Moon's P.O.V.
I stare uncomprehendingly at the bloody words carved into my back.
Monster.
Freak.
I am both.
I watch the water run red, deepening from pinkish to crimson in seconds as it flows, burning like the fiery colour it holds, over my wounds.
Cleaning away the blood.
Clearing away my emotions.
I just need to be stronger…
Two weeks later
I stare at the ragged photo of the President of the Aether Foundation.
Lusamine.
She's my idol.
I wish I could be like her…
...I wish I could stop hurting so many people…
The next day
I watch from my cramped hiding spot, perched in the fork of a tree, waiting for the guards to go past.
Finally they do and I drop to the ground, feeling the weight of my mission settling on my shoulders like a cloak, suffocating me from the world.
I can hack.
I've seen the files on the 'Type: Nulls' in Aether.
And I'm going to free them.
I close my eyes, feeling the boxes around me, compressing me down…
...Claustrophobia.
I hate small spaces.
Hate them.
I close my eyes, like that will make any difference if anyone finds me, and focus on not allowing this fear to paralyze me.
I will not be defeated by my fear.
I will not.
My shoulders slam the door, and my breath catches before reasserting itself.
My shoulders hurt from the bruises.
There has to be a price for living in Alola's underworld.
I pay in my blood.
It's better than facing the fact that I'm nobody…
I live hard.
Fight hard.
And mark my words, I'm going to keep myself that way.
I have to fight for my right at life.
I am Moon.
I make it my mission to win this fight.
It hurts.
My ribs from slamming the door.
My older bruises.
Mostly my heart.
From seeing the cages.
Cages.
Three.
Each holding a bloodied and bruised Type: Null.
No.
No.
No.
No…
Aether's hurting Pokemon…
Lusamine's hurting Pokemon…
Lusamine…
I've looked up to her for five years.
She's my idol.
I love Pokemon.
I thought she loved them too…
How?
How?
How?!
She's the one who hurt the beautiful creatures staring at me with their untrusting eyes.
She's the one who's to blame for the defeated bow of the most hurt-looking Beast Killer.
She's not my hero…
...she's my enemy.
I walk forward.
Taking in the gashes oozing blood.
The brilliant blue-purple bruises.
The gaping slashes across their backs…
...whip marks…
no
I uncurl my fists, watch the world, my world, shake itself free and crash.
Burn in my confusion and sorrow.
Fueled by my rage.
This is what the world is like.
And I'm not going to let my heart get broken anymore.
I stare into the heartbroken eyes of the Type: Null with the worst injuries.
Please.
I promise I will not hurt you.
Please.
Trust me.
If you can trust anyone anymore.
After what we humans did.
I reach out to brush the wooden helmet, and she lunges, sinking her teeth deep into my fingers and wrist.
Right above the big vein.
Blood trickles from between her teeth.
The pain explodes behind my eyes.
But I don't try to escape.
'You have the upper hand. You could kill me right now-take off my hand and let me bleed out. You're in power. But I'm outside the bars.' The sadness in her eyes hardens into fury. 'Please. This is your choice-kill me or spare me. I won't save myself.'
I need you to trust me.
I need someone to trust.
The eyes, glinting with cold hatred from behind the mask, lock my muscles and refuse to relent.
I need to be worthy.
I need to show her I'm different.
I don't know how long we stand there.
Both bleeding.
Both untrusting.
Both hating.
Hating Lusamine.
What I do know is that I lose too much blood.
Because the world shimmers like a mirage, like I can finally see past the illusion that is my life.
What will I see when the veil is lifted from my eyes?
I never find out.
Because she releases my wrist and presses her claws into the wound.
Stopping the blood flow.
My vision clears, slowly, and I look up into the worried eyes of the female Type: Null.
Who nearly took my life.
And just saved it.
I slowly extend another hand, never breaking our locked gazes.
Closer.
Closer.
I'm woozy from the gash on my wrist and the wounds still healing on my back.
If she bites again I'll die.
Closer.
Closer.
Please.
I'm not going to hurt you.
I promise.
Closer.
And I close my eyes.
I'm scared of what I'll see.
I'm scared I'll be rejected again.
And I don't open them.
'Hrr.' The soft growl sounds millimeters from my nose, mixed with warm breaths. I open my eyes.
The Type: Null is inches from my face.
I curl my hand into a loose fist and graze just her jaw with the knuckles.
After a long moment she leans into it.
She accepts me.
