Secrets of the Night
DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokemon!
Chapter 2: The Inevitable Destiny, Part 1: Crossroads
I went back to the dormitory and made a quick visit to the cafeteria for breakfast. It was good that no one else was there. The seniors were probably out on a job or on patrol while the ex-trainees were in the Grand Hall. The silence was calming. I prefer some time away from the constant blather of people.
I grabbed a piece of bread for myself and an apple for Noir. Then I headed out to take care of my chores.
As I exited the double doors, Kirian came running towards me with an even bigger grin than when I woke up. I assumed he has his partner, but it was nowhere in sight. Was it a ghost-type? I did see a Ghastly and a Misdreavus. I glanced behind him and saw Rozalia approaching. There was a little round pokemon on her shoulder. It had small beady eyes and a pair of leaves growing out. It was like a moving Cheri Berry. If I assumed correctly, it was a Cherubi.
"Aeron! Check out my pokemon!" Kirian excitedly held out his hand and showed me a fuzzy yellow arachnid with blue eyes. "Isn't he awesome!?"
"Heh. It's as small as your brain," Rozalia commented with a smirk.
"What did you say?!" Kirian clenched his fists, unbelievably forgetting about the Joltik and thus resulting in his electrocution. His spiky hair grew spikier and his body became stiff and charred as charcoal. He fell to the floor and the Joltik jumped to his face to check if he was okay.
"I proved my point," Rozalia giggled and motioned her new pokemon to help out. "Alright Sakura, let's practice your Aromatherapy."
The Cherubi nodded with a smile and jumped down to Kirian. It began glowing vivid gold and emitting a strong soothing aroma. Noir and I got a whiff of the strong sweet scent and stepped back a bit. It was far too sweet for my taste. The sandy-haired boy became outlined in green. I saw he was slowly relaxing and the black marks started to fade.
"ACCHHOOO!" Kirian let out a massive sneeze, blowing away his Joltik who luckily landed nimbly on the wall.
Sakura, the Cherubi, looked offended as it retreated to her trainer's shoulder to sob. Rozalia, on the other hand, was very insulted. She grind her teeth and glared at Kirian. "What in Arceus' name is wrong with you!?"
*sniffle* "What kind of move was that? Are you trying to give me an allergy attack?" Kirian sat up and wiped the snot out of his face.
"I was trying to help. And if you really want an allergy attack, I could whip something up that'll leave you sneezing till your guts come out, that is, if you've got any," Rozalia retorted with a mocking grin.
"Heh, keep making fun of me. Let's see who'll be the best in the end." Kirian stood up and stuck his nose in the air. "I'll master all the tricks that the Gambit unit will throw at me in one week."
It seems everyone has chosen what unit they will be joining tomorrow. This is how things are. People move in and train primarily for half a year or more before they are judged capable of handling pokemon and choosing a division. Kirian is an example of one. He hails from Johto and has been around here for almost a year. Rozalia and I are a different case. We lived here since we were kids. Our training had already started when we were very young, but it was only when we turned fifteen that we enrolled in the formal training.
I wondered sometimes what it would be like outside of Semira. I knew that I wasn't born here so I must have come from someplace else. But if I had a family before and whether or not they are still alive, doesn't matter. This is my home and Lord Altair is my sole parent. That much, I cannot change.
"So where are you headed now, Aeron?" Rozalia asked, trying to shift the subject before she completely snaps.
"I was just about to feed Itzal," I replied. Noir twitched his ears in eagerness. I knew he wanted to see Itzal again. He is after all Noir's father and Lord Altair's Noivern.
"Are you serious?!" Kirian's face grew pale. "That overgrown Zubat will eat you alive! Plus that cave's swarming with bat pokemon."
"Idiot. You're just scared because he once mistaken your spiky head for a giant Pinap," teased Rozalia.
"Oh, yeah? If he sees your Cherubi, I'm sure he's gonna eat her up like a Cheri berry!" Kirian remarked with an evil grin, scaring the redhead's pokemon.
Rozalia finally snapped and lashed her leg straight to Kirian's face, but lucky for him, I took pity and quickly jerked him inches away from certain death. The girl's attack struck the concrete wall, cracking it in the process. Kirian shuddered and raised his hands in submission, but knowing Rozalia, it was not the end. She grabbed the boy's Joltik and flung it to his face, and consequently it released another electrical shock, charring Kirian.
My days were always like this when I'm around them. As much as I like the quiet, having company isn't so bad. It passes the time. After tomorrow, I'm not sure how much of these peaceful periods will go on. It cannot be avoided. That is how our fate here works.
After receiving a bucket full of fruit from the feeding department, Kirian and Rozalia accompanied me to the cave. It was a long way from where we were and they only plan to stay until we reach the outskirts of the forest that surrounded it.
"I still have to think of a name for my Joltik." Kirian stared at the yellow arachnid on his palm.
"How about Brain?" Rozalia suggested sarcastically.
"Would you cut that out—"
Kirian suddenly bumped into someone. It was some boy with purple hair, framing his face before it was tied back in a long ponytail. His indigo and black motif matched his cold violet eyes. He had black shorts, a violet shirt with a pair of black shoulder pads and a long woven lilac scarf.
"Watch where you're going, shorty!" Kirian exclaimed.
The boy silently stared at him for a few seconds. A noticeable chill settled in the air, though Kirian was much of an idiot to even notice it. I kept my guard up as the violet-haired boy turned and walked away.
"Hey, I'm talking to—"
Rozalia pulled him back in time. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"
"Why? What's wrong?" Kirian turned to her with a confused expression. Then he just shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. "He's just like Aeron, being all quiet-like and emotionless."
"We are nothing alike," I faced front and continued walking.
Then I heard Rozalia whisper to Kirian, "Didn't you see the Poochyena behind him?"
I stopped once again and glanced back at the two who were watching the purple-haired boy moving further away with a grey pup at his heels. Kirian finally knew why we acted as we did. Poochyena are some of the pokemon best suited for the Black Scythe unit, the assassin group. It is the most infamous division as well as the most mysterious. Not many people come and go in their section of Semira Isle.
"That pipsqueak wouldn't last a day there," Kirian remarked, snickering.
"I wouldn't be so sure," I spoke up as I recalled some documents of the enrollees that Lord Altair had me review. It was around the beginning of the term. There were about fifty to sixty trainees, including us. "If I recall correctly, his name is Ikari Kageyama. He comes from Hoenn where Poochyena are native there. I'm sure he's familiar with the species' behavior and capabilities."
"So he knows his pokemon, so what?"
"Kirian, you moron." Rozalia smacked the back of the blue eyed boy's head. "If Aeron takes an effort to remember a name, it means that he's someone to be watched out for."
"He remembers my name. Does that mean I'm dangerously awesome too?"
Rozalia smacked him yet again. "He knows your name because you've been bugging him since you first came here. And our mentors and seniors told us to keep you out of trouble."
She was right about that; more importantly the former one. I have trained for years honing my intuition and instincts. It is part of being a fine member of the Sky unit. Our eyes must be sharp in judging the enemy. Any miscalculation could result in dire consequences.
"Hey, I forgot to ask, Rozalia, why did Aeron receive his first pokemon already and you just got yours now?" Kirian inquired as we continued to make our way to the deep cavern.
"Noir was given to Aeron on his birthday. Lord Altair probably already saw his potential a long time ago," Rozalia answered. "And I, before you jump to conclusions, asked my mother to let me have my first pokemon like everybody else."
"It's so that you won't be viewed as having special treatment like Aeron, huh?" Kirian blurted out, unconsciously.
"Kirian!-"
"It's fine Rozalia. Let them think as they wish. I don't care…"
The three of us exited through the east of the main building and descended down the rocky staircases carved on the side of the mountain. We could see a giant cylindrical-like mound standing high above the dense forest with flying silhouettes circling above its peak. That place is called Zephyr Pillar. That is where we were going. It is also the place where my unit is based.
Semira Isle is divided into seven areas; the Main Fortress, where we just left, Zephyr Pillar, Rosette Forest, the Battle Plains of Callan, Sedgwick Valley, Trickster Labyrinth and lastly Senka Island. Of all places, one must avoid the latter. It is a secluded peninsula located in the west, divided by a shadowy forest and a dark swamp. Not many are allowed there other that the Black Scythe unit and those who are unlucky enough to run an errand there.
Rosette forest is north of Zephyr Pillar. It makes it easier for us to receive medical supplies to be delivered to the other areas in the isle. The other three locations are spread throughout the south with Trickster Labyrinth in the middle. It keeps the two battle-hungry groups from fighting.
Thinking about it now, the three of us will unlikely see each other often. I will possibly be orienting the newbies. Rozalia has just officially entered the Rosette unit, but I know that she has enough knowledge to understand what is done there. Kirian, on the other hand, I have no clue and I assume, neither does he.
So different choices, yet our fate arrives at the same conclusion: to remain forever tied to the path that we have yet to fully understand. My destiny brought me here. Others had a freedom to choose but they still ended up here, just like Ikari.
Just as certain people are drawn here, I too, feel drawn to the outside world. There were times that I wonder what awaited me beyond this place. Where exactly did I come from? From what region was I born before Lord Altair found me and took me in as his son? Just what kind of world lied in wait away from the shadows?
End of Chapter 2 Artwork: Ikari (
Notes:
Aeron - I just made it up. My first OC that I thought of was Erin. That was a long time ago. I just modified the name.
Noir - it means Black. It's perfect because its a Noibat.
Rozalia - Is a name of my friend. It's close to Rose so it's perfect.
Sakura- Cherry Blossom
Kirian - I forgot where I found it. It was suppose to mean laughter, but I research again it said born in a dark place. Oh well.
Semira - Nighttime Companion
Rosette - for Rose
Callan - Battle
Sedgwick - Sword Place
Senka and Itzal - Shadow
Zephyr - Wind
Suggestions for names are also open. If you want changes just tell me.