Welcome back to "Boundless Love: The Tale Of Athena"! I am happy to be writing again. It is refreshing to be able to apply myself to a creative work once again. Now without further ado, the continuation of our odd and quirky story!
The first few weeks of school go by as normal, each school day seemingly slower as the weeks pass by. Over this time, Elliot and Athena spends theirs days as they normally would. The two of them had been home for much of their free time and merely enjoyed each others company, mentally and "physically" as well.
As for school. Elliot had become quite the friend to Catherine, her quirky personality making her a very interesting addition to Elliot's repertoire of friendships. Celeste had reunited with Lilim before long but was scheduled for more testing in the near future. Rowan had a interest in Lilim as well as Athena. Both were to return to Sandgem just before winter break. Athena had quickly developed a decent level of skill with the violin over this time period. She was quickly being regarded as a gem among the faculty that she interacted with, and by now most students knew of her exsistence. With each passing day, she became slightly more and more human. Elliot had attempted to teach her to speak but it seemed as if all attempts were to bore no fruit. She remained only being able to say the name of her trainer and her lover; "Elliot".
Three weeks into the school year, on a Friday, Serry had approached Elliot in the hall way. Athena was trailing behind Elliot and was not directly near him as she was slightly separated slightly before Serry had advanced. She merely stood in front of Elliot for a few moments, looking down without uttering a single word or phrase. Elliot could see her deep, brown eyes just behind her purple bangs that covered some of her face. Though her expression was one of indifference, her eyes held a shine and appearance to them. One almost of adoration and a well hidden happiness. Before long, she darted off, retaining her silence, almost as if mute. This strange occurrence brought a soft smile to Elliot's face.
Later that day, after school, Elliot, Athena, Celeste and Lilim made plans to go downtown, perhaps for dinner or shopping. Whatever opportunity the young trainers and pokemon could get into, they took with wild ambition. The group was walking amongst a large group of students that were traveling downtown also. Many of Hearthome Academy's students spent their weekends in the shopping district of the city. The rowdy friends made much noise as they neared their destination. Upon arrival and without hesitation, Celeste grabbed Elliot's hand and dragged the group to a photo booth.
"Come on guys! Let's take our pictures together!" Celeste cried out in excitement.
"Celeste, that's only meant for two people and we have Athena and Lilim with us..." Elliot speaks in slight protest.
"It's called lapping up." Celeste pushes them into the booth. "Alright, let's have a few serious photos and then one funny one, okay?"
"Alright" Elliot replies begrudgingly. Athena sits on Elliot's lap and lays her legs across Lilim's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Celeste corrects her hair while Lilim has the same thousand yard stare she always has.
"3... 2... 1... Smile!" The mechanical voice rings out as the first photo is taken.
Without skipping a beat, Celeste speaks again. "Quickly now, switch places you two." She says to their pokemon friends. Athena quickly climbs on Celeste's lap and wraps her arms around her neck and hangs down on her lap, facing the camera. Lilim slowly shifts over and sits on Elliot's lap just as she did Celeste's. She once again retained her steel piercing gaze, though she had ever so slightly a soft smile across her face.
"3... 2... 1... Smiles!" Once again the machines prompts the group to prepare for the photo.
"Alright, last serious one, I'll sit on Elliot's lap, Athena sits on Lilim's." Celeste commands. The group quickly shift once again and now Elliot's face was quite red. Celeste was now firmly placed upon his lap. Elliot looked over to see Lilim, who was holding Athena in her arms. Her expression still that of a stone figure except for one small feature. She had a slight, dark purple blush across her face.
"3... 2... 1..." The false voiced echoed again as the third photo was taken.
"Alright, now the fun one! Look as goofy as you can!" Celeste cries out.
"You are going to regret that, I assure you."
The group makes as strange and twisted faces as they possible can before the fourth and final photo is taken. Quickly, the group exits the booth. When they get out, they see 3 strips of photo's sliding out of the machine.
"There we go! You and Athena can each have your own." She says as she hands them their copies of the photos. Athena holds them and cries happily. Elliot looks at them, his face turning ever so slightly while looking at the third photo.
"So what now you too?" Celeste asks with ambition. Before she can say anything else, Athena's 's hunger makes itself apparent in the form of a loud stomach growl. Celeste and Elliot giggle shortly while Athena blushes lightly.
"Alright, let's go get some food for you Athena. Celeste knows of a good spot around her for good BBQ." Elliot speaks as he places his head on Athena's back.
"Yeah, it's not far from here at all! Let's go then."
The group proceeds to the restaurant of Celeste's choosing. As they got close to their destination, Athena became someone anxious.
"Elliot... Something... Isn't right." Athena's darting gaze begins to scan the area around them.
"Oh, what do you mean?" Elliot asks mentally.
"I don't know but... something bad is about to happen."
The group continues to walk, Elliot and Athena scanning their surrounding the entire time. When they are one block away from the restaurant, Athena begins to panic with no control over her thought. The group is now crossing the street and just about finished with their journey.
"Elliot! We have to leave this place immediately!"
"Calm down you are-" Elliot's sentence is cut off by the screaming of Celeste! Elliot turns to see a car trying to run the light in front of them, and instead of darting by through the gap in pedestrian traffic at the crossing, the car is smashed into by a intersecting car. The stricken car now careening out of control toward the group of roughly eleven people that are crossing. The entire group screech and panic as danger encroaches upon them. Elliot grabs Athena and pushes her out of the cars path just as it is about to strike. In the screeching of metal and cries of terror, a distinct voice is heard crying out one, emotion filled cry.
"Elliot!"
The car smashes into the group and a cloud of smoke covers the area in a thick, impenetrable smoke. For seconds, all that can be heard are cries and shrieks as the smoke bellows and slowly clears.
Elliot grunts and grits his teeth. "What the hell happened?" He asked himself.
When the smoke begins to clear, all that can be seen is Athena with her hand up standing in front of the group, between them and the wreckage that is the vehicle. A shining wall of what is seemingly glass can be seen in front of the group. It had protected the group from the likely severe crash that was to befall them. Everyone looked around in bewilderment. "A pokemon barrier strong enough o stop a speeding vehicle? Unheard of!" many thought.
When all was said and done, it appeared the car that had crashed into the speeding vehicle had nearly rear ended a woman on a moped. At least, it appeared to. The woman was protected by a second barrier erected with the help of Lilim, who was standing between the car and the woman.
Athena turns to Elliot and looks him in the eyes. "I will protect you... Elliot..."
The entire crowd is bewildered by what had just occurred. A talking pokemon in clothing had saved the lives and limb of eleven people. One of the men that was in the group cried out in a almost fanatical way.
"That pokemon is a hero. She is a guardian angel!" The crowd begins to slowly clap and cheer as the group involved breathes deeply and recovers from the near death incident. Now a light roar, the crowd claps as Athena walks back to Elliot and her friends.
"She's a hero!" "She's not a pokemon, what is she!?" "She's our savior!" All can be heard being cried out by the surrounding crowd. Before long, medical personnel and law enforcement arrive on scene. Just as the fanatical man was about to speak to Elliot and Athena, paramedics separate them from the man and the others. Over the course of an hour, everyone is checked for injuries and reports are taken by the police. The man who was driving was knocked unconscious but was seemingly free of serious injury. Elliot receives many question but is unable to answer them as he is overwhelmed with the large crowd around him. As they are leaving to eat dinner finally, a man runs up and tries to ask Elliot question after question but is unable to get a word in edgewise.
The group finally sit down to dinner just inside the building the crash occurred in front of. Celeste leans over the table and focuses on Athena.
"THAT... was incredible! You two were amazing out there! You saved all those people!" Celeste cries out at Athena and Lilim. "And you even spoke! I didn't know you could talk Athena!"
"She can't talk that well..." Rebutted Elliot. "She's still learning how too."
Elliot looks at Athena, who looks rather tired but proud. A barrier of that strength took a large amount of strength to produce. Before long, a waiter approaches the group. He had apparently seem the incident with his manage as they were both serving at the time.
"She's the one that saved everyone?" He asked. "She's the angel that everyone cheered for?"
Athena blushes from being called an angel
"My manager saw what happened and was extremely impressed. He would like to meet you I am sure, is that alright?"
Elliot looks around before replying. "Sure. That's fine."
Shortly after the waiter leaves, a man is lightly better dressed clothing walks over to over to hero's and speaks of nothing but praise for Athena and her friends. The group is showered with compliments and offered free dinner, which of course they accept and they all are quite thrilled with the way the evening is turning out. Elliot secretly holds Athena's hand under the table while eating, smiling at her every chance he gets. She was his hero. Truly, she was his guardian angel.
As the group ate and laughed together. The fanatical man peered through the window at the group, his gaze burning as he views Athena and her companions. "Our savior... has arrived."
End of Chapter Eighteen!
As a fresh start back into this story, I am quite pleased with this chapter. It is somewhat short but nonetheless, I hope you enjoy it just as well. Thank you for reading and welcome back!