Author's Note: I have been reading the reviews, criticism, and pointers from those who left them and I feel kind of silly for not seeing some of the mistakes. I was able to correct some of the plot holes in the previous chapters but I hope to be able to update you guys on how things have also been through updating my profile as well. Thanks to you guys again and let start this chapter :).
December 17,
Cass City Hospital
Krystal woke up early in the morning as the sun light was climbing over the horizon. Her eyes irritated from the tears that dried on her eyes the previous night. She took in the surroundings with more focus and realised she was on a bed she turned around only to find James sleeping facing away from her, at first she was filled with anger but it cooled to a mild annoyance and she let out a sigh. She couldn't understand why he saved her. What did he want her for, to use her? to abuse her? or perhaps do as Rick did and butter her up just to get what he wanted out of her or worse force it upon her. She needed to know his true intentions. She reached over to place a hand on his back and focused her mental energy into her horns. She remained focused but nothing came except a sharp pain that shot down the back of her head. She couldn't understand why she couldnt feel anything then she went to rub the horn in the back of her head. He eyes shot wide open and her fingers traced a large crack that ran down her back horn. She wanted to cry but instead felt a sense of emptiness as she layed her head back down on the pillow. How could she feel so useless, the one thing that Ralts and all its other evolutions apart from Galade were able to do was feel emotions and instead she had none of that. A scalding rage fell on her chest as she remembers hitting the headboard after Rick hit her. Hot tears beckoned to be free, but she only used them to fuel her anger. Her fists were once again engulfed in darkness as she sat up to turn to James. She chenched her fists ready at her sides. she could end it all here and run from her problem, just then however, James turned and with sleepy eyes he drowsily spoke.
"Good morning Ralts." with a yawn. She was stunned. His eyes didnt hold anything except happiness she couldn't feel it with her horns, but she could see it in his eyes despite her standing over him with cleanched fists. She began to cool off and sat back beside him on her side of the bed. James in his sleepy state wasn't even completely aware of her intentions but he didn't care, he was just glad to see her awake and about. Krystal's mind swam as she continued to question her existence and what she truely was at this point, that power scared her deep inside, it didn't feel like she was in her body.
Soon the doctor walked in and after examining James' leg and arm she applyed an anti-bacterial medicine to what remained of the scratches on his face she allowed him to leave. He thanked the doctor before walking out of the room, but not before grabbing the small belt and ice pack that Krystal left behind, he figured it might help to keep it handy.
December 17,
North Cass City
James and Krystal exited the Hospital and walked with the three pokeballs attached to the belt which he now wore around his waist. James couldn't help but feel excited to finally be on his journey. First he needed supplies for himself and Krystal. Krystal however was still wallowing in her own negative emotions as she following a far distance behind James.
December 17,
Cass City Shopping Complex
James looked around the different stores and marveled at the mass supply of goods they had, something caught his eye and he decided to go for it.
"Mind hanging here for a sec? I've got to go get something." Krystal just stood there staring at the ground before shrugging her shoulders before he took off. She felt vulnerable, surrounded by tons of humans, she trusted none of them.
James soon returned with a medium sized grey bag with something in it, but she could care less what humans were interested in. they visited mutiple stores as James got the necessary goods for his travels; A tent, an umbrella, blankets, many food rations, water, and a huge backpack to carry it all in. All the while Krystal just followed trying to remain as stone cold as possible to ignore the world around her and her thoughts as she crossed her arms for warmth. Soon they were at the pokemart and James was ready to get the things he needed for Krystal. She followed him in as he went to grab heals, potions, pokeballs just in case, and some pokefood. He wanted to have something extra too and picked up a sweet puffin on the way to check out.
Krystal looked around nervously as people towered around her like a moving forest. She was caught off guard at a Meditite that approached from behind and began to speak.
"Hey there, you come here to rest up before continuing your training?"
Krystal looked at the Meditite bewildered. What did she mean training? Suddenly the Meditite caught on and had a glimmer in its eyes and gasped.
"Is this your first adventure!?" Krystal could only watch as the Meditite excitedly jumped up and down. "Congradulations, I hope your trainer can make you really strong!" Krystal was udderly confused, was this what humans wanted to do? Make them stronger?, but why? Did they want to use them as weapons?
Krystal stood there just staring at the Meditite. Soon his trainer called to him.
"Come on Cham, we gotta move fast if we wanna hit the next gym."
"Coming!" he said mentally to his trainer before he mentally spoke to Krystal.
"Take care and hope to see you again soon." and with that the Meditite and his trainer exited the pokemart.
Krystal couldnt help, but reflect the Meditite's cheery mood as she let her steel heart melt a bit.
James looked down at Krystal. "Ready for the next stop?" She looked up at him and tried to put on a cold expression again and spoke "mhm."
They headed back down east of the city towards the pokemon center so James could check on Krystal's bandages and could grab some extra medical supplies there before they left again to head north-east to his apartment. The venture to and from the pokemon center remained quiet as the approached his appartment complex. By the time they had prepared everything and gotten everything together night had come. He pulled out his keys and opened the door to a nice little set of rooms. Krystal walked in taking in the small space.
"Sorry if its not that big, I'm used to being alone." Krystal felt some sympathy in his words, but she payed them little attention as she explored the rooms. A nice small living room with a fuzzy chair with a strange screen in front of it. To the left was a wide open bedroom with a small bed and a closet across from it. Behind the living room was an even tinier room with a sink, some strange looking boxes that had clothes next to them, a stove and a miniature fridge. Next to that room lay a one person sized bathroom with a corner shower, toilet and another sink. The solf lights that where on the ceiling were calming to her, they weren't like the candles that were in Rick's house and she wad finally feeling warm again.
"Yeah sorry I didn't mean to spend so much time today, I just have kind of been looking foward to exploring and getting away from the city for a while. Krystal just sat listening to him. "Oh, yeah I saw you made friends with that meditite at the pokemart." Again she remained quiet. James was trying to think of small talk to make when it came to him. "Hmm, do you have a name?" This caught her off guard, would she want a human to know her name? then again, what harm would it bring. She spoke up softly.
"My name.. is Krystal." She said while looking away from him.
James smiled and spoke "Huh, well its great to finally start to know you Krystal." She just sat not knowing what to say. "I thought that I would be traving the world all by myself, but I am glad to have a friend like you to go on this journey with me. Her eye went wide as she echoed the words in her head. "Friend?"
She sat in contemplation of the word. He looked directly at her seeing her gaze unmoving but he didn't want to prod anymore out of her, knowing her name made him happy enough. He then stood up and was preparing himself for sleep when he remembered the belt on his waist. He took it off and kept Krystal's pokeball with him. He held the belt in front of her and spoke
"Hey I don't know what it is with these pokeballs, but if it helps you feel even the slightest bit better then here you can have them." She gently reached for the pokeballs and held them in her hands. He walked into the small open bed room and was about to turn off the light but he noticed Krystal staring up at them and decided to keep them on with a smile
"If you want them off you can just flip this switch." pointing at the light switch finally heading to bed.
Krystal curled up on the fuzzy chair, she put her old pokeball down and held her mother's as she leaned her head against it. It was nice, with the soft light over her head and the smell of her mother near her face it was almost like a dream, watching the sunset with her mother as she lay in her lap. Just basking in the sunset of the day. It almost felt her like mother placed a hand over her just to keep her warm. She opened her eyes and was surpised to find a blanket over her. It added to her comfort and where it came from she didn't care at the time she was just happy to have pleasent thoughts for once while James just looked at her smile as he returned to his own bed once again with one less blanket. She slipped into sleep as her mind continued her imagination in her dreams.
December 18,
Cass City North-East Apartments
Krystal woke to a pleasent smell. She looked around for its source only to see James cooking something on the oven. He turned around and placed a small plate of pancakes on the table and acknowledged her presence with a smile.
"Mornin', you sleep well?"
She just noded her head to signal yes slowly while looking down. He motioned for her to come over and have a bite to eat before they would start the day. She walked over to the table that sat in the room which James called his kitchen despite it being so small. She took in the smell, it made her feel warm inside, something to distract herself from the pain inside.
"There is more if you want any more." He said before he started to eat across from her at the table.
She sat down looking at the small stack of things he called 'pancakes.' She took the silver weapon and examined it for a second which gave James a laugh.
"You never used a fork before?" He said through a giggle. She just looked down from his gaze with an annoyed face. He took note to that and cursed himself her asking the question. "I'm sorry, here look you hold it like this." he used his index and thumb to pinch it in his hand and picked up a small amount of the fluffy stack with the pointed end as Ralts tried to mimic the action. He watched her do it till she was finally able to get the hang of it and break off a small piece. "There you go, hope you enjoy." As he returned to his own meal. She placed the small piece into her mouth and once again was filled with a sense of joy, she could feel the warm piece of pancake melt away her troubles as she got lost in the flavor.
James looked up from his plate and saw her smile with closed eyes as she continued to chew the pancake she had broke off. He smiled and remained silent letting her enjoy herself. Soon they both finished their meal and James readied the backpack with all the necessary items. He grabbed the belt and put the pokeballs on it and grabbed the ice pack from earlier which was now nothing but room temperature water in a bag. Krystal was dreading her return to the cold outdoors. James realised this and reached for the grey bag from earlier and handed to Krystal who stared at it for a second before turning to him with a look of suspicion. "I was gonna give it to you for Christmas, but I think now would be a better time." He looked at her with soft eyes. She didn't fully understand what he meant, but she opened the bag either way. She pulled out a large fluffy green hoodie. Her eyes widened and she took in the sight. She didn't know what to do. All she could manage was a genuine yet still quiet "Thank you."
"Well? you wanna try it on?" He asked with a smile. She quickly put the hoodie on and found it rather large for her small body.
"Sorry, I know its big, but I figured it would at least keep you warm and if you evolve you might even fit in it better" He said with a smile.
For once she met his eyes unchanged, filled with genuine happiness, something locked away for a while. Her mind kept trying to warp this moment with the thoughts of Rick and his lust for suffering, but this moment couldn't be ruined.
"So you ready to start taking the world by storm?" He shouted with a chuckle. To which she confidently spoke "Yeah."
Maybe this wouldnt be so bad afterall. In that moment she didn't care whether he was trying to trick her or use her. All she cared about was that they were what he called "Friends."
Author's Note: Again, these chapter keep just rolling out for me right now (Knock on wood) I really enjoyed this one and hope I didn't leave anything out. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my story thus far and hope to keep this story going for all of you :). As always I will try and keep you guys updated on my profile as well. Peace \(v)_
