Song: Nagisa (Clannad OST)
It's funny how we always hear around us that we need to cherish what we have. It's funny how we may say we do but we really don't. It's funny how we always say we regret it when it's gone, and how we always say 'if only', only to forget about it later on.
It's not funny when your loved ones die.
No matter how much I tried, I couldn't find it in me to smile, let alone laugh at anything then. As I watched Daddy's lifeless body lower into the ground in a beautiful clearing, surrounded by other pokemon, I brooded. I thought, did he have a good life? Tears start trickling down my cheeks.
Did he enjoy his life before it ended so soon? Did he enjoy taking care of Cloud and me, his ungrateful daughter? The daughter whose last words to him were that she hates him, even after all the things he'd done for her.
Heh, I laughed emotionlessly within me. Who could have a good life raising a child like that? At least he had Cloud, the ever-formal, understanding and, most of all, grateful child. Daddy must've been so heartbroken when I said that to him… Did he know he was going to die? I can't believe that I shouted that at him, even if I was consumed by my emotions then. What was I thinking?
I reminded myself over and over again of the final conversation with him. I found a solution. A simple solution: I have to atone for the sin. I was ungrateful to him, a bad sin in itself as he was the one who raised me. What better way to atone it than to chase down whoever caused Daddy's death?
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The next day, I told Cloud of this idea I had of finding out what happened and chasing down the person who is responsible. There has to be someone responsible for this, an entity. If I can't find them, I just might go to Giratina myself. Cloud seemed to frown at this at first, but as I explained my thoughts and feelings, he started to understand and finally, he nodded, agreeing to go with me. As much as I may not like having my ultra-protective, annoying brother around, he might worry and panic if I go alone.
Next up, I went towards the security wing of the manor. I've never really had much of a reason to go there before, so everything was quite new to me. I followed some signs, walked past some dorms which housed the guards, until I reached a large room labelled 'Surveillance'. As I entered the room, I saw a few Psychic pokemon talking to each other and other types of pokemon sitting in front of electronic screens showing almost every corner of the house.
Mystified by this, I pushed through and went over to one of the Psychic types, they would know, right? The pokemon in question was an Alakazam, our conversation went a bit like this:
"Miss Luna!" he exclaimed, surprised.
"Yesterday… Can you… Can you tell me who is responsible for last night?" I asked him. I noticed the other Psychic types looking at each other nervously. The Alakazam himself was also shifting around awkwardly.
"Um… There was a barrier, Miss Luna. A barrier made of dark energy that prevents us from using our Psychic powers. I think that it was Lord Pyro who put up that barrier. I'm afraid I cannot give more information as to who is responsible for his murder." I looked down in frustration, why would Daddy do such a thing? Then, I had an idea.
"The cameras were still active then, right?"
"Yes, miss." I walked over to one of the pokemon operating the camera system, a Flygon.
"Flygon." I called up to him. He noticed me and landed besides me, I guess he was monitoring the screens way up there.
"Yes, Miss Luna?"
"Who was responsible for yesterday? Alakazam said that it was a murder, that means that there's a pokemon who killed Daddy. Did you see who it is?"
"Miss Luna, I don't think you-"
"Tell me what you know, Flygon," I commanded.
"I really don't think-"
"TELL ME! I am ordering you to tell me, now!" I kinda screeched at him, making him cower a bit and attracting quite a bit of attention from others.
"Y-Yes, Miss Luna." He bowed down low, crouching on one knee. "We did not get to see much, as there are no cameras in place in Lord Pyro's picture room for his privacy. But we did catch something odd. There were two Arcanines in the manor that night, when, as you know, there is only one within our forces: Mister Arno. With that, I suspect that the other Arcanine is responsible for Lord Pyro's death."
"An Arcanine…" I muttered to myself.
"Be aware though, Miss Luna, that the Arcanine may not have been alone as he would have had no way to escape us after he did that, since the Dark barrier had dropped and the whole security team was alerted. Yet he still got away, meaning he must've somehow teleported. As such, I think that he has a Psychic type as his partner."
"Good. Good, carry on," I mumbled and walked out. An Arcanine, huh? There's only one person to talk to about this. I walked down the corridors, thinking to myself. At this time of day, Arno should be… in the dining room, cleaning. I shifted my course for the dining room and entered through the big double doors. I saw him cleaning and walked straight over.
"Luna!" he said, surprised to see me.
"Arno, did you know the Arcanine from last night?" I asked straightforwardly.
"Arcanine? Last night?" he asked, bewildered. "How did you know about that, Luna?"
"I went over to the security wing just now."
"Those security guys…" he muttered under his breath, does he have some kind of grudge against them or something? Doesn't matter. He then looked at me. "Why do you want to know, Luna?" I explained to him everything I told Cloud, how I felt, what I'm going to do. He, like Cloud, understood.
"Tell you what, Luna. If you really want to do this. Find an Arcanine named Burst-" I was about to interrupt when he saw and put his huge paw on my little mouth, silencing me. "Befriend him. Don't hurt him, befriend him. And bring him back here. I'll repeat myself. Befriend him, Luna, don't hurt him." He paused, waiting for my response. I looked up at him for a second, wanting to hear why he's telling me to befriend Daddy's killer. But, realising he was not going to answer the question, I nodded. "Good, good. I won't tell Lord Aqua or Lady Mew, if you're wondering, so don't worry."
"And where do I go to find him?" I asked. To this, he sighed.
"I actually don't know. He could be in the town next to us, or he could be in another region far away. But don't give up, I'm sure you'll find him."
"Thanks, Arno." I walked out the room, only to bump into someone. An unpleasant someone.
"Hey, whoa," he said when I attempted to walk away from him quickly. "Luna, wait!"
I was about to break into a sprint when he said, "I heard your conversation with Arno!". That stopped me in my tracks. He heard?! Of all people, he did?
"You wouldn't want me to tell Uncle Aqua or Mom, would you?" he continued. I fumed silently, before whipping around to glare at him.
"What do you want, Vulcan?!"
"Take me with you." I recoiled in shock. What? He wants to go too?
"No!" I shouted back. Hearing this, he assumed a mock-thinking position.
"Hm… Should I tell Mom first? Or should I tell Uncle Aqua first?"
"Grr…" I growled, "Fine! Fine, I'll let you go!"
"Thanks, little fox," he said, ruffling my head fur. As I went to bite his paw, he pulled back and ran away, laughing. I growled again before stomping my way over to my room to find Cloud.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"So? How'd it go?" Cloud asked.
"I know what we have to do now," I replied simply, lying on the bed.
"Then, should we go? Before Mother or Uncle Aqua comes to check on us."
"We have to pick up someone first."
"Who?"
"That annoying 'brother' of ours. He somehow overheard my conversation and threatened to tell Mom if I don't let him come with us."
"Vulcan? Well, it would be okay, I guess. He is the eldest and has more battle experience should we have to fight someone."
"Yeah, but he's annoying!" I whined.
"Maybe because he sees you fun to tease. I'm sure he means well."
"Whatever." I huffed and threw myself off the bed. We both walked to Vulcan's room and tapped his door. It opened and he poked his head out.
"Oh, it's Cloud and the runt," he snickered.
"Don't call me runt!" I yelled.
"Just kidding." He walked out and ruffled the fur on my head again.
"I will decimate you," I screeched at him. He just laughed.
"Ooh, big words. Do I need a dictionary for the next one?" I was too annoyed to even try and bite him this time. "Let's go then!" he continued, seeing that I wasn't going to reply.
{A/N} Here's the thing, I will be moving to a new school and so I have no idea what my situation will be regarding internet access. So don't worry if I suddenly go dark for a month or two.
~Wulfy
