch. The dog was taken back by the darkness surrounding it but the smell of blood and sound of heavy breathing at its feet brought its focus and a few worried whines as the dog leaned in to lick at Kaz's face. "Bl...blin...k"

Kaz was fading and fast. His word almost didn't come out but the dog let out a bark of acknowledgement and grabbed the man's shirt with his teeth and shut its eyes. With a Teleport the two of them vanished in a true blink out of existence to parts unknown.

Just as long as it was far away from the darkness and its harbinger.