It's heeeere, it's here, it is here, here, HERE! Look at how far this has come along! Rylee's adventures are halfway through, and after "N-ything is Possible", we'll only have one more story left of Rylee in the Black and White world! I shouldn't reveal too much, but I'd like to leave you all to speculate of what could be coming!
Enjoy!
A mama bear will do anything for her bear cubs, even willing to sacrifice her life for them. That's what a mother does; she cares for those she loves and watches over them to make sure they are healthy and safe.
Sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to protect the ones closest to your heart, even if it means standing right in the line of fire. Sometimes you have no choice.
Everything I've been through is nothing compared to what I would face from here on out.
Now that the Unova League is over, we started on our journey back to Nuvema Town to visit Professor Juniper.
"Oh, what'll I do, what'll I do?!" a voice cried. "What'll I DO?!"
Down the path, a stone bridge connected the two cliffs ahead of us. At the end of the bridge, a girl with dark blue hair knelt on the ground. Her hands were tangled in her hair, and she shook her head vigorously.
"Excuse me, are you okay?" Ash said.
"The bridge! I'm scared to death to cross it!" the girl said. "When I was in school, we learned you should tap on a bridge to make sure it's safe, and that's what I did! But I'm afraid I tapped too hard! I kept tapping and tapping and tapping, and then I started to worry it would collapse when I went across! And now, I don't know what to doooo!"
Iris chuckled nervously. "Don't worry, it'll be fine!"
"I'm always thinking too much! I can't get my brain to stop! Oh, WHAT'LL I DO?! Help me!" the girl cried, animated waterfalls falling from her eyes and streaming down her cheeks.
We chuckled nervously. "I know, we'll cross the bridge before you." Ash said. We did so and turned back.
"See, it's totally fine!" I said. "Come on over!"
The girl whimpered. "It was safe, but now that you all went across, maybe it can't take any more weight and I'll fall!"
"Did she just call us fat?" I said. Iris shrugged.
Ash ran back to the other side and helped the girl cross the bridge. She clung to Ash's arm and I watched his grimace deepen as her nails sunk further into his skin. When they crossed, the girl fell to her knees and slowly calmed her hyperventilation.
"I'm safe! Thanks so much!" she said.
"It's good to be careful, but sometimes you've just gotta stop being scared and go for it!" Ash said. "You never know what you can do until you try!"
We said our goodbyes to the girl and continued down the path.
We arrived at Professor Juniper's laboratory and relaxed on the couches while Ash called Professor Oak. After Ash finished, I stepped up to the video chat monitor.
"Are you gonna make a call too?" Iris said.
"Yeah. I want to call my mom." I said.
I dialed her number and waited anxiously as it rang.
"Hello?" My mom's face flickered onto the screen and her voice flushed into my ears and calmed my nerves.
"Hi, Mom." I said.
"Rylee! Oh, it's so good to see you! You've grown so much! Tell me, how've you been? I want to hear it all!"
"Well... okay."
So I did. I told her every memory that came to mind, excluding the mind-throbbing ones that would never utter from my lips and the precious, intimate ones that would stay within my heart to hold. Finally, I told her about Dad and my powers, and her eyes dimmed a little.
"How is your father?" Mom said.
"He's fine. Stubborn as always." I said. "But... it's nice to have him back."
Mom smiled, and I hesitated from fear of destroying it.
"Mom?"
"Yes?" she said.
I reached up and touched my locket. "Did I... Do I have another sibling? Besides Alyssa?"
Mom's audible gulp echoed into the speakers. Her eyes shook and tears pooled into her eyes. She remained silent.
I scowled. "Why are you and dad, as well as every other gosh darn person I come across, so cryptic about me and my past?!"
Mom smiled. "I promise you, everything will be sorted out in the end. You just need to trust me and your dad."
"Okay..."
"How have your friends been?" Mom said, clearly changing the subject. "What about that cute boy you've been traveling with?"
"Huh?! What are you talking about?!" I said.
"You know, that boy over there in the vest! Such a nice boy, and handsome too! What's his name... Cilan?" Mom said. "Cilan, yoo-hoo!"
"MOM!" I cried, covering the speaker and attracting my friends' curious glances. I smiled reassuringly at them as my mom rolled her eyes and my face heated up to an all new shade of red. "I... I gotta go!"
"Oh, all right." Mom's face grew serious. "Stay safe, okay? It must be exciting to have the gifts you have, but there are greedy people in this world that want that power. Tell your father I miss him. I love you, sweetheart."
My throat tightened. "I love you too, Mom. See you later." I hung up and sat down with my friends on the couches: Cilan and Ash on one couch and me and Iris sitting on the other across from them. Ash sighed and placed his hands behind his head.
"Now what am I gonna go?" he said, slumping back in his seat.
"Well, I'm still learning the ways of a Pokémon Connoisseur, so it's lots of training and practicing for me!" Cilan said.
"Me too!" Iris said. "Becoming a Dragon Master won't be that easy!"
"And becoming a Pokémon Knight's taken a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to work towards, and I've still got a long way to go!" I said.
Ash looked at each of us, smiled, and nodded. "Right!" he said, jumping to his feet. "We've all got a long way to go, so let's all work together and achieve our dreams!"
"Yeah!" we all chimed, jumping to our feet and raising our fists together in a toast. Iris bumped her fist against mine and the sparkle in her eyes seemed to say I told you so in a positive way.
"Excuse me?! Anybody in there?!" a voice called. "Ahh, no, help me! What'll I do, what'll I DOOO?!"
"That voice sounds awfully familiar..." I said.
We walked to the door and found the panicking little girl we met at the bridge. She came in, and after calming down, introduced herself as Nanette and, believe it or not, was on her way to Professor Juniper's laboratory because she's a beginner trainer and wanted her first Pokémon.
"Is it true? I can get a starter Pokémon for free?" Nanette said to Juniper.
"Yes, that's right!" Juniper said.
"Wait a minute..." Nanette's eyes widened. "If it's for free, then there's always a catch! You're... you're gonna make me work here for the rest of my life, and for no money! Ohhh, what'll I dooo?!"
"Oh, relax. I wouldn't do that!"
"That's some imagination." Cilan said.
"That busy brain." Iris said.
Juniper brought out Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig. Nanette looked at each of them, but as her eyes continued shifting between the three, her wonder quickly changed to anxiety.
"Ah! What'll I do?! What if I choose Snivy and it evolves into Serperior while I'm asleep and then it strangles me?!" she cried. "Oh no!"
"Um... I think she needs to study up on Pokémon evolutions." Ash said.
"But wait... what if I choose Oshawott, and it uses Water Gun on me while I'm asleep?! My whole room will fill up with water!" Nanette's hands returned to her hair once again. "Oh no! Or, what if I choose Tepig and-"
"Enough!" I cried. "Just pick a Pokémon already!"
"Suggestion- if you're the cautious type, why not choose that lively Tepig for your starter?" Cilan said.
Nanette pondered as she observed Tepig. She crouched down and Tepig ran around in circles a few times. She smiled. "Say, you're a cutie pie! Okay!" Nanette picked up Tepig. "Professor Juniper, I've decided to use this Tepig!"
Professor Juniper handed Nanette her Pokédex and PokéBalls, badge case, and Tepig's PokéBall. Nanette returned Tepig to its PokéBall.
"Hey, now that you've got a Pokémon, how about a battle?" Ash said.
"Who, ME?!" Nanette said, and the panicked look returned. "But... what if we have a battle and Tepig won't listen to a word I say?!"
"Here we go again..." I said.
"Ah, I'm scared to death to make any sort of decision!" Nanette whimpered.
"Then how about we partner up for a Tag Battle?" Ash said. "I'll be your Tag Battle partner and give you advice."
"Yeah, okay then."
"Hey, Rylee, since we haven't had a chance to battle together, how about we be partners?" Iris said.
"Sure, sounds fun!" I said.
We stood on opposite sides of the battlefield: Ash and Nanette on one side, me and Iris on the other side, with Professor Juniper standing in the referee box and Cilan on the sidelines with our Pokémon.
"I'll serve as referee! This Tag Battle is Team Ash and Nanette versus Team Iris and Rylee. Each trainer may use one Pokémon. Do your best, everyone!" Professor Juniper said.
Ash and Nanette sent out Pikachu and Tepig; Iris and I sent out Leavanny and Emolga.
"We have the first move!" Ash said.
"But what am I supposed to do?!" Nanette said.
"Just watch! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Thousands of watts of electricity connected to Leavanny and Emolga. Emolga sapped up the electricity like a glass of water.
"Now it's your turn." Ash said.
"Okay... Use Thunderbolt, Tepig!"
Tepig squealed. "What?!"
"Tepig isn't able to use a move like Thunderbolt." I said. "Look in your Pokédex, it'll tell you the moves it knows."
"Okay..." Nanette pulled out her Pokédex and rummaged through it. "Hey, there's a move! Tepig, use Ember!"
Tepig expelled a beam of fire and it hit Leavanny.
"All right, it's our turn! Leavanny, use Shadow Claw!" Leavanny charged as dark power formed at her leafy hand and sharpened. She swung and hit Tepig.
"Emolga, use Discharge!" Electricity flew in separate directions, one of the streams making contact with Pikachu and Tepig.
"Stay strong, Tepig!" Nanette cried.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Pikachu charged at lightning speeds and rammed into Emolga.
As I was about to call my next move, a strange machine zoomed onto the battle field and turned toward Ash and Nanette.
"What is that thing?!" Ash said.
"Prepare for trouble, we're back for more!" a voice cried.
"Oh, no..." I mumbled as Team Rocket leaped onto the battlefield next to the machine.
"Team Rocket? What do you guys want this time?!" Ash said.
"The profound possibility your Pikachu possesses prompts us to pinch is and present it to the boss!" Jessie said.
"...What?" Iris huffed in frustration.
"I think they're back to trying to steal Pikachu again." I said. "Trying and epically failing."
Jessie and James called out Amoongus and Frillish.
"Wow, they actually found some good Pokémon this time." I said.
"Frillish, use Mist!"
"Amoongus, use Stun Spore!" The two moves mixed together and spread across the battlefield.
"Hold your breath, everyone!" Professor Juniper said, covering her mouth.
Nanette, Iris, and I returned our Pokémon back to their PokéBalls.
"Amoongus, Body Slam!" I heard a choked cry from Pikachu.
"Frillish, use Psychic!"
As the Mist grew thicker, my eyes flared their purple iris color, activating its power. The Mist faded and I saw Frillish's Psychic lift Pikachu into the air and carry it into the machine.
"Articuno, clear the Mist away!"
"Unfezant, you help out too with Gust!" Ash and I called out the desired bird Pokémon and they flapped their wings, creating strong gusts of wind that swept away the Mist and Stun Spore. When the air cleared, everyone else could see what I saw.
"Oh, what'll I do, what'll I do?!" Nanette cried. She stopped. "Wait a minute... I know what to do! Tepig, use Ember on Frillish!"
Nanette called out her starter Pokémon and its fire power hit Frillish, releasing Pikachu from the Psychic. It fell to the ground.
"Pikachu! Are you okay?" Ash said. Pikachu stood up and its cheeks crackled with electricity. "Great job, Nanette!"
"Frillish, catch Tepig, post haste!"
"And Amoongus, you be Frillish's sidekick!" Amoongus launched a flurry of Energy Balls at Articuno and Unfezant. Frillish zoomed towards Tepig.
"Use Tackle, Tepig!" Tepig lunged, but he went right through Frillish, both oblivious to the fact that the move doesn't effect Frillish. Frillish turned around and wrapped Tepig in its tentacles. It threw Tepig into the machine.
"Tepig!" Nanette cried.
"Frillish, use Bubblebeam!"
"Amoongus, use Hidden Power!"
The stream of bubbles and balls of mystic energy zoomed towards Ash and Nanette. They cried out as the area exploded, disturbing the surfacing layer of dirt on the battlefield and creating a cloud of dust. As the dust subsided, Articuno and Zorua stood in front of Ash and Nanette, a pulsating shield of Protect in front of them.
"Thanks, guys." Ash sighed in relief.
"What, do you expect us to miss out on all the fun?" Zorua snickered. "Please!"
I smiled, determination gleaming in my eyes. "All right, then. Together now!" I said. "Articuno, use Steel Wing! Zorua, use Shadow Ball!"
Articuno rammed into Amoongus with its silver-tipped wings. Zorua's Shadow Ball hit Frillish and they both fell to the ground, unconscious. Jessie and James returned their Pokémon.
"All right, retreat!" Meowth cried. The machine disappeared behind the shrubbery and their giant Meowth hot air balloon rose in the air.
"Tepig!" Nanette said.
"Unfezant, Pikachu, go after that balloon!" Ash said.
"Articuno, let's go!" I said.
I jumped onto her back and Pikachu jumped onto Unfezant's. The four of us flew high up into the air.
"Pikachu, use Electro Ball in my direction." I said.
"Huh?! Are you nuts?!" Pikachu said.
I glared at Pikachu with flared eyes. Pikachu understood the message and nodded. He summoned an Electro Ball and launched it in front of me and Articuno. I lunged forward as a veil of Giga Impact covered my head and spread down past my feet. The attack caught hold of Pikachu's Electro Ball and I slammed into the Team Rocket balloon. The engines exploded and Team Rocket tumbled far off into the forest. Tepig cried out as he fell out of the sky.
"Tepig!" Pikachu and Unfezant cried.
I pressed my arms and legs tightly against my sides to increase the speed of my dive. I reached out and grabbed Tepig. I shot out my hand and Articuno grabbed onto my arm with her talons.
"You okay?" I said to Tepig.
"Yeah, thanks." Tepig sighed.
Articuno dropped us off on the ground and landed at my side.
"Oh, Tepig!" Nanette cried. Tepig jumped into her arms and she hugged it tightly. "Thank goodness you're okay!"
"Awesome job, Pikachu!" Ash said. "You too, Rylee!"
"It's all in the teamwork!" Pikachu said, pumping his tiny biceps. I giggled.
We said goodbye to Nanette. Professor Juniper, the elder, called the younger. We went over to the video chat monitor.
"Papa, what is it this time?" Juniper the younger said.
"There's a structure called DragonSpiral Tower on the outskirts of Icirrus City." Juniper the elder said. "And not far from that tower, the White Ruins have recently been discovered, potentially offering us invaluable information on Reshiram!"
"Reshiram?" I said, squeezing my way to the front. "What kind of information?"
"I want to see Reshiram!" Ash cried.
"You do? Well, why don't you go and see Papa?" Juniper the younger said.
"Is that okay?" Iris said.
"Sorry, but you won't be able to see a thing..." Juniper the elder said.
"Aw..."
"...until you get here!"
We all momentarily collapsed, chuckling nervously.
"We'll be there before you know it!" Iris said.
"Have a safe journey, guys!" Professor Juniper said as we walked to the docks towards the ship that would take us to Juniper the elder. "I want to hear all about your adventures when you get back!"
"This is gonna be fun!" Iris said.
"Great! A new recipe for adventure!" Cilan said.
We climbed onto the ship and waved goodbye to Professor Juniper.
"Bye! Say hi to Papa for me!" she said.
"Goodbye!" we all cried, waving.
"I can't believe I might be able to meet my dad again!" I said. "I'm so excited for you guys to meet him! There's so much I want to tell him!"
"I can't wait to meet Reshiram!" Ash said.
I beamed as I stared out into the sea. "I can't wait to see what I discover!"
On the other side of the docks, the sound of footsteps down the staircase rang. Metal bracelets clanged together as a hand gripped the railing. A pair of feet planted on the ground covered in black boots. A boy with long, tea green hair stood, wearing a white jacket, a black shirt underneath, and beige pants. A gust of sea breeze swept through, and he lowered his black and gray cap down as his hair fluttered in the wind. He lifted his head, revealing a pair of blank, gray-blue eyes.