Sweet Love and Bitter Defeat Chapter XI
At the community plaza, a gardevoir named Red walks along the stone pavements as the vermillion coloured leaves fell from the autumn trees. Stopping at the pond, Red sits down and looks at her own reflection in the waters.
She only sighed sadly as she remembers one of her best moments with a gallade named Gale before his ill-fated battle with a scizor named Hunter:
It was the first day of spring...
Two kirlia, a boy and a girl, walk around the community plaza, a meter away from each other. The female kirlia sees her friend calmly looking at the blue, clear skies with a small grin in her face. For the male kirlia, in his peripheral vision, he could see the cute and innocent face of his friend. Pink petals scattered across the wind gently and the peaceful sounds of the breeze makes the community plaza one of the most serene places to go.
They stopped near the pond to rest. Sitting down at the cool grass, both of them were still apart, yet they slowly and unconsciously moved their hands to each other. As their hands touched, the boy and the girl looked each other in a brief moment before they moved their hands away from each other, blushing in embarrassment.
"I really like the clouds" the male kirlia remarked, hopping to make a conversation with the female kirlia.
The female looked at the sky; the clouds form shapes and pictures. "That looks like a magnet pokemon magnemite" she said with a giggle.
"That looks like a kite pokemon mantyke."
"That one looks like the atrocious pokemon gyarados."
They talk on and on, feeling interested in the topic. They laugh as they try to make one joke to another.
Hours past and they feel tired that they decided to take a sit under the cherry blossom tree.
"I had a great time Gale" the female kirlia said softly.
"Me too Red" the male kirlia added.
Slowly, Red rested on Gale's shoulder and sighed sleepily. "That's good" she said, closing her eyes, "I really love to spend time with you more..."
Gale became intensely red after he heard Red's comment. "I... I..." he mumbled.
He knew that Red is now sleeping. Smiling to himself, Gale too also yawns and rested his head on her head, sleeping as sunshine hits them with joy.
Apparently, Red notices it and silently chuckled to herself before dozing off to slumber land.
Back to the present...
Red picks up a small flower, a blue anemone, and smelled it with much fragrance. "Gale..." she muttered sadly, holding the flower in her palm, "I wish you were hear this but if you're still alive, I want to know that everyone in the community misses you for fighting the bad guys. Your friend Rio is determined to find you and Bunny is also helping him.
"I wish you were here. It's very lonely and I wish to be your side like the old times that we stay near the pond, talking about the clouds in the sky. Gale... please come back..."
The blue anemone flew away from Red's hand, the gentle breeze of autumn carrying the flower away.
At the mountains, a lone gallade named Gale walks out of the cave for the first time, ever since his severed injury and his constant training inside made feel that he hasn't seen sunlight for weeks. Along with him is an elderly yet strong alakazam known as Master Alfred, one of the elite masters of fighting pokemon called the Five Sages.
Gale flinches as the sunlight hits him. "It feels good" he remarked in a satisfied tone, trying to block the sunlight with his arm.
Master Alfred chuckles light-heartedly. "You'll get used to it" he said, basking at the sunlight as he stokes his long moustache.
As the gentle breeze of autumn was felt in the mountains, a lone blue anemone was scene and Master Alfred, using his psychic powers, "grabs" the flower and gives it to Gale.
"What is this Master?" Gale asked, looking at the blue anemone curiously.
"You do not know?" Master Alfred responded in surprise.
He shook his head.
"Try tapping your inner psychic power to know" he suggested, "concentrating on this flower, focusing it until you hear a voice."
As told, Gale stares at the blue anemone for a moment, intensely focusing on it. An amount of psychic energy formed around his head, its purple aura appeared. His eyes strained, having a hard time analyzing the flower's so called "voice".
The purple aura suddenly disappears and Gale only made a defeated sighed. "I can't hear it" he said dejectedly.
Master Alfred thought for a while. "Why don't we see my friend?" he suggested, "I'm sure that she'll help on your dilemma."
Before Gale could speak, a strong wind hits them. The grass flowed quickly than usual and dust hits the eyes of Gale except for Master Alfred, who simply stood there without flinching in pain. A bright light appears and a humanoid-bird Majestic pokemon xatu appears.
"Hello old friend" the xatu greeted, her voice is old and firm.
"Ah Victoria" Master Alfred said pleasantly, "Always on the right time."
Gale stared at the xatu in amazement. "You're Master Victoria!" he cried.
Master Victoria simply bowed at Gale. "Yes I am Master Victoria" she introduced, "I am part of the Five Sages."
"Now since she is here" Master Alfred said, "She will train you to feel the power of nature."
Master Alfred's eyes became purple with energy. "I will leave you two alone" he said, "Master Victoria, if you're done, I will return to let meet Gale someone familiar."
He disappears, leaving a faint of purple aura in the air until it fades away from the wind.
Master Victoria eyed Gale with much enthusiasm. "You're lucky that I am one of the most gentle of the Five Sages" she said with a smile.
They went down the mountain and into the lush, green forest. There, various pokemon thrive peacefully in it: a family of 3 Tiny Swallow and Swallow pokemon tailow and swellow cuddle together in a nest; the Little Bear pokemon Teddiursa peered at them curiously while it sucks its thumb; and hiding from the tree appears two Cheering pokemon plusle and minun peeking at Master Victoria and Gale.
"Why are we here Master?" Gale asked, confused.
Master Victoria raised her wing, telling him to be quiet as they walk. "You will see" she spoke.
She stops for a moment and faces Gale. "Do you hear the sound of the wind?"
He shook his head.
"Then this will be easier than I thought" Master Victoria mused, "Sit down."
Gale obeyed her command and sat down in the grass.
"Now close your eyes" she instructed, "And feel the flow of the wind and listen to what it is saying."
With his eyes closed, Gale felt the wind hitting him and, faintly, he hears the whisper of the breeze. As it continues, the whispers turn into chatter, mixed with happiness, sadness, anger, and excitement in the air.
"I hear them" Gale responded softly, "They are telling me about home..."
"Then" Master Victoria said, giving him the blue anemone to him, "Why don't you listen to this flower words."
Gale took the flower, closing his eyes as he listens the anemone's words:
"I wish you were hear this but if you're still alive, I want to know that everyone in the community misses you for fighting the bad guys. Your friend Rio is determined to find you and Bunny is also helping him.
"I wish you were here. It's very lonely and I wish to be your side like the old times that we stay near the pond, talking about the clouds in the sky. Gale... please come back..."
A tear trickled down to Gale's cheek. "Red" he spoke in a sad voice.
Master Victoria approaches Gale and holds him in the shoulder. "I know you miss her so much" she said gently, "But the flower tells me that this Red also misses you."
But she made a stern face. "But don't let your emotions stray in the battlefield. Fury, anger, and bitterness will only get in the way and if it does, it doesn't look good.
"Now I know that you love the girl but you must let these feelings put away when you return to the community."
Gale was shock by Master Victoria's statement. But before he could protest, a familiar voice said to him behind him.
"Because you will return in three days..."
Gale turned and see his old master: Master Grant with his usual grin with Master Alfred behind him.
Gale has now met two of the Five Sages: Master Alfred the elderly alakazam with an air of being strict and magical and Master Victoria the wise xatu who listens the words of nature. But Master Grant, his old mentor, comes back to tell him to return. Why did he ask? Who are the other 2 Masters of the Five Sages? Find out at the next Sweet Love and Bitter Defeat.
*I apologize for the long wait. There are so many paperwork that needs to be done in HQ: finish due tasks, wrap up some assignments, etc. I do hope you enjoy the chapters so far.
