DISCLAIMER: I claim ownership of nothing except my original characters Celia and Concordia. Everything else belongs to their rightful owners.


1. Peace

I peered over the edge of the bridge to the river far below. I couldn't believe how high up we were. But then again we were in the mountains. Reuniclus floated a little bit out and I stuck my tongue out at it. "Show off."

Reuniclus gurgled and returned to my side as I continued across the bridge to the City on the Mountain, Monaltia. Buildings of white marble seemed to sprout from the rocks themselves as they reached up into the clouds, and a grand medieval-style gate welcomed us into the city proper. I had stayed at an inn across the bridge last night, in the outer part of the city that had been built later as more and more people settled in Monaltia.

I grinned as a bunch of balloons and confetti were released into the air. A Cubchoo released a soft burst of Powder Snow that sparkled in the sunlight. I grabbed the string of a balloon before it could float away. Reuniclus circled the bright blue balloon before deciding it was a worthy companion.

The entire city had been decorated in white, sky blue, and carnation pink for the Festival of Peace. Banners had been raised and tents selling merchandise set up. Every plaza and street were filled with people, from Trainers to families to vendors to locals. They were all here to celebrate Concordia and the peace the Pokémon brought not just to the Unova region, but the entire Pokémon world.

I could hardly contain my excitement. After all, I had come to Monaltia to study Concordia, the Pokémon the city considered the equivalent of a patron saint. The festival meant it would probably be a lot easier to find what I was looking for.

"Can you believe we're actually here, Reuniclus?" I said for maybe the fiftieth time.

Reuniclus just rolled its eyes, but I knew it was happy for me, or it at least felt my happiness. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something about this place just felt…right. Maybe there was something substantial behind Concordia as Monaltia's protector.

I stopped in front of a fountain in one of the city's many plazas. This fountain featured a statue of Concordia itself. Four legs and four wings extended from the Pokémon's long and slender body. A triangular head capped one end while at the other the body tapered into a slender tail. Two stripes carved into the stone extended along Concordia's body, crossing each other now and then. Although the statue was beautiful, I couldn't wait to see a color image of the Pokémon.

A summoning burble from Reuniclus drew my attention to a bulletin board. Reuniclus pointed with one of his great green arms at one poster in particular: an advertisement for a special battle tournament during the festival.

I smirked at the poster. "Festival of Peace, huh?"

Reuniclus cooed a little.

I sighed. "Fine, we can go watch for a little while."

Reuniclus immediately took off down a street that I assumed led to the stadium. I couldn't do anything but run after it and try not to lose sight. I laughed at myself. This is what happens when you don't put a Pokémon in a Poké Ball, Celia.

Reuniclus was anxiously waiting for me at the entrance since it couldn't get in without its Trainer, of course. The guard waved me in – apparently spectating was free. Probably went with the peace theme.

My Pokémon companion stuck with me this time in the crowded stadium. The noise level rose every now and then as some Pokémon executed a critical move or a Trainer won a round. We stopped at a balcony on the second level, claiming a spot that opened up right as we passed by. The battlefield spread out before us with the traditional markings. An electronic scoreboard at each end displayed the Trainers and Pokémon currently battling, along with their score. It appeared the first Trainer to knock out his or her opponent's two chosen Pokémon won the round.

Reuniclus and I arrived in time to see the last semifinal. It was an excellent battle as both Trainers lost one Pokémon and their second choices, a Chandelure and a Scolipede, were well matched. The Trainer with the Chandelure eventually won after his Pokémon landed a few Fire Blasts even though the Scolipede had hit it with some nasty Poison moves.

The excitement in the crowd was electrifying as the announcer set up the final battle of the tournament. "A Unova local, we just saw him and his amazing Chandelure take down that terrifying Scolipede without a sweat. In the red corner, here's Bello Nocten from Opelucid City!"

The crowd roared as the victor from the last battle stepped back out onto the battlefield. I pitied the Trainer that was now set to face him and his Chandelure.

"And now in the blue corner, a young man who has traveled all the way from Pallet Town in the Kanto region to join us…"

Pallet Town?

"…who's pulled off some clinch victories with his shocking Pikachu…"

Pikachu? No. He can't be here.

"…Ash Ketchum!"

I didn't hear the corresponding applause from the crowd as a boy with big brown eyes and messy black hair stuffed under a ball cap walked out, waving at the crowd with both hands and drinking in the attention. A Pikachu was acting the same way from its perch on its Trainer's shoulder.

"We're leaving," I told Reuniclus and abruptly turned away from the balcony, resisting the urge to sprint out of the stadium. I didn't even look back to check that Reuniclus was following. I only focused on getting as far away as possible from the stadium, from him.

A thought hit me as I stomped through the streets and I abruptly stopped. Reuniclus, not expecting the sudden halt, bumped into my back, but I hardly noticed. I whipped around and snarled at the Psychic Pokémon, "Did you know he would be there?"

Reuniclus started to warble something, but I cut him off as I continued, "What am I thinking? Wherever there's a battle tournament you can count on him being there. I should've known."

My irritation slowly drained out of me, and the fatigue of traveling and the emotional stress I had just experienced took its place. "Can you find a good place to stay, Reuniclus?"

Reuniclus wrapped its powerful green arms around me and I returned the embrace. It softly gurgled an affirmative answer and took the lead. We were quiet as I followed the Pokémon to a place it sensed was safe and affordable. I only spoke once: "Don't even think about trying to contact them, Reuniclus. Nothing's changed from when I left. If anything, it's more important that I stay away in this city."

Reuniclus didn't respond, which meant that either he would obey me, or defy me behind my back.

I sighed again. This trip wasn't turning out to be so great after all.

xxxxx

"Celia! Wait!"

I started to run but he had already caught up. He grabbed my wrist and stopped me. I flashbacked to when we first met – he had grabbed me the same way, but back then I wasn't ready for the memories. Now I automatically put my guard up whenever he was near.

"Why are you doing this?"

I didn't turn to look at him. If I did, I might lose my nerve. "You wouldn't understand."

"What about…what about us?"

I finally looked over my shoulder at him. There was so much sadness on his face. As much sadness in my heart right now. I struggled to keep it from leaking out as I whispered, "It's better this way. Trust me."

"How? Please, Celia."

"I'm sorry, Ash."

I tore away from his grip, my skin tingling from his touch, and ran away into the downpour.

xxxxx

I woke with a start. I felt wetness on my face and realized that I had been crying in my sleep. I always had nightmares, but not this one. I'd managed to push this one away a couple of weeks after I'd left. Seeing Ash again had brought it back.

I wrapped the blanket around me and left the darkness of sleep to journey outside. The inn happened to border the plaza with the fountain I had stopped to admire. But then again, Reuniclus probably picked this place for that very reason. I sat on a bench in front of the fountain, allowing the soothing sound of splashing to wash over me.

I gasped when I leaned my head back to look at the sky. The clear air up here in the mountains and the city's sparse streetlights allowed the night sky to be covered in stars like a blanket of twinkling lights. I didn't think I had ever seen anything so beautiful before.

I closed my eyes and before I knew it I had fallen asleep again, right there on the bench.


AN: Hello everyone! Thank you for reading my first fan fiction! I've actually had this piece all written out and completed for awhile now but just decided to put it on here. I hope you like it! Comments, reviews, etc. are always appreciated. As it says in the description, I will be adding a new chapter every Friday so don't forget to check back then!