Wayward Loser
Chapter III
"Insipid rocks!"
I slept -very- well that night, despite having had such an awkward encounter.
... Though maybe I should mince my words.
I awoke this morning without my shirt on, lying on my living room couch with two of the smaller pillows I keep on it almost smothering me. I can only -fathom- what I dreamt of while I was sleeping.
I have absolutely no dignity in my subconcious now, do I?
I awkwardly got up from my couch- I must've taken off my spectacles in my sleep-induced stupor. It's difficult for me to even make out what I'm seeing, it's all a blur.
I stumbled around like a fool until I found them on the floor right next to the couch. I picked them up and hastily slipped them over my eyes. Ah, vision... My old friend, how nice it is to have you back!
Though... I must've done -something- in my sleep, because I saw this faint glint under the couch. I knelt down and picked it up-
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I know what this is.
There is no mistaking it's teal, shining lustre.
It was a Dawn Stone.
MY Dawn Stone.
I stared at it for what felt like eons.
I felt a burning hatred, a surging rage build in my very core... All because I saw this stupid stone!
I gripped it in my fist as tight as I could, in a vain attempt to crush it into powder. I knew I wasn't physically capable of doing it- It was a stress relief tactic.
I kept clutching it tightly as I went to my room. I threw it onto my bed when I got there- after tidying it up, of course. I got some clothes on hastily, and re-fastened my spectacles. I picked the stone back up, and stormed out of my home. I was going back to Treasure Town for one express purpose.
I was pawning this thing.
This putrid inanimate object is the cause of most of my misery!
I shook my head. I remembered my parents...
(Flashback)
"Now honey, remember to use this soon at the luminous cave!"
"It's important, slugger! You want to grow up big and strong like me right?"
"Don't forget!"
"Okay mom, okay dad..."
"You're gonna need it if you want to get a looker like your mother!"
(Flashback)
Ugh...
I refused to use the stone because my parents were of the northern breed. I didn't want to be like them, I wanted to be different.
I look at myself now... Some difference, huh? I could've lived a life of ignorance and arrogance, and have a shallow but satisfying relationship, but no. I chose not to.
What a wayward one I am.
I embrace my choice. I would rather be alone and dignified rather than living my life in the rush and heat of mating and shamelessness. If I am to salvage anything of my choice, I need to bury the past. Getting rid of this rock will do wonders in that sense.
I once again perused into town. It was quaint as usual, just how I liked it. 'Pure Soul' and her crony were nowhere in sight- I just hoped it would remain that way.
Thinking of what happened last time, I hurried my way to the Kecleon brothers' stall. I slowed down before I came into their sight so I wouldn't actually appear rushed, keeping the calm image I have persistent.
I clutched the stone in my hand a bit more tightly.
"Oh, Gelaard! You're back already?", Green Kecleon asked.
"Seems like it, doesn't it? I know it may seem trivial, but I came back to... sell this Dawn Stone," I replied.
Purple Kecleon looked closely at it, being the one who handled the trade of TMs, Keys and evolution stones.
"... Looks like it's worth 200," he concluded.
"275."
"240."
"265."
"245."
"Deal," I said, settling the trade.
I took my money and handed over the stone.
Ahh... Now it's out of mind.
"... Wait a second. Gelaard, why did you have a Dawn Stone?", Purple Kecleon asked.
And he asked just as I was turning to leave.
I froze.
"It was a... keepsake... from... a friend?", I awkwardly answered.
"Sounds more like a tease to me," Green Kecleon commented.
"Is there something you're not telling us?" Purple Kecleon asked.
I glared at the both of them.
"Did I ask you to be my shrinks? WITHOUT pay?", I rudely remarked.
"Whoa, hey! Easy there!", Purple responded.
"It's not like we're interrogating you or anything!", Green added.
I took a breath, collecting myself.
"I suppose that was impulsive of myself. I'm sorry," I apologized.
I continued, "Yes, there is. However, I don't want to talk about it. It's... personal."
"Maybe you should talk to miss Kangaskhan over at the storage. She'd listen!", Green suggested.
"No, I'm good. I don't want to talk to anyone about it," I finalized.
"Say, you always seem to gripe about Team Justice and how they're mean to you. Don't you think you should actually DO something about it? Like, maybe, do something notable? Become an explorer?", Purple said, changing the subject.
... What?
"I'm sorry, what? Are you saying I become an explorer to prove something?", I defended.
"No! I-"
"Do you think, while I absolutely DESPISE those two obnoxious urchins that call themselves the replacement for Team Syndicate, I want to show up those brats in what they do? You want me to stress myself out doing explorer work when all sorts of other Pokémon are already up to it? Are you actually starting to side with them in calling me some 'sissy' that can't stick up for himself at all? Is THAT it?", I angrily asked.
"Gelaard! You ought to-", Green started
"No, wait. It's because you secretly have had -no- faith in me the whole time and have just been humoring me by listening to and trading with me as if we were friends? Do you actually want to tell me that you LIKE that stupid, idiotic, impudent-!"
"A-hem!", an all-too-familiar feminine voice called from behind me.
I whirled around without a second thought to face 'Pure Soul'.
"Oh, now you're here? What took you so long you ragged, pompous and disgusting excuse for what we call a replacement to a truly good team?"
"HEY! Now you wait just a second there, nerd-"
"NO! I'm DONE putting up with you! You AND your lackey have done ENOUGH pushing around. I've gotten SICK of it! SICK!"
I used my telekinesis to tear away a wooden post from an abandoned nearby stall. I promptly proceeded to violently attack her by swinging it with my telekinesis... brutally.
"SICK! SICK! SICK! SICK! SICK! SICK! SICK! SICK!", I repeated in a near-chant with each blow.
I heard her cries of pain from each blow. I saw her little grunt 'Green Leaf' shrink away from the both of us in fear.
I raised the post overhead.
"You have no IDEA how long I've been waiting to become careless enough to do this! The best part is, you deserve-", I started.
"EVERY!", I said, smashing her with the post and tossing it away.
"LAST!", I continued while telekinetically lifting her up.
"BIT! OF! IT!", I finished, slapping the eevee across the face with each word before casting her forward onto the ground.
I heard only her whimpers. Her partner had long taken off. What a coward.
I slowly strolled towards her battered body. Nearby Pokémon had gathered to see what was happening. Lo and behold, it was me striking down 'Pure Soul'.
"What happened? Get so caught up in being an obnoxious brat that you forgot that I could be DANGEROUS?", I said while raising my voice to a shout.
I got little more than whimpers, moans and cries from the badly abused Pokémon. I couldn't resist but form a sadistic grin on my face.
"Do you finally get what it was like living under the conditions you left me in? I figured you would get tired of it eventually, but no. You didn't. You also chose the -worst- day to decide to pester me, because I was already in a bad mood. We Gardevoir are emotional things... We feel intensely when we have to feel something. Let this be a LESSON to you that you should mind your own business when you decide to-"
"ZZZZZT! FREEZE, CRIMINAL! ZZZZZZT!", I heard an Officer Magnemite call out.
Oh, what? Did that lousy little Chikorita go and get the police because of what I was doing? That worm...!
"ZZZZT! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR THE UNPROVOKED ASSAULT OF A HIGH-RANKING EXPLORATION TEAM LEADER! ZZZZZT!"
"Oh, come on! She -deserved- this! She had it coming for having harassed me for as long as I could remember!"
"ZZZZT. YOU SHOULD HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES INSTEAD OF TAKING MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS. COME QUIETLY NOW, PLEASE. ZZZZZT."
My face went blank.
... I am probably the biggest idiot I have -ever- known. I could've possibly had this stupid girl's exploration team license revoked for what she's been doing, and instead I assault her?
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Doesn't mean I'm not sorry about it. I'm just not in the mood to listen to any 'authority' figure. Not 'Pure Soul', and certainly not these automatons.
"You know what? Your system of justice is just a -tad- too slow," I said, rather blinded in my own fury and pleasure. "I'll be walking away from this absolutely fine."
"ZZZZZT. OFFICERS, SUBDUE THE CRIMINAL! ZZZZZT!"
Many more Magnemite came out from the surroundings.
I'll make it quick- I didn't last long. I was quickly subjugated by their sheer numbers.
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I soon awoke within a prison cell, par the course of my own blind actions. I sat up to get my bearings, when I saw-
Oh, LOVELY.
They gave me my Dawn Stone back? With a NOTE?
... I unfolded it. I had no idea Magnemite were capable of folding paper.
"OUTLAW: KEEP YOUR BELONGINGS AWAY FROM HONEST CITIZENS. YOUR TRANSACTION MONEY HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE KECLEON BROTHERS AND YOUR SOLD ITEM HAS BEEN RETURNED TO YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY."
... I slapped my forehead.
I took the stone and threw it out from between the bars, folding my arms in disgust and repugnance.
I didn't need it, and I sure as heck didn't want it.
However, an officer quickly shunted it back into my cell without any words.
... They're making me keep it.
How sadistic...
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And I thought dealing with 'Pure Soul' was bad.
Now I'm...
You know what?
Never mind.