Chapter 3: Bad news
Hush little baby, don't say a word
The sleeping pokemon can hear us.
If it wakes up, it'll be angry
So you'd better go, and watch for those keys…
"H...How…?" The blue haired man froze. He had been defeated by a six year old boy. A strange, creepy boy. He only had one pokemon, a Bisharp. But somehow, Steven's Pokémon couldn't land a single move. It was like the Bisharp was immune to fighting, fire and ground attacks… Steven was just desperatly watching his Pokémon being defeated, one by one.
"This… This is nonsense!... How did you do that?" Steven muttered "Your Pokémon..."
"Don't be embarassed mister." The boy said, with a dead voice "You're not the only champion we've defeated"
"What?" Steven's eyes widened in shock "You mean…?"
"I know it's hard to believe, you have many questions. Now please, as I said before we started, you have to come with me. You can't escape, don't even think about it. You're defenceless now. And please be quiet, we dont like noise"
Steven wanted to resist, but he didn't have any Pokémon left with him, they'd all been defeated. He knew he couldn't fight the Bisharp himself, it had even beaten his Metagross! The cold wind streaming through the cave, raised the hairs across the back of his neck. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know what to say, as the boy warned him to keep quiet.
The Bisharp closed the distance between itself and him, its eyes were like that of its trainer, completely soulless. The Bisharp glared at him, as it raised its hands to create a dark orb in between them. Without hesitation, it threw the orb at Steven. Instantly he felt like he was being dragged to a world of total darkness, his eyes began to close.
"This is too much for me…" Steven thought to himself before falling down, on the cold hard ground "I didn't think Bisharps could use Dark void."
"WHAT?" Touko slammed her hands on the bed, making Gardevoir, Golbat and Crobat flinch, while Zoroark sighed. A small bandaid had been stuck to its cheek. It was an experienced Pokémon, but not with situations like this...
Touko was sitting on her bed with Zoroark, while the other three Pokémon decided to keep their distance from her. Gardevoir sat in the chair, while Golbat and Crobat hung upside down from the ceiling. Despite both Touko and Zoroark's attempts to persuade them, that the punch was a mistake and that she though Zoroark was actually N, they refused to relax and come closer.
"There's nothing to be afraid of" Touko tried to wear a friendly face, but she ended up looking like a snarling monster waiting to eat Pokémon alive. Anger tends to do that to people.
"Like I said, it was an accident. I wouldn't hurt any of you, it's OK. But seriously, that bastard told you all to come and find me? From Hoenn? What if I wasn't in Unova?"
Zoroark signed and tried to speak to her, but she only heard it saying its own name over and over again. She wanted Gardevoir to translate, but it just kept staring at her carefully.
"We trust N. He would never hurt any of us..." Gardevoir said, using telepathy to communicate with Touko, only after Zoroark gave it a hard glare. Zoroark could still hear it murmuring to itself, "Unlike someone". However, there was no way for Touko to understand. "But it's not a problem anymore. It was easier to find you than we thought"
"Stop defending him! That's not the way to treat Pokémon! My Arecus, four days of flying without a break!"
"Yeah… You just punch a Pokémon until it faints. That's how you should treat Pokémon." Crobat mocked. Luckily Touko didnt understand it, but Zoroark did and gave it a warning glare.
"Fine, fine, mister identity stealer…" Crobat muttered with a smirk "I'll go to sleep. I don't care about your important conversation anymore. Feel free to take another punch"
Zoroak snarled. The Zubat's family can be very annoying sometimes. Or everytime. Then it spoke to Gardevoir, who passed it onto Touko with telepathy.
"N needs your help, miss Touko. He hopes you can forgive him for what he has done, and help him now"
"And what in the world made him think that I would forgive him?" Touko crossed her arms. "Lucky for me, that none of them can read my mind." She thought. She knew she wanted to see N again, so very badly. Only an hour ago, she was crying because she missed him so much… And now? His Pokémon turn up out of the blue and tell her that he needs her help. Damn that escalated quickly. This sort of thing doesn't even happen in her dreams… So he didn't forget her. How is he now? Has he fulfilled his dream?... Then she started thinking what method of execution she would use on him once she found him again, as her hand slowly formed a fist. After all, he owed her more than just an apology.
*A/N: From now on, whenever Gardevoir passes on a messge for Zoroark using telepathy, I won't write "Gardevoir said using telepathy" or something similar again. Well all know how it works, I just wanted to make it clear*
"It's not the time to be sulking, miss" The voice of Gardevoir in her head dragged her out of her thoughts "N is wounded. He's in an extremely dangerous situation. Your help could mean everything"
"What?" Touko's voice turned anxious "He's wounded? How come? Is that bad?"
"It's a long story… We don't have time for that. If you accept N's apology and will come to him, maybe he'll answer your questions"
"Just tell me, is he OK?"
"When we left, he was still breathing"
"So you mean he's alone? Where is he in Hoenn? I just want to know if he's still OK" Touko worried. The Pokémon hadn't said he was OK, or even alive. She shivered and shook her head to get rid of her bad thoughts.
"When we left, there weren't any people with , he has some Zubats and Sableyes to take care of his injuries. I don't know if he's still OK though, he was bleeding so badly and even coughing up blood"
At first, Touko thought the Gardevoir was just making things up to make her feel sorry for N. But then, she saw some tears running down from it's eyes as it bit its lower lip, and sadness in Zoroark's face. She knew that N really did need her help. She knew that she didn't have a choice.
"But he must be alright, right?" Touko said, attempting to appease the crying Pokémon "You wouldn't have left him to find me, if he wouldn't be OK, right?" But the more Touko thought about it, the more worried she got. She wasnt sure if Zubats and Sableyes could take care of a patient, it's not like they're Chanseys. And if N really was injured like that, he could die from blood loss in less than a couple of hours, it had already been four days, that is if what the Zoroark said was true.
She waited a little bit to give the Gardevoir time to calm down, then spoke. "I'll help him with, whatever trouble he's got himself into. After all, I'm the only friend he's got"
"That's great" Zoroark said, it was a moment before Gardevoir was able to translate, as it was still sobbing. "But I have a question: do you still have Zekrom with you?"
"Yes, of course. But why ask?" Touko answered with a bit surprise.
"Nothing" Zoroark said " N just wanted to make sure… Nevermind. So when can we go?"
"That depends" Touko mused "We need a flight to get us to Hoenn as soon as possible. But it's pretty late now, there wont be any. And I need to prepare my stuff. Maybe tomorrow Skyla can help us get a flight? Hm... But now you guys need to take a rest. Like those two. They're sleeping soundly" Touko pointed to the two sleeping Pokémon on the ceiling.
"Fine, we'll start tomorrow, early. But I dont feel like sleeping now. I will go outside to get some fresh air" As it finished speaking, Zoroak opened the door and walked downstairs, leaving the panicking Gardevoir alone in the room with Touko.
"Ugh… I guess… I'll go outside too…" The Gardevoir's muttered in Touko's head, as it hastily chased after the dark Pokémon, leaving Touko in her room all alone.
"Oh my…" Touko lied down, with one hand on her forehead "All of a sudden…" Just days ago she was wandering around Unova, bored to death because she didnt have anything to do. Tonight, she screwed Cheren's date with Bianca up (althought it was Bianca's fault), she cried like a stupid girl while thinking about N in the Ferris wheel, and she punched a Zoroark until it fainted, and it turned out to be N's pokemon, and N is needing her help! Tomorrow, she will go to Hoenn - hopefully, and will meet N again - after 3 years.
"I dont know if this night can be crazier..."
"Touko, my dear?" Her mom walked into the room. She looked a bit worried, as her eyes met the two sleeping pokemon on the ceiling. "Is everything alright? I saw that the boy and his Gardevoir went outside..."
"Yeah mom" Touko sighed "I just need a nap." So Zoroark used it's Illusion ability again.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone then. If there's anything…"
"Actually, mom. I have something to tell you" Touko sat up. Her mother was about to leave the room, but turned back to face her.
"Yes, my dear?"
"One of my friends needs my help. He's in Hoenn and he's in big trouble. I think I'll have to go for a long time" Touko said. She knew that N would never send his Pokémon over the seas to find someone he hadn't met for years, if there wasn't something important going on.
"...You're not a little girl any more. You're the Unova's champion. I can't tell you what to do anymore" The old woman smiled "Besides, this is not the first time you've wanted to travel to another region"
"I just want you to know, so you won't be worried about me, mom" Touko looked her mom in the eyes "And I don't know when I'll be back…"
"It's OK, my sweet heart. But please, take care. Oh, by the way…" Her mother's voice suddenly turned anxious "I've watched the news. They said that the champions of Johto, Sinnoh, and Kalos havedisappeared, they've been gone for days. I dont know much about what champion's do... But please, be very careful. If anything bad happened to you…"
"Mom, I'll be fine" Touko smiled, as she stood up and hugged her mother. "Don't worry about me. As for the missing champions, I'm sure they're just taking some private vacation or something like that"
"But still, be careful" The old woman patted Touko's head playfully and smiled. "Will you leave tomorrow? Do you need to tell your friends Bianca and Cheren about this?"
"Yeah mom, I'm leaving tomorrow, in the early morning. We'll ask Skyla to fly us to Hoenn. And I dont think I have time to tell them, but I have my Xtransceiver, so…"
"I see. Now, sleepy head, you need to sleep. Your eyes are begging you to let them rest!"
"OK mom. See you next morning"
Touko turned over repeatedly. but she couldn't sleep. She looked at the clock. 1:30 am. Golbat and Crobat were still sleeping soundly on the ceiling of her room. But she couldnt even close her eyes. The thought that she would meet N again, the thought that N was in danger… They were keeping her awake. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of trouble he had gotten himself into, how bad his injuries were… She hugged her pillow tightly. She couldn't stand the ideas that he was dying and calling out to her for help, and she couldn't save him in time.
"My Arceus, what am I thinking?" She sat up, shook her head, causing her face to blush. "How could I imagine such things?"
She took a deep breath, then grabbed her bag and belt. She couldn't sleep, so she would take a walk outside instead.
"I'll need to give my team a little exercise before using them again. It has been quite a long time" As she thought, she opened the door and tip-toed downstairs. Her mother's room was right down from her room. She didnt want to wake her up.
As she opened the door to go outside, a cool wind blew throught her hair. She spreaded her arms wide, to feel the nightwind all over her body. It had been quite a long time since the last time she went outside in the middle of the night. She went to the nearby woods, she had always played there when she was a little girl. There was a small lake in the woods, and in the moonlight it looked like there was a golden milky way flowing under the water. She sent out her team, an Emboar, a Braviary, a Beartic, a Stoutland, a Chandelure and the legendary dragon Zekrom. They were all happy to see her, as she hugged them one by one.
"How long has it been since the last challenge, huh?" She laughed as the Pokémon went all over her happily. She played with them everyday, but now she want to give them an exercise "Three or four months? I can't remember. Guys, take your time, stretch your muscles and relax your mind. We'll go on a new journey tomorrow, and I'm sure we'll need your all strength."
After fifteen minutes, Touko decided that was enough and returned her team to their Pokéballs. She then sat down and enjoyed the beauty of the night by herself, it wasn't long before a small voice popped into her mind.
"So you have Pokémon, too"
She turned back to see Gardevoir hiding behind a tree, looking at her with curious eyes.
"Of course I have Pokémon. I won't hurt you, honestly. You saw that my Pokémon love me, right? So why dont you come here and sit next to me?" Touko said with a friendly smile. The Pokémon hesitantly came near her and sat down next to her, while carefully watching her. Touko chuckled.
"You dont have to fear me. Like I said, it was all an accident. I didn't hit Zoroark on purpose" She said "Well, I did hit him on purpose, but I thought he was someone else…"
Touko stopped when she realized that Gardevoir didn't hear what she had said. The Pokémon was just staring at the flowing water, with sadness filled in its eyes.
"What's wrong?" Touko lowered her voice.
"I… I…" The Pokémon muttered, Touko could see its lips moving, but she knew it was talking to her by telepathy "I used to have a trainer"
"Oh? Then where is he or she now?"
"He commited suicide"
"... I… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to..."
"It wasn't long ago. He was the greatest trainer in the world. He protected me from a Poochyena when I was a Ralts, and then he agreed to be my trainer. He was so kind, like N, but he was smaller than N, and you too, and couldn't understand other Pokémon. Then one day" The Gardevoir's voice turned smaller and smaller "… One day he changed. He moved to a new house, had a new Pokémon. But he seemed… Unhappy. Whenever he let me out of my Pokéball, he was always crying, even when he confided in me. He said weird things about his duty, and the punisment that he'd face if he failed that duty. I was in my Pokéball all the time, but I could hear him sing something... He was always singing something when he was about to battle. Something scary, i would say. I dont like that song - i am scared of it. I could hear it, although I've never been sent out for battle since he moved to his new house… Then one night, in a woods like this, he released me while crying, and… He told me that he loved me… And… He… He swallowed some kind of pills… And…"
The voice in Touko's head shattered, as the Gardevoir started crying, burrying its head in her lap like a child. Touko felt terrible for it, for what it had been through. She couldn't do anything, but slightly pat its back and whisper to it. "It's alright, it's alright now…"
"...after that, I met N. Right after that. N was there when I was released. He was trying to save my trainer, but he couldn't. That's when he saw me… He talked to me, said that all those things would be over" The Gardevoir sit up, wiping its tears with its slim hand "Then he took care of me, because I didn't want to leave my trainer. I didn't eat for weeks, I didnt drink for days. But he kept talking to me. He made me feel safe when being with him. He was so kind, just like… My trainer was…"
Touko sat silently, hearing the Gardevoir's story. So N hadn't changed, he was still a caring person who would do anything for Pokémon. But this Gardevoir's trainer… He was so strange, if he really was like what Gardevoir said, then he must have had mental problems or something...
The wind started to turn cold, as it dragged some dark clouds across the sky to cover up the moon. Darkness started invading the woods, but Touko didn't want to go back her house yet. She wanted to make friends with the poor Gardevoir which was scared of her, and who was now sitting by her and talking with her.
"So… Did your trainer give you a name?" Touko asked randomly after a long silence.
"..." The Pokémon hesitated a bit. "He… He called me… Elegant" Touko could see the face of the Pokémon burn feircly with a heavy blush, even though it was night.
"It actually fits you" She gave the Gardevoir a smile "So do you mind if I call you that?"
"N asked that question too. You two are the same, in some ways. And yes, you can call me that if you like. But N doesn't"
"Huh. We're the same?" Touko asked, her eyes looking at the sky "I guess I'll call you Elegant, so me and N won't be the same anymore, right?"
"No" The Pokémon giggled weakly "You two are still like each other"
Touko blushed. A Pokémon made her blush. What a night.
The conversation of the Pokémon and the girl went well, Touko felt happy about it. She could be sure that the Gardevoir wasnt scared of her anymore, as they had talked to each other like friends for almost an hour, and neither of them was about to stop anytime soon. But the conversation suddenly ended, when the Gardevoir's eyes slowly widened in shock and fear, as it told Touko to quiet.
"Is there something wrong?" Touko asked.
"Th… The song…" Elegant muttered. "The song!"
"What s…" Touko stopped, as she could hear the words slowly floating in the air, louder and louder in a spooky way. The clouds covered the sky, leaving the forrest in complete darkness. Touko looked around, but she couldnt find anyone. Whoever it was, that person kept singing the words:
"Hush little baby, don't say a word
The sleeping pokemon can hear us.
If it wakes up, it'll be angry
So you'd better go, and watch for those keys…"
Touko turned around nervously. After a while, she saw a little girl slowly walking toward her. The girl was wearing a black dress with completly dead, black eyes looking at her while singing the song continously.
"H… Hey kid! Do you know what time it is? And this is a forest! You can't…" Touko murmured, trying to calm herself down.
"Are you the Unova's champion?" The girl didn't let Touko finish her sentence. She talked with a dead tone, that matched her eyes.
"W… What?" Touko flinched, while Elegant shakily hid behind her. There is something wrong with this girl...And that something was making Touko feel like her bravery just vanished into the thin air.
"Are you" She pointed to Touko "The Unova champion?"
A/N: That's it! That's the chapter 3! What will happen to Touko? Find out in chapter 4! Please review and let me know what do you think about this chapter!
