John
*Dreams? Separate from sleep? Sorry, but to someone as literal as* I, *Such differentiation makes little sense. I mean, unless you mean daydreaming? To be awake, but lost in one's own mind? Or, perhaps, the differentiation between REM sleep and-*

"What a drag," *Spoke a Rattata, approaching the wall with a needle dragging along the ground. It was almost inoccuous how he did it, but he did glance over his shoulders- first left, then right- looking to assure he was alone in the dead of night.* So much activity during the day, so little protection at night. What was this again? Some sacred pilgrimage site? Someone's miscellaneous masterwork? Or just a wall with a really pretty stone? *Whatever the case, his mind was set on making a quick bit of money prying whatever stone it was that was so valuable here.* It was a tip. A friendly, off-handed one. Rare.

*He started a casual whistle only to stop nearly immediately as he spotted the 'Omanyte Shell'.* "Well, then." *He looked left and right again; then, flipping his needle backwards, attempted to use the pommel to budge the stone from the wall- or to see if such a thing was even possible.* That was easy.
Lindsey
** ** The shell rocks back, forwards, and topples down to land at the Rattata's feet. The sound it makes when it hits the dirt is heartier than an empty shell should make. There's something inside.
John
Thump.

*What, is the shell full of clay or plaster or something? Shell is shell, and shell has value.* Probably not worth sticking around to inspect right now. *Holding the stone close to his stomach, the Rattata used a `Quick Attack` to dart out of the alleyway- taking a few steps here and there, around a corner or two, before stopping at small drainage ditch. A stone archway at the end lead to- luckily- a small alclove away from prying eyes. (A journey not entirely made thanks to the Quick Attack, but was so stealthily possiblue due to it.)*

I should shake it.

*... Hm?*

I should shake it.

*... Alright. The Rattata, getting a look at the stone in the moonlight, gave the stone a bap on the side; then, a vigorous shake. What was* In *There?*
Lindsey
** ** It's like a bomb goes off in his hands. Darkness explodes outwards with concussive force. It throws the Rattata back and coats the earth in liquid black, which drips down the sides of the ditch like molasses and congeals at the epicentre of the blast. 
** ** Your Worst Nightmare is here.
** ** In a cloak of darkness a shape begins to rise. It is indistinct and amorphous, but from beneath its cover of shadow you s-
*Achoo!* 
** ** Your Worst Nightmare is overcome by a sneezing fit. He shakes himself like a dog, splattering liquid darkness everywhere. From underneath the sludge his true shape is finally revealed. A Spiritomb.
John
*It was a slight concussive blast- the Rattata was staggered, but after twirling his hands once or twice to either side, he regained his balance. The needle rose, pointed at the blob; but, after a moment, Reaper raised an arm and watched as black gunk rolled off and evaporated- a phenomena much one might relate to water boiling off the surface of a stove.*

... What's that? Some kind of... Ugly Ghastly? *Just about.* And he was... Possessing the stone. *Two and two.* Is the stone still there? *I don't know.* Well, then... *The Rattata moved the needle to the darkness beneath the spiritomb, prodding around and attempting to dislodge the stone.* 

"... You." *He raised his head- he seemed rather nonchalant at the moment.* "You were in... My stone." *Your stone?* It's mine now.
Lindsey
** ** "`Yes! Behold me and despair, foolish mortal! Are you ready to breathe your final breath? Muahahahaha!`" Your Worst Nightmare rises into the air, a few droplets of darkness run in rivulets off the shell and dissolve into steam before hitting the ground. A sudden gust of wind sends a few leaves tumbling through the scene. All ominous-like, you know? Super ominous.
John
*Super. Ominous.* He has potential. *The rat didn't seem perturbed- even in the unironic mystique this thing piqued, Reaper was more than able to keep his cool.* "You're going to... Kill me?" *He tilted his head.* "But we've just met. That's... A very personal thing to propose." *He spoke playfully, although there was a bitter seriousness in how he looked the ghost up and down.*
Lindsey
** ** "`It's only natural, of course. You awakened me from my slumber, wait- no, evil never sleeps. You DISTURBED my REST, which was not sleep, and so now I must kill you. How would you like it, quick? Painless?`" The Spiritomb's half-face stretches into a jagged grin and he zig-zags down into Reaper's personal space. 
** ** "`Really this is a great honor. I haven't killed anybody in, oh, a thousand years? They'll write you into the history books. The first sign of the nightmare resumed; me, once more incarnate on the face of this mortal realm! It's all very exciting. Think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush, I'll be very busy soon.`"
John
*Uhm, actually, it WAS sleep, which- Oh wait he can't hear me. Fuck you mesh.* 

*Of course, Reaper was taking this threat quite a bit more seriously. As at ease as he looked, he did tense up- if only for a moment- before taking a backstep and quickly slashing his needle upwards, flicking a vertical `Wide Slash` through the dark puddle- at a wide enough angle to include where he'd presume the stone is, as well as the body of the ghost.* First strike. Leave. Watch. "Hm." You're being pranked. By a kid ghost. Don't embarass yourself or take it too far. *Unless.* He's got some level of bravado. Respect it. He's the real deal.
Lindsey
** ** The shell is sent tumbling backwards through the air, tugging Your Worst Nightmare after it. 
** ** "`Wh!- Hey, how dare you!`" He twists in the air, now tugging the shell after him as he rounds on the Rattata. The grin is now a malicious sneer. "`You'll regret that, scum.`" 
...
...
...
** ** The sneer slowly drops into a look of disbelief. 
** ** "`WHAT! WHERE HAS MY POWER GONE?`" Your Worst Nightmare explodes to three times his size, bristling with jagged points. He gnashes his teeth. "`THOSE PRIESTS ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS. IMPRISON ME FOR A THOUSAND YEARS? LIKE SOME KIND OF BASE MORTAL CRIMINAL? THIS DESERVES A SWIFT DEATH. BUT TO ROB ME OF MINE? ME? OHHHH THERE WILL BE A RECKONING. A GREAT RECKONING, PAID IN BLOOD.`"
John
*The Rattata only stuck around for a second to watch the display as he stepped around the- now dissolving?- puddle of malicious goo, circling with an awkward speed to step a'top the stone and point the needle to the ghost.*

"You.

"I believe you." *He stopped, holding the needle still, for just a moment.* "Just to clear things up.

"But," *He stated, pressing his (currently halved) weight atop the stone.* "If that is the case, and you really do want to kill me, then I should kill you now, no?" *He then tapped his foot atop the stone, gauging it.* "Or maybe it'd be better to bury this thing at the bottom of the ocean. I don't think I could kill something like you.

"Or."

*He stepped off the stone.*

"... We could chat."
Lindsey
** ** The Spiritomb's amorphous form flickers like fire in a strong wind, agitated, but slowly it coalesce and shrinks back to it's usual size. He eyes the Rattata.
"`I'm your worst nightmare, why should I want to parley with the likes of you? Impermenant mortal scum that you are. It's tragic, I suppose, if it weren't for the condition of your existence I could almost respect you,`" He sniffs.
John
"Alright, I'm burying this thing." *He picked the shell up, holding it close to him as he started in some direction away from the town.* "..." *This is mean. This thing can be reasoned with. Don't dismiss it so easily.* Why should I? *He stopped in his tracks.* This thing seems pretty dead set on killing. *...* ... It's going to be very reasonable if you explain its circumstance.

*He pretended he never said the first sentence of this post.* "Do you... Take joy in saying that sort of thing? Do you like hurting other Pokemon?" *He tilted his head, looking back to YWNM.* "I used to help Pokemon a lot, actually, but I gave up on that. I don't mind hurting them. But killing?" *He tilted his head up.* You don't need to justify your existence to him. He already knows he wants to talk.
Lindsey
** ** Your Worst Nightmare bobs after Reaper like the world's most hostile balloon, tethered to the shell in his arms. 
** ** "`LET ME GO! LET ME GO! SCUM! MORTAL SCUM!`" He wraps himself around the shell, passing harmlessly through Reaper's flesh. It feels cold, almost painful, and prickles like pins and needles. "`I LIVE TO DESTROY. I'VE BROUGHT NATIONS TO THEIR KNEES. THE RIVERS RAN RED WITH BLOOD. THE EARTH WAS SALTED. Let me go. LET ME GO!`" 
** ** He tries to gnaw on his captors ear but his teeth go right through. Tickles.
John
Ough. Eugh. This is awful. This is the worst feeling. *Ghost.* Ghosts. Feathers would be so much more gentle. *He wretched for a second- feeling a bit nauseated by the sensation- but then cradled the shell closer, a little bit afraid that the ghost might just actually kill someone. Somehow.* He could. 

"Gah, stop that...!" *He dropped his needle and flicked his finger at Nightmare, Your's head- with the faintest of `Pursuit`s, of course. A black flicker flashed off his digits.* SLAK. "Yes, yes, very impressive..." Like a kid. Just wait out their tantrum. Keep walking. The idea of going somewhere unknown is always terrifying. ... To most. *So he walked.*
Lindsey
** ** "`Gah! How dare you!`" Your Worst Nightmare flinches backwards. "`Don't you do that again, or I shall be very cross. This kind of disrespect reflects very poorly on your upbringing.`" 
** ** He glares at Reaper like he's trying to turn him inside out by sheer intensity of gaze. It doesn't work.
John
I should just kick this guy into a ditch. *How rude.* How *Very* Rude. Unbefitting.

It's not working. Still as persistent as ever. *Hm.* "So," *He stated, still walking.* "How would you kill me? You wouldn't just snap my neck, right? After all, there's little suffering to be had there..."
Lindsey
** ** "`I don't know. I'm still deciding.`" He sulks. "`Usually mortals turn to dust in the face of my awesome power, but I suppose that I will need to come up with alternate methods until I reclaim it. I liked turning pokemon to dust. It was less messy, and they didn't scream and run around so much.`"
John
"If you consider dust better than blood, then I suppose," *The rat mused, continuing along the woodlands floor as he cradled the stone close.* Did that thing stop prodding at me? Thank all the fates for that. *Well, he stopped screaming, so that's a plus, yes?* "Well, if I were you- and I am not, so take this advice lightly- I would only kill someone special. You only get the chance to know and hate someone once." *He smirked.* "But, for someone as small as me, killing is hard, no? Even my blade..." *He waggled his needle.* "... If struck towards the heart, would not reach far enough to sever it. So, if I must kill someone, it has to be worth the incredible effort."
Lindsey
** ** "`Sounds dumb, you must not be a very big deal if you're thinking that small. When last I was awake pokemon just wouldn't stop throwing themselves upon my wrath.`" He retreats back into the shell. When Reaper looks down into the dark opening a single glowing eye stares back out. The Nightmare's voice sounds a little tinny when heard from within. 
** ** "`It got very annoying.`"
John
"No, of course not," *He stopped, and gave the faintest of genuine smiles.* "Who do you take me for, Giratina?"

*He, feeling more comfortable, shifted the concealed stone underneath an arm- walking with a bit more direction, a bit of an idea of where he wanted to go. But it was a ways away.* "For someone who revels in murder, you sound... Dispassionate. Dispassionate of the end result. Was that not what you wanted? To see Pokemon fear you once they realized the threat you were?"
Lindsey
** ** "`Do not presume to understand my motives, mortal. They are dark and impenetrable as the night, and they are no business of yours.`" He peeks out of the shell. "`Where am I going?`"
John
"Hm." Actually, it wouldn't be that far if I went just down that slope. *The rat suddenly changed directions, sharply, looking down a precarious fall.* Not with this thing in hand.

*He let the walk continue in silence, deliberately ignoring the question.* "You are dark and mysterious, I'll admit. But, hardly impenetrable." *He hopped over a rock, then started through a tight, rotted out log fallen over a gap...* A path only someone like I could take. "Feel free to kill me any time now."