A Home Like No Other
Chapter 4
The world was a simple place, or at least, that's how Gallia thought it should be. Every Pokémon needed a role in life to be proud of, and one should work towards that role so that they could fulfill it to the best of their ability. Being truthful was paramount, and it was always important to dream, to have ambition. Yes, it was such a simple way of viewing things – naïve, really – but she was just now beginning to realize it. Or perhaps it was something else. Maybe she had always known how the world truly was, but had just stubbornly refused to accept that the world was different from what she thought it should be. Either way, she had been victim to a Wake-Up Slap, and it came in the form of a remarkable creature by the name of Amy Miller.
Since learning of this Espeon's true nature, the Gardevoir had found herself, for a lack of better words, obsessed at this Pokémon who called herself human. She seemed so unassuming and normal, or at least as unassuming and normal as an Espeon could be. Yet just beneath that façade was something incredible: a creature built entirely from memories and experiences from another world, a world that Gallia now found herself enthralled with. In fact, her fascination for what she had glimpsed in Amy's mind had grown to the point that she even dreamt of being lost in a human city the previous night, surrounded on all sides by the towering structures constructed of glass and steel that threatened to pierce the very heavens they reached towards. She could have gushed for hours about how amazing the things were that she had seen, but there were far more important matters to tend to at the moment.
All was not well with Amy, and it hardly required her psionic powers or passive empathy to know that much. She had died in her final moments before coming to this world – an event that had likely traumatized the young female, or at the very least, jarred her. Moreover, she was now having to cope with the fact that both she and the child she bore were now Pokémon, lost in a world that wasn't their own. Gallia could hardly imagine how stressful that must be, and it was certainly showing as Amy wrapped up her recounting of the nightmare she had suffered from as they walked.
"...And then I was pulled into the coffin. It was dark... very dark, and the shadows started to tear me to pieces until there was nothing left. It felt so real, I had no idea you could... feel so much pain in a dream. I thought for sure that I would've woken up from it hurt, but it just kept going and going and..."
The Espeon trailed off, ears drooping as she stared ahead with that same perturbed look she had since she had started talking about the dream. Gallia could sympathize all too well with what she was going through.
"I apologize that you had to suffer in your sleep like that. Unfortunately, it isn't uncommon for such torturous nightmares to haunt Psychic-types like you and I – especially after events that traumatize. Our brains work differently from most other types, especially when in reference to sleep and unconsciousness. Put simply, when we dream, our minds construct a mock reality in which we can seldom escape from until it 'ends'."
Amy's brow furrowed for a moment before looking back up.
"Wait, 'like you and I'? Am I a psychic like you?"
Gallia paused. Of course, Amy likely knew nothing concerning Pokémon type and how it functioned, but surely she had picked up on the notion? Then again, humans seemed so different in some regards.
"Yes, in a manner of speaking. We are both Psychic-type Pokémon, but what that type entails differs from species to species, so we aren't exactly the same. For instance, some Pokémon of our type channel their powers through intense concentration and enforcing their will on the world, while others – such as myself – are empaths: Psychic-types that can sense emotion and have their abilities linked directly to said emotions."
Gallia went quiet and glanced Amy over. The Espeon was looking back in an expectant manner, like a hatchling who was having a bedtime story read to them. Gone was that brooding creature she had been with up until that point, replaced now with some stranger that looked ready to act a quarter of their age.
"That's incredible! So I can do at least some of the things that you pulled off yesterday? Like when you closed all the shutters and stuff?"
Gallia nodded, thoroughly amused by the sudden change in demeanor.
"In theory, yes. But moving things around by sheer force of will is only a piece of what we're capable of, and I don't just mean Psychic Pokémon. Every species, every type, they all have something that makes them unique."
"So you're telling me that there's more than one type?"
Again, Gallia nodded. Beginning to take pleasure in the impromptu lesson.
"Of course. Each Pokémon has at least one type, and there are quite a few to be had. Fury, for instance, is a Flareon – a Fire-type. Naturally, this means that he can manipulate fire through his internal flame... even if the only thing he's capable of is firing a few Ember attacks."
Amy's eyes widened, her tail lashing in excitement.
"Whoah, that's amazing! And you said at least one type per Pokémon? So that means some have more than one, right?"
"Mhm, some have two, but no more than that. I'm actually one of those Pokémon. A Psychic and Fairy-type."
Gallia had to hold back a giggle at Amy's face, the poor girl looked like her eyes were about to pop out of her head.
"Fairy-type? What does that do?"
"That's one of the harder types to pin down. All I truly know about that affinity is that it's particularly effective against Dark and Dragon Pokémon. I myself am only capable of using the Fairy technique known as Charm. That, combined with a Gardevoir's innate ability to superpose emotions, was the cause of the calming sensation that you first experienced when we met. Quite useful when you need to quell a rowdy patient."
"Wow, that's crazy..."
And that was it, the Espeon said no more as she padded alongside Gallia with a contemplative look on her face. But that was alright, because she was smiling, which meant that she was still doing well in her job to help out her patient.
The two continued walking along the winding trail that stretched along Merri Village in silence. Like they had done on the beach, they did little more than enjoy one another's company, but it was enjoyable, as it had also been on the beach. Idly, the Gardevoir's gaze began to wander amongst the countless trees that helped to hide the small settlement within the forests before spotting a certain building that made her quietly chuckle to herself. Perplexed, Amy turned to look at Gallia.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing... I guess this concludes the tour of the village that I promised you."
Now even more confused, Gallia watched as Amy began to look among the surrounding plant life before suddenly seeming to notice what the Gardevoir had been looking at.
"Really? We're back at where I'm staying? I could've sworn we went the other way."
Gallia smiled.
"We did go the other way. The main road in the village is just one big circle after you remove all of the minor twists and turns. As of now, we've made a complete lap from where you started and have since passed all major attractions we have to offer: the beach, a few houses, the building where I house and treat patients, and of course, the outhouse."
Amy gave her a flat look.
"Oh, so you're a healer and a comedian. I guess you weren't wrong about that humor of yours. But seriously, that's really all there is to this place?"
Gallia hesitated for a moment, eying Amy with a thoughtful hum.
"Well, not entirely. There is one last place I'd like for us to visit here shortly. First, though, I'll be putting away this basket I've been toting around all morning."
She gestured with the now empty basket she still held in one hand. It wasn't particularly heavy, but holding onto it for the remainder of the day was pointless. So saying, both she and Amy continued along the road circling the village, eventually turning off of it to make a Combee-line straight for the patient house.
Wondering whether or not Amy was ready for what she was about to try and make her do.
–-
Amy watched as Gallia opened the door to the patient house and entered, deciding it would be better to wait outside for the Gardevoir's return and enjoy the overall feeling of being outside. Now that she had a moment to really slow down and think, she could really appreciate just how clean the air was here, and the sun felt amazing as it warmed her fur... as strange as that was to think about. Perhaps if she were here under different circumstances, such as having the option to stay human, she would be in a better frame of mind – maybe even willing to try and be content with the fact that she was no longer on Earth.
But of course, things didn't turn out that way. She wasn't human, but if she were to be completely honest with herself and ignore the voice in her head that kept telling her that this was inherently wrong, the reality that she was now some four-legged thing was slowly beginning to seem less and less like a problem. And if Gallia was telling the truth, which Amy doubted the Garevoir was capable of, then that meant that she could use some of the Psychic Pokémon powers that she had seen yesterday. That idea alone was tantalizing, but she knew that she probably had a lot to learn before she could even attempt anything like picking up things with her mind to compensate for her newfound lack of opposable thumbs.
Amy felt her ears twitch as she heard the door Gallia had entered open once more. Turning her head, she watched as the Psychic and Fairy-type Pokémon emerged from the doorway, basket-free and with a jovial expression on her face. Amy returned the smile as the Gardevoir came up beside her once more, definitely in the best mood she had been in since first waking up the day prior.
"So, what was it you said about visiting one last spot?"
Amy's question made Gallia halt for a moment in her movements, if only for a moment. Something flashed in her eyes. Conflict? Uncertainty? It was hard to tell, but she was soon moving again, her mind seemingly made up on something as the two resumed their stroll.
"Well, as I had just said, there's one more place of importance here in the village. That place would be the clearing to the west. Once a month, a small trading caravan occupies the space and barters various goods to the villagers. It's a neat little procession – allowing us occasional luxuries such as finer foods, produce we aren't able to grow in this particular climate, and other high-quality furnishings in exchange for what little we produce.
Anyways, it just so happened that they arrived earlier this morning. I would like to take you over there so that you can meet a few more Pokémon than just Fury and I. I know that it's sudden, but would you be willing to come with?"
Amy found herself frozen in place, her breath caught in her chest. Just like that, the good mood she had been building up had been swept out from under her, leaving her in a free-fall back to the same anxieties and fears she had been fending off. Meet more Pokémon? She had remembered a part of herself being a bit anxious at the opportunity to see more creatures, but to have the guarantee just present itself like this?
She was so unsure of what to do. How safe would it actually be for her and her baby to mingle with who knows what? Were there risks of her true identity as a human somehow being uncovered despite what Gallia had told her? There were so many questions she could ask herself, and she hardly knew the answer to any of them.
Gallia, having apparently sensed her slight distress, was now knelt beside her, running a gentle hand along her back and scratching between her shoulder blades in a familiar motion to try and calm her down. It was such a demeaning thing, to be pet like some animal. Yet just as before, the gesture was strangely effective at helping regain her composure. Calmly, the Gardevoir spoke to her in a way that almost reminded Amy of her own mother.
"Now, there's absolutely no reason for you to work yourself up over something as small as this. It was just a suggestion, I'm not forcing you to go if you don't want to... although I will try and convince you."
Amy sighed.
"I know... and a part of me would feel bad if I said no outright. Still, I'm just so nervous about it all. I mean, the only reason I left my room in the first place was because that nightmare was making me feel terrible about myself."
Gallia slowed her stroking, chuckling softly.
"Amy, I promise that there's nothing to be nervous about. Why, I'd be willing to bet coin that talking to most of the Pokémon around here is hardly any different from speaking to a human that you've never met before. Besides, you'll have to talk sooner or later; I won't always be by your side, and what would you do if you found yourself lost in some other city on the journey to Azurview? Like I said, this decision is a voluntary one, but it would only do you good to at least try. And I'll be watching you as much as I can while we're there, just to be absolutely sure nothing happens."
Amy felt herself frown slightly. She wasn't quite convinced that talking to Pokémon would be exactly like meeting a stranger for the first time, but hearing Gallia volunteer to keep an eye on her was at least reassuring. She also had to admit that the Gardevoir had a point – what would she do if, no, when she found herself in much larger settlements as she traveled north to reach Azurview City? In a way, this could be like practicing for some crazy test. That hardly made her any more excited at the prospect of throwing herself headlong into an entire village's worth of Pokémon, though.
But then again, perhaps she was. Despite how she felt, the idea had intrigued her. And if every Pokémon had at least one type and could pull of things that were just as incredible as telekinesis and mind reading, then she would surely be in for quite the experience, right?
"I... I guess I can try going. But if I can't handle it, could you take me back here so I don't have another panic attack?"
"That seems like a reasonable request."
The Gardevoir smiled and made to get up, but not before Amy could ask another question.
"Umm, Gallia?"
"Mhm?"
"Okay, uh – oh geez – do you think that while you're still petting me, you could scratch behind my ears? My cat loved it when I did that, and I'm curious to know what all the fuss was about."
–-
Amy lagged behind a few paces as she continued her walk with Gallia. A deep blush burning just beneath her fur while she tried not to think about what had just transpired. She couldn't see the Gardevoir's face, but she could tell just from the way that she carried herself that it was a struggle for her not to break into another fit of laughter from how Amy had acted.
"I – heheh – I knew that some quadruped Pokémon enjoy being pet every so often to help comfort them, but that was something else entirely—"
"Sh-Shut up! It never happened! And if you tell anyone, I'll find a way to get back at you, I swear on it."
Gallia giggled.
"Alright, I promise that it'll remain a secret between the two of us. But if there were any time to try and compose ourselves, it would be now. We've nearly reached the clearing."
Sure enough, Amy found that if she strained her ears, she could faintly hear the distinct droning of many, many voices somewhere in the distance. The two continued in relative silence until they reached a fork in the road that she must have failed to notice before. Turning onto it, the pair continued along, the distant voices beginning to grow in volume as they followed along the few twists and turns that presumably led to the clearing. Amy could feel butterflies stirring in her stomach with every step she took; there were so many things that she didn't know about this world, specifically when talking to other Pokémon...
"Gallia? What should I do if I find myself stuck talking with someone? What should and shouldn't I say? How do I need to act?"
Gallia was silent for a moment, a pensive look on her face.
"Well, I suppose everything depends on context. My best advice would be to simply follow the flow of conversation, and don't mention anything that could end up trapping you in a corner in regards to answering questions you wouldn't know the answer to."
The Gardevoir went quiet until a sudden realization seemed to cross her mind.
"Ah, and another nugget of wisdom: as an Espeon, other Pokémon you meet may have certain expectations of you. Your species sits quite high in the hierarchy of Auristead – viewed as a symbol of elegance, virtue, and wisdom. Simply put, just be as polite and courteous as you can possibly be."
Amy sighed, apart from 'be nice' and 'don't be stupid', she couldn't really pick out any useful information concerning her worries. For now, that meant that she would have to try and avoid drawing attention to herself, but based off of Gallia's statement about Espeon and how they're regarded, that suddenly sounded a lot harder than previously thought.
Closer still they drew to their destination. If Amy focused, she could begin to make out distinct voices from the much more noisy droning from up ahead, not to mention that she could see the point in which the trees gave way to more open space and countless shapes that moved just beyond. Her stomach began to lurch with every new detail she was able to make out from behind the tree line. She looked up at Gallia, who returned a sideways glance.
"Amy, are you still willing to continue? I think I could feel your anxiety from half a mile away at this point."
"Y-Yeah, I've got this. Like you said, it would only be good for me to do this."
Her voice was trembling now. In spite of her best efforts, she could no longer stop her tail from twitching to and fro in clear reflection of her nerves. Gallia herself seemed uncertain of whether or not she should make a move to try and comfort her once more, but eventually averted her eyes and continued to keep a steady pace, albeit reluctantly. Amy began mentally began going through the motions of walking in her new body to take her mind off of her nervousness as she forced every grueling step on the way to another necessary milestone in this world.
And then they crossed the tree line, passing another physical barrier that separated herself from everything this new world had to offer.
Amy's breath caught as she took in the sight before her. Truthfully, there weren't many Pokémon – she would probably have found more individuals in the bleachers of a packed-out baseball game at a small school, but considering every creature she saw before her was distinctly not of the human race, she felt that she may as well have been staring down an army. They were all so different, so foreign, but at the same time, also vaguely familiar. Despite coming in so many different shapes and sizes, many of the creatures had a definite rodent motif about them. She could pick out several Pokémon in the crowd that reminded her of animals such as mice, rats, ferrets, and even a raccoon, in one instance. There were far more than just that, however; a few, musclebound Pokémon with grayish skin and what honest-to-God looked like wrestling trunks, a nondescript bird that sort of looked like a pigeon, and what looked to be a family of wolf and dog-like creatures with rocks in their fur were also things that the former human noticed as she scanned her surroundings.
Speaking of, she had to admit that the setup for the caravan was impressive. It was a little difficult to see past all the Pokémon in the way, but Amy could make out several wagons that had seemingly been pulled in by some enormous horse Pokémon that stood beside them. They were arranged in a semicircle, with carpets or small stands sat out in front of almost every one that offered various things that Amy could hardly see from where she stood. Some Pokémon were clustered around them, haggling costs and trying to strike a bargain, while others were content to just socialize with one another and enjoy a pleasant day.
Hardly ten seconds had passed since leaving the safety of the trees before Pokémon began to notice that a new pair of visitors were entering the clearing. Many of them had the same reaction to seeing the two – greeting the familiar Gardevoir with either a smile or a wave, only to have their eyes grew wide at noticing her new Espeon companion. Within moments, Amy found that there were far more eyes on her than she felt comfortable with. She glanced up at Gallia, her heart beating like a jackhammer, only to be dismayed at seeing the village's healer gesturing for her to follow as she made straight towards the hoard of waiting Pokémon.
"Come on, Amy, it won't be nearly as bad as you're making it out to be. Besides, there's someone I'd really like for you to be acquainted with."
Much to her own surprise, Amy found that she was able to take the first step forward. Sure, her legs felt like wet noodles as they threatened to buckle and give out from beneath her, but she was able to follow Gallia nonetheless. And before she knew it, the two of them were immersed in the crowd of Pokémon going about their business with the trading caravan.
And what a trial it was! As the pair moved alongside creatures that Amy could hardly begin to describe, she could feel every eye on her. Her body felt as though it were on autopilot as she watched every creature she could find, head swiveling back and forth to meet faces of surprise and disbelief. Human emotions on things that weren't exactly human, it was all so surreal.
"Ah, there he is. Sirden! Over here!"
Gallia called out, drawing even more unwanted attention to Amy as she waved to someone beyond a small huddle of creatures that she was unable to see past. A few seconds later, another Pokémon was weaving their way about the clearing, making a clear path towards Gallia. It reminded her of the Gardevoir in so many ways: the roughly humanoid shape, the vibrant green and white palette, the same brilliant ruby eyes, and even the same fin-like object protruding from its chest. Yet somehow, it just wasn't said species of Pokémon. While Gallia was the very embodiment of grace and all that was lady-like, this creature was decidedly more masculine, if the lack of a flowing gown and the presence of (literally) bladed elbows were any indication. There was still a certain air about him, however. Every motion had a certain poise to it, a natural elegance that screamed 'I can be your prince charming'.
"There you are, Gallia. I thought for sure that you would still be asleep."
His voice was lax and teasing, yet still held a properness to it that made him sound so formal. To sum it up, this Pokémon seemed as if he could be the perfect soulmate for Gallia.
A conclusion proven all too correct when he leaned in and planted a quick peck on her cheek.
Heh, nice to see that I'm already developing my Psychic-type powers...
Gallia playfully pushed the Pokémon away from her and rolled her eyes.
"Oh you – I don't sleep that late. Besides, I've brought someone to introduce you to, unless you were too busy swooning over your 'pure maiden' to notice?"
The Pokémon's cheeks took on a faint blush at her words, prompting him to actually look beside her and notice that Amy had been standing there the whole time. With a start, he quickly bowed in apology.
"Ah, forgive my negligence in introducing myself, miss Espeon. I'm Sirden of Azurview, Gallade, proud husband to Gallia, and sworn protector of Merri Village. It's a pleasure to meet you under much better circumstances."
Amy blinked, looking to the Gallade uncertainly before responding.
"Oh, u-umm, pleased to meet you too, Sirden. I'm Amy."
Sirden raised a brow.
"A rather unusual name, but it has a nice sound to it regardless. You were unconscious at the time, but I was the one who first found you. I was making my rounds along the perimeter of the village when I found you passed out on the road heading north. I couldn't wake you up, so I brought you straight to Gallia's patient house."
"R-Really? I didn't mean to worry anybody, it just sorta happened. I was... uh..."
Amy trailed off, what should she say to this? It had hardly been five minutes and she was already realizing the worst-case scenario she had envisioned of talking herself into a corner and somehow letting on that she wasn't a normal Pokémon.
To her surprise, though, Sirden's face grew more apologetic.
"You don't have to tell me what you were up to if you don't want to. Everyone has a secret or two, and I hardly meant to make you feel uncomfortable."
"No no, it's okay! I just—"
Amy bit her lip and went quiet. Glancing up at Gallia, she was met with an amused, almost knowing smile. Had she known how the conversation would play out this entire time? If so, she could definitely see why the Gardevoir would pick her own husband as the first Pokémon to meet. He seemed so simple in spite of his demeanor, so easy to please. Looking back to Sirden, she saw that he was watching her expectantly, patiently waiting for her to continue. And just like that, she knew exactly what to say.
"Thank you..."
The words were quick and a bit clumsy, but that seemed more than enough for the Gallade as his smile broadened.
"My pleasure. Say, why don't we move somewhere else? We seem to be getting in the way of things with all the attention."
Amy looked around, the spell of the conversation broken. All around her, she could see that Pokémon were still staring, a circle of curious faces slowly beginning to form around the three of them. The younger ones going as far as to climb over one another to try and get a better look at her. At his request, Amy and Gallia followed him as the thin circle parted. In no time, they approached one of few vacant wagons and resettled. They were no longer in the center of all the Pokémon, much to Amy's relief, but now that she had been spotted, she could clearly see all the quick glances thrown her way. However, she hardly had time to make anything of it before she found herself drawn to Gallia as she conversed with her lover.
"So, how have things been in the clearing? I'd come earlier to get the things for a quick breakfast with Amy, but I haven't been back since."
Sirden shrugged.
"Things had ben going well at the start, but an issue's come up that has quite a few of the villagers upset. Can't you sense it?"
"Mm, now that you mention it, I do sense some agitation. What's wrong?"
"It's the new Fire-type that Nedos hired to work on the meat wagon. Apparently, he lied to him about being able to prepare meats properly and ended up burning most of what —"
"I heard my name! You lot better not be talkin' behind my back!"
A booming voice shot up from behind Sirden and Gallia, actually causing the two to start and prompting the blade-like extensions of Sirden's elbows to shoot out into wickedly sharp points. Amy could almost feel her heart stop as thunderous footfalls nearly lifted her off the ground with every step. She watched in horror as a monstrous figure began approaching them with an aggressive glare on its face. It had a bipedal form with a deep purple hide and plated gray skin running from its chest down. Many sharp spines and horns covered its body, but most importantly, it was big, very big. For the first time since waking up as an Espeon, Amy was genuinely concerned for her well-being. All the fine hairs on her body stood on end while her ears flattened against her head. She felt herself lower her stance and her lips cocked into a quiet snarl as she backed away from the approaching monster. The air around her felt charged and she was ready to run for her life.
In a flash, Gallia was between the two of them, her arms spread wide. She looked a bit breathless, but she stood unwavering in front of the massive beast.
"It's okay, Nedos, it's just us. What in the Creator's name has you so worked up?"
The large creature slowed his approach, coming to an eventual stop upon noticing his aggression. With a loud growl, he began venting his apparent frustration.
"It's that damn Pansear! He tricked me and ended up ruining most of what I had set out for the meat wagon today! And now every 'mon with a taste for meat's on my back, wanting goods that I can't give. Let me tell ya, I have half a mind to throttle that pipsqueak for pulling the wool over me like that!"
Amy felt herself begin to relax as a calming wave began to wash over her. It must have been from Gallia, because the large creature also appeared to be simmering down a little bit as he grumbled quietly to himself about something. The former human's face flushed once again at her actions and her posture returned to a more normal state as Sirden made his way over to the large Pokémon and his wife to try and better understand the situation.
"I mean no offense, but couldn't you just prepare the foods yourself?"
Nedos snorted.
"Hah, even if I knew how to do half as good a job as a Fire-type, it's never a good idea to let a Poison 'mon like myself anywhere close to food. C'mon, I know you're smarter than that."
The behemoth creature turned his smoldering gaze away from the two other Pokémon, only to blink a few times as he seemed to notice for the first time that Amy existed. His stare was uncomfortable enough to make her fur stand back up, but she was determined not to run in spite of her body screaming for her to do so. Did she even know how in this body?
"Ah, you must be the little miss I heard about when I rumbled on in. Heheh, sorry 'bout that hissy fit – I'm usually not so venomous at others like that. Name's Nedos, head of this little caravan you see here."
Amy made no attempt to reply. She just stared, heart racing a mile a minute. After a few moments of silence, Nedos simply grunted and turned back towards Gallia and Sirden.
"Anyways, that's pretty much the gist of my problems: my new cook can't cook, and now every meat-eating 'mon is at my throat about it. I even tried askin' around, but nobody else in the caravan or village is willing to take up the mantle until we're ready to go, not that they could hold a candle to what Boaros could cook – no offense to your folk."
Gallia shrugged.
"None taken, I suppose. Though I hardly understand why no one would at least try to help and fix this."
"Mm, your guess is as good as mine. Twisted Hells, I'd bet that even this new friend of yours could at least cook something without burning it, and I doubt she's even seen a kitchen or raw Ducklett in her life!"
Amy felt her eyes narrow into a glare as the large Pokémon gestured her way. While it was certainly nice that he didn't want to kill her, she couldn't help but be the least bit angry at how he was acting. She felt like she had just been stereotyped in some way, and it hurt like an ill-placed needle in the arm – especially when the exact opposite was the case.
Which was probably why she couldn't stop the words before they fell from her mouth.
"That's not true! I bet I could cook circles around anyone you've ever met!"
She immediately snapped her mouth closed and wished she had a roll of duct tape, but it was far too late now. As one, the three Pokémon turned to stare at her, each with varying degrees of surprise and intrigue written on their faces. With a cocked brow, Nedos looked her up and down, seeming to appraise her for something he had missed.
"Go on."
And she did. Fueled by her still-flustered state and a fresh rush of adrenalin from remarking at the monstrous Pokémon, Amy found that she couldn't stop from going on and on about herself.
"Well – I mean, uh... yeah, I-I know a little here and there about it, b-but I'm a far cry from anything world-class and stuff. Everything I've know is mostly what my mom taught me, but I've always wanted to try and become a professional. That or a pop star, but my dad totally talked me down from that one—"
And she went on, rambling about little things, useless things that had very little relevance to the conversation that had been brought up, but she didn't stop. It was like the sheer intimidation factor of the towering Pokémon had broken some sort of valve on her voice box, and now she couldn't shut herself up. She knew that she would regret saying what she was saying in due time, heck, she was already feeling that way about some of what had already spouted out. Did they even know what a pop star was in this world? She couldn't help but cringe at herself – this was quickly becoming quite the disaster.
–-
Far to the south of Merri Village, very much the same sentiment was being felt. A Mismagius hurried through vast, arching corridors from deep within a palace, hardly bothering to appreciate the intricacies of the stonework as she silently flew past several servants – even going as far as to phase through one of them to reach her destination in a timely manner. Within a minute, she managed to navigate the maze of hallways and reach the end of a particularly ornate stretch of hall with a pair of massive doors. They were built from solid wood carved from master crafts'mon and accented with heavy hinges and gorgeous handles – both gold-plated and worth more than her own life.
In front of the doors stood a pair of Aegislash, two unmoving and emotionless sentries whose burning eyes pierced her eidolon and bore straight into her very essence. Carefully, she approached the royal guards, who continued to sit motionless behind the impressive polish of their shields. As she drew ever closer, however, the pair of Pokémon responded in kind by slowly levitating higher and removing themselves from the nigh impenetrable stance they took when charged with defending something.
She stopped right where she was, wary of being attacked by Pokémon that were hardly supposed to be her enemy. With a quiet cough, she cleared her throat and spoke aloud, her voice echoing through the hall.
"Greetings, I am Zephosa of Willoway. I have come to gain emergency access to His Highness' private audience chamber. There are matters of utmost importance that I must discuss with him."
There was no response, or at least, not at first. The Aegislash continued to stare her down with their unblinking gaze as they hovered above, now fully unsheathed and ready to strike with their mercilessly sharp bodies. For a brief moment, she was beginning to think that she would have to retreat and approach her king at a later point in time. But that was absurd – the matter at hand was dire and could not wait any longer!
Thankfully, it seemed as though fate agreed with her on this matter; there was a muffled noise that came from behind the door, and ever so slowly, it was pushed open from the other side to reveal an Absol. His fur had been brushed thoroughly, and the Ghost-type could smell the lingering odors of fine soaps about him. He wore his extravagant collar with pride, but not even the finest grooming in the world could hide the fact that he looked less than pleased to be disturbed at this time.
"Ah, Miss Zephosa, it's you. What brings the esteemed Oracle of Omens to the palace on such short notice? Everything is going well, I assume?"
Zephosa narrowed her eyes at the steward, the sarcasm in his voice hardly lost on her. She opened her mouth to give a retort, only to abruptly stop in realizing that her intended response would likely have her removed from the premises. Why of all times did she have to put up with this arrogant excuse for a Dark-type?
"You know better than most what my powers entail, Istrus. If there were ever a day in which my visions foretold of things going 'well', there would surely be a celebration held in my name. We both know why I've come here, so why not skip the formalities and permit me access to His Highness' audience chambers. I have dire news to present to him that cannot be ignored."
Istrus frowned, glancing to either side of himself to peer at the Aegislash. They made no effort to look back, instead focusing their hollow stares at the potential threat that presented herself before them. With a quiet huff, the Absol looked back towards Zephosa, wearing an apologetic look that was so fake that it actually offended her.
"My sincerest apologies, but His Majesty is currently entertaining an unexpected guest. I am certain that he would want to hear of this news you have, but as it stands now, an interesting situation has developed in the throne room. If you were to return in an hour or two, I believe—"
The steward trailed off as Zephosa drew dangerously close, ignoring how the Aegislash tensed their forms and moved to match her advance. Now mere inches away from his muzzle, the oracle whispered her vision – a simple sentence that she knew would resolve this situation and grant her the access she desired.
"The Bringer of Day may very well be walking amongst us yet again..."
Zephosa watched with immense satisfaction as the Absol's eyes flew open, the midnight blue of his skin becoming more of a gray as the color drained from it. He recoiled from the words, as if she had just uttered a promise of death upon him and his family – which may very well be the case with such horrifying news. To his credit, though, he did an exceptional job of composing himself and hiding the panic on his face... although he was now quite literally trembling where he stood.
"I see... in that case, I shall speak to His Majesty and implore that he takes immediate audience with you. Guards, this Pokémon before you is hereby a guest of the palace and will be treated as such until her departure."
With that, the steward retreated behind the doors, closing them with what little telekinesis he could muster from his Hidden Power. The Aegislash relaxed and returned to their defensive stances as Zephosa waited, the hallway bathed in a fresh silence. It went on like this for several more minutes before the doors opened once more to, again, reveal the Absol. He didn't seem as spooked as before, but there was still an obvious panic about him now that he knew the scope of the issue.
"His Majesty awaits, Miss Zephosa. Please follow me so that we may reach him."
The Absol turned and began walking back into the room that lay behind him, beckoning the Mismagius to follow as he did so. She complied, trailing right behind the Dark-type as the doors closed behind her. What sat beyond the doors was an enormous room constructed of white marble and accented with a cascade of colors from the light pouring through the stained glass. It was long, wide, and held the specially crafted platform that their king used as a throne at the opposite end. There was no one sitting in it, which meant that the steward had indeed set up the meeting to be held in the private chamber. That was good, the last thing the kingdom of Ridan needed was for the prying ears of a servant or another member of the royal court to send it into hysteria from the news she had.
The pair continued further into the room, moving in an almost reverent fashion past the large dais that the king's platform sat atop. Once they made it to the back of the room, just past the throne-like object, they were met with another set of solid doors, though they were much smaller than the ones that initially led into the main throne room. After the two had made their way through them, they found themselves within a smaller, much more plain hallway that branched off in a few different directions. The Absol took the corridor that appeared almost immediately to the right, with Zephosa following in relative silence. At its end was one last door guarded by a lone Aegislash that sat imposingly in front of the entrance. This was it, the private audience chamber for the King of Ridan. It felt like it had been ages since Zephosa had first been inside that very same room, moved to tears at the offer to assist both His Highness and the kingdom as a whole with what little she had. The pair drew nearer to the door, the Aegislash moving smoothly to the side so as to permit access to the room. If she had an actual heart, it would probably be beating like a drum right now. The oracle watched with baited breath as the elegant door was pulled open by a force that was neither Zephosa's nor the Absol's.
And on the other side of the doorway was their beloved monarch, King Maykine, undisputed ruler of Ridan.
Zephosa and Istrus entered the much smaller room with heads bowed in respect of the figure that sat proudly before them. In spite of this, the oracle couldn't help but cast furtive glances at the tentacles atop the Malamar's head, which were clasped with thick, cuff-like bands of gold encrusted with the finest gemstones she had ever seen. The Absol made his way to the side of his master and sat proudly next to him as Zephosa made to hover over a small platform that was her designated spot to address the monarch. Looking up, she could feel the overwhelming aura of authority that the Dark and Psychic Pokémon possessed as she drank in his form. It may have been because he was abnormally large for a Pokémon of his species, or simply the fact that he was the endearing ruler that she'd always looked up to, but she felt safe and reassured in his presence.
But he looked so tired right now, like he had hardly slept all night. That would hardly strike her as unusual – especially with how Auristead had been squeezing their kingdom as of late, but to see it taking such a tole on his day-to-day health was distressing. Regardless, the regal Pokémon spoke with the same encompassing voice that had essentially become legend to the kingdom's inhabitants.
"Good morning, Zephosa. I find it a shame that you must come to bear ill news on such a pleasant day. Nevertheless, I thank you for bringing whatever misfortunes you have to my attention before it is too late. What is this 'dire news' that Istrus speaks to me of?"
Zephosa took a breath to steady herself.
"Your Majesty, this morning I was met with a vision. I will not bother with the details leading up to that moment, but do know that as a result, I am now convinced that The Bringer of Day once more treads the soil of Amaranth."
Words. In the end, that's all they were. But words were powerful, that much the Mismagius knew. A simple question could break the chains of despair in the same way that a few curt words could break a heart, and watching the towering King's body grow so tense only added to the notion that a single herald could do the work of an entire army. The room had become as quiet as death itself in those first moments, the only sound being the shallow breathing of its occupants. Eventually, however, the spell was broken by the grave voice of their ruler.
"Tell me everything that transpired. Spare no detail."
Zephosa nodded solemnly.
"Of course, sire. It was nearly dawn when I was struck with the vision. One moment I was reading by candlelight, the next, I found myself within the forests that grow just beyond our northern borders. To be more specific, I was in an unremarkable village that I believe to lay within Auristead. The sun had just come over the horizon, yet I had the distinct impression that very few were even awake. I was confused at first, but then, without warning, a sensation came over me that drew me eastward. It wasn't long before I found myself coming upon a small beach – one painted with blood and molten sand. There were four Pokémon there: a Gallade, a Delphox, and... an Espeon, who stood crying over the form of a child that I assumed was dying. I made a move to confront them, but before I could even leave the trees, the Espeon exploded into a blinding light than outshone all but the sun itself. After that, I found myself back at my home, where I set off immediately to inform you of this development."
Another silence followed suit, but this once wasn't as unsettling as before. Rather, it was a contemplative silence, one in which her beloved ruler sat with a deep look of concentration on his face. Finally, he let out a thoughtful grunt and spoke, his voice firm and authoritative.
"Zehosa, tell me more of this dying child you witnessed. For one, are you certain it was a child to begin with? And of what species did it belong to?"
Zephosa grimaced, trying hard not to shrink away from her King.
"I... cannot say much. I could hardly discern its actual age, nor its species. But something... something just compelled me to believe that it was a child, and for that, I apologize. But I believe that I caught a name while the Espeon was crying, right before she bathed the world in light."
"Did you now? What was it you heard?"
"Zolkir. The child's name was Zolkir..."
Maykine furrowed his brow.
"Hmm, that doesn't sound like a name one would normally hear outside of Ridan, but I know no Pokémon with a child by that name. Perhaps it was one of the children who belong to this village. That leads to the next question, though. Was this vision an accurate foretelling of things to come? Or was it merely symbolic in nature?"
Zephosa looked ashamedly away from her King.
"I would think it to be the former, m'lord, but I cannot be certain. Again, I apolog—"
Maykine cut her off with a shake of his head.
"There is no need for an apology. I know all too well the vague nature of powers and magics associated with the Psychic typing."
He then sighed.
"But that's hardly a significant concern to begin with. What does matter is that your vision suggests that The Bringer of Day has indeed returned – a significant threat to my claim that cannot so easily be ignored. Istrus, contact General Shearon and have him come to me immediately. We must organize the scouting regiments to stake out the lands that Zephosa's vision specified and see if this Espeon does indeed exist. We will then deal with the situation accordingly."
Istrus' eyes widened.
"Y-Your Majesty, sneaking soldiers and assassins into Auristead would result in them redoubling their efforts to strangle our economy – and that would be if they don't decide to invade us outright! Surely there must be another alternative."
"And I would gladly hear of any ploy of yours that would not involve reaching a Pokémon who resides within the realm of an enemy kingdom without crossing its borders, but as it stands, I doubt that there is any real choice in the matter, and we must act swiftly. Do realize that if our dear Zephosa has had this vision, then what odds would there be of Auristead's Council of Creation having a similar premonition? As childish as it may sound, we are in a race to claim The Bringer of Day's head, for if her power were to stand beside another's throne when they marched upon us... then all hope would be lost."
Istrus blanched slightly.
"I understand, please forgive my interruption. I will see to reaching out for General Shearon immediately."
With that, the Absol bowed to Maykine and hurried out of the room to do whatever it was stewards did best, leaving Zephosa alone within the looming presence of the Malamar. She spoke up quickly, as not to insult her King with an awkward silence.
"What would you have of me now, Your Majesty?"
Maykine gave a warm smile, however weak it may have been.
"You need not do any more than you already have. Your contributions this day may have been vital in ensuring our well-being. I knew I had made the right decision in appointing you as the royal oracle. I will be sure to compensate you for this in due time."
"Th-Thank you, Your Majesty, but knowing that I have forewarned my homeland of such a threat so that it may be overcome is payment enough for me."
Maykine chuckled.
"Nonsense! I insist that you be rewarded for this, but how...? Ah, I know, return to my throne room at this time tomorrow and I will introduce you to a Pokémon I met yesterday. I hardly wish to spoil who they are, but I've no doubt that you will be just as intrigued by them as I."
And just like that, the hasty audience was ended. Zephosa gave her farewells to her King and soon found herself outside of the palace gates – thrown once more into the bustling streets and boulevards of Duskrown City's royal district, the economic and political capitols of Ridan. As she hovered above the brick streets, she couldn't help but feel that something was... off. It didn't come in the form of a vision or premonition, rather, she just had this persistent feeling that something much larger than herself was beginning to fall into place and move the wheels of fate. Ridan, nay, the world, was about to find itself on the cusp of change, only she didn't know what that change was or what was going to cause it. But then again, perhaps she did know for that latter piece. Her mind flashed back to what she had seen in her vision that morning...
A young Espeon huddled over a dying child, tears rolling off of her face as she radiated with the light of The Bringer of Day, screaming a single name over and over...
"Zolkir!"
Why did that name sound so familiar to her?
Author's Note:
And the plot thickens...
Was this a good chapter? I honestly have no idea. Part of me wants to say "meh", while the rest of me wants to sleep after powering through my first bout of writer's block for the story. Good or bad, be sure to leave your thoughts in a review, it really helps me out if you have any advice to give, as well as also serving as a great motivator for me to keep on chugging along with this little story of mine.
Also, we passed 1,000 total views while I was writing this chapter! I have no idea if that's a good thing for a fic that only had three chapters at the time of reaching said milestone, but I'm gonna hazard a guess and say that it's not bad.
Review Reply:
7sky: I'm glad you think the story is good enough to ignore grammar, spelling, etc. I unfortunately don't feel the same way, which is why I've asked for people to send in a review or PM detailing any typos they find so that I may correct them as soon as possible.
PinkLion: The very existence of this chapter should answer that nagging question of yours ;)
Fixerbacta, Just a reader, and Guest: Glad you're enjoying things so far!
NanobotEX: And he strikes again! Thank you as always for reviewing this little story of mine. Yes, it will certainly be a difficult task to keep up such vivid and descriptive language throughout the entire story, which is why you'll notice that as we get higher and higher into the chapter count (assuming you stick around for that long), said language will be dialed back just a tiny bit. And as for the info dumping bit, I'll definitely be keeping as alert as possible to make sure that there isn't too much of that (not sure if I accomplished it with this chapter or not). And while I won't spoil anything, who's to say that those substantial gaps in knowledge Amy has about this world won't somehow advance the plot in unexpected ways?
Chapter Trivia:
Let's talk about Zephosa! She's an interesting character, right? No? Well too bad, because this is about her. Originally, she was never meant to be in this story – she's a reimagining of a character from an original fantasy sTory that I had tried to write at one point (and has since been scrapped). The original version of the character shares the same name and even has a similar role aMismagius.s an oracle of sorts who is prone to having prophetic visions that often times spell disaster. In fact, the only real difference between the two is that the original version of Zephosa was human, whereas this version is a Mismagius.
As per usual, be sure to PM me a long list of screw-ups you found in this chapter so that I may fix them at once!
See ya next chapter
