Pokota's Plight

Chapter Nine, The Heart Always Wins

By Relm

When a person has a nightmare it wasn't uncommon to wake up in a cold sweat with a scream dying on your lips. Your heart may be racing from that nameless or faceless evil you dreamt about but as soon as you wake whatever physical horror you had been experiencing would magically disappear. You might even be lucky and forget about what it was that frightened you.

For Pokota the physical torture didn't end when he woke. His heart was beating and his body was dripping with cold sweat but almost every fibre of his being was on fire when he woke. It was such a strange sensation to be cold and shivering from beads of sweat and gripped with hot burning pain. The pain was so intense that Pokota felt like his lungs weren't working. He had to struggle for each breath.

Amelia lay sleeping on the couch so soundlessly. The light peaking from the window curtains bathed her in pure light making her look majestic, like a sleeping angel.

Pokota's eyes watered as he looked at Amelia. His breathing was tortured with his mouth flapping open and close as he tried to call out to her. No voice came out of his lips, no words of pleading for help that he desperately tried to say. He reached out to her in vain his hand outstretched. But as much as he silently pleaded to her she didn't wake.

Like the times before the pain eventually passed and Pokota was able to breathe again. His heart stopped racing and he was finally able to relax.

There wasn't a doubt in Pokota's mind now. It hadn't been drum disease. He was still dying.

When that realization set in Pokota felt his heart sank. He kept telling himself repeatedly after Amelia gave him the medicine not to get his hopes up. That it was very unlikely that this was drum disease causing his pain. And he thought he had squashed that hope enough so that it wouldn't grow. But apparently a little weedling of hope had sprouted and now it was dead and Pokota was mourning the loss.

As he looked at Amelia he remembered the conversations he had with her. He also remembered what Prince Philonel had decided on Pokota's fate. Amelia wasn't to aid him directly. Getting him a few books here and there was as far as the rules should be bent. Aiding Pokota on a trip to Siaraag to fix his condition wouldn't be right. Pokota committed an act that was considered against the law In Sailune. For Amelia to knowingly help him would be wrong. If Amelia was to help Pokota and her people found it would be disastrous. Sailune would lose faith in their reigning monarchs and the laws they impose. It could mean chaos and anarchy. No Pokota couldn't have something terrible happen to Amelia because of his mistakes.

Being as quick and quiet as he could Pokota collected his things and left Sailune.

...

Amelia was having a wonderful dream. She was in a large hall with music playing. Many people were dancing having a grand time. Amelia herself was laughing as she was twirled around the dance floor her elegant sapphire blue gown flowing. Her dance partner smiled at her as he brought her back close to him as they danced. She could see his smile but when she tried to look up at his eyes she couldn't see his face. The bright light of sun pouring from the windows blinded her making her only able to see his bright smile.

"Too bright." Amelia mumbled as she tried feebly to shield her eyes from the sunlight. She opened her tried eyes confused to find herself in her room and not in a grand hall. And on a couch too. "Why am I not in my bed?" Amelia looked over to her bed. It clearly had been slept in but there was no one in it at that moment. "Did I sleepwalk?"

It took Amelia's sleepy mind time to wake up enough to processes what was going on but once she saw Kopo sleeping on the chair she remembered everything. "Pokota! Pokota where are you?"

...

"Daddy we have to find him!" Amelia pleaded to her father in the throne room. Once she found out that Pokota wasn't in her room she went into a panic and started to search the whole castle. But it appeared that Pokota had left and took all his stuff with him. "What if he collapsed and is hurt somewhere?"

"Amelia honey if Pokota is in Sailune then we'll find him." Prince Philonel tried to reassure his youngest daughter.

"But Daddy I don't think he's in Sailune. I think he went off to Siaraag!"

"Why would he have gone there for?"

"We were talking last night about Red the Red Priest and we got on the topic of Miss Eris. Since she was an expert on chimeras and koppis we figured that she might have some research of her own we could read up on. She was using Rezo's lab in Siaraag before she died so we figured that she might have a lab of her own near there." Amelia explained. "We were going to go in the morning because Pokota was so tired last night. I don't know why he would leave without me!"

"I can understand why. And that's exactly why if Pokota is in Sailune we'll find him. But if he's left Sailune then we're not going to go farther than that."

"What? Why would you do that Daddy?"

"Amelia I told you that we can't help Pokota. That allowing him to read some of our books was as far as we could go. I'm sure Pokota understood that which is why he left without you. Going with him would be going against my orders Amelia. You can't help him Amelia. We went over this. And I must say I'm shocked and appalled that you would make such plans without even talking to me first."

"But Daddy what if something happens to Pokota? How can you expect me to ignore him?"

"You have a duty to our people Amelia. How can you expect me to let you ignore them? You are a princess Amelia and not above the law."

Amelia frowned on the verge of tears. "But Pokota is alone! He didn't even take Kopo with him."

"Well then pray we find him in Sailune."

...

Pokota let out a heavy breath as he slumped down at the base of a large tree. He hadn't gotten far from Sailune and he was already regretted leaving. When he made up his mind to leave he had done so impulsively. He didn't think too far ahead. Like for instances what was he to do about food? He knew the more he ate the better condition he was in, but he didn't think to pack anything before he left. Not that he could have done so easily. More likely he would have been caught in the act if he tried to steal food from Sailune's royal kitchen. And then he would have some explaining to do.

Not having any food packed would have been fine if Pokota still had Kopo with him. But his little doll companion was sleeping when he left. And he knew that if Amelia woke and still found Kopo there then she might think he was still in Sailune. That way she wouldn't come after him.

In hindsight Pokota was greatly regretting that snap decision. He needed food if he was going to continue on and get to Siaraag. But he didn't have the strength to lift his head let alone get up and forage for food.

'Pokota you idiot you didn't think things through just like always. You're just too impulsive for your own good.' Pokota bitterly berated himself while hitting his head back against the tree. As he did so the tree rustled making a lot of noise. Pokota weakly looked up and noted it was an apple tree he was slumped up against.

Pokota weakly held his hand up and concentrated. "AERO BOMB!" A small explosion of air boomed in the branches of the tree. It started raining apples. Now for someone who was hungry having it rain apples was usually a good thing. But not when you were directly under the tree that rained down the apples.

"OWWW!" Pokota whined rubbing his head. "Stupid Pokota not thinking things again! Oh well at least I can eat something." Taking one of the apples that hit him he bit into it. "Bleh! Sour!" Pokota made a face but he still chewed and swallowed the apple. He needed to eat after all.

...

Amelia dressed in her travelling outfit stood on the highest point of Sailune castle trying to get sight of her Tarforashian friend. Even though Pokota has purple hair which is typically easy to spot it didn't help Amelia. She couldn't see Pokota anywhere.

Feeling defeated Amelia jumped off the roof of the tower and flew her way down to the ground. As soon as she touched down she headed off into the castle to see her father.

Sailune castle was busy with every soldier was mobilized looking for any sign of Pokota. But after hours of searching none of the soldiers had found anything.

Amelia had hoped that the moment she walked into the castle that she would be surrounded by soldiers greeting her with the good news. That Pokota had been found and he was okay. But alas Amelia got no such greeting. Letting out a huge sigh Amelia headed down the halls toward the throne room.

As expected Prince Philonel was in his throne room having discussions with various castle subjects. They were gathered around a large table looking over a map of Sailune. From the grim look on Phil's face it was clear things were not going good.

"Daddy?" Amelia called out to her father.

"One moment sweetie." Phil turned back to his subjects. "Double check those areas like I said and report back to me if you find anything."

"Yes sir!" All the subjects disbanded leaving Phil alone in the room with his daughter.

"They haven't found him yet have they?" Amelia mumbled sitting herself down in a chair.

"No they haven't." Phil sat down next to his daughter and patted her on the head. "I wish I had better news for you Amelia, but it seems the men have already done a full sweep of Sailune. They are double checking some areas but it looks like Pokota has left Sailune."

Amelia's face fell and she put her head on the table. "So he's really gone then?"

"I'm sorry."

"Can't we go look for him?" Amelia looked up at her father with pleading eyes.

Prince Philonel had to look away. Seeing the sadness in his youngest daughter's eyes was just too much. "You know the answer to that question Amelia."

"But Daddy! How is sitting around and doing nothing the right thing to do?"

"Sometimes the right thing to do isn't the easiest and pleasant thing. We can't pick and choose which laws we observe and follow. We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard." Phil reminded Amelia.

Amelia let out a sigh and let her face fall back to the table.

...

Later that day as the sun started setting Amelia stared out from her window in her room. There was still no sign of Pokota. It was very clear that the young prince wasn't in Sailune anymore. This fact saddened Amelia greatly.

Kopo himself wasn't doing too well. His 'master' Pokota had left him behind and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't cheer Amelia up. And just like Pokota, Kopo didn't like it when Amelia was sad. He hopped onto Amelia's shoulder and nuzzled her neck hoping to change Amelia's mood.

Unfortunately for Kopo it didn't.

"I bet you're just as worried as I am." Amelia petted Kopo on the head. "I just wish I knew where he was. I wish I could find Pokota."

Whether or not Kopo understood her something was clear, Kopo wanted to go somewhere and he had to go now. He jumped off Amelia's shoulder and ran across the room.

"Kopo where are you going?" Amelia ran to follow the little doll creature as he ran through the halls of Sailune castle.

Kopo ran all the way to Sailune kingdom limits.

"Kopo wait! Where are you going?" Amelia called out to Kopo whom didn't appear to be listening.

Once they got to the Sailune kingdom wall Kopo stopped and turned around to face Amelia.

"Kopo what are you doing?" Amelia huffed once she caught up to the stuffed animal doll.

Kopo picked something up for Amelia to see. It was a gem from a clasp of a cloak. This wasn't a special gem; it was a very common gem to be on a clasp. But what made this particular gem special was the insignia on the other side of the gem. It bore the royal family Tarforashia crest on it. This was gem belonged to Pokota's cloak.

"This is Pokota's! Kopo you know where he's gone don't you?" Amelia exclaimed while examining the gem.

Kopo looked over the wall at the forest surrounding Sailune.

"He left... And he's out there over this wall..." Amelia looked to where Kopo was looking. "Kopo I can't go. I want to but my father has forbid it."

Kopo whined at her.

Amelia looked between the wall and the castle she called home. What should she do? She wanted to be a good girl who did the right thing but she couldn't turn her back on her friend. Especially when that friend was potentially dying. Her brain told her what she should do but her heart was saying something completely different. Her brain also said don't look at Kopo, but she did. And that's how her heart won the argument. Amelia couldn't look at the little doll creature and not feel moved. She was going after Pokota. "Let's go Kopo!" Amelia scoped up the little doll and jumped her way over the stone wall.