"…The thin line between life and death is so vague until it's nearly cut."
So thought William as he couldn't remove his eyes upon his two first Pokemon partners lying lifeless, all but the steady rhythm of their breathing.
Leon lied on his back with his paws rested softly on his tummy, the clear shell of the oxygen mask he wore clouding with each exhale. Acknowledged progress was comforting to his Trainer from the clear sight of a few green spores filtering out through the tube every few breaths.
The sight of Wolfred was far harder to look at, but slow and steady progress was not unnoticeable for him either. He wore a special mask to support the flow of fresh oxygen as well, but contrary to Leon, had an ivy injected in each limb.
As for the unusually blue-pigmented Nidoran whom lied between them, he was fast asleep, bandaged softly yet snugly on the torso, with a cast on his left hind leg. Every now and again, his nose wrinkled to sniff the air, and his paw batted the air playfully. William smiled, wondering what he could be dreaming about.
"It's really nice to see," Emily commented, gazing down at her friend's companions as well.
William nodded. "…I'm glad that they'll be okay."
"Yeah…" Emily agreed. "But what I meant was…seeing you smile."
William blinked, but didn't look at her or say anything. Somehow, he felt grateful, but didn't really know what to say. Emily shifted, slightly embarrassed from her friend's lack of reaction, as William couldn't help but to rest his hand on Leon's, and lightly stroke Wolfred's head.
"I'll…go get some breakfast," she said simply, but sounded more like she wanted to escape rather than she wanted to satisfy her hunger. Noticing this, William hoped that it would help when he said, "…I guess I will, too." He took a thorough look at his companions, convincing himself that they'll be fine, and turned to leave.
Breakfast felt more like a chore than something to enjoy. William couldn't fully identify why he was feeling so vaguely depressed, and yet peaceful as well as if he could anticipate it's pass. Emily spoke to him in mild tones, concerning light subjects and what she'd like to do in the town, but her friend mostly just nodded in reply or occasionally said "Yeah." After they had finished, William couldn't lie to himself that he just wanted to be alone. He told his friend that he'd be on a walk around town, and he could meet her back here for lunch. Emily agreed mildly, and said bye to him.
Their next four days in Violet City were very much like the first. William awoke as early as six o'clock or six thirty, and immediately went downstairs to see his Pokemon. A quarter of an hour or so in, Emily joined him and they went for breakfast. William spent most of his mornings and afternoons walking around town, and paid his companions one more visit before going to bed. The Nidoran of a sapphire tint was not much more lively awake than he was asleep. He spent his waking moments simply staring attentively at William, or rested his chin on the pillow, his wide red eyes full of lost emptiness.
In these days, William had realized that the City of Nostalgic Scents lived up to its name indeed. Despite the gray-white skies, moist air, and chilly winds of the end of winter, the bright flowers and plants of all kinds on the sides of streets, in the parks, in the shops, and on windowsills all about felt to enshroud him in a land of eternal springtime, so many scents of sweet, of grassy, of piney, of ones he didn't even recognize, wafting abundantly throughout the air.
By evening of the fourth day, William came back from a walk to meet Emily in the cafeteria. She sat in a booth with Krystal aside her, and anxiously turned her head as her friend entered. He approached, albeit timidly, and seated himself in the booth seat opposite her. Emily waited patiently for him speak, carefully keeping her gaze upon his serious face.
"…I'm ready to tell you what happened the other night." William stated.
Emily nodded.
He told her of Leon's battle with the wild Parasect, and how he had not only gotten his senses induced with the Spores, but had also breathed in a potentially suffocating amount of them as he tried to hold back a sneeze. William also recounted Wolfred's completely unexpected, early and yet amazing evolution, wondering how he could possibly have matured, and then evolve, so fast. Emily's mouth lolled open, lightly shaking her head in awed disbelief, as she recounted how small and young Wolfred was just the other day when they first met, and couldn't comprehend either how he had already come to be a mature, teenage Pokemon.
As William progressed to the surprise attack from Kenneth, Emily's eyes fell to the table. At that time, a pretty waitress with long and curly purple locks approached their table and asked if they would yet like to look at menus. Emily politely replied that she would come to her instead when her and her friend are ready. The waitress agreed with a bright smile, and headed back to the kitchens.
William's stomach churned as he recounted how angry and scared, and yet so very powerful he was feeling, as he stood up for Nidoran.
"I don't know…what it was," he said, frowning thoughtfully. "Some force, dark or not I don't know, came over me. It churned inside until I just couldn't stand not to speak the words…"
His jaw froze, and eyes lifted cautiously. In the near distance he could identify the fire of a stove underneath a skillet in which a chef merrily stirred it's contents with a wooden spoon. William's voice dared not speak the phrase.
"Sacred Fire," Emily nodded. William flinched, but the stove's flame fluttered softly as it typically would. "I remember when you said it in the lobby."
William blinked, attempting to rest his eyes. "Emily," he said seriously. "What is Sacred Fire?"
His friend appeared to be prepared for this question, but no doubt retained a lightly mystified expression. "It doesn't exist anymore." She said quietly.
William frowned. "What…do you mean, 'it doesn't exist anymore'?"
"Sacred Fire is as many eons in age as this planet," she continued. "The ancient people called it 'Firbane', that meant 'Forbidden Flame.' Firbane, essentially, Sacred Fire, always was, and is as so far known, always will be, the most extraordinarily powerful Fire element technique that has, and is as so far known, ever will, exist. It was known as a Forbidden, because only one Pokemon could conjure such a power within, without the overwhelming strength taking its own life."
William's hair prickled. Fire…Sacred Fire…"The Great Phoenix…" he realized. "Ho-Oh."
"Yes," confirmed Emily. "And it's beyond me," she continued with utter disbelief in her voice, adding a generous dash of whisper, "That as of the other night, Wolfred was the only other Pokemon other than Ho-Oh whom managed to conjure it and still live. The only other Pokemon in all of the history of this entire world, William." She glanced about to ensure her next statement would be private, and then leaned her face closer to William's. "No one has ever heard of this. No one would have even had a runaway thought of such a thing being possible." She leaned back in her seat. "If you want you and your Pokemon to be left alone, we've got to keep it confidential unless you want to be interviewed and plastered all over the news and the papers. Plenty skeptics would make a fool out of you for it, too."
"But how?" William asked intensely. "How could Wolfred have done it? And why was I linked to it? I wasn't just simply giving him an order to conjure an attack like a typical battle." He choked on his own throat a moment, worrying it would sound completely off-the-wall to say despite its truth, "I did it, too. We both did. One of us a tree, and the other a branch. I have no idea what the root could have been."
"I don't know, either," Emily said softly, enshrouded in wonder. Her eyes then darted to her friend urgently. "William, who did the Sacred Fire pierce?" she asked quickly.
"…It almost hit Kenneth," William said lowly. "But…when it hit the Parasect as it got in the way, attempting to attack Nidoran…" He froze, trying to extract the words. His throat felt numb. "It died."
Emily's eyes bulged, her hand on her chest. She gasped sympathetically.
"Once the tip of the firebrand pierced it, it instantly turned to ashes." He stated grimly. "It could have been Kenneth."
Emily asked softly in disbelief, "You wish it was?"
"Of course not." William replied truthfully, unable to believe this reply sincere.
"But you hate him," Emily compromised. "And for good reasons."
"I hate all that he has done and how he treats others," William clarified. "You're not your demons. You can only side with them, which is such a foolish and weak thing to do!" He swallowed, hating the fact that he really didn't personally hate him. It was an emotionally suffocating sensation, like a bottle of wine being shaken a dozen times over but to not remove the cork. "Too many people like him just don't want to admit, or just don't know how to hone, their true inner light. Why would I hate him for his weaknesses? That wouldn't…be fair…because everyone has them."
The air distilled to a tense, brief silence.
Emily smiled softly, and nodded. "…It's noble of you to put it that way," she agreed. "But even so…it's good to see that Nidoran is no longer an underling of his."
"I don't want to release him until I'm sure he's ready to go out on his own," William added. "That might keep us in town for a little while, though. He has some recovering to do."
"It's okay," Emily replied simply. "Let's enjoy ourselves while we're here, hm?"
William nodded lightly. He found such a statement to be a long shot, at least for himself.
Emily squinted at her fingernails, an invigorating dose of intrigue floating in the air.
"Not many Pokemon are of a pigment like he is." She stated.
"I noticed that, too," her friend replied. "Male Nidoran are usually of a purple, violet, or pink hue. I wonder how he got to be the bright shade of navy blue that he is…" William scowled. "His herd shunned him for it. It sickens me to acknowledge that racism and prejudice exists even amongst Pokemon."
"It's not even his fault," Emily added. "It's exceedingly rare, but for reasons unclear, some Pokemon develop in the womb in a way that their skin, fur, feathers, eyes, mouth, and so on are a color unusual to their specie. Theories suggest that the female's egg was under fertilized, or that the pair of Pokemon mated outside of their species typical season."
"I expect Pokemon like that are classified as Albino, then." William assumed.
"That is a more scientific term for it," Emily confirmed, "otherwise, they're most commonly referred to as Shinies, especially amongst youth. Few Trainers have come across Albinos. Old wives tales say that it is an omen of bad luck. Many legends even claim that if you come in contact with one of a color that matches your birthstone, you will die at midnight of your next birthday." She shrugged, and laughed lightly. "Wild stuff, huh?"
William didn't process this immediately. But in a moment, his mind shattered with shocked disbelief. His facial expression must have reacted in a way, for Emily squinted at him and asked, "Are you okay?"
He blinked nervously, and stammered before he managed to answer. "My birthstone is a Sapphire."
The air went silently tense again. Shocked realization whipped her face.
"Your birthday is-?"
"September the twelfth."
"And Nidoran is-"
"Blue."
The two were speechless for a long moment. Emily eventually shook her head loosely. "It's just an old wives tale, William." She tried.
"Well if I can somehow conjure a Forbidden technique that doesn't exist anymore, old wives tales seem a little more real to me now." He could not help but point out.
He rested his forehead in his hand. His head was pounding. He felt more stressed now than he did before talking to her. For the first time in days, he missed his red-cedar log cabin in New Bark Town. A safe, peaceful, quiet distance away from legends, from crime and cruelty to Pokemon, from magic, all that he used to just read about, never fully comprehending that all this is real out there. What was he thinking, to hope for a quiet, everlasting camping-trip-like voyage for Badges with Pokemon. Pokemon are a major part of this earth. Thusly, the powers that flow within their veins are as well. Powers that he doesn't understand. Powers that scare him. Even powers that can allow him to die before his time? It's not fair. It's too much.
"It's too much," he said aloud.
"William," Emily said pleadingly, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I-"
"I want to be alone." William stated blandly. He stood up. "I need to think."
"How far will you ever get if all you do is think about it, but never talk about it?" Emily asked firmly. He didn't reply. In a moment, he pushed open the cafeteria doors, and led himself outside into town.
A deep blue hue was setting about the air as evening was darkening. The cold scent of earth underneath his feet flowed through his nostrils, and with a great sigh, could taste the plantation gardened all about the town as it always is. Granted, these were soothing sensations, reminding himself that he is still alive, and there is still good all around him. But, all the same, William allowed his feet to set out on a tense, rigid stroll, his earthy brown eyes solemnly fastened onto the ground. He didn't want to be disturbed by friendly passerby, so effortlessly kept a gravely emotionless expression on his face.
What was the real reason he set out to travel? He knew undoubtedly that he didn't take up this journey half-heartedly. But lack of specific objective made him consider just how much of a mistake he must have made to leave the simple, quiet life he was so used to, and so comfortable with.
Did he decide to travel to prove himself? No, even before his outburst with Kelley, he just wanted to. He was always compelled. Did he want to be a Pokemon Master? No, he realized, he never really wanted that whole-heartedly…it was more of an inspirational aspiration to keep his spirits up all these years rather than a goal. What's the point, he thought, I don't want eternal glory or fame or fortune. Where is the true value in such materialism? As of now, he would love to just be of help to Leon in becoming a renowned artist, and to reunite Emily with her father. Maybe this is my purpose of traveling, he considered. To help them. It sounds wonderful, he admitted…but what about himself? What can he do to fill that void of his own personally that he has felt ever since his passion to travel was turned down almost eight years ago…where does his purpose lie?
William walked on mindlessly, vaguely feeling dizzier and dizzier. His stroll felt to be more of a stagger, but hardly was he aware. Specks of color dotted his vision, every plant, tree, person in the distance distorted into wavy shapes of mixed colors…he was tired…too tired to remember who he is…where he is…and eventually, until he no longer felt anything. It covered him like an intoxicating blanket of tranquility.
Of nothingness…such peace…
William's eyes slowly pried open, to see nothing before him but the clear of white. He lied on his back, feeling so very relaxed as if he were floating, his arms and legs outstretched on the ground like an x. For several moments had he lied there, reaping the light endorphins of peaceful nothing until his awareness gradually renewed.
His weariness began to clear as he sat up. His head turned slowly to the right, and to the left. Even ahead of him, no color existed but the nakedness of white. He stood to his feet, but even what he stood on was a nothing of white air. How could he be standing, but not on ground?
He didn't understand…where is everything…?
William rubbed his eyebrows gingerly, considering something wrong with his vision. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Am I…" he asked, and for some reason, not startled that his voice echoed with magnified volume, "Am I…blind?" But he could see his hands as he persistently soothed his forehead with tender rubbing to his brows. He couldn't be blind if he could see his hands…
"You are blind only to what has yet come to pass. What will come to pass will reveal to you your purpose."
William automatically reacted with a muffled gasp, and whirled around quickly, but only to still see the still, infinite white nothingness. There was no one in sight. But he could swear, that the beautiful voice of a woman, spoke to him in his mind.
William stood his ground cautiously, mystified. "…Who is there?" his voice echoed again.
"What you see is the picture you have yet to paint." The woman's voice echoed majestically. It sent chills down his spine. It was a voice of beauty that he could hear, but not see. He had never comprehended something beautiful quite like this...it felt divinely eerie.
"Your time draws nearer…the nearer you come, the more vivid your picture is painted. In time, you will no longer be blind. You will see…you will know just what to do. At just the time you must do it."
William's voice shook violently. "But who are you? How are you contacting me? Why are you contacting me?"
"I cannot be," she whispered. "Unless you are."
"I- d-don't understand!" William argued. "Unless I'm what!?"
"I cannot be unless I inherit from you what I cannot from anyone else." She whispered desperately. "Now please, come to me. Without your touch, we will surely die. Our entire race. Help me. Help us. William, wake up."
"What!?"
"William, wake up."
"Wake up, William!"
"William!"
"William, please wake up!"
His eyes thrust open. He gasped and shot upright into a sitting position. Emily was kneeled aside him, and yelled in shock, and Krystal cowered at their friend's startled awakening.
"William!" Emily gasped as he tried to catch his breath. "What were you doing?" she demanded with concern. "I tried to follow you out here, and in the distance I see you pass out!"
William looked at her, and squinted quizzically, trying to function through his daze "I…" he asked, his voice spiked with slight rasp as if he hadn't used it for days. "Passed out?"
"Yes," she replied definitely.
William looked up. The sky was dark and blue. He looked about quickly, to see the environment of civilization. The ground in which he sat was of dirt and grass. He was back…? But…from where?
"No I didn't," he said automatically. "I was in a white room, but it had no walls. Or a ceiling…or a…" he prepared to finish, realizing how unrealistic it sounded. "…Floor."
"William," Emily stated with very much concern. "I know that you must have a lot on your mind, but you have got to stop doing this to yourself. You walk all day and hardly eat a thing. Of course you're going to pass out."
"I didn't!" he argued, and stood onto his feet, but lost balance and fell to his back. He ignored Emily's cry of concern, and stated surely as he slowly gathered himself to his feet, "Somebody was talking to me. I don't know – who," he struggled, stumbling. "But I have to go to her. She was telling me to wake up- "
"William, I was telling you to wake up," Emily clarified. "It was just a dream."
William had managed to stand onto his feet. He held his pounding head. "You don't understand."
Emily stood in front of him "Look," she said calmly. "Let's just go to dinner and have a restful evening. No more walking for today. You don't look much better than you did the evening you and Wolfred conjured Firbane." Very cautiously, she grasped his hands, desperation robbed her face. "William, I'm worried about you."
He weakly wrenched himself from her grasp. "Don't be," he mumbled, and began to drag his feet in the direction of the Pokemon Center. He didn't feel tired so much as he did weary, far from mentally adjusted back to his own realm…or dimension or…wherever he just came from. Emily slowly followed aside him as they returned to the lightly festive peace of the Pokemon Center's Lobby.
Everything felt so far away to him. The waitress who spoke, the menu he read, Emily's voice of chatter as she tried to lighten the air. Each spoonful of soup he slid into his mouth most seemed to dribble out back into his bowl. Perhaps his body was no longer in that dimension, but his mind still was. All he could think of was white nothingness. All he could hear clearly was that gorgeous, desperate voice ringing in his head. He soon excused himself from the table, and went upstairs to his hotel room. He wanted this dry and dead state of mind to be gone. I'll sleep it off, he thought…and had no trouble falling into it.
--
Sleep it off he did. William sat up the next morning as the clock neared seven o'clock, feeling stupendously relieved that he had his own mind back in check. Somehow, the worry he felt the previous day now felt lighter or otherwise much more bearable. The dream of the whiteness and the beautiful voice was haunting at the thought…but he didn't want to think about it right now...Rather, he wanted to do what he can while he can.
"…Let's try for a good day," He thought to himself as he finished dressing, buttoning up (or rather, down, for he had always had the habit of starting with the top button) one of his favorite flannel shirts. He opened his door, and there was Emily, holding the egg in one arm, and her latter fist raised lightly as if-
"I was just about to knock," she giggled. "What timing." She squinted into his eyes carefully. "It's good to see the color back in your face. How do you feel?"
William shrugged. "Pretty good."
Emily's eyes glowed. "Good! Because there's something I know you'll be so thrilled to see!"
His eyes brightened as he could guess in the pit of stomach what she must be suggesting. "What…?"
"Leon and Wolfred! They've awakened for the first time since the night we arrived here," she chirped. "Krystal is waiting for us in there, too. Nurse Joy has already given us admittance to visit them!"
William couldn't tell if he laughed or gasped, but without wasting a second, he rushed downstairs, excited tension leaping in his chest. He confirmed his name with the receptionist, and she admitted him and Emily into the Recovery Rooms. They pushed open the doors, and from the back of the room was the clear voice of-
"But it's only black coffee," that low, naïve voice said politely to the nurse who held a breakfast tray in front of him some distance away behind one of the curtains that separated each cot. "Such a potent, bitter flavor wrinkles my nose and leaves a yucky aftertaste in my mouth…may I have some cream and honey in it, please?"
"Of course," she replied kindly. "How do you like your toast?"
"Just dry, please. But can't I see my friends and my egg, first?"
"They should be here shortly, dear."
"Oh goody!" Leon scratched his ear thoughtfully. "Ma'am, I don't mean to ask for too much, but I wondered if I could visit the nursery today."
"You need to stay in bed and recover today. I'm sorry."
"But," Leon tried, "I wish to keep my mind sharp. To finally be awake makes me want to do."
"Oh, you can do things of course," Nurse Joy assured. "You just have to stay in bed is all."
"I understand…thank you."
"If you'd like, I can borrow some coloring books and crayons from the nursery after you've eaten."
"Yes, please!"
William didn't want to overexcite Leon, as he was just coming out of intensive care, but no doubt felt relief and excitement radiate and flow throughout his veins. He approached, rigid with excitement. Emily followed, her face bright and colorful as she carried the egg in both arms.
And there was Leon indeed, quite dark under the eyes and thinned, but his face full of life and fulfillment with his awakening. Wolfred lied aside him, still injected with ivies but neither of the two wore breathing masks, Krystal playfully batted about toys in the back of the room. The young Quilava's head of tall, flame colored fur looked up, and he barked like an anxious puppy at the sight of his Trainer. Leon whirled his head in the direction his friend had barked, and both pairs of pupils expanded.
"William!" Leon exclaimed.
His Trainer didn't bother with words. He allowed his grin to stretch free, and firmly yet gently gave a hug to both of them. His Quilava whimpered quietly, overwhelmed as he constantly licked his Trainer's hand, William stroking his head with the other. Nurse Joy told Leon and Wolfred firmly but not unkindly to stay restful to ensure their complete recovery, and left the room to fetch their breakfasts. The bright blue Nidoran stayed sound asleep, not a sign of disturbance on his face.
"It is such a refreshing enlightenment to awaken to the world after such a long sleep!" Leon cheered, stretching his long, skinny arms. He yawned broadly, and scratched his left ear. "Quite honestly, I feel giddy with renewed anticipation. Being unconscious isn't so bad."
"It's great to have you both back," William replied. His heart felt huge. Such a fulfilled feeling that he wasn't used to.
"It's great to be back," Leon agreed. "But you know," he shrugged, "thankfully, I don't feel like I was gone very long. Quite like when you sleep. It doesn't feel like it's been hours."
'(That's what it feels like for me, too,)' Wolfred acknowledged. '(Thusly I'm eager to get back into an actual lifestyle, especially now that I can fight.)'
"Do you know when the three of you can come out of intensive care?" William asked either of them.
"That nice lady with loopy red hair says that we'll have to stay here at least today, and then see if we can come out tomorrow." Answered Leon. "By the way, where did this third little guy come from?" He asked, cocking his head at the slumbering young Nidoran.
'(He looks awfully like the same Pokemon that attacked us, William.)' Wolfred pointed out with slight resentment in his tone.
"It wasn't of his own will," William assured. "Even with a Trainer such as Kenneth, he knew right from wrong better than he did and stood for it. We should thank him for that."
Wolfred didn't reply, but didn't have a disagreeable expression either.
"He belonged to that mean red-haired guy?" Leon asked in disbelief.
"Not anymore," his Trainer confirmed. "He showed up after you went unconscious, but the chain of events in which followed made it so that we could escape with him."
Leon squinted. "'Chain of events'…I hope you won't mind filling me in sometime soon." He stretched his skinny arms again and yawned deeply.
"…You should rest for now," William stated. "It's important that you both take it easy today, so that we might be able resume tomorrow."
"But let's not rush around," Emily smiled, handing the egg to Leon, whom accepted it with a wide smile. "We've got the whole city to see."
"She's right, William," Leon agreed. "Wolfred and I will be fine, so go out and just enjoy yourselves while we're here."
With his partners finally awake, William didn't favor the idea of just spending another day as he has for the past several. "Well, I…look,"
'(Do something for yourself!)' Wolfred barked. '(It's thanks to you we all made it here and survived. There is room in leadership for some lightheartedness.)'
"Well maybe I'm not lighthearted."
"Oh, come on," Emily protested. "We're just asking you to spend at least an ounce of you're waking moments without worrying or thinking or over-focusing on what we should do next."
William looked to Wolfred, the event of Sacred Fire vivid in his memory. His eyes then glanced to Nidoran from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but wonder, if it were so true that just because he came in contact with him, he had only six more months left to live. And to have been in a dimension of nothingness but the voice of a mysterious woman telling him about his destiny…? …They just don't understand. Even he didn't…so how could they?
"William?" Emily asked. "Did you hear me?"
Predicting, and despising, the idea that if he spoke his mind at this moment he would again stumble upon the center of attention, William nodded lightly and said, "…Sure... we need camping supplies anyway, remember?"
To his slight startle, everyone smiled. Emily grasped his hand and began to pull him out of the room. "William, you won't believe these flowers I saw the other day at the town centrals fountain! Come on!"
Before he knew it, and after he assertively wrenched his hand from hers, William was following Emily in a quick jog out the exit and into town, the morning's golden orange sunlight rising over the horizon as their feet patted against the brick street. He noticed that it finally must have rained productively the previous night as he slept, for the solar light glistened in the dew beads and puddles under their feet.
It felt strangely but wonderfully free to just run like this…yet with such an environment of beautiful, even feminine, vegetation, and vendors selling the locally concocted perfumes, colognes and make-ups, with William's own mundane exterior resembling an Amish carpenter, made him feel embarrassingly clashed. He managed to run aside her, and what little endorphins he was producing was burned once or twice as he and her sped past either a group of or a pair of trendy teenage young men who whistled and hooted at the sight of the two running together.
"Why-aren't we-walking?" asked William between quick spurts of breath.
"Better question is why not run?" Emily replied. "It's such a beautiful morning! Running feels good, doesn't it?"
"This is humiliating," William disagreed grimly, feeling his stomach wrench and writhe. "You heard what those guys did, and people keep double taking us." For occasional faces were. Some shook their heads critically; others smirked arrogantly or knowingly.
"You worry way too much about what other people think of you," his friend laughed. "If someone doesn't like seeing you happy or just doesn't understand how you are, what I suggest for them are some coping skills!"
The two soon halted before a ten foot stone statue of a Bellsprout, a cascade of crystal clear water glistening in the sunlight streamed from the opening of it's round lips into the basin. William looked down at the water in the basin. His heart skipped a beat to unrepentantly, even though Emily brought him here to see them, the color of blue-white lilies not floating in the water, but each one spinning around swiftly while floating about the surface. The heart of the flower gleamed a chamomile, dusty violet sparkle, and he could vaguely notice that the roots attached underneath each reached the bottom, moving of their own accord to make the flowers atop dance about the surface as they were.
"Crystal Aquariis are the only flowers that you plant in water and not in soil!" Emily exclaimed dreamily. "The roots actually have mobile life in them, as long as they're in the water. That's how they can make the flowers move, and when they move, it keeps them healthy. Oh, it looks so pretty…"
"That's…" William tried. "Interesting." But his hairs prickled, for at that moment, somehow, the glistening plant eerily reminded him of…the woman's voice from the other realm…? Why?
Emily sighed. "How about breakfast at that café over there? Ooh!" she gasped. "Tell me you have tried edible flowers before?"
"Err…"
They sat at a table outside the restaurant underneath the canopy. William was outrageously annoyed at their passionate waiter's assumption that they were eating out as a couple. He reacted with a submissive frown when William suggested exchanging his comments for his tip. Emily giggled, and told the waiter, "Don't mind him."
The edible flowers in which garnished their dishes were actually quite a pleasant, lightly grassy, citrus flavor. And because the exotic plants were so abundantly in season, the bill was not nearly as high as either of them had prepared themselves for. Because the waiter offered to play the two the accordion halfway into the meal, William left him only a fifty-cent tip. Emily said, "Oh, William," and added a dollar to the table, so he gladly reclaimed his two quarters.
After breakfast, Emily led him to shop (which she said they could walk to this time, for she beamed and said hello to a random passerby every now and again within the few minute distance) across the street of the café and then down the right a ways. It reminded William very much of the Poke Mart, but further more exotically decorated and indeed nostalgic, what with all it's plant based products aligning the dozens of shelves.
He actually quite enjoyed the half hour or so they spent in the shop, observing the variety of locally derived products he never heard of. Completely out of the blue and to her friend's mild startle, Emily gasped and then jumped up and down a few times clapping and exclaimed "Jasmine tea leaves! I am SO buying these!" William felt a little more at home to spot in the cooler the same, half-pint canned drink occasionally in stock in New Bark Town that he would buy every now and again. Looking at the label, it was fascinating to see just how many plant extracts were in it, which he never cared to notice before. He bought a couple after Emily bought her tea, but then felt a lump of homesickness weigh heavy in his chest in remembering the drink's flavor and scent.
The couple of flower shops that they visited were indeed a colorful, anti-depressing place to be. Just as he remembered, roses in William's opinion smelled very pleasantly like tomato soup. The bright purple, pink, and clear white colors of what he decided his favorite flower, the asters, he easily appreciated so soothing to the eyes, and it's numerous, thin petals so soft and velvety to the touch. He took his time observing and smelling every different kind of flower he could find until Emily was finally done shopping. By then, his head swam dizzily, almost in an intoxicating way, as he tried to digest the variety of so many different scents in which he had inhaled.
After lunch at the Pokemon Center, William seated himself on a bench outside one of the perfume shops, in which Emily was productively beginning to use up the afternoon inside.
He wondered about the Pokemon Gym here…with all the thinking he had done lately, his conclusions wondered if there would really be a point in collecting Badges. He realized then how outrageous that idea was, though. Pitting his strengths against Gym Leaders and earning their Badges is a major part of his training, and how far he can make it on this journey, no matter how vague his objective is.
"Even though in general I really don't know what to do…" William pondered, "The most I can do as of now is just continue to continue to continue…do what I can while I can, like acquiring the Gym Badges." He gazed into the vast blue sky, an occasional cloud only slightly dimming the bright sun every now and again. "And Ecruteak City…that was Leon and mine's first destination from the start. There's so much history there. It should be a resourceful location to research how Wolfred and I conjured Firbane for some peace of mind. And even more so, to figure out if this deadly legend about meeting an Albino of your birthstone color is true, and if it is, how I may be able to avoid the outcome." He shivered. "Obviously then I'll have to get to Ecruteak before my birthday…at least that should be manageable. On foot, Ecruteak should only be a few weeks away. It's only the twentieth of March, so there's time." He sighed, and nodded reassuringly. "…One day at a time."
Just as was feeling relaxed, he was startled at the cell phone's ring on his PokeGear. William raised his fist to his eyes, and his hairs prickled to see the name on the Caller ID: Lucario, Susan. Feeling unexplainably awkward, he pressed the small button on it's side, and said, "Hello?"
"William?" was indeed his mother's voice on the other line. "Didn't you get my note before you left?"
"…Yes."
"Then why didn't you call me the next morning?" she asked. There was a vaguely disappointed, rejected tone in her question.
"…I'm sorry," her son replied. "I've been…really busy. I guess I forgot."
"Are you doing alright?" his mother asked. "You sound sad."
He didn't know if he was sad. Hearing his mother's voice made him feel all the more homesick. And yet also to hear it made him feel exceedingly uncomfortable. His old life…maybe he really didn't want it back after all, it felt so weird…the will to move on and build his bright future on this journey is stronger…don't give in to living a life of existence…continue living a life of purpose. Whatever that purpose might be.
"…I'm fine," William realized aloud. "I'm not sad."
"Well, I guess you would know," she replied lightly. "You've always been an intelligent, independent young man…you'll be fine."
"I will." He agreed. "Don't worry."
"I just need you to tell me that you'll visit home one day."
He swallowed nervously…realizing so clearly that…a Pokemon journey is dangerous. His already proved to be so far. But at that moment, he could feel a strength, a confidence he wasn't quite familiar with. Quite automatically, he replied, "I'll be home one day. Live your life in faith. Not in worry." He nodded. "That's what will allow us to see each other again."
"…Deal."
And she hung up.
William was left feeling rather awkward. He didn't quite know how it happened, but for the first time since arriving in Violet City, he felt ready. All that which happened a few days ago almost scared him back to wishing he lived a more typical life…but whether it was being reminded that his mother cares about him, or getting another taste of his previous, typical life…seemed to reinforce the fulfilling purpose he felt ever since day one, when he first met Leon. He couldn't imagine giving up his travels. All he knew was to not look back…and that he really will be fine.
"After all…it's my future to write."
After a few moments of silence in which fired William with anticipation of his journey, Emily finally burst through the shops doors clutching three bags, and beaming brightly. William looked at her, and raised an eyebrow.
"How do you intend to carry all that on our travels?" he asked.
Her bright face dropped, and she looked at her full bags. But all the same, she cocked her head at him and laughed. "I'll make it work. Come on!" she urged as he stood up. "Let's get those camping supplies before dinner!"
William indeed enjoyed this part of the day. The two managed to locate a rugged, 'outdoorsy' (which word Emily used to describe the feel and décor) traveler's/camper's shop, which reminded William very much of the old-fashioned feel of the Marts back in New Bark Town. Pooling some of both of their money together, and choosing prices very carefully, William and Emily successfully managed to affordably purchase good quality supplies. Seeing as only two of their Pokemon would not be confined in a Pokeball even at bedtime, they purchased a dark-pine green sleeping bag for Leon, and a pink one for Krystal, in addition to Emily's flower printed purple sleeping bag and William's of a blood-red color with a black, plaid pattern. They managed to well afford a collapsible tent that was wide enough for the four to fit inside, and yet small enough in it's packaging for one of them to carry on their back. Unfortunately, though, the durability of it's material seemed questionable, if it could well or well not stand up to intense rain, wind or snow. William acknowledged, however, that by wintertime, he, or Emily, or perhaps the both of them, would by then have their Pokemon's vast array of abilities somehow be able to compensate any dents in camping comfort and safety.
After a careful and thorough hour had been spent in the shop, the two Trainers agreed the day well spent, and traveled back to the Pokemon Center, well anticipating a hot meal and to see their Pokemon friends. However, as they walked, William knew in the pit of his stomach how he must first indeed clear something out of the way before he or Leon could possibly relax.
--
The skinny Smeargle's pupils appeared ever smaller, his mouth lolling open as his Trainer finished the last few sentences of the events in which took place while he was unconscious. Wolfred appeared thoughtful, and even quite troubled. Krystal then explained to Leon in her language the details of Firbane, in which Emily told William the previous day.
Leon closed his mouth, quite lost for words. "I can't believe it," he managed. "Not that I don't believe you, William," he added. "Just that what I mean is that it's such a heap to digest."
"I understand," William assured. "It took me days to do so."
"Wolfred," Leon asked thoughtfully, turning to his comrade. "What is your take on this? William only holds half of the story, because this had to do with you, too."
Each pair of eyes rested on the young Quilava. His russet amber eyes blinked carefully, trying to figure out how to verbalize his thoughts.
'(…It's quite an eerie feeling to realize you came of age in such a short space of time.)' He introduced seriously. '(I hardly even realize I did. My life as a young Cyndaquil is mostly a blur.)' His eyes darted about the faces before him nervously. (It almost feels like…I don't have a past.)'
"What did he say?" Emily asked urgently. William had never seen such a troubled, serious expression on Leon's face before, as he translated what Wolfred said to Emily in English. She was left looking slightly disturbed.
William made sure he asked this question with great care. "Is there anything you do remember, Wolfred?"
He sat up carefully and attentively concentrated on his Trainer. '(…Yes,)' he replied. A light smile pulled back the corners of his mouth. '(I remember it when I look at you.)'
As Leon translated for Emily, William's spine tingled. Quite eerily, William could automatically theorize that the episode of Firbane must have hooked this mystic link he could feel between Wolfred and himself. "What is it?" his Trainer asked.
'(It's…vague,)' Wolfred replied with a light frown. '(But I know that I'm not mistaking.
'(I remember feeling cold and kind of clumsy, like I couldn't navigate anywhere. It was hard to see, but I could feel the presence of someone. It made me feel really excited. I blindly tried to make an approach, and rested my chin on something I bumped into. Suddenly I felt myself being lifted from the ground, and I was starting to feel warmer. Feeling puzzled but pleasant, I looked around…and then, I saw your eyes, William.)'
He lied on his stomach. There was a short pause before he finished his reminisce, now a quizzical expression on his face. His ears retracted as he said, '(The only other thing I remember was being in consistent contact with something…colossally seductive.)'
His Trainer came to immediate realization. "The Charcoal." He confirmed.
Everyone looked at him quizzically.
William felt a little more clear-headed, and went on. "That seductive object you remember from before you evolved was the Charcoal," he explained. "You were always licking it and gnawing on it like a rawhide. You couldn't put it down, and every time I saw you, you were more and more matured.
"When my sister gave it to me, she told me that it was enchanted. I didn't completely understand what she meant, other than that it increases the power of Fire Elemental techniques of Pokemon. But…wait…"
"Are you suggesting," Emily analyzed, "That Wolfred's evolution and what happened that night was linked to the Charcoal?"
"It had to have been somehow," William stated surely. "No Pokemon can mature that quickly. When Wolfred joined me, his age was equivalent to that of a human toddler. Now, his age is equivalent to that of a human teenager one or two years younger than me."
"But it's just a piece of Charcoal," Emily debated. "Clearly your sister bought it from the Charcoal Kiln in Azalea Town. They make Charcoal for that purpose only; for traditional use, and to aid the strength of fire Elemental Pokemon techniques." She shook her head doubtfully. "No human could ever create something to affect Pokemon like Wolfred was, or summon a dead, Forbidden technique that has been lost for possibly eons."
'(I think William is right,)' Wolfred cut in. William looked at him with concern from the fear and certainty in his Quilava's tone. (Because that was not a Charcoal.)'
After Leon translated for Emily, the air went dead, each being appeared mentally paralyzed.
Eventually, Wolfred managed to continue, '(Both Emily and William made rationale points.)' he explained. '(No mere Charcoal could manage what that supposed Charcoal did manage. It's impossible. But William's suggestion that the item in question was linked to my transformation, and the wicked technique that nearly took my life, is entirely plausible.)
'(I know this, because now that the item is no longer in my possession, I'm no longer in an unnatural growth spurt. Nor do William or I feel the hypnotizing power in which we did the night we somehow managed to tap into it's magical means.)' Wolfred sighed. '(All that I can be sure of, is that it is not a Charcoal.)'
"But what could it be, then?" Leon asked. "What item in this world could possibly have done what that thing did?"
'(I can't possibly imagine what it could have been.)' Wolfred replied. '(But if it falls into the wrong hands…)'
At this statement, the same fear seemed to hit everyone at once. Wolfred yelped, and asked his Trainer, '(William, where is it!? It's not still on Route 30, is it!?)'
William's chest slowly burst into a panic. He stammered.
"I had to get out of there as fast as I could," he recounted. "I recalled you and Leon into your Pokeballs, and picked up the Nidoran…"
"You mean it's still out there?" Emily exclaimed. "What if someone finds it!?"
"Wait," William realized. "I may have picked it up without intention."
"What are you talking about?" Emily demanded.
William reached behind his back, and clipped off Wolfred's Pokeball from his belt loop. He held it in front of himself, and allowed it to open. A beam of red light settled to the floor, and indeed it revealed the lumpy, dark and coarse item. William nodded, and Emily breathed a deep sigh of a relief.
"Your Pokeball recalled both you and the Charcoal," William said to Wolfred. He sighed. "It's good that it's not out in the open for anyone to find…because this thing is deathly dangerous. We all know that firsthand. Thusly, we have to get rid of it somehow."
Everyone stared down at the dark lump, greatly disturbed. No one touched it. No one wanted to. William observed it in utter disbelief, and had to ask himself, "Why would Sarah and Wolf give this to me…?"
"She can't have known that it could do what it did," Emily reassured him.
"That depends on how long she had it," William reasoned. "If she had it long enough, Sarah obviously would have figured out what it could do. If she did, why on earth did Wolf give it to me? Why would Sarah even allow him to keep it?"
William shook his head restlessly. "If they didn't have it for very long, though, maybe there wasn't time for it to reveal to them its power. But on the contrary, it was in Wolfred and mine's possession for a matter of a day or two, and it was far away from ineffective. And I know that Sarah would have told me if anything suspicious had happened to Wolf before she just went giving it to me. She's not impulsive like that, quite the opposite, Sarah is really cautious and a bit paranoid." He frowned. "I don't see why it affected my Cyndaquil and not hers. None of this makes any sense."
"William," Emily said softly. "Until we figure out how to get rid of it, tuck it away into a very snug, sheltered pocket deep inside your backpack. You and Wolfred know better than all of us that we want nothing to do with that thing." She grasped her hands together nervously. "Azalea Town is only days away. We should visit the Charcoal Kiln and talk to the owners. Ask about your sister, and perhaps show that item to them. Maybe they gave it to her by mistake."
William swallowed, his head spinning, but nodded in reply. Very carefully, he knelt down to pick it up. Once he touched it, he feverishly, hastily stuffed it into a pocket inside a pocket on the bottom of the bag, and zipped it shut.
He could not help but feel disturbed. For it felt as if inside William's own backpack, was a dark and deadly spirit, trapped within the boundaries of a physical matter.
At least he knew how not to let it escape again.
Author's Note: Yes! I've finally finished this chapter. Apologies to any who may have been on impatient standby for it. I've been major busy lately, unfortunately extending my deadline of a new post every one to three weeks this time…but, I hope this installment was worth the wait.
Now that it is posted, I can go camping this weekend with peace of mind