Glory's Long Road: Episode #08 "Hope"

Wasted. Wasted was how he felt. That and anger. The carefully laid plans were destroyed before even begun. "You can't be that pressed for time." Kanna said from across the small table. Erik looked up from his thoughts. "I am."

"I see. And you're not willing to wait one more year for the next competition?"

"Not in the least. Five years I was denied this opportunity, but now, nothing really matters." Even though Kanna had only spent a few hours together with Erik, the disgust in his voice was obvious. She rested her chin on a bridge of interlocked fingers.

"There is another way in..." Erik's dark blue eyes locked onto her slate grey eyes. "Over in the Indigo League, trainers if they want, can take a test and obtain a pass into the competition. The same should apply for over here in the Blue League." Silence accompanied deep though over this new development. "Seriously?" Kanna nodded once. "Pass the test, it's that easy."

"I wouldn't think that. The exams are extremely difficult, testing the most obscure aspects of pokemon. Things you wouldn't expect are thrown at you."

"When I was young, spending hours watching and reading about pokemon was nothing for me."

"Think you're ready for it."

"I'm ready for anything." Kanna glanced at her watch. "Let's see just how ready you are."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kanna sat at the small round table in the hotel room. Her feet rest on the wood as she gazed out over the Montreal skyline. Multicoloured citylights intermix with the few stars in the sky, and twinkle in unison. Silhouettes of buildings barely showed up against the darkened horizon. Over in the other chair, Sandopan rested, preening out the many quills on his back.

Every five minutes he would do this, easing his anxiety. Kanna could tell that Erik and Sandopan were never apart, and any time spent away from each other was long. A sharp knock came from the door. "Who is it?" Kanna asked, still looking out the window.

"It's me, Erik." Was her muffled response.

"The door's unlocked." With that, the door opened, and Sandopan excitedly rushed out to greet his trainer. The two exchange greetings like old friends reunited. Kanna paid no attention to the pair, instead sipping lightly at a glass of red wine. Finally, Erik came in from out of the door, and sat down in the chair opposite Kanna, throwing his jacket on a bed on his walk over.

"How did everything go?"

"Good."

"Did you pass?"

"Of course." Kanna laughed at his amount of confidence, which borderlined arrogance. "I some how doubt you would return empty handed. Want a glass?" She held the green bottle in her hand.

"Wouldn't mind one after a hard day's work."

As Kanna poured up a glass. "Sure you're old enough?"

"Are you?"

Caught out, she quickly changed the subject. "Nice night out, isn't it?"

"It is, especially with somebody else to spend it with."

"Tell me about it. I've been on the road so long, nearly forget what it feels like to have some companionship." Kanna untied her hair, letting the dusty rose locks fall to her shoulder-blades. Hands behind her head, she attempted to braid her hair.

"You need a hand with that?"

"No, I'm fine." Erik moved over to the edge of the hotel bed, just behind Kanna. "You sure?" Giving up on her loose braids, she permitted Erik to do it for her. "I never knew any guys that could braid a girl's hair."

"You do now." Kanna sunk back into the chair, calmed by the fingers running through silky strands. "Must have been all the times I did it fo my younger sister."

"Never knew that you had a sister."

"That's because I haven't told."

"Make sense. What is she like?"

"The usual little sister. Energetic, at times annoying, but all in all lovable. She was rather jealous too."

"Aren't they always."

"Maybe you're right. My mother had very long hair, down to her ankles. Every inch of it was a natural sapphire blue. I was the only one in the family that inherited that shade, and my sister was always jealous of me over it."

"Your mother sounds like a beautiful woman."

"She was."

"Was?"

"Not long before I left, she died of cancer."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be. There isn't anything that can be done to change the past."

"Do you ever think of her?"

"Always." Erik finished the french braiding of Kanna's hair, clipping the end with a buckle. "I just can't help but feeling her right beside me during times like this."

"Keeping you strong through the hard times." She got up from the chair to sit beside Erik, and put an arm around him. "I know she'll be proud of you no matter what."

"I know so too." Lightly, her lips pressed up against his cheek.

"Thanks for doing my hair, Erik." Kanna said, getting up once more.

"It was nothing." She smiled at him, before disappearing into the washroom. Erik dropped back onto the bed behind him. With a sigh, he knew a place in the Blue League is assured. His only endeavour remaining, the tournament itself.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Later That Night

Everything remained silent, and still in the hotel room, save for Kanna. She stood out on the balcony, resting up against the cold metallic railings. Two loose tendrils of unbraided hair move in the night's wind, brushing up against her cheeks. A full moon hung high in the sky, adding to the hazy light of the sprawling city. Her eyes fell to the nothingness beyond the horizon. Deep memories consumed her, keeping her awake.

Kanna reached into the folds of her nightshirt, producing a small oval locket. This was something she had kept close to her heart, for a very long time. Opening the small locket opend a floodgate of emotions. Beads of tear rolled down over cheeks, turned pink in the cold breeze. Kanna had truly been close to her. But now, she came to be with a young man, named Erik, who seemingly embodied similar traits.

Almost everything about Erik reminded Kanna of her, even the way his fingers felt as they ran through fine hair. Memories of a time when all the two would do was style each others hair came rushing back in a mental visual blur. Memories that had been eclipsed by pain.

Tightly Kanna closed her eyes, attempting to shut out the world. Opening them revealed the world to still be there, just as it had been, and always will be. Mentally, she cursed herself for allowing this to come to what it had come to. She hated breaking promises, especially the one Kanna had made to her: To always be strong. The wind seemed to speak to her in the moment, carrying with it the voice of hope.

"I don't mind...." Was all it spoke. Three simple words released a great outpouring of sorrow.


End Episode #08

Pokemon Report
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No new attacks/ pokemon.