A/N: Well, it sure has been a while, has it not? I was planning to upload this WAY sooner, but school got in the way. I had like 4 papers to write a night, for like 3 different classes. :|And my French teacher was super heavy on the homework. As were all my other classes. I really hate high school at Briarwood. And my mother has been bitching and ranting at me daily, which isn't new. She hates me. God I hate her too.
Anyway. Enough laments about my life. Feel free to enjoy this half-assed chapter. c: Or I feel it's half-assed.
The long trek over the entirety of Skyarrow Bridge was superb. It curved and slanted upward slightly, and the setting sun reached out its rosy fingers to gently brush the treetops, stroke the skyline, and say goodnight to all the little birds, singing goodnight lullabies. Alone I walked across the white bridge as the breeze ruffled my hair and tugged at my cap.
The bridge slanted ever so slightly upward, and curved as it did. Staring at nature, and watching the moon rise ever so slowly from its nest under Castelia's skyline, I had not realized that the bridge was so high up. You could see the entrance gate from wherever I was.
"Arceus," I breathed, stumbling slightly and gripping my upper left arm tightly. Ok, so it's childish, but I am terrified of heights. Calming myself by closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, I continued on, determined to make it to Castelia City before or right at nightfall.
I think I was the only one on the bridge at this waning hour. The light was fading quickly from the sky, and it was becoming increasingly hard to see ten feet in front of my nose. When I fully realized this, I gripped the handrail and groped along the remainder of the expanse.
After what felt like hours, Castelia City was finally within sight.
It was magnificent! The lights penetrated the darkness, flashy billboards advertising this and that blinked sometimes, "Welcome!" or "Open" signs blinked quickly. Even the signs of what buildings were what shone brightly in neon colors. The streets teemed with people running to and fro, some rushing about to get into stores and some just walking, letting the city seep into their bones.
Suddenly, the high-pitched mewling of a Purrloin emanated from my bag. Jumping, I started to search fanatically for my Crosstransceiver, knowing that was the ringtone for my mother.
"Hello...?" I answered tentatively.
"Hi honey! I thought I'd call and check up on you, since you haven't called me for a while. How's it going?" she smiled into the camera.
"Oh... It's great mom. No need to worry," I lied, suddenly remembering someone who ravished my thoughts every waking second, and sometimes-in dreams. Gravitating forward with the crowd, I continued to walk, trying to find the PokéCenter, and talk to my mother.
"Is that so? Son, you know you can tell me anything, right?" she quizzed, raising an eyebrow and folding her arms.
"What? Oh, yeah. I know. Listen, I have to find the PokéCenter... Dewott isn't doing too good. Call you later," I replied hurriedly, hanging up as fast as I could. To be honest, Dewott was fine. I just didn't want to talk at the moment. Especially to my mother. Turning around to look for an inn, the neon signs and bright lights led me to the PokéCenter quickly. Even if Dewott was fine, I needed rest too. Pushing and shoving through the crowd, I finally made it to the glass doors, panting. Gently opening a door, a cheery chime called out to me from overhead.
"Hello trainer! Welcome to Castelia City's PokéCenter!" a tall brunette man in a blue apron embroidered with a white Poké Ball greeted me.
"Evening," I replied, forcing a smile. Taking a quick glance around, I saw that the center was empty. Odd, for such a bustling city. Sighing, I continued to the red-orange counter with a cheery pink-haired nurse behind it.
"Evening, Nurse Joy," I greeted as I approached the counter, smiling and waving.
"Hello! How're you today?" She replied, returning a small smile.
"I'm just fine. How about yourself?"
"Oh, just great! Today has been pretty good. So how may I help you?"
"Do you happen to have a room open? I need a place to stay the night."
"Of course! Just a tick," she replied, bending over to rummage through drawers. Upon rising up, she had a blue key card reading ROOM NUMBER 123. "Okay! Right this way." She walked out from behind the counter by means of an inward swinging door, and started up the stairs to the right.
Following, we walked in comfortable silence. Arriving at an elevator, she pressed the button for the fifty-first floor. Silently, I hoped this room did not have a window overlooking the streets.
"You look troubled. Is it a girl?" She suddenly asked, and I realized that the silence had become quite awkward before her inquiry.
"Oh, what? Um... No, it's not...," I replied. Truthfully, might I add.
"Oh, come on! I'm sure she loves you too! Why don't you tell her?" Nurse Joy smiled brightly, eyes seeing a romantic fantasy. I knew her intentions were good, but it really wasn't a girl! I just brushed it off as a misunderstanding and tried to keep my face from heating up too much.
"B-but...," I started.
"No but's!" at this, a pale, slender hand slapped my shoulder playfully. "She'll say yes! I'm sure of it!" She winked one of her ocean blue eyes.
Not having time to protest, the elevator let out a loud ding, alerting us that we had reached floor fifty-one. She stepped off, gesturing for me to follow. It was a short walk to suite number one twenty three, so there was little time to talk.
"Here we are! There'll be a complementary tray of food brought up shortly, and here's your key card," she explained, handing over the small blue card. Smiling, she turned to walk away. "Call the front desk if you need anything, the number is on the notepad. Enjoy your stay!"
I watched her go for a minute before swiping the card horizontally across the slot in the door lock. A green light shone from a small LED bulb, and the handle unlocked itself so it was able to turn and open the door. Stepping inside, I realized just how bland these rooms were. Two bunk beds with baby blue sheets stood on either side of the walls, the carpet underfoot being a deep navy. Through a small door to my right was the bathroom, lined with a granite sink and a shower on either wall. There were two windows that took the space of a wall in the back of the room, with white curtains drawn. Breathing heavily outward, I dragged myself to the bottom bunk bed on my right, throwing my bag down not so gently and rolling onto the blue sheets. Inhaling, I noticed that the sheets smelled of Cheri berries and sweet scented medicinal herbs. Curling up, not bothering to kick my shoes off, I let my eyes flutter shut and my mind wander.
Just as I had drifted off, a loud banging on the wooden door brought me back to earth.
"Room service! I'm coming in," a feminine voice called. It sounded like Nurse Joy. The handle turned and the door swung slowly open. Walking down the small hallway with a silver platter was the pink-haired nurse in her usual short, pale pink dress and white apron. On the plate, there was a bowl of soup, and a small black box with spicy Krabby sushi rolls.
"It's on the house, since you're having issues with love and all," she winked. I was most definitely not having love issues. But free things were fantastic, so I decided not to argue.
"Oh... Thanks, I'm famished," I slurred, sitting up to stretch and yawn. I guessed it was good that I was all right in someone's perspective. Nurse Joy set the plate down on to my right on the bed.
"Well, if you need anything, just call the front desk, mmkay?" she asked, turning to walk out. Soon, the oaken door slammed shut, and I was alone again. Picking up the small, wooden sticks, I separated them with a soft crack, and put one back on the tray. To be honest, I could not really use chopsticks all that well. I always ended up using one to stab my sushi or whatever else with, or getting a fork. But, there were no forks here, and I would rather be left alone right now, so I decided not to call the front desk and just mercilessly run the rolls through. I ate in silence for a minute, and then reached for my bag, grabbing two Poké Balls out of it. Pressing the small white button in the center, two Pokémon shot out in bright red light. Dewott and Drilbur's purrs were music to my ears, a small smile gently pushing the muscles in my face back.
"Hey, loves. Are you hungry too?" I asked softly, rhetorically more than seriously. Dewott's ears perked up and he mewled happily, jumping on the bed with me and wrapping his small paws around my left arm. Taking my right hand, I patted his head softly, and he nuzzled into my touch.
"How about you, Drilbur?" I switched my chocolate brown eyes to my newest team member, who was watching me warily. She growled a little in reply, and shied away when I tried to pet her. Sighing, I retracted my hand and reached for the phone on the nightstand to call the front desk and get Pokémon food. Dialing in the number on the sticky note labeled FRONT DESK TELEPHONE, I let it ring while absently stroking Dewott's soft blue fur.
"Front desk, this is Nurse Joy. How may I help you?" a woman's voice sounded through the speaker.
"Hey, I'm in room one twenty-three, and was wondering if I could get some Pokémon food delivered for Dewott and Drilbur. Is that alright?" I inquired.
"Oh, of course! I'll be right up. Is that all?"
"Yeah, that's it. Thanks." I replied, and the line went dead. "Alright guys, it's on its way up here." Dewott shouted happily, and Drilbur relaxed her gaze a little at me. Slowly writhing free of Dewott's grip, I began to take my jacket and hat off, hanging them on the posts of the bunk beds. I then kicked my running shoes off, shoving my black socks inside and then putting the shoes and socks by my bag. I sat back down on the bed, dressed now only in gray jeans and a fitted black t-shirt. Deep in thought, I hunched over, elbows resting on my knees and hands covering my eyes. Suddenly, a knock came at the door, ripping my thoughts from my grasp. Hurrying to let the person in, I stood quickly and rushed to the door, almost tripping over my own feet in the process. Flinging the door open, Nurse Joy appeared, holding two bowls of Pokémon food and smiling up at me.
"Here you are!" she exclaimed, holding out the bowls for me to take. Receiving them from her, I gave a small smile in return.
"Thanks."
"Oh! Not a problem at all! Just call if you need anything else!" she replied cheerily, waving and walking back down the carpeted hallway. Letting the door swing shut, I sauntered back inside, setting the bowls on the floor.
"Alrighty, here it is, guys," I called. Dewott leapt off of the bed and attacked the bowl of food. Drilbur, though, took her time, poking and prodding at the substance before taking a small bite. Deciding against saying anything to her, I slipped my black tee over my head, tossing it toward the foot of the bed. I then loosened my black belt, tugging off my skinny jeans as well, leaving me only in my red plaid boxers. I then pulled the sheets back, worming my way into the bed and turning the lamp off. I could feel Dewott join me under the covers, curled against my chest. Putting my arms around him, I immediately drifted off to sleep.
My eyes opened slowly, and the area around me was very unfamiliar. Dilapidated castle walls were slowly crying their gray tears of bricks. The flooring under me was a magnificent red carpet, cut to make a brilliant path to the back of this massive room. On closer examination, this seemed to be a throne room, judging by the kingly chairs knocked over and thrown to the side. A single golden crown was sitting on the floor at my feet. Looking up, there was now a large white Pokémon with wings that spread throughout the whole room when it stretched them out completely. It let out a roar, which shook the castle like an earthquake. A huge hole exploded out of the wall in the back of the room. Something beckoned me to go towards it, so my feet propelled my forward. I went up a few stairs, which were graced with the brilliant red carpet. A hand gently tipped my chin up so that I was staring into the face of someone that seemed very familiar. I could not come up with a name though. Light shone from behind him, making his whole being radiate with magnificence.
"Black…" a bittersweet voice began. "I have to leave for a while. I need to find out more about Pokémon. I need to do this alone. I hope that you won't forget me. Will you wait for my return?"
In reply, I wanted to shout. I wanted to cry. I wanted to yell at him for being so stupid. I wanted to wrap him into a hug and tell him that he couldn't leave me alone. I wanted to tell him that I needed him here. I wanted to tell him that he meant the world to me.
But I didn't know why. I didn't even know who this was! His scent was vaguely familiar. His touch even more so. Opening my mouth, I was going to tell him to stay. I was going to tell him that he was being stupid. I was going to tell him that he meant the world to me. But the words caught in my throat and choked me. The harder I tried to say them, the more they suffocated me.
"Black… Are you okay? Will you wait for me?" he asked again, his voice as sweet as honey. In vain, I tried to shout. I tried to scream. I tried to say that I loved him. I tried to wrap my arms around him too, but was frozen to the spot. He dropped his hand. His eyes shimmered with tears, and he forcefully turned and left. Walking to the hole that had opened up, he jumped on the back of the snow white Pokémon, flying off into the clouds.
So... How was it? It was unbelievably hard to type, due to my mom breaking the backspace button on her Mac! Mother of Zeus. You have to press it just right for it to work now.
Also, I think I would like someone to be an editor and read this story's chapters before I upload them. I just feel that they are kind of unsatisfactory and would like to hear feedback before someone comments saying it sucks, lol. Let me know if you're interested? I'd like someone who's not afraid to tell me I suck at writing, haha. Or that parts need to be altered, added, subtracted, etc. Seriously. I don't bite.
