This... chapter... was so fun to write... you have no idea. My chest is lighter than a feather even after writing this. I think I did good, and I am proud of this chapter. So please, enjoy it!
It has been two days since Annie visited us… and it had recoil. Angel wasn't talking or communicating with anyone, not even Emily. Serah tried talking to her, but Angel ran off again. I told Serah to just let her be for now. Serah too has been acting strange, as if she is always in some sort of trance. She also claims to be hearing voices that aren't there. Now I am not one to doubt the possibilities, but unless I see a Haunter or some ghost Pokémon, I think she is just tired. Serah is surprisingly annoyed with my responses, it was kind of funny. Recently, I found her in the night just standing alone. When I approached her, just gave me a panicked look and teleported away. She was mad the next morning, telling me quote: "You didn't see anything, or think anything, you hear me?!" I just nodded… I wonder what had happened.
A few other events, but not as exciting as I hoped. I found a school of Magikarp circle the island, a few Wailmer, and a new find, and lastly just a few Feebas, I was slightly disappointed that there was no Milotic, since they are a marvelous sight.
"JJ?" Serah tapped my arm. I was just spacing out while looking at the shining ocean. She snapped me back into reality.
"What? Who? Where? Oh hey Serah… you feeling better?"
"Better?"
"I was just thinking… maybe you hear voices because you don't sleep well. Maybe you have insomnia."
"Insomia? What is that?"
"No, Insomnia, humans get it sometimes. It prevents them from sleeping or staying asleep. It might be your problem." She shifted uneasily.
"You… know your medical stuff right?" Confused, I nodded. "Well I do have a problem…"
"Insomnia?" I said jokingly. I stopped laughing when I saw her face. It looked like she was in pain.
"I had an accident…"
"Accident? You hurt?" She nodded.
"My leg…" She lifted part of her gown and revealed a patch of dark, red, dried blood coating a wound.
"Holy… What happened?! How long ago was this?!"
"… It happened yesterday… I got hit by something I didn't see, and it sent me flying into a tree, my leg got scraped pretty bad…"
"Why didn't you come sooner!?" I might have been a little aggressive in my approach.
"Well I didn't… want anyone to see… or touch after…"
"You know what. Okay. Fine. This is all I need to know. Come on." I supported her on my shoulder and helped her back to the shelter. "Twice now, I should be a pro at this. Just lay down on that bed."
"Please just be… quick. I really don't feel safe." Still feeling aftershocks from her past… I can't blame her.
"I'll try, I promise… Now then…" I poked the wound with force. "That hurt?" She nodded. I grabbed some Hydrogen peroxide and put it on a cotton swab. "This might sting a little."
"Fine…" I pressed the cotton against the wound and started a conversation to distract her.
"So, what exactly hit you?"
"I- ow… Think it was a ghost or something. Whatever it was hit me like a jet."
"Ouch. That explains a lot. Did you see it?"
"No, but I for sure felt it."
"I see that. Okay now just a band… hang on…" I saw something odd. "I'm going to move your leg a certain way, you tell me if you feel anything." She nodded and yipped when I moved her leg up. "Anything?"
"Feels normal." Then I bent her knee and she winced in pain.
"Okay, there is something wrong." I lightly punched her leg. "That hurt?"
"No…"
"Good then. At least it isn't a bone. The impact probably hurt your muscle, I'm surprised you can walk… wait…"
"I levitate, not walk, so I probably didn't notice."
"Yeah, that makes sense. I wouldn't try walking on it, I say just levitate. And if you get tired, don't walk. Just sit or come back here and rest until you can move again, but don't even try walking on it." She smiled and nodded. I wrapped a white bandage around her leg and stood up. She was really tense and alert for some reason.
"…"
"Serah, you okay?" I touched her shoulder and she quickly gave me a smooch on the lips, not even a second. I pulled back in shock and confusion, and… well, my mind is a mess right now. "Did… did… that just happen?"
"Uhh! I'm sorry, I got to go!" And like that, she vanished. I, on the other hand, was breathing heavily and thinking this was just some hormonal dream… I hit my head against the wall to make sure it was a dream… it wasn't…
*BEEP BEEP* A sound that snapped me out of my trance. A new Pokémon crossed over the sensor. I raced to the screen and gasped at what I saw… not one… but TWO never seen Pokémon on this island… and I've never seen them before.
"Sis, next time watch where you are going."
"I swear she came out of nowhere!"
"Well now the human is aware of our presence… Can you talk through telepathy yet?"
"I can try? Brother, I have an idea."
"What?"
"If we take our human forms, maybe he will ignore us?"
"Well… we would still stick out, but I am willing to try."
"Then do it quick! He is moving!"
JJ ran out of the building and looked around. Serah, who was standing outside, was alarmed by his presence.
"What is it?"
"Over there, something hit the sensor, come with me please." She silently followed his trail. He paused and looked on the over-head camera. "They look like people… but the data says otherwise… It could be an error."
"I sense strong psychic power in the clearing of trees. I sense at least two."
"Stay low, I want to get the jump on them, observe what they are doing." They crawled into the bush and looked through a small circle in the bush. Two teenagers were standing there. One was a girl with a black dress with blue tri-angles on the shoulder support of the dress. She had red hair and… appearing half amber/red eyes. The other was a boy with a blue jacket and jeans, mimicking the triangles, but red instead.
"Something is off about their signature…" JJ stood up and revealed himself. They both jumped and whipped their heads to look at him. Serah got up and made a barrier in front of her, positioning herself between the two and JJ. JJ moved her arms from the barrier.
"Easy Serah…" He turned his attention to the duo. "And you are?"
"…"
"…"
"Well? Explain to me what you are doing here. Speak." They looked at each other and shook their heads. "Come on…"
"JJ."
"What? You try talking to them." She shook their head and whispered in his ear.
"They are the Pokémon! Your sensors say… Latias… Latios?!"
"…really?"
"They can't talk when they turn into humans, but they can also cloak themselves." He nodded and walked up to the girl, inspecting her features. He put his index finger by her nose and poked her playfully. The girl appeared to be laughing, but made no sound. The boy came between JJ and the girl with an angered look, Serah did the same, purple electricity radiating from her arms. "Do not try me." JJ broke up the confrontation.
"Not now guys, come on! I'm sure we can figure this out?" He said with a smile. The girl walked from behind the boy. She looked at JJ with large eyes and circled him. "…?" The girl nodded and let out a blinding light, enough for both JJ and Serah to look away.
"You can look now." JJ and Serah heard a voice in their thoughts. They looked up and saw two almost identical Pokémon. One was red and white; it had the appearance of a jet like figure. It had two long red wings and a blue triangle on its chest, the same as was on her dress. Her eyes were yellow and her face was fixed with a smile. The other looked similar, but blue and its eyes were narrower. I was looking at Serah with discontent, as was Serah.
"Serah, please calm down." She looked at JJ and sighed.
"Fine…" She pointed at Latios. "If you so much as scratch my… friend, you will answer to me."
"I never meant to pose a threat, but you touched my sister first. Allow us to introduce ourselves I am Latios, this is Latias…" He levitated lower and looked up Serah's leg to find the wound. "I see we had an accident… my apologies."
"Oh, that was you?"
"It was me, I am SO SORRY. I was just having fun and I never saw you!" The red one was clearly less mature. Serah felt bad for causing tension.
"Oh no, it's fine really. Don't sweat it." She bowed. "So I'm sure you have questions for them?"
"I do… only if you two are willing to answer?"
"Hmm… I guess, so long as they aren't too personal. Latias?"
"Sure, I love story time!"
"…uhh oookay… So JJ is your name? What is her name, the Gardevoir?"
"My name is Serah, pleased to meet you." JJ took out a paper and pen.
"Okay, so I just need at get a few answers from you. So first: Where are you from?" The duo looked at each other.
"We were from a distant island, a city called Alto Mare. We left a while ago…"
"Wait, I thought Latios was killed or sacrificed itself to save the city? How is it you live?"
"A trainer Latias met after my death… somehow reversed time and made me back. This person's name was never told to us, but he gave his life to save mine. It was the ultimate sacrifice, one I have yet to see again." JJ thought about his words.
"..ultimate sacrifice… I have heard of two such trainers…"
"…JJ…" Serah hugged JJ at his words, cause both of them to blush.
"Hehe! You two look pretty close. I think you would do the same for each other." Latias spoke.
Would I? I would… I think I would… JJ was thinking to himself.
R-really?! Serah's thoughts invaded JJ's.
Later. We will talk later.
"Latios, that was amazing. I heard of your story, and the people there. You are incredible."
"Thank you."
"Okay, the next one is for Latias. Do you view humans as an enemy?"
"Well… a few, but there is always room for change. I can sense the hearts of humans, what they feel, what they have done, and yours… its pure and white. The two individuals that attacked us, one was just stupid, the other, greedy, power hungry. Serah's heart is… sad. Alone, abused… but it is changing rapidly into something great. Keep on going Serah, your past will mean nothing, you will blossom with JJ, never forget that."
A long silence followed. Serah and JJ just looked at each other with mystery. Serah spoke up.
"I… feel what you say is true… thank you."
"It is the least I can do for hurting you."
"… I feel… funny. Anyway, the last one is for both of you. Do you enjoy fighting?
"No. Violence just hurts another, maybe more." Latias said.
"Violence is the reason our world is corrupt. It is the reason there are crazed people who would dare hurt other in horrific ways… I'm… sorry about your captors Serah… they were mentally un-healable."
"It is… fine, thank you. So where will you go now?"
"I spotted a cute little Manaphy playing in the water, I'll go talk to it!" Latias did a small loop.
"We might just hang around here. It seems peaceful… and we deserve rest."
"Yes you do. Just find anywhere on the island and stay awhile, we don't mind. Thanks for your time… Serah, come with me."
"Good luck you two. Just find us if you need anything." In a flash, they left JJ and Serah's sight. The two stood silently before JJ started walking away.
"Follow me." She did as she was told and float silently behind him until they came to a secluded spot on the beach. "Sit please." They both sat down and looked out to the lake. Silence took its place in the air, nothing would pierce it, until JJ sighed. "That… thing in the lab… what… was it?"
"…"
"I promise, I won't get mad. I just need to make sense of it…"
"…I… you promise?"
"Cross my heart." Serah inched closer to JJ's side.
"Well… I've been having strange feelings lately… a feeling of sorrow, and shame. Then I have had dreams… vivid, detailed, horrific dreams. Then one night, the dream… drove me to come out that night you found me."
"Okay, that is what happened…"
"And that thing in the lab… just felt like impulse. I've never really thanked you for saving both of us. You spared us a life of suffering, it was the only way I could thank you… but my mind told me otherwise… that it was more."
"More? Like in what way…?"
"Well… my mind told me I was… falling for you…" JJ recoiled softly but kept his ears open. "I thought it was my hormones going haywire, and it could be… I just feel I grow closer to you each day."
"I don't say it… but yeah, I sort feel similar in the sense that I grow closer to you, but one thing remains. What did you, yourself, think of your action? This isn't a test, I just want to hear your thoughts."
"…"
"I see that look again Serah. It was the same look you gave me when you first laid eyes on me. You are scared of what I will do, what I will say or think, or whatever. I guess I need to clear some doubt so I will let you know my position." She just kept the stare on. "I never saved you with the intent of harming you, one. Two, I am all ears; I will listen and never think less or feel less towards you for anything. And three… If the next words explaining what the kiss was about are: 'I love you' or 'I can't believe you would think something like that, I hate you' it doesn't change how I care or feel about you. Now you might not say exactly that, but it is all the same… can you understand that?" Serah was silent for a second, absorbing what he had just said.
"You mean it?"
"Look me in the eyes. I mean it; let me into your mind." She nodded and sighed.
"It's like half of my mind is telling me to fear you… but another half is telling me to embrace you… I just can't make heads or tails of it." JJ sighed.
"This is going to sound corny, but honestly, what does your heart say?"
"Wha-what?!"
"Doesn't matter if you are psychic and very 'mind oriented' pretty much all living things have a heart, you are no exception Serah. Look, if I'm pushing too far, I can stop."
"Everything you said… I don't want it to make sense! I have listened to my heart, but I can't control its thoughts!"
"What does it tell you that bothers you so much?"
"It says I love you!" She covered her mouth in shock.
"…Serah, if I am not mistaken, you love me for what I did, not for who I am."
"Well… I already got the ball rolling… I am a Gardevoir, JJ, which means I can sync my thoughts and ideas with yours if I like. You are wrong. While it might have started with that, these past few weeks… I've seen your true personality, I know how you feel about not just me, but Angel as well! Also… since my trainer got cursed… I have felt lonely… so alone. Nobody to care or love me… then you came along. Even then, I still felt lonely… and I just needed someone… to love again I suppose." JJ was touched by what she had said. He thought about himself, and his life. This job is a loner's job… without them here; he would be alone on some secluded island. He felt her pain… he too was lonely, but never felt it until Serah reminded him of the feeling of loneness and sorrow. Serah's eyes were welled up with tears from her confession. JJ softly raised her head to his level, greeting her with a smile.
"…you aren't the only one that is lonely…" She smiled and the two embraced each other tightly. "If it is love you are looking for… I will not refuse. You deserve a good start, and I will make sure of it."
"JJ, I can't thank you enough! It means the world to me! I admit it again! I love you!"
"I do too Serah…" They looked at each other and without hesitation, locked their lips together, enjoying each other's company and feelings. Little did they know… this added extreme pressure on a bystander, silently watching.
Annie was sitting in the bushes, crying at the sight. She did not cry because it was beautiful, but because her brother intends to tear them apart…
"This cannot happen. I won't let it, and I have a cause to fight for as well!" She stood up and teleported back to the shadows.
I really need to know what you guys think of the story this far. Any suggestions? Ideas? Constructive Crit. improvements? A PM or review would be great, thanks guys!
-J