The Last Chance for Change
Intro
The air was chilly as it swept across Lavander Town, which didn't make matters any better as the clouds refused to let the sunlight shine through and warm up the air. Val shivered as she waited for her parents to come back from Poke'mon Tower. There, the ashes of the family Poke'mon, a Clefable affectionatly refered to as PowderPuff, rested for all eternity. The only thing that was weirder than the weather was some shady guy that Val had seen earlier that morning. She had shrugged it off as someone visiting or something around thoes lines.
Val was about to stand up and go inside, where it was warmer than outside, when she noticed a large white Poke'mon walking in her direction far in the distance. Curious to see what it was, she decided to wait a while until she could get a better look at it. Maybe she could even catch it and show it to her mother and father when they got back. She had four Poke'mon already, but she ewas aware that she could carry six at a time. The Poke'mon was finally within seeing distance and immediately she knew what it was. An Absol. Ominously called the disaster poke'mon. Her stomah twisted in slight fear of it. She knew that they were only supposed to show up when something bad happened, so she hoped that it was just passing through, or at least roaming around. Val stood up this time, determined to make her way inside, but at that exact moment the Absol took off toward her in a dead run and within seconds it was standing infront of her, looking her straight in the eyes. Val's heart seemed to skip a beat and all the noises of the town were blocked from her senses.
"Be prepared," a voice said that was seemingly just in her head.
She stared back at the Absol, "Are you... Speaking?"
The Absol nodded. All of a sudden, the towns noises came rushing at her. Sirens were blaring and people were yelling and rushing out of their homes. The towns fire team, complete with their small army of water Poke'mon, had come out in a fantastic flurry. Val whirled around, scanning the sky to see if she could spot the fire. Not too far in the distance she saw smoke; lots of it. Thick dark grey and black collums of smoke filled the sky. It was coming from the direction of Poke'mon Tower. Her parents! She took off running, barely aware that the Absol was following close behind her. In a matter of minutes she was at the scene. There was yellow caution tape, police officers and towns people everywhere. The whole tower was engulfed in flames. Firefighters and their Poke'mon tried desperatly to douse out the fire. Val grabbed the closest police officer and almost screamed in her face, "My parents! They're inside! Did you get them out?"
The officer looked at the tower that was crumbling every passing second and tried not to say the obvious. Val detached herself and scanned the crowd to see if she could find the faces of her parents. A girl she knew from around the town spotted her and came rushing up to her.
"Val, your parents," she paused tp catch her breath, "They found them."
"What? Where?" she asked frantically.
The girl stayed quiet for a few minutes before speaking again, "They... didn't make it. I'm so sorry."
Val's eyes welled up with tears. How could this be? Her parents were dead? She clenched her fists tightly, angry, confused and upset. She ran back to her home, the Absol trailing behind her.
She stopped at the house, tears streaming down her face. The Absol stopped at her side and looked up at her. Val noticed the Poke'mon and suddenly felt very angry at him.
"This is your fault! If you never would have come here this would have never happened!"
She wasn't aware that she was screaming at him. The Poke'mon continued to look at her and narrowed his eyes and spoke through the same telepathy that it had used in the beginning.
"I came here because I knew it would happen. It didn't happen because of my presence here."
Irritation was obvious in his voice, which just made her all that more upset. She dropped to her knees, trembleing and in a mess of emotions. The Absol walked closer and sat down infront of her. She looked at him with tear-filled eyes, knowing deep down that it wasn't his fault at all. She was just looking for someone or something to blame.
"I'm sorry. I know it wasn't your fault," she said quietly.
Val grabbed the Absol in a tight embrace, gripping his neck ruff and buring her face into the soft fur. She started to cry, feeling oddly safe in the company of the Poke'mon that she had blamed for the death of her parents. After quite a long while, she finally let go and stopped crying.
"Now what do I do?" she asked, half to herself and half to the Absol.
He shrugged, "Travel? See the world outside of Lavander Town?"
She nodded; what else was there to do? She didn't worry about a place to sleep. She would be well in the tent that she had upstairs. The one that she used when her and her parents went on trips.
Val stood up and was going to just walk in the house, but she turned to the Absol first.
"Did you... Want to come in? I have food. If you're hungry, that is."
Offering hospitality to a Poke'mon felt different, but he nodded and let him inside. She pulled some leftovers out of the fridge and warmed them up. She set the whole amount on a plate and absentmindedly set it on the table. The Absol stood confused for a moment, than jumped on the chair and placed his front paws on the table than proceeded to eat.
Val turned back, suddenly aware of her mistake. But seeing as he was managing well, she just smiled.
"I'm going to get a few things upstairs, but I'll be back."
The Absol nodded, muttered something about the food being good. He didn't look at her or even glance at her. He was eating like he hadn't eaten in years.
"You're free to leave if you wish," She said a bit sadly.
He nodded again without taking a break from seeming inhaling the food. She almost wondered if he was even listening. She shrugged and went upstairs to gather her things.
She took her black backpack and stuffed a few articles of clothing in it to begin with. Her tent, which was packed neatly into a tight square was next. Some potions and other Poke'mon items went in a couple of side pockets. Around the middle of the pack was a belt like structure that contained six pouches to hold poke'balls. She placed the four she had in it and picked it up. There was still room for some food that she could carry, that wouldn't parish in a couple of hours or days. The little bit of money she had she put in her pocket. Val was just about to go back downstairs when she remembered that she should probably bring a blanket along. She grabbed that, along with a picture of her mother and father that was sitting on her dresser. She looked at it for a few minutes. She had her mothers bright purple eyes and pale skin, and her fathers straight platinum silver hair. Just before she felt like she was about to cry, she placed the picture, frame and all, securely between the blanket and the tent. Finally she left the room and made her way downstairs.
Half expecting not to see the Absol ever again, she was pleasently surprised to see him sitting at the table still; the plate clear and it almost looked like it had been licked clean. She gave him a soft smile before heading to get food she could carry. Absol watched her and noticed the four poke'balls she had around the backpack.
"Oh? You have Poke'mon?" he asked.
She turned toward him, "Yes. I do."
"What are they?" he questioned curiously.
"A Houndoom I named Ren. I got him at the Colosseum. A Noctowl named Gazett that I raised from a little Hoothoot. A Marowak named Eva, raised from a Cubone. And a Furret I got from Five Island a while ago that I call Nexis."
"They all have... Names. They must be special to you," he said quietly.
"They're my friends. All of them. So yeah, they are very special to me," she responded, grinning.
He sifted uncomfortably in the chair as she finished gathering food. After everything was in order she closed it up and put it on her back. It was a bit heavy, but she could manage.
"So where are you going to go?" she asked, not really wanting to see him leave.
He was quiet for a few moments, as if he was thinking about it in depth. He looked at her directly in her eyes, "Can I... Can I come with you?"
The question admittedly shocked her, but she was also very happy that he asked, "Of course you can!"
He still looked like he wanted to know something, so she remained quiet until he asked another question.
"Do I... Get a name, too? Like the others?"
She smiled and went over to him and hugged him tightly.
"Varric," she said quietly but affectionatly.
"Varric," he said as if testing it out, "My name is Varric."
She nodded and let go, smiling at him. He smiled back at her.
"I finally feel like other Poke'mon. Like someone wants me... Special," he said while looking at her.
She got up and adjusted the backpack. She turned to her newfound friend, "Are you ready to go?"
He nodded and they both took of for their destination, Celadon City, together.