Author: MoiraShipper
Music: Memory-Elaine Page
Summary: Spoiler of Cats. Caitlin ran away when younger, to try success in Sinnoh, but everything went wrong when Grimsley decided to go after her. When she returns to Unova a decade later, she realizes that not everyone will accept her back.
Memories of Caitlin
Day light
See the dew on a sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses wither away
Like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day
It was dawning in the Unova region. A woman, who seemed to had been beautiful in the past, was standing in front of a large portal made of stones, which was written: Unova Elite 4. Clay, a broad man with cowboy clothes, who ran the trains from that region had just got there at the station where the woman landed, thanking him and looking at the portal.
She sighed, putting the old bag on the floor and sitting on a stone bench that was there, resting her arms on the knees.
"So, I'm back here again..." She told herself, sadly.
Caitlin had long light brown hair, touching the ground. In the past they had looked like they were floating around her, but now they were just plane, thin and without life. But her blue eyes were the same. She wore a gray overcoat that reached her ankles and wore high heels. At her side there were some sunflowers, still damp from the dew and she smiled, approaching her face to the yellow petals and smelling it.
"After all this time, will they still remember me? Surely, they wouldn't forget what happened ten years ago..."
She closed her eyes, leaning against the wall, her face turning to the dawn, as she let the memory live again.
Ten years ago, Caitlin lived in the Unova E4 where the members lived and were constantly visited by gym leaders and aspiring to become one of them. At the time, Caitlin was the second of the Elite 4 and best friend of Grimsley. Grimsley was the third in the Elite 4.
But all that Caitlin wanted was to leave Unova and see the Sinnoh region to become famous, a princess or an actress.
So, one night she packed her things and left a letter, and went to Sinnoh. There Cailtin discovered their Battle Frontier and then, took place as the Princess from the Battle Castle. But one day, Grimsley appeared there, to try to bring her back, by the request of Alder, Champion of the Elite 4.
"I won't return, Grimsley." She told him, coldly.
She had a determined look on her face, sitting on her throne in the castle. Grimsley was on one knee, facing her. Grimsley had black hair, a little long, slicked back and a yellow scarf.
"Please Caitlin. Alder is asking, soon it'll be the opening ceremony of the tournament of Unova. Everyone must be there!" He begged, nervous.
"Didn't you understand yet?"
She rose. She wore a pink dress with a white cardigan over and was taller than him, she had high heels. Her long brown hair floated around her. His blue eyes met hers, the same color, confused.
"It's simple Grimsley, I won't return. Here I'm a princess! I have my own castle instead of that place made of stones. And I also have a valet, Darach!" She said, with that cold voice, smiling.
Grimsley, still kneeling, took her left hand in his and kissed it gently.
"If it's a valet that you want, I can be yours." He told her, sweetly.
Caitlin blushed, her eyes wide, hearing the proposal. Yes, she had been in love with him when she was a teenager, but now she'd forgotten about it all. She smiled, taking her hand back slowly.
"Here I have several battles, I have fun ... Battles, battles, battles, BATTLES HAHAHAHA!"
Grimsley was frightened, standing up and taking a step back instinctively. Caitlin suddenly was acting weird, repeating the word 'battle' without stopping, laughing like mad, her hair floating like sparkles and a strange red aura began to emanate from her.
"Caitlin?" He asked, uncertain.
"Get away, she's out of control!" Darach exclaimed."It's her physic power."
The valet attempted to move Grimsley away but he didn't listen and walked toward her, placing both hands on her shoulders, shaking her to try to make her become normal again.
But Caitlin was too strong and the aura threw the man against the wall on the other side of the living room. Grimsley moaned, lifting a hand to his hip that had hit the wall and his eyes closed as Darach called Gallade to calm her.
Midnight not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight the withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
Caitlin awakened from her memories and realized she had fallen asleep there, because the sun was setting and the lights lit up the desert streets. Everything was so quiet. Caitlin stood up from the stone bench and went to the gate. It seemed that something was going on inside, because everything was illuminated.
"Oh my God, today is the pre-tournament party!" She exclaimed, worried.
She moved closer to the portal, one step at a time, until she took a deep breath and entered, walking through the large and illuminated gardens, where there was a huge fountain and went to the stone Castle that had the doors open.
The hall was all lighted up and everyone who was part of that place was there, laughing, dancing or sitting, just talking.
She recognized many of them, like a brunette old woman of blue hair, the gym leader of Nacrene City. Burgh was a man with brown hair and stylish clothes, lover of grass-type pokemon and was leader from Castelia City and also her old friend, Shauntal, from Elite 4, which had purple hair and wore glasses. Loved to write.
Caitlin hid herself behind a pilaster that was there and gasped at the sight of a man, who was leaning on a cane, standing up from on one of the chairs on the back of the room reserved for the E4, after had talking to an elderly red-haired man, champion of the E4, Alder, and announce:
"This year is a year of renewal. Among the eight gym leaders and the Elite 4." Grimsley announced, smiling.
"Glad you are well! I thought I had killed you that time!" She thought in relief. She put her hand to her mouth.
"Elesa. New leader of Nimbasa City." The woman said.
A young and thin woman, dressed in black and yellow was dancing. Cailtin didn't know her, the former leader of Nimbasa should have retired. 10 years had passed and much had changed.
"Chili."
"Cress."
"Cilan. From Striaton City."
The trio of young men was very alike. Chili had red and ruffled hair, Cress had blue hair and Cilan had green and short hair.
"Iris, from Opelucid City."
Iris was very young and had long dark hair. Beside her was an old acquaintance of Caitlin, Daydren a white-haired gentleman who formerly had held the rank of Iris.
"Skyla of Mistraltn City."
She had long red hair and looked very lively. Beside her stood a mysterious boy dressed in blue, who soon presented himself.
"Brycen of Icirrus City."
The others old ones still remained and everyone applauded. Alder stood up smiling, with the help of Marshal from the E4, and announced:
"So let the party begin!" Alder said, cheerfully.
Many went to the dance floor and Elesa, paired with Burgh, seemed to float with such elegance. Grimsley, walked back slowed to sit in the back of the room, where there were five chairs. Five seats for members of E4. Himself, Shauntal, Marshal, Champion Alder and instead of Caitlin, there was a young girl, with brown hair and blue eyes, which Caitlin had seen on TV. White.
Memory,
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
"So... We've aged..." Caitlin murmured to herself, sad.
Caitlin could still remember when she used to sit in that same chair that White was, 10 years ago, attending parties with her old friend, Grmisley, who would accompany her back to her quarters after the party, and in the following morning when would be the Unova Elite 4 tournament, wait anxiously for the finalist who'd try to become the new champion. When she had been young.
"When I used to be beautiful, ha!" She laughed wryly.
She really wanted to be accepted there again, dance with them, rather than stay alone with her memories. She clenched her fists and decided to leave from behind the pilaster, to dance alone. But it had been so long since she last danced, that she fell to the ground. Everyone turned to see the woman of long hair there. Many surprised, shocked and others, angry.
"What are you doing here?!" Shauntal exclaimed, angry.
"You no longer is part of this place, better get back to Sinnoh!" Marshal told her, in disgust.
Caitlin was wide-eyed, still on the floor, facing the hostility of her former comrades. But Iris, the new gym leader, seemed curious and approached Caitlin.
"You're Caitlin, right? When I was little, I watched the Elite 4 battles, you were fantastic!" The little girl told her, smiling.
"I was? Thank you..."
Shauntal pulled Íris away from her.
"Don't, Íris."
Some of the former gym leaders were angry, some weren't, and many of the newcomers felt curious about that woman.
"Touch me, it's so easy to leave me all alone with my memories of my days in the sun..." She thought, lonely, singing a song.
She heard the sound of wood hitting the marble, accompanied by slowly steps. Caitlin looked up and saw that Grimsley and Alder were walking toward her. When Grimsley approached her, she felt fear and regret for the past. She'd hurt him.
"Grimsley... I..." She started, nervous.
"I'm happy to see you again, Caitlin." He told her, smiling.
"What?" She asked, surprised.
Grismley extended his free hand to Caitlin and helped her up. She staggered, leaning on his chest and feeling his warmth and scent.
"You disappointed us when you left that way, Caitlin. But we love you. No matter what your decisions are, you can always come back here..." Alder told her with a small smile.
"Alder, thanks, really."
Every streetlamp seems to beat
A fatalistic warning
Someone mutters and the street lamp splutters
And soon
It will be morning
Caitlin turned to everyone there, but mainly to Marshal, Shauntal and Grimsley.
"Please excuse me for being selfish, for leaving without a word, for having despised our friendship and ..." She started, regretted.
She turned to Grismley and took both his hands in hers.
"And forgive me for hurting you... The man I've loved all this time."
Everybody was silent. Grismley seemed shocked to hear the woman's statement, the woman he'd loved for all his life. He opened a smile and kissed her hand, as he had done ten years ago.
"Do you accept me as your valet?" He asked, gently.
Caitlin giggled.
"You silly... Of course I do."
"Good, my princess."
Grimsley touched his forehead to hers, before they kissed slow and passionately.
When they parted, Alder smiled at them and Shauntal and Mrashal approached.
"Shauntal, Marshal, forgive me...".
"I forgive you. Caiti, I'm sorry for being rude to you..." Shauntal told her, smiling.
"It's me who has to apologize, friend..."
The two hugged and Marshal laughed, giving a friendly pat on Caitlin's shoulder.
"It's okay Caitlin."
Everyone there, new ones and veterans smiled and clapped and Caitlin smiled, realizing that she was being accepted again by her family. Beside her, Grimsley wrapped an arm around her waist, bringing her closer and she leaned her head on his shoulder. She no longer needed to be afraid.
"Caitli..." He whispered.
"Now I know my happiness is here."
Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in.
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin