Chapter 7: Freedom
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure you're fine?"
"Yes, I'm positive."
"Lorelei, are you okay?"
"I said I'm FINE!"
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Ever since I was a child, I knew I was not going to grow up like everybody else does. From the start, I already sensed my cold insensitive heart. My mom would always tell me to play with other kids in the neighborhood, I simply would nod but later on, I will be on my bed, hugging my Pokémon dolls. 'No one is the same as my age here anyway.' I would always reason out. It was true; Four Island is like an island of old women. If it was me, I would call it Old People's Island.
"I was wondering," Glacia bit her lower lip, as she faced me and Phoebe inside the cottage. Now, people were back to their duties, leaving the three of us alone. "Why are we cleaning this place anyway? We should leave this job to people who are paid to clean bombed buildings. We should be after Team Rocket right now, right? They could not simply bomb the building without being punished, right?"
I became interested in Ice-type Pokémon when I was still four. My mom showed me a cute baby Seel and immediately, I sought comfort in it. It was one of the most interesting things I have experienced, when I took care of a Pokémon. It was a living thing, I knew, and everytime it shows responses to the soft strokes that I gave it, the Seel would close its eyes and cuddle closer to me like a baby.
"Now that you said that, it was a thought worth thinking about." said Phoebe. I merely watched the two Hoenn Elites talking while I sat on the hard stool. Then, both ladies turned to me, their eyes striking inside my soul, "What do you think should we be doing right now?"
It was then I realized what things fascinate me—the simplicity of life. We alone can devalue gold and throw our fame and fortune away; we will still be normal human beings. Living beings, Pokémon and humans, a race that I was not too familiar with, their irrational instincts and radical impulses have always baffled me. Whenever I pinch my baby Seel so hard, it would squeal in pain. And whenever I run my fingers over its thick white fur, it would shiver in excitement, asking for more.
"We can not chase after Team Rocket because we have no lead. All we can do now is stay here and clean the area." I said. Things ran over my complex brain, and suddenly, I thought of my death. I smiled, looking at the two confused trainers whom I was talking to. The fates are so cruel to me. "Glacia, do you know a nice restaurant somewhere here? I'm famished."
I grew up and realized my goal in life—it was to discover the deepest mystery of my life. I believe that every living soul lives, not knowing why, yet seeming to divine a purpose. It was everyone's duty, to find the real meaning of life in their own way. But it seems that I alone knew that mission we are bound to do. People are blinded by fortune and are shrouded by a mist of false belief. With the company of the little number of Pokémon I possess, I started my mission which I believe will lead me to the path of discovery.
"Oh, yes, of course! Come," Glacia, with Phoebe trailing behind her, went out of the cottage. I followed, slowly walking. This is my first time in Hoenn, and I would like to see the beauty of this region. As I pushed the light wooden door, streaks of the afternoon sun hit my prying eyes. Stepping out of the cottage, and with the faint smile of the daylight outlined by the distorted thin clouds on the horizon, I was partially shocked as the view of huge debris and the wrecked building that contrasted the beauty that I was experiencing. Nevertheless, Glacia and Phoebe were standing there, waiting for me. Glacia hooked her arm just below my elbow and urged me forward, "I know a very nice restaurant not far away."
During my journey, I met Pryce, the cold-hearted man whose Pokémon was lost in the icy caves. When I looked in his eyes, I saw the same eyes whenever I glance at the mirror. His eyes were hungry for discovery, his eyes were like mine. I knew that we were on the same level, even though he was a full grown man while I was a young elementary girl. I knew that he, too, was searching for the meaning of life. However, as he took me under his wing, I learned the hard cold reality. We need to be as cold as ice, as hard as a diamond, and as subtle as we can be to know our purpose in life.
In a matter of minutes, we were soaring beneath the dark clouds of the night sky. Lance lent us his Dragonite, the one which I was fond of riding. The Pokémon was very familiar with the three of us as Glacia sat on the front, her hands encircling the slender round neck, Phoebe was infront of me and behind of Glacia, her hands around the other woman's waist. And I, who was at the rear end of Dragonite, have my hands hooking on Phoebe's bare shoulders as the winds splashed hot humid air on our exposed faces.
As years passed by, and with the aid of my mentor Pryce, I learned the fine tricks of the trade. My Pokémon became stronger and my skills and knowledge as a Pokémon trainer deepened, and I became a mature young lady. And then, one day changed my whole life. While Pryce was scolding me for not properly commanding my Pokémon, an old woman barged in. It was Agatha. With Pryce's full consent, I went with Agatha to the Pokémon League. She told me that I was waiting in line, a fine golden line that lead to being Elite. I was still eleven back then, yet my persona was different from the other children's bubbly happy ones. That was the point in my life when I realized that I, too, like Pryce, have become as cold as ice.
"We're here!" exclaimed Glacia, as she pulled Dragonite into a halt infront of a large expensive looking restaurant in the midst of a festive town. I looked around when I got down of Dragonite. There was a Pokémon tent at the other side of the store a big museum beside it. But even though my head was searching for more introductions of the foreign place, it was dark, and I could not see more. Only the decorative lights of the restaurant infront of me were occupying my attention. The glass windows showed the fancy costumers dining in, and I knew this bistro isn't just for strangers. A man, wearing a black tuxedo, opened the exclusive door for us, "Welcome, members of the Elite Four Kanto and Hoenn region. I will show your table."
As I grew up, the part of me that was different did not vanish. Up to this very day, I am as cold as ice and as hard as a thick iceberg, suspended in the sea of innovation. And as I continue my search for the real meaning and purpose of my life, I know that even though how hard I try to change that trait, that I am insensitive and intricate, I will always be the cold Lorelei that Pryce has carved under his frozen soul. Sometimes, I want to break out of this hard shell. Sometimes, I wondered what life is if I tried to live like everyone else, not caring about the answer to my question of life. Sometimes, I want to be free.
"How did you know that we were coming?" Phoebe asked, when she passed by the gentleman at the door. The man, as courteous as he is, bowed lowly, and pointed his hand to the table on his right. I turned my head to the long elegant rectangular table with three vacant chairs and saw the familiar faces of Agatha, Bruno, Lance and Steven. Drake and Sidney of the Hoenn Elite was also there, an empty seat between them. As Glacia, Phoebe and I walked towards the long table, my eyes could not stop searching. At the other end of the table, I saw Vincent in a stylish black tuxedo below a pure white necktie. Of all the people who are differently alike, their faces were bearing the same problematic expression that stirred a thought in me. My mind could not help but think that we are going to talk about some important matters.
To flow like water and to be as cold as ice, that is the first thing that I remember when I think of my former mentor. It hurts me to know that I am living in a world of lies. I put up my serious insensitive expression whenever people are around but when I am alone, I feel like a child locked behind bars and ridden of humanly emotions. I want to cry. I want to laugh. I want to live without worrying what will happen tomorrow. I want to be free. I want to be free. I want to be free, can't you see?
I sat silently, on Steven's right and Lance's left. All eyes were on me, glaring, like a group of angry mutilated beings who only wanted to protect their offspring. Once everyone was seated, I felt as if we own the restaurant, the costumers were leaving. We were alone by ourselves, the Kanto and Hoenn Elites, and Steven and Vincent, the person who I only see as a shadow.
"Lorelei, Agatha has told us everything." said Drake, his buccaneer face hiding deep dark shadows. "…Everything…" you mean the bombings? Team Rocket? Vincent's warnings? My death? I don't want people worrying about me. They should take care of their lives more than interfering with others.
"I'm fine." I briefly smiled, and for a fraction of a second, my features became solemn again. "Everything's alright."
Vincent's dark emerald's looked black to me now, as his drowsy eyes fell on mine. Slowly, he shook his head, his fine glossy hair swaying lightly. He frowned at for the first time, his light features becoming a lot shadowy than the usual.
"Nothing's alright… Lorelei."
Please. I beg of you. Please free me of this cage. Let me out of the same cage where I desired to put myself into. Let me be free me of the bindings that was built because of my own selfish doings. Give me back my lost freedom, so that I can find the true meaning of life. Please break my hard outer shell. Please give me freedom to feel human emotions. Please melt my frozen heart. Please… Somebody… Anybody… Help me.
Behind my smile is a hurting heart, behind my face I'm falling apart. Look closely at me and you will see… the person I am isn't me…
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Author's notes: Yea~! I REALLY love this chapter! Sorry for the sudden change of writing style, this 14 yr. old author just got possessed by Lorelei's soul. Hahaha, kidding. But really, I felt possessed when I was writing this. Anyway, chapters will be a wee bit longer after this one. Thanks for the reviews! Keep reviewing please! And stay tuned, of course. x] Hyuu~!