It's been 8 months and I haven't even put up 8 chapters! I'm so sorry! A lot has been happening lately and writer's block is terrible. I'll keep trying to update, but keep in mind that "Driving Hope" will never be finished until I say so!
Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Driving Hope
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Sean groaned, they had been walking on barren rock for hours and nothing different was in sight. He was tired, but not hungry. All he wanted was a comfortable place to take shelter in and sleep for a few years. They hadn't had a rest since the day they returned to Chicago, and The Void was seriously taking a toll on the group. Suicune even looked tired.
"Suicune." Jo said, "Are we close to wherever we're going?"
Suicune sighed, the trail is weak, I can't pick up the old scents that lead to it that easily. We're on the right path, but we're either extremely close or still have an antagonizingly long trip ahead of us.
Sean turned to Jo, "I wonder…what tryant is going to show up next?"
Jo thought for moment, then shook her head, "I don't know in the slightest. Anyone we fight is going to be tough, especially after our Sephiroth encounter."
"Agreed," Jordan said, "But we need a plan. If we work together…"
"We can do anything. So let's figure it out." Julie said, cutting into Jordan's sentence. Jordan shot her a "Really?" look, to which he responded with an impish smile.
Sephiroth was toying with you guys until the end of that fight, at that point it was far too late for him to retaliate with any meaningful attack before you defeated him. Now that he's gone, the tyrants won't be underestimating you anymore.
"So how are we supposed to fight them? I can't imagine them waiting too long to have a crack at our lives." Sean said.
"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do besides always be ready for them…" Julie said, she turned to Suicune, "Now that I'm thinking about it…how in the world are we supposed to find Amaranth's soul in such a large space?"
It's my theory that the Tryants are holding her captive. Suicune said.
"So to get to her we have to fight them?" Jordan exclaimed in fury, "Dammit! Why is it so hard to be the good guys? We need a break every once in a while!"
"If it were so easy then everybody would be a hero…" Sean said, "So…we should start devising plans, right?"
"Sean, you and Jo are the only ones with any Final Fantasy experience, and you haven't beaten all of them at that. It's up to you two to figure out how we're going to beat these things." Jordan said.
Jo sighed, "I've played ten and four…"
"So it's Sean." Julie stated.
"More or less…and there's no guarantee that we'll be fighting them the same way I did in the games." Sean said.
"So we're literally in the dark here." Jordan said, referring to the blackness of the void around them.
You four need to calm down. Suicune said, Even when Sephiroth went all out on you guys you beat him, and you can do it again. Remember; teamwork is key.
Sean sighed, "He's right…"
Jo smiled, "Let's do this, guys…together!"
If Suicune hadn't said anything the group would've been too busy arguing and complaining to notice the lush green field ahead of them. Julie was the first to notice and gasped.
"It's so…green! It's the prettiest green I have ever seen!"
There it is. The Oasis.
"I'm glad for the change of scenery but…" Jordan began, "Why here? It just looks like another endless expanse of nothing…just greener."
We need help if we're going to defeat Amaranth, and the easiest way to get that help is located in there.
"What kind of help?" Julie asked.
When we created The Void, we needed pokemon that would defend it from the inside and make sure no one being would gain too much power. These pokemon were originally Zapdos, Articuno, Moltres, Mespirit, Uxie, and Azelf. The latter three, however, had to be released from The Void after a fateful encounter with Giratina and Rayquaza. The birds are still here, though. Quietly keeping the peace.
"So where are they?" Sean asked.
I don't even know. Do you four remember the orbs that were in The Power of One?
"The ones Ash used to calm the birds at their respective islands, right?" Jo asked. Suicune nodded.
Precisely. Those orbs are up ahead, and when broken will take you to a trial set by the birds themselves. These trials will test your courage, cunning, patience, and heart. If you complete them, the corresponding bird will appear and pledge their loyalty to you.
"So who's going?" Sean asked.
Jordan, Jo, and Julie.
Jordan gulped. Julie gasped with excitement, and Jo made a squeak.
"W…w..wait…we have to…you mean…get the loyalty of…um…" Jordan stammered, but all of the words that followed were too jumbled to be understood.
Be brave, this isn't different from anything you've faced before.
"But still…" Julie began, "It's difficult. You'd think things are like a video game, they start off easy and get harder and harder…but instead things start harder and get more and more impossible."
You all have gotten this far and have faced incredible odds. You are the warriors of light, remember. This is not an easy task, but you were chosen because we knew you could handle it. You've proven us correct before, and I'm not going to give up on you now.
"Once we have the birds, we'll have two legendary trios on our side…" Sean muttered, "Hey, Suicune, what's going on with the lake spirits and the Regis?"
We've lost contact with the former and the latter are guarding specific items. Regice was guarding my pendant.
"What items?" Jo asked, "Anything that the Black Hand or Celebi might need?"
Yes.
Suicune didn't answer beyond that, a silence struck the group that seemed to stretch on forever, until Jordan spoke up.
"So…what exactly is being guarded?"
If I told you that I'd have to kill you.
"What?" Julie said in shock.
Just kidding.
The group was not amused.
I can't have a little fun in a tight situation like you four always do?
"NO!" The four responded instantaneously.
Fine. There's something buried deep within Regirock's lair and Registeel's lair that all of the factions, if they knew about it, would want. It's in two pieces, one in each lair.
"Still not telling us…" Jordan said.
If you would stop interrupting I'd continue. Now, where was I? Oh yes, the artifact. Mew created a device that would keep Arceus from being able to descend onto the Earth again after the Heavenly Removal.
"The Heavenly WHAT?" Julie asked, everyone showing the same confusion.
Oh, right…I never told you. The story shall be saved for another day, but the short version is that Mew kicked Arceus out of power and took over thousands of years ago as king of the Pokemon. Does that help?
The group responded with another resounding "NO!"
I would like to hear "yes" every once in a while. Anyway, this artifact is a giant slab created of multicolored plates that gave Arceus his type changing powers. Mew got all of the plates and put them together on a slab, beat Arceus, and then broke the slab in half in order to prevent Arceus from ever gaining power from it again.
"You're not making any sense." Sean said.
I know. It's a very complicated situation. Basically if any of the opposing factions gets their hands on the slab they'll be able to summon back Arceus by asking him to call on its power.
"Things just got a lot more complicated…and all I wanted to know is if we'll have the Regis on our side any time soon…" Sean groaned loudly.
"Either way, having the birds will help us." Jo said; who set her foot on the lush grass of the new terrain first. It was soft, almost like mud but it wasn't mucky.
"This is weird grass…" Jordan said, picking up a clump and watching it sift through his fingers. The blades were now very stiff and brittle. They broke with the slightest movement.
It's The Void.
"That's going to be your explanation for everything, isn't it?" Julie asked.
I don't see why this is an issue.
"Why is The Void so unpredictable anyway?" Sean asked, with Jo cupping his mouth immediately after he asked.
"No more questions! I don't want to be even more confused before I face my bird!"
You'll have to be told soon anyway.
"So tell us!" Sean said, "Now, I don't want any surprises."
Wait. Patience is a virtue, Sean.
"Trust me; it's not one of his." Jordan said.
Just forget about it for now. The group approached a small valley, the land dipping below them. Before them lay a small crevice covered in flowers of different shades of red, blue, and yellow.
This is where we part for a short while, Suicune said as he nudged Jordan, Julie, and Jo forward, it is now time for you to face your trials.
"Already?" Julie asked, "I'm not ready for this!"
Stay calm.
"How? You've given us little time to prepare!" Jo said, her eyes widening.
The Tyrants will give you even less.
"What do we do while they're gone, Suicune?" Sean asked.
We wait here and hope a Tyrant doesn't attack.
"Because hoping is going to get us anywhere…" Jordan muttered.
"HEY!" Jo yelled, slapping Jordan on the back of his head, "It gets us everywhere! Look at Megan and me! If I had lost hope that she'd become a human, I wouldn't be here with you guys right now!" She turned to Sean and pointed at him, "If he didn't have any hope, you two wouldn't have gone to the Illinois State Prison and gotten involved in this whole thing!" She looked at Julie, "If she didn't have hope…she might have given up after being taken away with me!" Jo sighed and looked at her friends, hoping they understood.
"Don't you see?" She gasped, taking in a large breath, "It's hope! It's our HOPE that DRIVES US!"
Sean looked at Jo and smiled, "Driving Hope."
Jo smiled back, "You got it."
Honestly. I'll never understand humans. Always so wordy. You guys can't just get to the point it seems. Oh well, it's no matter, the orbs await.
Julie ran forward, into the red flowers, "Let's go!"
Jo ran into the blue, "For our world!"
Jordan hesitated, then ran into the yellow flowers, "And for ourselves!"
The three scoured in the plants for a minute or so, and one by one they found the orbs they were looking for. They looked at each other, and then to Sean and Suicune. Sean nodded with a confident smile on his face.
I trust you three! Make haste!
"Right!" The three yelled, throwing their orbs into the ground.
And in a flash, they were gone.
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Pain.
Pain.
Red.
Pain.
Pain.
Julie couldn't see anything. Everything was black, and her body seemed to be ripping itself apart. Flashes of red were all around her, making her body feel hot from seeing the intensity of the color. She couldn't bear it. The pain was immense, it was worse than…than…
The time her brother killed himself.
The second she thought that, her brother appeared before him. He was young, around eight years old, and he was playing with his model airplane that he had just completed (with his Dad's help). He wanted to a pilot his whole life, Julie remembered, and the pain that she was feeling was intensified by seeing this memory. Her brother's innocence showed through, his deep blue eyes glistening with hope, his messy brown hair getting in the way of his sight.
Why did he have to die?
Why couldn't she die for him?
The pain…
Julie went numb to the physical pain as her emotions swelled through. She screamed, "Moltres! What do you want from me? All you've done is shown me this memory…and tortured me with this pain I cannot see!"
No response.
Julie grunted, "You think this is enough for me to give up? You think this will break me? You're wrong! I'll never give up!"
Her brother was now riding his bike down a dirt hill; the wind threw his hair back and revealed his shining, laughing face.
Julie screamed, "It's for his memory that I keep going! If I'm to die, so be it, but I'm going to live his life for him! I will not give into anyone until I die!"
At that moment, the memories left, the pain went away, and the flashes of red stopped. She was left suspended in voidspace, not knowing what was to happen next.
The passion you feel for your brother…said an unfamiliar voice, it sounded soft and womanly…is commendable. I accept you as my master.
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"Megan?"
"Megan?"
No response.
"MEGAN?"
Silence.
Jo's backpack was empty. There was nothing inside. Megan was gone, the pokeballs, her phone, her pokedex…everything was gone.
Ice. That's what she was standing on. She could feel the ice bend down with her weight. If she moved, the ice would break. She fall in and drown with everything else caught under there.
What was caught under there?
Jo reluctantly looked down and saw the most terrifying sight. Jordan's body was sprawled face-up, his face locked in a gaping terror, as if he was screaming, trying to get her attention.
Did he die? Could she have saved him?
Where was Megan?
Where was everybody?
"I'm…alone…" Jo said, a tear forming at the tip of her eyelid, "What…happened?" The tear froze. She picked it off and examined it. She crushed it, turning it into dust.
"Crying won't get you anywhere." Jo said to herself, "Articuno!"
No response.
"Articuno!"
More silence.
"Articuno! I demand you reveal yourself now! I've seen through your test, and you will help me with our mission to save our home whether you like it or not!"
Who said I'm to answer to you? A womanly voice asked, it sounded cool and relaxed, but at the same time it had a bitter edge to it.
"I did!" Jo said, "And you know why that's important? Because I'm going to return Megan to normal! All you're doing is making this harder, so you will pay me back with your submission to me!"
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Zapdos lay before Jordan, sleeping. Jordan stared in awe at the bird, its feathers seeming to radiate a visible electric field. He did not know what Zapdos expected of him in this test, but it certainly seemed like he was sleeping on the job.
Jordan took a step toward the bird, nothing happened.
"This is confusing…" Jordan said, "Why aren't I being subjected to something horrible right now?"
Zapdos opened his eyes at the sound of Jordan's voice.
Jordan!
Jordan screamed and jumped backwards, his face now brimming with fear. Zapdos' voice was resounding and intimidating, and him screaming at Jordan only encouraged a frightened reaction.
"Wh…wh…what?" Jordan asked.
What is your motive for coming here, to The Void?
"To save Aramanth of cour…"
Wrong!
"What are you talking about?"
You don't believe you should save her! She's a fallen angel, and therefore should go to the devil, right?
Jordan hesitated, "Well…um…"
Why did you come? You're a liar! A fake! You're disguising your hatred for the cause!
"NO!" Jordan yelled, his eyes filling with rage, "I'm not here for Amaranth, I admit, but I AM here for Sean! I'm here for Julie! I'm here for Jo and Megan! I'm here to help my friends fight the biggest threat of our lives, and I'm making sure that we all make it out of here alive!"
Zapdos didn't respond.
"In order to that…" Jordan said, "I need you to help me! If my intentions aren't pure, so be it! If you don't want me here, then just…"
What?
"KILL ME!"
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