Chapter 4
Dawn
Following my squadron from a distance, I run what Grayos said in my head. My worst nightmares have crossed to reality. I hate myself for actually believing that it might not be true. Wouldn't it have just been easier to convince myself that the dark events that occurred outside our mountain walls were not just a bad dream? I should have been prepared. Among the most prepared of all the pokemon. But I let hope get the best of me, as usual.
The craggy earth is rough under my body. I lag behind the squadron due to the uneven terrain, but no one looks back. I work harder to catch up, but the group seems to go faster as I get closer. We're headed to the training grounds, now. I suspect that they'll want us to evolve as soon as possible. More troops for combat. That means my fellow "comrades" will evolve and move up soon. Leaving me to stay behind as a Dratini with a new set of troops.
I eventually make my way to among the few massive caverns in the network. This one is for the primary dragon training ground. There are no perches here. Three of the four of our squadron can't even jump any more that three feet, let alone fly. Swablu are very slow flyers and don't need perches when they can just use the ground and some of the equipment.
A dragon's main strength is projectile attacks. In other words, we can fire beams from our mouths that can do some nasty damage so red and white targets have been scattered around the cavern. However, there are some physical attacks at our disposal. So, there are plenty of woven sacks filled with some of the dead leaves that fall off our perching trees. They act as our victims.
The squadron is already spread out across the training ground, attacking dummies and firing at targets until they shatter, only to be left as shards on the floor until we clean up afterwards. Bagons are ramming into dummies in a Headbutt. Trapinch use powerful Mud-slaps on targets from great distances. I slither over to a spot marked with a red line. Thirty feet from where I stand is a dummy, it's leaves dropping out of the woven silk from our bug\flying types.
I take in a deep breath and charge. My body propels itself furiously to gain enough speed. I love this move. It's my favorite. The dummy approaches fast. I move faster. At my maximum speed, my tail springs my body into the air. Water starts to form around the lower half of my body. In mid-air, I twist around and slam my tail against the dummy, spraying water everywhere. Bouncing backwards to examine my work, the woven, white dummy, now completely disfigured, collapses in a wet heap on the ground. I hold my head high. Now that's an Aqua tail.
I hear moaning behind me and crane my long neck to trace it to it's source which would be everyone. The entire squadron is soaked from my Aqua tail. They all stare at me, their eyes bearing hate. My head is no longer held in pride. It is held low in embarrassment and shame. Herona is on the ground, her wings too drenched to fly. The look of disappointment and disgust on her delicate face is the icing on the cake of shame. "Dawn..." She begins, sighs, and does not continue. I know what she means. I don't need and invitation.
My body tenderly moving again, I saunter through the eyes leering at me, making my way to the exit. If one of them hasn't believed I'm a freak yet, they do now. My snake-like figure threatens to stop, paralysed in the wave of hate crashing into me. I want to coil up and cry my eyes out. Yet, somehow, I find the strength to continue sloshing through puddles on the ground.
I'm out and have rounded a corner when the real pain begins. Their voices are soft, but they echo loud and clear. I try to force myself to leave, but my curiosity sets my muscles in stone. I have no choice but to listen.
"What is wrong with her!?"
"I'm so wet! I hate this!"
"She's a freak!"
"She's definitely cursed."
"Maybe she's a demon sent by the Wings of Legend!"
"If she's a demon or cursed, then can't we just exile her?"
"It's been taken up with Grayos, but he won't make her leave."
"Great. So we're stuck with her."
"Why does the cursed one have to be a dragon? Why couldn't she just be a raptor and leave us all alone?"
Different voices. Different insults. Same feeling. Pain. Always pain. My eyes become as wet as the pokemon in the training ground. I've heard enough to move again and I dash down the cave to my room before anything else finds my ears. I only pass by two pokemon on my way. The same two that were across from me at lunch. Probably the results of a dare. Sit next to the demon-pokemon. They shout something after me, but I don't pay any attention. Instead, I make it to my living quarters and disappear behind the ragged curtain. Hopefully, I can stay in there forever, never to feel the pain, fear, and shame ever again.