Began chapter: December 24, 2011
Posted: January 3, 2012
Rating: This entire fanfiction is rated K+
Other notes: Longer chapter. ^^ More content too. If this doesn't make up for all the weeks I missed out on, I don't know what will. This is where the story begins to pick up.
Like I said, this one is a little longer than the standard chapter, just because the content would seem awkward if I split it up into two chapters.
Anyway, this was supposed to be uploaded on the weekend. But I'm on break still, and stupid me didn't realize that Tuesday was not a weekend day. XD Sorry that it's a few days late. Once again, I hope the long chapter compensates for its lateness.
Anyway, read, enjoy, review, and share! :D
Oh, and Happy New Year!
Chapter Nine
"This is it," said Alfie, more to herself than the world around her. Her hands clenched into fists at her side, and as Morty summoned his Pokémon, a ghostly wind blew from behind and sent chills running down her exposed neck. "I won't fail this time. There's no room for failure. Only improvement."
This Pokémon would be stronger than her – Lyra made that clear. Yet if Alfie felt herself weakening, the trainer also said that there would be replacements available. Alfie wasn't expected to deal with this Pokémon all by herself, she was told. Nobody expected much from her during this battle, because all she needed was some experience.
Nobody is expecting much. But I'll give them something to look at, at least. Alfie was determined to finish this Pokémon off, and by herself. It was time to prove herself to the Pokémon world. If she had to fight until her bones broke, she would. And, smugly, she had to remind herself, After this, Ever will have no right to complain.
"Go get 'em, Ghastly!" And so, the first Pokémon was called forth.
Alfie stared blankly at her opponent. She glanced back and forth between Yami and the summoned Pokémon, and then she grinned. "Yami, he looks just like you!"
"He looks nothing like me!" Yami griped from the sidelines. He waved his fists and stomped all over, and when he finished he threw Alfie a steaming glare. "You have to be out of your right mind to even think that he looks like—"
"Ghastly, use Lick!"
The boy tossed his dark, violet hair out of his eyes and sped towards Alfie. He moved so fast, and blended in so well with the black surroundings, that she didn't see his figure until he materialized in front of her. In one swift motion, he came up from underneath her and left a trail of saliva along her chest, neck and face. She screamed and stumbled backwards, feeling utterly disgusted by the attack. When she touched the saliva that coated her front side, she wanted to burst into tears.
The opponent snickered quietly for a moment, and then he exploded into a series of laughing fits. Yami, from his place on the side, did the same. They both rolled on the ground, pounded at it with their fists, and clutched at their stomachs to assist their breathing issues.
"That is so gross!" she wailed. Not to mention, the saliva burned her skin, but its painful qualities only served to anger her. She pointed an accusatory finger at Yami and furiously added, "You are just like him!"
"It hurts!" Yami cackled from the floor.
Lyra decided that enough was enough. She tightened the ribbon on her bonnet, fixed it straight, and assumed the offensive position. "Alfie," she started, "use Razor Leaf!"
The Ghastly attempted to stop Alfie's advance, but she'd already witnessed his quickness and was able to dodge him easily. Once his back was exposed, he was assaulted by dozens of blade-like, sharpened leaves. Because of his speed, he managed to avoid several of them, but he was unable to escape without injury. The leaves had sliced his skin, leaving reddened – some bloody – welts that looked very painful.
"Good!" Lyra yelled. She saw the Ghastly move forward, so she called, "Now move back! Back, back!"
Alfie tried her hardest to not trip over her feet. The Ghastly continued to throw furious punches, and she knew that if one connected with her face she'd fall unconscious. She tried to remember what Epsilon had taught her – she had to listen to her senses. She had to be aware of everything around her.
When the opportunity presented itself, she grasped it. The Ghastly took less than a second to catch his breath, and in that span of time she delivered a powerful blow to his jawbone. He spiraled away, obviously bewildered by the sudden attack. He rubbed his jaw tenderly, and as soon as his eyes stopped spinning, he bared his fangs – something that Yami tended to do when he got angry.
Lyra pumped her fist. "Awesome! Move in!"
Alfie hesitated, because she wasn't sure if she wanted to follow Lyra's commands. But as soon as she gave in to the temptation, the opportunity to finish the foe off had passed. She gasped as he swiped viciously at her, and once more she was on the defensive. Several times, his punches connected with her face.
Epsilon's voice echoed in her head. Trust your trainer, he said. Lyra has the gift. She can see things other trainers cannot. If you heed her command, she will guide you along the path of triumph and lead you to victory. Never before has she led any of us astray, and it will be the same with you. She wants to see you succeed. Now, listen.
"Move in!" came Lyra's second attempt.
Everything inside of Alfie – her inner voice – screamed to ignore the command. The Ghastly did not waver, and she was positive that if she moved in she would be knocked back. But she decided to trust. With great uncertainty, she stepped forward and threw one solid punch to the side of the Ghastly's head. He was sent, grunting with pain, to the ground.
"Razor Leaf, again!"
Alfie had no problem with ranged attacks. Once more, she summoned the bladed leaves and released them upon the unmoving target. Because he was unable to avoid them, this time he received the full blow of the attack. His skin glowed red with the hundreds of cuts that adorned his skin. Before he could cry out in pain, he was unconscious.
Morty smiled grimly. "It isn't over yet," he said. He rolled up his black sleeves, and from his hand launched another Pokéball. "Get 'em, Haunter!"
Alfie felt on top of the world – as far as she was concerned, she could take on anybody. But before she could step forward to challenge the newcomer, her heart began to pound and everything in her sight was flooded with white. She clutched at her head and staggered backwards. "W—what's happening?"
She couldn't see Yami, but she could hear him. "S—she's evolving!" he exclaimed.
"Alfie!"
She stumbled into Epsilon's body and tried to blink away the whiteness, but it wouldn't fade. "Epsilon," she whispered, feeling very afraid. "What's happening? What's happening to me?"
His voice had a strange, thrumming echo when he spoke – unlike his telepathic speaking, but unlike his normal voice. He squeezed her shoulders reassuringly, leaned forward, and said in her ear, "Little lady, you are only going through what all Pokémon do. You are evolving."
"E—evolving?" she croaked. Her body began to grow extremely warm, both internally and externally. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees. She whispered, "What's that? What's going on?"
"Do not panic," Epsilon said. He knelt down beside her and gripped her shoulders tighter. He spoke in hushed tones, presumably to comfort her. "Evolution is a process where the evolving Pokémon morphs into another Pokémon – your body will change, your looks, attacks, even your stats such as speed and strength. Only good can come from this. Be patient. Wait it out."
Alfie steadied her hiccups and tried to regulate her breathing. Eventually, the white light began to flicker out and she could establish forms and figures again. The hotness in her body also disappeared, and soon she was feeling perfectly well again. "Am…am I done?"
Epsilon looked her over. "Yes, you are done."
She hurriedly inspected herself. Wardrobe wise, she noticed that her dress had shortened, another layer of transparent fabric was added, and her boots had extended up to her knees. Instead of her vine necklace, there were pale green leaves protruding from her neck. The leaf on her head was bigger, felt heavier, and now had a crescent shaped cut near the tip. She really was different.
"What am I?" she asked. She spun around and attempted to get acquainted with the shortness of her new dress. Because of the new leaf, her head felt strangely unbalanced. "You said I'd morph into another Pokémon."
"You are no longer Chikorita, but you are now Bayleef," he said. His eyes glinted when he glanced up at Morty and the Haunter, who were waiting out the evolution process patiently. "And you are stronger."
"Are you hinting at something, Epsilon?"
He smiled and ruffled her hair, just like he always did. "This battle is yours, little lady," he said. He gave her an encouraging thumbs-up as he walked back to the sidelines. He waved once, and jogged the rest of the way back.
Lyra conducted routine inspection of her new Pokémon as well. After she was done, she grinned and, like Epsilon, made her way back to her designated placement. "Morty," she said as she straightened her bonnet in that very I'm-determined-to-get-what-I-want way. "I think you'll be giving me that Fog Badge soon enough."
"We'll see about that, Trainer Lyra," Morty responded.
You think I can do it? Alfie asked as the opponent launched itself towards her. She crouched down low and prepared herself for the impact. With his frightening eyes, talon-shaped claws, and swift step, the Haunter looked like something straight out of a nightmare. Self-doubt, which she wasn't unfamiliar with, enveloped her thoughts.
Epsilon, on the sidelines, crossed his arms and leaned back. I know you will make us proud, he replied.
Alfie arched her back as she dodged one of the Haunter's swipes. But how can you be so sure? How are you always so sure? Without permission from Lyra, she released her storm of razor leafs on the Haunter. When he became preoccupied with the distraction, she jumped up and threw a kick towards him. Everything you predict is right. How can you read the future?
It is not a matter of predicting and reading the future, said Epsilon. This is the path of triumph. Yours is longer than the average road. There are many obstacles along the way – some small, some large. With each step, you walk closer and closer to your final destination. And with each step, you prove yourself more and more to our world. It is a matter of faith.
She felt an uplifting power surge from behind her. She ducked beneath one of the Haunter's swings and leapt at him, successfully knocking him to the ground. In seconds, he'd recovered, but Alfie had already distanced herself.
I have faith in you, Alfie.
"I'm so full!" Yami exclaimed as he stretched along the backside of the chair. His back emitted multiple cracking and popping noises as he arched. He then sighed and straightened himself. "Grandma seriously knows how to cook. If only the women on our team could cook half as good."
Ever whacked the back of his head, completely ignoring his shouts of protest. "It just so happens that I helped," she said imperiously. Her eye twitched, and then she grudgingly added, "I mean, all of the girls helped. I just helped the most."
Alfie ignored it and gave an embarrassed smile. "I've never been a cooker," she said as she chewed on her fork. Not even as a human. "But with Grandma, it's a lot of fun. She taught me how to properly harvest the vegetables, and—"
"Please," Ever said exasperatedly. She waved her hand and went back to sipping the leftover sauce. When she finished, she patted her lips with a napkin. "Shouldn't all grass types know a thing or two about plants and veggies? It's no wonder that you could do things the right way. I should've given you the job of cutting the meat."
"Oh, hush," Feilong said, setting down his bowl and sighing happily. "You all did a good job. Each one of your put in equal effort to make this dinner delicious. There's no need to argue about it. Of course, Étoile's cooking is more extraordinary than usual—"
"Feilong, you do not set an exemplary example," Epsilon joked. His tail made swishing noises as it waved back and forth along the wooden chair.
Étoile rolled her eyes. "I think the point that should be made is that we all contributed, nobody's cooking is better than anyone else's, and that we should enjoy it while it lasts. Don't forget everyone – we're leaving first thing in the morning. Say your goodbyes to Grandma while you can."
Feilong raised his index finger. "Exactly."
"Now, what did you all make for dessert?" Yami expectantly held out his plate. When nobody responded, he set it down and clapped his hands together loudly. "Chop, chop. I have a second stomach used for dessert only, and it's growling."
Alfie relaxed against the chair. Each personality was beginning to grow on her. She wasn't sure what she'd do without Feilong's friendly nature or Étoile's peacemaker attitude. When she became human again, she'd even miss Ever's daily snootiness and Yami's demanding behavior. They were the closest friends she'd ever had – besides Lyra and Ethan, of course.
Ethan. She would be seeing him again within the next week. Not to mention, her parents would be with him. How am I going to handle seeing them all at once? She anxiously chewed on her nails, suddenly oblivious to the commotion around her. How can I stand seeing the house I grew up in? They're going to look at me, and talk to me, and I can't say anything back.
The room felt hot and suffocating. "I'm going to step outside and take a breather," she told Étoile, who nodded and translated to Lyra and Grandma.
Once Alfie was outside, her thoughts became clearer. She sighed heavily and sat on the front porch steps, shivering and wondering why her evolution had given her shorter clothes. Bayleef, she thought miserably. So far, you've done nothing for me.
In twenty-four hours, Ecruteak City would be far behind, and she would return to the place where she'd seen both the end and the beginning. She'd hoped to keep that side of her personal, but in two days' time she'd be sharing her past with everyone else, and she wasn't sure if she was willing to do that.
The door behind her opened and closed, but she didn't check to see who'd emerged. His voice told her all she needed to know. "The Bell Tower," Yami said, "is where I was born and raised. But I was haunted. Something told me to leave. My brother, even though he's younger than me, used to tell me that you can't hold onto old ghosts, so I left."
Alfie eyed him as he sat down next to her, mildly surprised by his abrupt seriousness. "What told you to leave?" she asked.
"Not really what," he said. He massaged his hands, cupping them from the cold. Eventually, he gave up and shoved them into his jacket pockets. He nervously fidgeted, and then he exhaled so harshly that his hair flew out of his eyes. "Yeah, not what. But who."
"Who told you to leave, then?" Alfie said cautiously, careful to not prod or poke at his past. If he chose to leave it behind, like she had decided to do, then she was going to respect that.
It took him a long time to reply. "It was one of those fortune-telling birds. Xatus are pretty common around here, and if there's one thing you don't want to do, it's run into them. They get all freaky, telling you your future and other things you don't want to know. When I ran into one, about a year ago, he told me lots of weird things."
Alfie blinked, mystified by the supposed fortune-teller known as Xatu. "Weird things? Like?"
Yami had endured the cold for sometime, but at that moment he trembled violently. "I remember I was sleeping," he said. "My little brother told me that there was somebody standing outside of the Bell Tower. So I went to the window, and when I looked outside, there he was. He told me things about my future."
"Like?" Alfie prompted again, more firmly than before.
"He told me that I was going to meet the person who would change our world," said Yami. "And he told me that I was going to play a part in it. When I blinked, the stupid bird had vanished, but the voice kept talking. It was suddenly everywhere, and it was pretty scary. I'm a ghost, and I'm supposed to scare people. I don't get scared. And…changing the world? That's insane. That could never happen to me."
Yami inhaled shakily, and then he softly added, "And he told me that I wasn't going to see my brother for a long time. The next morning, Malacai was gone. I haven't seen him since. I think he was either captured by humans or…or recruited by those squads that you see trying to rebel against the higher-ups. I can't even imagine it."
Quite hesitantly, and choosing to avoid any conversation about his brother, Alfie said, "It sounds like you're scared to me. It sounds like you're scared that you won't meet up to expectations. It's not that you can't change the world – it's that you're too afraid to try."
"You're one to talk about getting scared. You're afraid of your own shadow." And then, he narrowed his eyes and slowly added, "You know, the Legendary Beasts had some kind of attraction to you. You wouldn't be the person that's supposed to change the world, would you?"
"Nah," Alfie said. She leaned back and placed her hands in her lap. Me? Change the world? Highly doubtful. "I could never pull something like that. I think I might be the same as you. Even if I could, I don't think I'd want to. I don't want that sort of responsibility to fall on my shoulders. I just want something normal…for once."
Yami considered her words for a moment, and then he released his tension with another sigh and leaned back with her. "Yeah, you're right," he said, shutting his eyes as a bitter wind swept past them. "You're not special enough. You're just Alfie. The only thing you can change is clothes as you get fatter and fatter."
Just Alfie, she thought, unbothered by his fat remark. That's what he said back at the Bell Tower. Am I really just Alfie? Is there no reason to believe that I'm different from everyone else?
"I was kidding with that comment, by the way," Yami said when he noticed her silence. "I don't really think you're fat. You just eat a lot."
"I know," Alfie laughed softly, and then she tucked her hair behind her ear. When she smiled at him, he seemed bewildered that she had. "Call me fat all you want. In return, I'll just call you skinny."
"You have—" Yami started, but then he paused abruptly. He averted his eyes and looked at his thin wrists, desperate for a distraction. His mouth opened and closed, as if searching for something else to talk about. "You know…back at the Bell Tower. I came out here to say sorry for ruining your trip. But there was something I also wanted to ask. They said you weren't a Pokémon."
Alfie felt cornered. How was she going to avoid this one? "I…I have no clue. The entire time, I had no idea what they were talking about. I really think they have the wrong girl."
"Alfie, is there something that you're hiding from—"
"What are you two doing out here?" Feilong poked his head out from the house. He immediately shivered and retreated further back into the hallway. When his gaze fell on the pair, his eyes squinted and his mouth formed somewhat of a pout. "Come on in. It's freezing out here."
I've been saved, Alfie thought happily. But she knew that Yami would ask again. He would relentlessly pursue her secret, and she couldn't beat around the bush forever. "Okay, Feilong," she said. Hastily, she got up and entered the house.
When she noticed that Yami hadn't followed her, she stood in the doorway and waited for him. His eyes were filled with confusion, and it looked like he wanted to say more. Instead of speaking, however, he rubbed his shoulder awkwardly, sighed, stood up, and walked past her into the commotion of the house. As he traveled the long hallway, he didn't look back once.
Alfie felt awful. She realized that he felt unconnected, and maybe disappointed, with her – he'd shared his secret, and now she wouldn't share hers. But her transformation was something that she couldn't tell him. Not now, at least. Perhaps, when the time and situation was appropriate, he would understand the burden she carried on her shoulders.
"It feels good to be home!" Lyra exclaimed. She shielded her eyes from the white sun and stared up at the twin houses just ahead. She quivered, either with excitement or cold, inside of her heavy coat and quickened her step. "In just a couple of minutes, I'll see my parents and Ethan again!"
Alfie tried her hardest to settle her churning stomach. It felt like centuries since she'd walked this path, and even longer since she'd seen her home. In the distance, just beyond the trees, it looked the same – pale blue with white trim, except now the gardens, which had once overflowed with yellow tulips, were now stripped bare.
"I remember this town," Ever sighed. She breathed steaming vapor into her hands, and she huddled deeper into the comfort of her nine tails. "I was hoping to never return. When it comes to magnificence and appeal, it doesn't impress much."
"It's quaint," said Étoile. As usual, she was undisturbed by the cold and didn't need to shelter herself from it. "It has been years since I've been here, but I still think of it fondly."
We were playing hide-and-go-seek, thought Alfie as she observed the landscape. I wanted to hide behind those rocks, but Lyra insisted that we hide in that tree over there. I didn't want to, but I listened to her anyway. When Ethan counted to one hundred and walked under our tree, Lyra leaned too far forward, fell, and broke her arm.
"You seem to be lost in contemplation, little lady," Epsilon said quietly, leaning in next to her. "I do not blame you. You are revisiting the past. Nobody should have to experience that kind of turmoil. Are you feeling well?"
Ethan told us that aliens were out there, listening to us. Hoping to make contact with aliens, we climbed on top of my house to mess with the antenna. When my dad caught us out there, he lectured us for the rest of the night. But once the sun started to come up, and he was getting tired, he made us all hot chocolate and let us sleep in until afternoon. Alfie glanced at Epsilon. "What?"
"I asked if you felt well." He furrowed his brows. "You look like you are going to be sick."
I got sick in the seventh grade. Lyra tried to make me a cake to help me feel better, but she burnt it. I ate it anyway. And even though I felt worse afterward, I ate it all and bought her a diary to thank her. "Really, Epsilon," she said. She inhaled deeply, hoping to restore some steadiness to her head. When that method failed, she rubbed her temples vigorously until there was a dull ache in her face. "I'll be okay. This is supposed to be a fun night for everyone."
Epsilon hesitated for a moment, and then he reluctantly said, "Well, if you say so. But remember – Feilong, Étoile, and I are all aware of your secret. If you need any one of us, you can pull us aside."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Lyra and the group approached Alfie's house. "This is it, guys," she said, grinning. She eagerly bounced up the steps, rang the doorbell three times, stepped back, and waited patiently. When the door opened, they were greeted by Ethan's handsome face.
Alfie had harbored a secret crush on Ethan for half her life, from the second to the eighth grade. There'd be something about his navy blue eyes that had captured her heart. But no matter how hard she tried, Lyra could always triumph over her. When Ethan had needed someone to attend the school dance with him, he'd chosen Lyra. When he'd felt lonely and helpless on his Pokémon journey, he'd called Lyra for support, not Alfie.
It wasn't fair. She stared at him blankly. He couldn't see her, and he probably never would again. She doesn't even realize it now – how he wants her. She doesn't see it. It wasn't fair that he was unattainable, no matter how hard I tried. All she had to do is smile at him, and he'd trip over his feet trying to get to her.
Was that how Ever felt – always trying and trying, but never amounting to anything? How much effort would she put into her relationship with Epsilon until she finally gave up? Does she feel now what I felt for half my life? Will she be able to overcome this obstacle, like I have? Secretly, she wished for strength for Ever.
"It's about time you got here," Ethan said. "You're a Slowpoke."
"You're the Slowking," Lyra replied. She gestured for the group to walk in first, and then she followed behind them. "Is my mother here yet?"
Ethan shook his head. "It's a bit early," he said. He took her coat and her bag, and then set them to the side. "If you want, we can stop by your place, just to say hi. She probably won't be here for a while."
"I'll do that later – they can wait. Alfie's parents come first." Lyra stopped in front of the mirror by the doorway and fixed her hair, which had been disheveled by her winter hat – the temporary replacement for her bonnet. When she finished, she twirled and posed for Ethan. "Do I look presentable for a party?"
Ethan grinned and gave her an honest thumbs-up. "Stunning," he answered, very truthfully probably. He waved at the group, who didn't do much waving back, and then he said, "I have my Pokémon with me too. They're in the other room."
Alfie and everybody else followed him and Lyra into the kitchen, where she found herself speechless. Mom was stirring something at the stove, and Dad was chatting with Ethan's parents. When Lyra entered the room, Mom turned around, smiled, and opened her arms for an inviting hug.
That smile should have been for me, thought Alfie, almost jealously, as she watched Lyra embrace her mother. She whispered to Epsilon, "My stomach hurts. Really bad. I'm not saying I want to leave. I'm warning you – just in case I throw up all over the place."
"Oh, Lyra," Mom said wearily. "We're so happy you're back. Both you and Ethan – what a pleasant surprise. It's too bad we don't have Alfie to complete the trio. I'm sure she would've been ecstatic to see Ethan again."
"Have you been doing all right?" Lyra asked, and she concernedly placed her hand on Mom's shoulder. "I'm sorry I haven't been around to stick around much. I know I left so soon after her funeral."
Mom's lips tightened into a thin, straight line. Over the last few months, she seemed to have aged by ten years. "I won't lie, it's been tough. Without her, the house has been void of life. To have you, and Ethan and his parents, all in the same room right now…I can breathe now."
"I understand," Lyra said softly. "It's taken all of my willpower to try and put it behind me. Even though I've been so busy, I still can't stop thinking about it at night."
"Is your mother coming, Lyra?" Mom turned around and went back to stirring the contents of the pot. She paused for another moment to acknowledge her again, and once more she resumed the stirring. "It would be lovely if she showed. I haven't seen much of her."
Lyra sat down next to Dad and Ethan's parents, who greeted her warmly. "Mm, she's never been too social," she explained, and then she glanced at Ethan. "I'm about to head on over there right now, to see if she's still coming. Is it fine if I leave my Pokémon here with Ethan's? I won't be gone long."
Mom waved her hand dismissively. "As long as they aren't tearing up the house, you can leave them in the living room," she said. She tasted her soup, and then held the wooden spoon out for Lyra to sample.
The group wandered to the living room – Alfie in the lead, naturally. Six other Pokémon were lined up along the couch, some with their hands folded and others slouched over, all quietly speaking with one another. When Alfie and the group entered the room, they all stopped their talking and looked up to examine the newcomers.
"Lyra's team," said one, presumably the leader of the group. He had golden, streaked with white, and blinking black eyes. "Kind of like our sister team, no?"
"Brother team, then," Étoile said. She and the others lingered at the edge of the living room, hanging like words on the furniture and not daring to go any closer to the foreigners.
"Oh, don't step too much closer to Ophelia," said a man, who had strange, baby blue fins coming from his dragon-like body. He cocked his head towards a woman sitting near the window. "She's a Vileplume. You may not like her smell."
"That's Gloom, you idiot," the woman called Ophelia scolded. She had dark, violet hair and a red and white polka-dotted dress. On her head, there were large petals with the same red and white pattern as her dress, and she looked to be about a year or two younger than Alfie. "Gloom smell bad. Vileplume have a socially acceptable smell. Don't worry about sitting next to me – I don't stink, I swear. Swear it, swear it, swear it!"
The Pokémon with the golden hair smirked with amusement, leaned back, and crossed his arms. "I'm Sampson, the Jolteon," he said. "The one who told you to stay away from the stink bomb is Gareth, the Kingdra. You've obviously met—"
"I'm Ophelia," said the Vileplume cheerily. With an outgoing smile, she raised her hand to bring attention to herself. "Duh. He said that. Also, I don't stink. Did I already say that?"
"Ophelia," Sampson finished. He pointed at the respective Pokémon as he introduced them, "That's Vulcan, the Typhlosion. He talks a lot, but he says some pretty awful things, so don't bother with him. The one sitting next to Ophelia is Lu, the Xatu."
Lu regarded them silently from her place on the couch. Her strangely decorated wings curled up behind her as she leaned forward to get a better look at the group. Attitude-wise, she looked to be Epsilon's other half – always calm, always calculating. To herself, she muttered, "Hm," and then she leaned back, lowered her head, and closed her eyes.
Sampson nudged an older woman sitting next to him. "This is Moor," he said. "She's less talkative than Vulcan, but a hell of a lot nicer. She's an Umbreon."
The woman, the Umbreon, was black and beautiful all over. She had darker skin and tumbling waves of inky raven hair. Her dark was tattooed with shining, yellow bands. She coldly acknowledged Sampson, and then the group. When she finished, she looked at Lu and made a series of gestures with her hand.
"Moor says hello," Lu said.
"That's what I meant by she's less talkative," said Sampson. The smile on his cheek sparkled with electricity when he chuckled to himself. "She's mute. So she doesn't say much. Lu is her translator. That's not sign language, by the way. It's some special form of communication they made up themselves. Nobody can understand it."
The Umbreon stared at Alfie for a long time, and then she spoke to Lu once more. The way she moved her hands surely resembled sign language, but Alfie could tell by the varying degrees of complexity that it was something entirely different. She thought, A language that only Moor and Lu can understand? How strange!
"Moor says that she needs to have some fresh air," Lu said. "She says that we will return shortly."
Both Moor and Lu stood from their seats and exited the room, and Ophelia pouted on the couch. "They're always leaving me out!" she complained loudly. "Always together, always talking about stuff I don't understand. Moor never talks this much! And you think Ethan would have put a more cheerful girl on his team. No. Instead, I got stuck with—"
"That's us," Vulcan interrupted. He had black-green hair and flames at his neck, and his tiny ears twitched beneath his hair. "All Ophelia does is talk. And all Moor and Lu does is think."
"An insult with every word," Sampson said airily. "That's Vulcan. And you guys are?"
Étoile introduced the group – Alfie the Bayleef, Yami the Ghastly, Ever the Ninetales, Epsilon the Lucario (Sampson had to pause and ask what in Johto a Lucario was, but Gareth was swift to answer correctly), Feilong the Dragonair, and herself. Because the team didn't have much to say, the introduction was simple and quick.
"I have a feeling tonight is going to be really uncomfortable," Yami whispered to Alfie, inching closer to her. "They look like a bunch of strange Pokémon to me."
"This is the weirdest Christmas party ever," said Ophelia. She flattened out her dress and fluttered her petals. By then, Alfie had noticed that she had a strange habit to place emphasis on random words. "Who gets together to celebrate someone's death, for Christmas? Weird, weird, weird. I'd much rather be out training for the Indigo Plateau, or something."
Both Alfie and Epsilon tensed at this remark.
"I just hope they have some good cake. The walk back here was pretty tiring. I'm really hungry."
Alfie was growing increasingly disconcerted by Ethan's team. Even though she had a good feel for their personalities, and she knew their names, they felt like utter strangers. Thankfully, at that moment, Lyra and Ethan returned with Moor and Lu in tow, and the two Pokémon returned to their places on the couches without acknowledgment.
"Oh, you guys have met," said Ethan, relieved.
Étoile made everybody else look like junk when she directly spoke to Ethan. "Yes, we have, and they were all very welcoming towards us," she said courteously. "Lyra, is there anything I can do to help with the party preparations?"
Not only did her ability to communicate with humans boost her worth, her warm and friendly manner made Alfie extremely glad to be on Lyra's team, not Ethan's. She highly doubted that she could endure Ophelia's mouth and Lu's awkward personality for long. She would take troubles like Ever and Yami over them any day.
"No, there isn't," replied Lyra. "But thanks for offering."
"Lyra?" Mom called from the kitchen. She appeared in the living room doorway. "Ethan? Oh, there you are. There's some food that we need to start bringing out. And look-" she withdrew something from behind her –"I got these lovely candles at the market today. We'll light them – just for Alfie. Isn't that wonderful?"
Gareth glanced at Alfie warily. "Isn't that your name?"
"I was named after her," Alfie said hastily. She felt suffocated by the six stares that accompanied Gareth's question, so she retreated deeper into her circle of friends. She was instantly comforted by Epsilon's at her right shoulder and Feilong on her left. "Sort of a remembrance."
"So you're like a living memorial for a dead girl?" Ophelia asked. She smiled, so she seemed to be unaware of her rude behavior. Also, her word emphasis was beginning to get annoying. "That's so awful. If Ethan named me after some dead person, then I'd have perfectly good reason to poison him. Ugh! Awful, awful, awful."
"Yes," Alfie confirmed stiffly. Her irritability did not falter, even when Epsilon squeezed her shoulder in warning. Through her next words, she mocked the Vileplume's method of speaking. "A living memorial for a dead girl."
It was entirely out of character for Alfie to be so direct, and everybody on Lyra's team was startled. However, out of all the Pokémon on Ethan's team, only Sampson seemed to notice the rising tension. "I think they're setting the table now," he said. He gave Ophelia a scalding look. "I think we should all take our places at the table. Or help set it. I don't know."
"I would say so," Epsilon agreed. His hand lingered on Alfie's shoulder for seconds more, but then it slipped away as he moved towards the kitchen area.
As the dozen Pokémon dispersed, Sampson approached Alfie. "I don't know what it is about your name that you take personally," he said, not looking her in the eye. He shifted his weight around and fiddled with his hands. "But I want to apologize for Ophelia's behavior. She can get like that. She says without thinking, and she's obviously insulted you. I'll talk to her later about this—"
"Come on," Yami said. He and Sampson exchanged eye contact, and then Yami urgently tugged on her wrist. Alfie was astounded that he'd so readily rescued her, and he didn't even know her secret. "We should go, Alfie. They're gonna light the candles without us."
"Thanks," she whispered to him as they walked away. In response, he shrugged.
All of the humans sat in chairs at the table while the Pokémon stood behind them. Just before everybody got comfortable, Lyra's mother walked in with a pie in her hands. She and the adults conversed quietly as Mom leaned forward and began to light the candles. "All right, everyone," she announced. "We should sit down, and say something nice to Alfie…before we get started, and all."
The humans eased into their designated spots. "I think I'll begin," said Dad. For the moment, all the attention was on him. "I remember Alfie's first day at kindergarten. All of the other children had brought their Pokémon, just to keep them company throughout their first day. But Alfie never liked Pokémon. She didn't have anything to bring. So she cried and cried, saying, 'Daddy, please take me home.'"
Mom allowed herself to smile. "So instead, I let her bring a stuffed animal."
"That's right," Dad said. "She brought her plushie Snorlax. She didn't like real Pokémon, but for a while, she had no problem with the fake ones. Later that day, she went home feeling very proud. When we asked her why she was smiling so much, she said that all of the kids were jealous because she was the only one with a Snorlax."
"That was when she met us!" Lyra snickered to herself, beneath her breath. "I thought it was cool, but Ethan kept trying to correct her. He kept telling her that it wasn't a real Snorlax, that real Snorlax were way bigger and could crush the whole school. Gosh, even back then Ethan was a smart aleck."
Alfie's heart felt hollow. They talk about me like I'm not here. But they don't know that. They don't know that I'm standing right here. She stood right behind Mom, and all she could see was her familiar brown hair. But her once healthy, lively hair was dull and streaked with gray. How hard has this been on her? How difficult is it to lose your only child?
The family and friends exchanged several more stories, including the one where Alfie and the others got in trouble for messing with the antenna on the roof. Eventually, after Mom had cried waterfalls and Dad had uncomfortably cleared his throat more than once, they decided that story time had gone on long enough and it was time to feed everybody.
After the Pokémon had filled their plates, they split up. Yami decided that he'd rather lounge on the couch than sit upstairs, so Alfie and Epsilon left him to his own devices. They went up the staircase, through Alfie's old bedroom, and exited out the balcony door by her closet. Outside, on the balcony, there was a white bench that could fit three. They chose to sit on opposite ends – not anywhere near one another.
"Isn't it weird?" Alfie asked as she chewed on blueberry pie. She stuck the plastic fork into the center of the piecrust and leaned back to enjoy the Christmas lights in the distance. "That I'm practically reliving the past? Ophelia might be right. I'm a living memorial for a dead person."
Epsilon worriedly glanced at her. "You should not listen to what Ophelia says. I have met her once or twice in the past, and each time she has failed to impress me. Are you still feeling alright?"
"Yes," Alfie sighed. In deep thought, she nibbled the last bites of her pie. Then she set the paper plate down by her feet. "I think I did so much worrying on the way here that I didn't have anything to worry about when I got here. It's like it was, just without me. I actually thought the story sharing was pretty funny. And, of course, that pie was pretty good."
"Would you like the rest of mine?" He held out his plate in offering.
Alfie stared at the pie, then she turned away. "I'll pass. Yami thinks I eat too much already. He's called me fat more than five times in the last hour. It isn't my fault that I have such a high metabolism. Besides, all that working out has left me feeling pretty hungry all the time. It's not easy being a Pokémon."
"At least he does not call you the Epsi-loner," said Epsilon, chuckling. "And do not pay much attention to his teasing – he was the same way when he was first captured. He had never experienced the life of a trained Pokémon. All he did, all day and night, was eat and sleep."
"Who would've guessed? He's so thin already." Alfie leaned forward and put her chin in her hands. When she looked up at Epsilon, from that angle, he looked handsomer than usual. Because she liked that angle so much, she remained in that position. "I'm glad I've started to fit in. I feel like everything is finally working out for the better. Now I have a family."
"Yes, a family," said Epsilon. He tilted his head one way and stared down at her, almost curiously. "What an exceptional word to describe it. Do you truly feel like you belong with us?"
"I do," Alfie said honestly. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I didn't at first though. I felt like Ethan's team – disjointed, unconnected, and unable to get along with anybody. For a while, I felt like you were my only friend. And now, I feel in sync with everyone else, like we've always known each other."
Epsilon patted her head affectionately. "This is just one of the hurdles you had to overcome, little lady," he said. "You have not full comprehended the extent of your relationships. Soon, it will become clear."
Alfie hesitantly admitted, "Sometimes, I wonder what I want. Ever since I was a child, I thought that my parents couldn't stand me, that I'd disappointed them or something. But now, I—" Suddenly, she heard a noise coming from her bedroom.
Epsilon's ears were rotated back – he'd already heard. They whirled around to face the figure, and they saw Feilong, who looked completely frazzled. His disheveled appearance was completely unlike him, and that gave them enough incentive to stand on their feet and question with their expression. Out of breath, Feilong leaned up against the doorway and shakily inhaled.
Alarmed, Epsilon stood up. He went to Feilong's side and placed his hand on the Dragonair's back. "Feilong," he said. "What is wrong? What has happened?"
"Epsilon," Feilong panted. He shut his eyes tight and pressed his forehead against the doorframe. Sweat was beaded on his temples, and his legs were trembling so violently that he could barely stand. He looked up at Epsilon, his eyes wide and helpless. Never before had he appeared so vulnerable. "It's happening. It's time."
Alfie watched this in amazement. What's going on? Cold terror crept into her heart. "What's wrong?"
"What is happening?" Epsilon said fearfully, but his tone of voice made it clear that he knew exactly what was happening. He attempted to help his friend stand properly, but to no avail. Frustrated, he backed up against the other side of the doorframe and scraped at it with his nails. "Feilong, it is time for what? Answer me!"
"It's Ever. She's been taken."
End of Chapter Nine
Other Notes: It's about gosh darn time that this story picked up. Whew.
