Chapter 12
She had forgotten what flying was like. The weightlessness and the ability to go anywhere she wanted.
Latias wove through the trees at high speed. The wind whooshed along her body, cocooning her in its cool embrace. Leaves were pulled into the wind as she moved, joining her in the dance across the forest. Her body responded to every thought with little effort and her mind was light with few worries. She spun up, twisting her body in circles as she danced around branches. She broke the canopy with a cry. For a moment she hung, enjoying the feel of the sun on her body and the expanse of blue before her, then gave her body in to gravity, falling towards the ground. She loved the tingling feeling of her stomach dropping, they cry of the wind as she fell and the vision of the ground heading for her. She held her decent for as long as she dared, trying to pull up at what she felt was the last moment. Finally, she started her movements all over again, racing through Ilex Forest with joy.
Zeannah walked back into the centre with a content sigh. She was looking forward to relaxing for a while after defeating the gym leader of this town. She walked into the centre, expecting Lilly to come out from wherever she was hiding to greet her. No such greeting came.
"I told her to stay here," she grumbled under her breath.
[How was the 'Laundromat'?] Shiver asked, flying out to perch on her shoulder.
"Hello little Murkrow, where's your trainer gone?" She questioned, unable to hear the Pokémon's voice.
Shiver let out a little sigh, she had gotten too used to people who could hear her voice. She would have to show Zeannah where Alphonse was and hope that he'd pick up on where the trainer girl had been.
Zeannah followed the flying Pokémon over and up the nearby stairs which lead to the residential area of the Pokémon centre. Trainers could stay here for a few days, no more than 6, before they had to leave. She walked over to the room which possessed their number and opened the door.
Alphonse looked from the desk as the door creaked open. Zeannah stood there, a small frown on her face. He closed the magazine he was reading as her eyes swept the room.
"Can I help you?" He asked tartly.
"Where is she?" Zeannah questioned, quite angrily.
"Who?"
"Lilly!" Zeannah cried out, as if he should have known.
"Isn't she downstairs?" He asked, sending the question to Shiver as well.
"No, she isn't," Zeannah announced.
[She went for a walk,] Shiver told him, hesitantly.
Alphonse sighed, [why didn't you go with her?]
[She didn't want me to,] Shiver told him.
"It would appear that she's gone for a walk," he told Zeannah. "It's nothing to worry about."
Zeannah banged her palms onto the table, the noise causing him to flinch.
"NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT? " She yelled, "WHAT ABOUT–" She paused in her rant for a moment, a look a realisation appearing on her face. "You can understand Pokémon."
"What?" He stated, a little confused by the topic change.
"You can understand Pokémon!" She cried out, her voice loud. "You had no idea where she was until a moment ago! That means that someone must have told you in that time; and the only ones here were Shiver and I! It had to be one of us and it sure wasn't me! That means that Shiver told you! Shiver told you and you understood!"
Alphonse stared at her. What was so great about understanding Pokémon? In addition, the unsettling feeling about her had returned. Something was off, but he couldn't tell what.
"So?" He said, not really caring.
Zeannah grabbed his arm and pulled him from the chair.
"You're coming with me," she announced.
Now he cared.
"What?" He cried out. "Why?"
"I've got someone I want you to meet," she told him, "and you're going to meet them, even if I have to drag you the whole way."
She pulled him out the door, Shiver flying out behind.
Lilly picked up her bag from where she had hidden it. While it was alright to change while wearing clothes, the clothes would always vanish and reappear with her transformations, she could not carry her bag with her. Not when she wanted to enjoy flight that is. It was too cumbersome. The Pokéball which Cam resided in sat at the very top of the bag, and of her thoughts. She wanted to let the Pokémon out, forever if she could. She'd heard it was possible to release a captured Pokémon but, no one had shown her how.
"I can't believe you'd pull me all the way out here!" She could hear someone yell.
"I told you!" Another person, a woman this time, yelled back. "There's someone I need you to see!"
Lilly wandered towards the voices. She could swear that they sounded familiar.
"I am NOT your personal slave!" The first voice again. It sounded like Alphonse but she had never heard him so angry. "Just because I understand Pokémon does NOT mean that I'm going to do what you say!"
"Alphonse?" She questioned as she got a clear view of the two marching through the words.
Alphonse was being pulled by Zeannah through the undergrowth of the forest. He looked away of the object of his distain, his frowny-face transforming into a look a surprise as he noticed Lilly standing just at the side of the path. Almost hidden behind the trees, she stumbled as she wandered out towards them.
"Heya Lilly!" Zeannah said with a wave. "What'cha doin' out here?"
Lilly glanced at Alphonse, who stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face, then towards the ground.
"Looking for Pokémon," she said hesitantly. There was no way she was going to tell them the truth. "What are you both doing out here? Together?"
Zeannah looked a little taken aback at the tone in her voice, as was she. She couldn't explain the bitterness the entered her voice as she addressed her two companions. Although, she did try to convince herself it was because they were trying to force her to train Pokémon.
"I'm taking Alphonse to visit a friend of mine," Zeannah answered, her face transforming into a wide smile.
Alphonse sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Really?" Lilly questioned. "Could I come to?"
Zeannah smiled. The innocent and cheerful tone was back in her voice.
"O' course ya can girl!" She practically cried out with joy. She pushed Alphonse away and wrapped Lilly in a warm and tight hug.
"Zeannah?" Lilly laughed out, trying to breathe. "It's too hot for hugs."
Zeannah let her go and grabbed her hand.
"Of course it is," she said, pulling her down the path.
Disclaimer: Pokémon towns and characters property of Pokémon company + Game Freak (I think). At the very least they don't belong to me. Any resemblance to existing people (living or dead) and events is a coincidence.
Author note: I hate it when Zeannah talks. Almost all of her text (including her name) is underlined by coloured squiggles. Yes spell-check, I know I'm spelling it wrong. It's on purpose, okay?
Author note II: This one has been sitting on my computer for months while I try and get the next chapter going. I've kind of got moving so, here you go. Happy (late) new year.
