Hey, glad I could finally get this posted. I hope you guys enjoy another Lunar Sun chapter.
When Arion woke up the next day he found himself surrounded by Pokemon. Luna and Dawn were curled up on either side of him while Storm had decided to lay on his stomach and chest. He groaned and carefully rolled the little dragon off of him before sitting up. "So you're up." He turned to look at Lyre who was sitting off to one side with a smile, time flute in hand.
"Yeah," he said, "you seem...happy this morning." Lyre gave a hum and tapped the flute against his chin.
"I guess so," he said, "I just did a lot of thinking last night."
"Oh?"
"And I figure Rebecca has a point you know. I can't just sit and sulk. I have to keep fighting until I can't anymore."
'I wonder if that's the entire reason she said what she did last night or if she was trying to tell us something else.' He kept his thoughts to himself and looked around, noting that the moody girl was nowhere to be seen. "Where is Rebecca?"
"Still out I assume. I don't think she came back last night."
"You'd be correct about that." Arion looked up to see Rebecca coming into the cave. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination or not but the girl looked exhausted. Her bag was slung over one arm haphazardly as she went to sit beside Luna. The Umbreon purred and curled up to her happily.
"Where did you go last night?" Arion asked.
"I needed some peace and quiet," she said, "which is nearly impossible to get around you two." She opened her bag and pulled out two apples, tossing one to both of the boys before pulling one out for herself. "Also, I needed time to look through this thing." She pulled a book out from her bag and Arion gaped at her.
"You can't be serious!" he said in shock.
"What did she do?" Lyre asked curiously. Arion ignored him and yanked the book away from Rebecca.
"I cannot believe you stole this from the library," he groaned before biting into his apple, "I'm traveling with a criminal."
"Your name calling doesn't faze me in the slightest you know," she said, taking the book back and flipping it open, "I do what I have to and we don't have time to stop by a town to look up the legends every time we get a lead. With Celebi's help we may be able to get ahead of them for once."
"So you already looked up the legends on Jirachi?" Lyre asked.
"Legend," she clarified, "There's luckily only one myth for some of the more minor legionaries. Jirachi, Phione, Meloetta and the like. The more major ones will be a pain to track down without a location like we had for Arceus."
"So what's the legend say?" Arion asked.
"That's the good news," she said before biting into her apple. "There's a shrine north of here that is dedicated to Jirachi. The legend states that, in the past, people used to go there frequently to pray to Jirachi to fulfill their wishes. Usually it was minor things. Good health for their family members or a wish to find love." She flipped a page. "People have such simplistic minds."
"Where's the good news in this?" Lyre asked, "If this guy reaches Jirachi he could wish for anything he wants. I'm shocked he didn't go there first."
"There's a good reason for that," Rebecca said, "Jirachi only grants the wishes of those that it deems pure or heart. Jirachi wouldn't grant the wish of someone like Tryus or any of his lackeys. No, likely he was waiting until he found someone he deemed pure enough for Jirachi to grant their wish and is bringing them with him to the shrine."
"So he's not just using Pokemon as tools. He's using people as well." Rebecca shrugged.
"He always has. I'm honestly not surprised. I'd be more shocked if he wasn't using someone as a pawn. We'd best hurry though. The moment he has Jirachi he'll likely kill whoever he has and unless we want more dead people we need to find a way to reroute Jirachi elsewhere."
"Why?" Lyre asked.
"If Jirachi stays there then Tryus will just keep trying. If whoever he has doesn't get Jirachi to show itself then we'd best be ready for a trail of bodies. I doubt there are many people who Jirachi would find pure of heart anymore. Tryus won't give up until he succeeds, and he doesn't care how many people die in the mean time."
"How far is the shrine?" Arion asked. Rebecca closed the book and slid it into her bag.
"Several days walk. Flying isn't an option due to the almost constantly raging snowstorms," she said, "and we don't have the right supplies to get that far without either starving or freezing to death. The shrine's located in what's now called Glacial Mountains. Without proper equipment it'll end up being a suicide mission."
"There's a city just before you get into snow territory," Lyre said, "About a day's flight. We could stock up there."
"Great idea," Rebecca said sarcastically, "if we had the money for it. However, we have none. Got something else kid?"
"There has to be some way to get what we need," Arion said, hoping to stall another fight between the two.
"There is," Rebecca said, "You just won't like it."
"You aren't stealing more." Rebecca sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Put aside your damn morals for a moment," she said, "If we don't get to Jirachi first then an innocent person dies. Think of the big picture here."
"She's right," Lyre said, "There isn't time for anything else."
"All right," Arion said after a few moments of silence, "We need food and jackets right? The Pokemon Center in Icepeak city should have that in case there's an emergency. I'll keep my cousin busy while you do what you need to do. I don't, however, like it."
"Good," Rebecca said, "If you like it then you truly are a criminal. That's the big difference between me and Tryus." She looked to Lyre as she spoke before beckoning to Luna. "You'll have to go back in your Pokeball for a while. Cold weather and you don't mix." Luna huffed but sat obediently and waited to be placed into her Pokeball. Arion looked to Dawn who mewled pitifully but allowed herself to be placed inside her Pokeball. "You'd best put Storm in his ball as well."
"I know," he said with a sigh before putting the Gible into its Pokeball. He swapped out that for another Pokeball and let Jet free. The Flygon shook itself, seeming raring to fly. Rebecca let Screech out as well and hopped on her back.
"I hope Jet's fast enough to keep up," Rebecca said as Arion scrambled on behind her. Lyre got on Jet and grinned, pulling his eyepiece off and placing it in his bag before pulling out a pair of green tinted goggles.
"You only wish you could leave me behind," he said. Rebecca smirked and bent low on Screech's back. Arion bent himself down as well, swallowing thickly.
'Why did I get stuck with these two crazy people.'
"Never again," Arion said as they landed. They were still a ways away from Icepeak City but he was glad they had landed. "You two are absolutely fucking insane." He looked up to see both Lyre and Rebecca looked satisfied with themselves as they placed their Pokemon back in their Pokeballs. "Why is it flying to you two is just an excuse to try and break the sound barrier?"
"Hey," Lyre said happily, "maybe you'll get used to it. You looked like you were gonna hurl." Arion groaned.
'I hate them both,' he thought before straightening and releasing Dawn. The Espeon mewed happily, grateful to be let out for a while. He bent and scooped her up. "Sorry girl," he said. Dawn purred and nuzzled him happily. He smiled and put her down. Immediately Dawn went to pounce on Luna. The Umbreon flicked its tail but otherwise did nothing.
"We'd best hurry," Rebecca said. Lyre trotted off towards the city and Arion grabbed Rebecca's arm before she could follow. "What?"
"How are your ribs doing?" he asked, remembering the blackish bruise that had marred her. She pulled away and turned.
"Don't concern yourself with me," she said tightly, "I'm fine." He sighed and watched her leave for a moment before Dawn nudged his leg and brought him back to reality. He gave her a small smile before racing after Rebecca and Lyre. The two were silent, looking only ahead at the city in front of them.
When they finally reached the Pokemon Center, Arion felt knots in his stomach. They were really going to steal? And from his own family no less! He swallowed thickly and walked up to the counter, giving his cousin a wide smile.
"Arion," she said happily, "how good to see you again. What brings you here?"
"Passing through with some friends," he answered, "We were hoping to get some rooms for the night before heading north."
"Of course," she told him. She'd barely finished before the phone rang.
"I'd best answer that," he said. She giggled and turned to her computer, registering their rooms. He plucked the receiver up and accepted the video call, seeing his mother's familiar face. "Hey mom."
"Arion," she greeted. There was a pause where she seemed to be looking for something. "What happened to that sweet girl who was with you?"
"I am still here ma'am," Rebecca said, coming to stand beside him. His mother grinned.
"Please, call me Rose dear," she said sweetly, "I hope I get to meet you personally some day." Arion internally groaned and shook his head.
"Uh hey mom," he said, "I got another companion a little while back."
"Oh?" she said slowly, "and...would this happen to be another girl?"
"No," he said hurriedly, feeling his cheeks heat, "It's a boy and his name is Lyre." He turned, beckoning the boy over. "Mom, this is Lyre." His mom's smile grew.
"Hello dear," she said cheerfully.
"Hey," Lyre replied.
"I see you're having fun with your friends so I'll let you go," she said, "talk to you again soon." He said goodbye and hung up before going back to get the room key from his cousin. When he had they all walked to the room. He felt worn out and exhausted.
"Let's all get some shut eye," Lyre said as they entered, flopping down on the bottom bunk of the bunk bed. Another bed sat on the other side of the room. "I'm beat." Arion nodded and watched as Rebecca silently sat down on the bed on the other side of the room. He pushed away his unease and nodded, taking off his shoes and clambering onto the top bunk. His limbs felt like lead.
'Tomorrow,' he thought as his eyes slid shut, 'everything's going to change.'
How was it? Good? Bad? Tired of me yet? Hopefully not the last one. Anyway, review your opinions. Thanks a lot!
