Shining Shadows
Will the Charizard
Chapter 4: Blue Forest, Red River
Happy apocalypse everyone! This chapter might still be a little dark, but not as brutal as the last one. I swear they'll get better as the story progresses. Sorry if Sam stutters too much. I don't own Pokémon, just Sam and Minney. This chapter might be semi-fluffy at the end, though. Enjoy.
I woke up the next morning and the first thing I noticed was that I was lying against something warm and fuzzy. It was silky, almost. The next thing I realized was that whatever that something was, it was moving. I got up slowly; careful to not bump whatever, or whomever, I was laying on.
As soon as I was up I turned around as quietly as possible, to not make any noise. When I looked, two things came to mind, neither of them completely comforting. I had been laying on an Umbreon, and that said Umbreon had been watching me. There was something different about this Umbreon, though, that I couldn't quite find. Wait, its fur is different; it has blue stripes and circles instead of yellow! Wow, a shiny Umbreon! I've never seen any shiny Pokémon before!
The Umbreon yawned, showing off its sharp teeth and powerful looking jaws. "Are you ever going to stop staring at me? Or are we never moving out of here?" The Umbreon's voice was somewhat feminine, and I noticed a bit of annoyance in her voice.
"I… I'm sorry." Why am I stuttering? I never stutter! "I mean, I haven't thanked you for saving me yet."
"Don't." The Umbreon said. "I didn't save you for you, I saved you for me."
"I don't… I don't understand. What do mean, you saved me for you?"
"Well, anytime I go near a city, they think I'm filthy scum, like I'm covered in disease and Pokémon shit. You, however, are accepted by your society, for reasons I will never understand. If I go with you, they'll let me in."
Wow. I've never heard a Pokémon talk like that before. They've always been all happy and positive. "Well, why should I take you with me? You are rather rude."
The Umbreon rolled her eyes. "I just saved your life, didn't I? Does that count for nothing where you're from? Plus, you'd never make it out of the forest alive. It's dangerous, and I could help you through." Crap. She has a point…
"I… I guess I can take you. It couldn't hurt" I shrugged my shoulders.
"That's the spirit! Now let's get going!" The Umbreon gave me a charming smile and batted her eyelashes, then laughed. It was a cruel laugh, with little sign of actual joy. "Now go pick up that tiny blade you call a weapon so we can leave."
I went and picked up my knife from where I had dropped it when the Cacturne had attacked me, put it in my backpack, and started walking.
We had walking for a couple hours when I thought of something. "I, uh, I never got your name." I said. "May I?"
The Umbreon sighed. "I guess it couldn't hurt. My name's Jet."
"Jet. That's a beautiful name." Crap. Did I just say that?
Jet looked back at me in half surprise, half disgust. "Hey if you're trying for a mate, I know some really desperate Leafeon, but otherwise back off, jack"
"My name's Sam, and I wasn't hitting on you. It just slipped out." Holy shit, what did I do? It's like she wants to hate me!
"No on the Leafeon then? Damn, she'll be disappointed." Jet shook her head looking like it was all my fault. "Let's hurry. We want to get there as fast as possible, don't we?"
"What city are we going to, anyway? Not back to Crystal city, I hope?"
"You really think I want to go to that dump you call a city?" Jet rolled her eyes. "You actually might have a sense of humor after all, Sam. No, we are going to see the city that never sleeps; we are going to your great city of New Saffron! Even if it does have one of your stupid human names."
"Well, that's where the ferry is, so I mean… I guess I have to go anyway… let's go, I guess. So, while we're walking, can I hear your story?" She looked at like I just suggested we gouge our own eyes out with a plastic fork.
"My story? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Your story, you know, why you were headed this way, if you have any other reasons for saving me, like that?" I looked at her hopefully. Jet let out a long sigh and sat down.
"You're a persistent little shit, aren't you? Well, I might as well tell you, and it's a long ass story, so sit down."
I found a log and sat on it. Wow. I can't believe Jet's going to tell me about herself. She seemed like she doesn't tell anyone anything.
"Do you know why this forest is called the Blue Forest, Sam? It's because in the past, this forest has been a place of great sadness. A long, long time ago, about 150 years ago, this was a beautiful forest was teeming with life. You couldn't go anywhere without seeing someone you knew. Most every tree or hole in the ground was somebody's home, and everyone was kind. It was a great place to live. Then a terrible tragedy happened. You humans, being the selfish pigs you are, needed more room for your filthy cities. There was a forest in the way. The logical solution, according to you humans, was to burn the forest. There was no regard for the Pokémon living there, the families you would destroy, and it was like nobody cared. The leader of the forest, a massive, ageless Torterra, tried to stop the humans by explaining how full of life the forest was. When he arrived, however, the fire had already been started. The Torterra, outraged, was prepared to destroy the human's instruments of death, when he heard a desperate plea for help. He turned to see a family of Linoone and Zigzagoon stuck in a burning tree. The Torterra pulled the still burning tree out of the ground with his mouth and ran to the river, the flames licking up his face the whole way. When he arrived, he plunged the tree in the water, putting the fire out. He then placed the tree on the bank of the river and ran back in to the fire, to save as many as he could. He saved 11 families that day. On his last trip in, things went wrong. An enormous oak tree fell, burning, across the Torterra's back. They say you could hear his screams of agony from across the forest. An exceptionally brave Linoone, from the first family Torterra had saved, ran in to find the Torterra. The Linoone found him dying under the massive fallen oak. The Torterra looked at Linoone and told him 'Always respect this forest. It is your home. Protect your home, protect your family. We are all… your family… here…' at this the Torterra was still. The Linoone came back and told all their beloved leader had died, and told them his final words. Hearing this, all the Pokémon of the forest started sobbing, mourning for their fallen leader. Their tears fell into the riverbed, causing the water to rise. The river overflowed, drowning out all the fire, saving the forest."
Seriously? They put the river out by crying? "Wow. That was this forest, the one we're in right now?"
"Yes, it is." Jet sighed again and lay down.
"I don't understand how that you or that Cacturne have anything to do with that story."
"Well was I finished? Obviously not. After Torterra died, the forest needed a new leader. There was a massive gathering of all the Pokémon who were old enough to understand what had happened. The forest needed a new leader, and choosing one would be no small matter. There was days upon days of arguing until someone suggested that the Linoone that had gone in to find Torterra should take up leadership. There was a collective agreement that this was an excellent plan when a slick voice came from the trees behind the Pokémon. 'Why him? How has he done more than anyone, than I or any of my people?' Everyone turned to see a Cacturne walk out slowly from the trees. 'Has he lost his friends? Has he sacrificed anything, anything at all? I have taken many losses in my tribe, and I believe there should be some, compensation.' He said these last words in a very sly manner, a slick smile barely showing on his mouth. 'Cactuar! (I needed a tribal sounding name, sorry if it's not great) Why are you here? Your tribe was agreed to have the northern woods, and nowhere else!' the Linoone had shouted. 'You will never rule this forest, now be gone from this place!' Cactuar smiled. 'Is that how you treat your guests in this waste of land you call home? How uncivilized you are. I am not here for your hospitality, however. I am here to claim the role that is rightfully mine!' At this he roared and ran at the Linoone, and struck him on the head, sending the Linoone flying. The Linoone cried out in pain, blood splattering from the wound, staining the ground and his silky coat a reddish brown. All the Pokémon started at Cactuar, ready to defend the leader they had so willingly adopted, but the Linoone stopped them. 'No! If any of you were to get hurt, I could never forgive myself.' Cactuar laughed. 'Oh, such a brave little hero you are. But how are you going to defend them if you cannot even defend yourself?' Cactuar ran at the Linoone and struck him again and again, until he stood, bleeding, at the river's edge. Cactuar raised his arm and hit the Linoone hard on the side of his head, who fell back into the river, blood seeping out, staining the pure, clear water with red. The Linoone pulled himself out and stood, panting, waiting for it to end. Cactuar raised his arm, prepping the final blow, when a young Zigzagoon ran to the Linoone sobbing. 'Ziggey! Get back here! Dad's going to be ok!' A young linoone yelled at the Zigzagoon. 'Please, Mr. Cactuar, don't hurt Papa! He didn't do nothing!' (Sorry for the terrible grammar, the Zigzagoon's a little kid) The Zigzagoon was lying over his father, tears in his eyes, trying to protect him. Cactuar looked at the Zigzagoon, lowered his arm, and spoke. 'Fine, child. Your father will live. But only as a reminder,' he yelled to all, 'of who is in charge here, and how kind your ruler can be!' Cactuar had taken the forest for himself, and was a cruel leader. Punishment was severe, Pokémon were unhappy and afraid. Cactuar had a son one day, who took over as leader when Cactuar died. He was just as cruel as Cactuar had been, and was disliked by all. He was overthrown, however, by the most unlikely, his only child. The child had been ignored and beaten all its life, and had been harboring an intense hatred for his father since it was born. One day, when he was only fourteen, and still a Cacnea, the child went to his father and demanded he be less cruel. The father laughed and waved his son off. 'Go play with your friends, child, if you even have any.' In a blinding rage, the child yelled at his father, and hit him as hard as he could. It was little more than a nudge to the father, but it was an act of disobedience and disrespect nonetheless. The father turned around and glared at the child. 'How dare you hit me you little bitch?!' The father beat the child across the face, throwing him into a large oak tree. The child cried out on impact, and some of the rough bark broke off the tree and fell to the ground when he hit. 'How dare you demand anything from me?!' The child, seeing a fallen tree branch nearby, started crawling towards it to use as a weapon. 'Why are you so weak, you are still a Cacnea?!' The child stopped, his vision white with blinding rage. 'So I am weak, then.' Cacnea turned around slowly. The white was spreading from his eyes, his entire body glowing with power. His body grew, taller, wider, and more powerful. 'Are you so sure? Are you willing to bet your life on my weakness? If so, prove it. One of us will die today, I promise you that.' The father looked at his newly evolved son, no emotion on his face. 'I have killed many, boy. Do not let yourself be next.' At this he fired round after round of pin missile at his only son, in an attempt to kill him quickly and effortlessly. Five lodged themselves in the son's chest. He looked down, grabbed the needles, and ripped them out. The son then looked at the father, a disapproving look on his face. 'If you are attempting to make this easy I assure you, you are mistaken.' He then moved, fast as lightning, racing to his father. As he got within ten feet he jumped, sailing through the air bringing his arm up. He brought his arm down on his father's head, a loud crack being heard from miles around, as well of the sound of his father's snapping neck. 'Am I so weak?' The child walked away, a look of pity and regret on his face. 'I am no weaker than any who have called this world their home'. This child's name was Saboten. Saboten was proud of himself for liberating the forest, but was still hated, as he was the child of the cruelest and harshest ruler this forest ever had. He went mad, from the immense power he had and hatred to and from all, becoming increasingly violent as he got older, until he was banished from the woods." Jet stood, with a sense of finality, and started off walking again.
"Why was he banished?" I still don't see how this relates to us, but Jet feels strongly about it, and she isn't complaining about me right now.
Jet looked back, hatred and anger burning in her eyes. "One day, Saboten came on a happy little family. The father was a Vaporeon, and the mother was an Espeon. They had 4 little Eevee children. Only the youngest survived." Jet sat back on her haunches. "That was my family. That was nine years ago, and I have been hunting that bastard ever since. When he attacked you I was so close, but I decided to save you instead."
"Why? You could have gone, finished it right there, but you didn't. Why?"
"I don't know. I felt like I had to save you, like I would never be able to forgive myself if I didn't." Jet sat, still as a statue, looking off into the woods, like just by sheer willpower she could find who she was looking for. "Also, we now have a common enemy. I need somebody who'll help me do what needs to be done." She broke her statue-like pose and looked back at me. "Using whatever means necessary."
Gasp! Oh the drama! Seriously, though, this is the longest chapter I've written yet, hope you all enjoyed it. I don't own Pokémon, but Sam, Minney, Jet, and Saboten are all mine! The next chapter will be out soon. I promise.