Mimikyu, known as Mimi to those worthy, was old. Far older than any of the Selected. Champion was the only one who may have come close. However, many of Champion's years amounted to laying dormant deep beneath the earth, sleeping with his colony. Mimikyu had lived those years, watching and waiting for his Chosen to appear.

  It had made him patient. He was more than willing to wait for his meals to deliver themselves to him. It was only recently that he had begun to change his ways, showing what his Chosen would call initiative. The shift almost felt against his nature. However, if his Chosen displayed such traits, who was Mimikyu to not attempt to emulate them?

  If acting on his own accord felt strange, then doing it for others felt even stranger. If it was just for his Chosen, that was expected. But he surprised himself by acting on Acolyte's behalf. He did not do so for her potential strength, great as that may be. Mimikyu had witnessed many powerful beings in his time and he would not stoop so low as to curry favor with them. It was because after she had lost such a pivotal figure in her life, Acolyte sought to comfort him. It had struck a chord with him, showing him that despite living in such solitude, there was another state of being open to him. He did not understand why Ralts had done so. What he did understand was that any who sought harm onto his would seek nothing ever again.

  How fortunate for him that such worms would intrude on his stronghold.

  "This is the place, right?" One of the things spoke to his fellow. Mimikyu could detect the faint scent of fear on him. He inhaled silently, enjoying the aroma.

  "I'm sure Hue. I checked on the nav and everything. Besides, do you know any other idiots who would leave the door unlocked?"

  That had been his doing. The two had set on beating down the door, and his Chosen would have been displeased at that. They swaggered in, bats in hand.

  "That's true. Not many people would be dumb enough to rob someone paying us. Especially for something like candy. But... don't you think we should have waited? My Venipede is still recovering from the last fight night."

  The other raised an eyebrow in question.

  "Do you want to tell the boss we waited a day?" Hue was quick to shake his head, and his companion gave a short laugh, patting his waist. "Thought so. Besides, I got us covered. I didn't buy that Lunge TM for nothing."

  Such a move would amount to little against him, provided he even allowed it to strike him—which he would not. His Chosen had painstakingly repaired his shelter; it would not be damaged.

  "Yeah, you're right, Vin," Hue said. With renewed confidence, he raised his leg and kicked one of the tables, causing it to fall on its side. "Might as well start trashing the place."

  The casual comment rankled on Mimikyu, who had to bear witness as their belongings were abused.

  "Transgressions will not be forgotten," Mimikyu spoke, even though he knew his words would be lost on these humans. "Nor forgiven."

  Hue startled and swiveled his head, lifting his bat up high.

  "Did you hear that?" He asked, a slight shake in his voice.

  The question was in vain. None but the one intended would hear him. He'd worked hard to master that skill. Not only did it enhance the flavor of his meal, but it was amusing as well.

  "Hear what?" The one known as Vin replied. He scoffed, spitting on the floor. "You've watched too many horror movies. It's probably those two rats hiding around here." He raised his voice, yelling toward the back. "You hear that, pissants? Pod's here, so come on out and take your beatings. You better not make us look for you!"

  He remained perched on the ceiling, hiding in the corner of the room. Years of observation had shown him few had the intelligence to simply look up. All the better for him.

  His shadow stretched out slowly, gliding down the wall and then the floor. He brushed it against the ankle of this Hue.

  "The fuck was that?" He jumped back awkwardly, glancing down at his leg and then where he had just stood. "Something just touched me. I swear."

  Vin looked at his companion and then back around the room. His hand fell to his belt.

  "Faust has that Haunter. It might be trying to screw with us. Don't worry." He palmed a Pokeball and clicked its release. "Go Inkay!"

  A red flash heralded the arrival of his apparent opposition. It was roughly equal in stature to Acolyte, perhaps a tad taller. It floated near the ground, tiny blue tendrils hanging beneath it. Its large black eyes stared at the one who released it.

  "Find out where the rats are hiding," he ordered with a grin. "There might be a Haunter floating around, so have a Night Slash ready for it. If it's the Sandile, then use your Lunge."

  His Chosen would no doubt be offended by their sloppiness. Sandile was now a Krokorok. They would have known that had they gathered proper intelligence.

  Inkay released a pulse of power, and despite his concealment, Mimikyu knew his presence had been detected.

  "Pawn," the Inkay spoke to its trainer. "We tire of your inadequacies. None that you have mentioned are present."

  Similar to his own words, the Inkay's would appear incomprehensible to humans.

  'This king has not sensed one such as you,' the telepathic intrusion tickled his mind.

  There was a weak link formed, and Mimikyu used it to respond.

  'You still live, do you not?'

  He sent a burst of humor through the connection and it was abruptly severed. Spots on the Pokemon's head lit up, blinking in an odd pattern. Mimikyu could feel the pull's attempt to ease him into complacency.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  It was laughable to think this supposed king could influence his thoughts.

  "Well, what did he say?" Hue asked, his knuckles white from the grip on his bat. The human was practically begging to be feasted on.

  Vin crossed his arms, looking down at the Pokemon.

  "How am I supposed to know? I got him like a month ago." He crouched down, poking the Inkay in the forehead. "What are you waiting for? Find them already."

  His finger went forward again, but before it could make contact, a brilliant burst of light caused him to fall back, shielding his eyes with an arm.

  "Gah!" He yelled, flailing his limb out. He blinked, slowly regaining his sight. "What was that for, you little shit?"

  Inkay floated up, rising above the human.

  "Pawns do not lay their palms on a king," he said, a hint of malice showing. Black eyes turned up to the area Mimikyu was hidden in. "Who are you to challenge this king?"

  King? Mimikyu had seen Totems, and this Inkay was not one. What he was, was presumptuous. Acolyte would see him brought low, to say nothing of Mimikyu. Still, Mimikyu was not Cataclysm. He had no need to prove his strength. His Chosen knew his value, and that was enough.

  "Either your end or your beginning. The choice lies with you, young one."

  He made no efforts to obscure his voice, and the two humans jumped, one scrambling to his feet.

  "I told you something was here!" Hue voiced, glancing at the shadow Mimikyu was concealed behind.

  The other calmed quickly, shaking his head.

  "Shut it," he berated his companion before inclining his head toward Inkay. "Night Slash, flush it out."

  One of Inkay's tendrils took on a glow that indicated the use of a move, but it remained by his side.

  "I have seen many moons," he refuted, to the audible laugh of Mimikyu. "However, this king is intrigued. What do you propose?"

  Negotiations.

  Another activity he would never have dreamed of. However, he would not fail his Chosen. Mimikyu dropped from the corner, landing limply on his side.

  "The fuck?!" Vin exclaimed, seeing his prone form. "Is that a doll?"

  His head shifted to face the trio, earning uneasy steps back from the humans. It was almost time, and he lamented the absence of his Chosen. They made everything more enjoyable.

  "That totally moved, right?" Hue asked, pausing to gulp. "Is that a Pokemon?"

  Vin snarled, evidently embarrassed at having shown such a cowardly side of himself.

  "It doesn't matter what it is," he blustered, clearly overcompensating. "Inkay, take care of it already."

  Humans. How long had he tried to find one? The years blended, making it impossible for him to know. He'd tried to grow creative, coating himself with any number of disguises and using his limited skills in artistry to increase their appeal. He'd almost consigned himself to never finding one. Every attempt had led to failure. Until that one day, when he gazed from his shipwrecked domain to that which should not exist.

  His Chosen.

  "Shelter your eyes, young one," Mimikyu spoke, jerking his body up. "Lest your mind crumble."

  The head of his doll flipped to the other side, the smile painted on its face mocking those who would stand against him.

  His black tendrils seeped from his underside, spreading across the floor. He slipped his disguise up, pushing it over him. Purple eyes blinked open, shining on all those present.

  Inkay was a second too late, slamming his eyes shut after catching a glimpse of him.

  Foolish. He would pay for that in his nightmares to come.

  "F-f-fu-fuuu." The words could not be fully formed, and Hue took a step back. The bat clattered, hitting the floor after slipping through his grip. He turned, attempting to flee.

  Mimikyu would not allow that. His tendril lashed out, catching the man in the chest and slamming him into the lockers. The man collapsed with a groan, and Mimikyu inspected his companion. Vin stared at him blankly, eyes wide. His muscles were locked, and a vein pulsed on his forehead. Blood trickled down from his nose, splattering on the floor.

  He'd learned to love their fear and to feed on it, but that had not been his original intention. Rejection was cruel. Bit by bit, it chipped away at it. Embracing its icy touch was a matter of survival.

  Now?

  Now an odd warmth filled him.

  He cared little for what his Chosen was. They could have been old and fragile, able to be blown over by the weakest of breezes, or a titan, able to smash mountains with their fist.

  All he wanted, all he wished for, was for his form to be seen. To be accepted.

  "Young one," his voice echoed in the room. "You will direct me to a location to dispose of these two. Then we will discuss terms."

  He knew of Acolyte's current objective. It was a large one, and she would not be able to subvert the criminal underground with only Cataclysm by her side. This self-appointed king would aid her in her task, willing or not.

  As the one most often held by his Chosen, Mimikyu understood them on a deeper level than the other Selected. He knew they did not wish to bring the city under heel. This was a project invented by Cataclysm and Acolyte. Whether it was a willful misinterpretation or a genuine attempt at fulfilling his Chosen's goals was irrelevant.

  They would not intentionally bring harm onto his Chosen, and if trouble did arise from their adventures, he would be there to protect his Chosen.

  The thought of such events delighted him, and he realized he was letting their promised amusement color his motives.

  It was problematic, but he was sure his Chosen would forgive him. After all, he was the clear favorite.