I didn't know what happened. I was just consumed with rage. But something was different. All I could see was red. Like bloody, fiery red. I just glared at the thing who had driven me this far.
It wasn't Mr. Pepperridge at all. I wasn't angry at him, despite his actions. It wasn't even what he said. I mean, yeah, sure it hurt. But "sticks and stones" is my motto to angry, hurtful words. I couldn't care about them. What was angering me… was that look…
That cold… dark… hateful look. I HATE IT! Why does everybody look at me that way? I can't stand that look being glared at me! It drives me mad!
I don't know… if the rage… or that red color or whatever it was drove me… but I soon found my right hand form into a fist, and then fly at high speeds. It drilled into Mr. Pepperridge's jaw hard, ending his center of gravity backwards off balance. He fell hard on his back, smashing into the dirt. I'm pretty sure everyone reacted with a gasp and some words, but the rage had blocked my sense of hearing. My teeth gritted so hard that could've broken a few of them, if it were harder. I could sense power somehow going through my body, but I didn't know where it was coming from.
The man I slugged wiped his face and winced at the pain. He would've turned to rant at me, but when he got a good look at my eyes, he cowered in fear at me. I just shook in anger, as I growled.
I screamed, "WHY…? WHY DO YOU ALL STARE AT ME LIKE THAT!? I'M NOT SOME VERMIN OR DISGRACE! I'M THOMAS OLIVER GUNGSTEN, A HUMAN BEING WHO HAS HIS OWN RIGHTS AND LIFE! I AM WHO I WANT TO BE, NOT WHAT YOU WISH ME TO BE! AND NOW, THANKS TO YOU, I RAN FROM THE POLICE TODAY AND MIGHT GET INTO SERIOUS TROUBLE! IT'S NOT ME WHO'S THE DISGRACE TO ALL TRAINERS AND POkÉMON! IT'S YOU!"
I stopped abruptly to hear a scared whimper. I looked over to see everyone surprised at me… and Buizel and Poochyena staring at me in fear…
My rage was scaring them. I realized they were totally terrified of me now. I had… lost their trust… no…. this can't be happening…
I looked down and gritted my teeth. I closed my eyes and yelled something that sent a shock through everyone.
"I am never… COMING TO THIS SCHOOLYARD AGAIN!"
With that, I turned around and ran as fast as I could out of the schoolyard, ashamed and hurt.
I heard a "BUI BUI!" and a "POOCHY!" call after me.
"THOMAS, WAIT!" I heard Tucker yell.
I didn't see back then, but Buizel, Poochyena, my friends, and the trainers ran after me. Old Man Fellows and Principal Vicar weren't very supportive, but they did help Mr. Pepperridge up and dust him off.
"Arnold," Old Man Fellows said lovingly, "I know deep down you care for Thomas and want to see him shine. I too want to see him grow with Pokémon. But, pressuring him and stalking him for this long prevents and shoves him further away from the school. You need to accept that Thomas is a different kind of person and learn to live with it. That's what diversity is about."
"Unfortunately, I cannot give you any more second chances, Mr. Pepperridge," Principal Vicar said regretfully, "Consider yourself fired. Your next paycheck will be your last."
As the teacher looked down in shame, the principal took the Walkie-Talkie from the table and hit the talk button.
He said, "This is Principal Vicar, your boss' boss. I know you all can hear me and have yours on. I am therefore ordering Jenkins, Hawkins, and the rest of you to stop this plan now and never stalk Thomas again. And if you do, so help me I will phone the police and get you arrested. I hope I made myself clear. Have a good day."
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My feet carried me swiftly away as I was torn with emotions. I couldn't believe what I did! I actually slugged Mr. Pepperridge! N-No! I ACTUALLY SLUGGED A PERSON! I had never hit anyone in my life before, not even Tucker when he acted stupid!
What happened to me? I never felt this way before. This rage… it wasn't normal for anyone, especially me. I wondered if that red color had to do anything with it. I mean, I lost complete control. When I was angered by that look, everything just zoned out and I could only see Mr. Pepperridge; the thing I was enraged at…
But… I had scared Buizel and Poochyena. What would they think of me? I closed my eyes, dreading that they might've thought I could be abusive to them. I blew it. The looks on their faces… it just tore a hole through my heart to see that my unstoppable rage had sent fear into their hearts… the same hearts that had loved me…
I kept running until… wet. Cold. Water. I looked down to see that I had stepped in the ocean. I looked around myself. It was the alcove near my house. I must've run all the way here without knowing. It felt like the beach was an important place for me. It was where I had saved Buizel and Poochyena from drowning… and they… looked at me… with fear…..
It was then reminiscing that the waves had splashed near my body. However… it wasn't the waves that rolled down my face. My heart felt like someone was tearing it apart with broken arrows. The emotional guilt and pain was starting to be unbearable.
I just stood there with fists clenched, as tears rolled down my cheeks. I felt horrible; sure, Mr. Pepperridge was a jerk, but he didn't deserve me doing that to him. I started to cry, just as I heard footsteps behind me.
"Thomas! Are you okay?" I heard Jocinda ask.
I turned around to see the trainers and my friends walk to me. They were concerned as they approached me.
"Dude, you went through some intense and extreme fire," Lyr said with a frown.
"N-No, I'm not… I just slugged a man in the face in pure rage…" I said, trying not to have my voice tremble.
"Well… it's not like he didn't deserve it…" Tucker muttered, looking away.
Kaname nodded and said, "It's all right, Thomas. You're gonna be okay…"
"No! It's not okay!" I turned around and screamed, shocking them all, "I've lived by all the rules and had a life of decency! Today, I ran from the Police and now I'm probably in huge trouble for it! I punched a man, assaulting him in blind fury! And worse of all, I scared Buizel and Poochyena! I terrified them; I can't stand the looks in their faces I caused! I might have screwed up everything I had!"
I looked down at the sand and started to say, "How could I have done something that was so inexcusable, unconscionable, reprehensible, abhorrent, detrimental, DETESABLE, IMMORAL, THOUGHTLESS, HURTFUL!"
I stopped as I gritted my teeth and clutched my hair out of despair and frustration. I let all my tears fall out of my control as I fell down.
"OH, WHAT HAVE I DONE!?" I screamed.
I curled up into a ball and started to cry frantically. All my friends and the trainers looked at each other with sadness. At that point, there was nothing they could do to cheer me up. I felt so hurt and sick of myself. What have I...
"Bui…?"
I heard the familiar voice speak in front of me. I looked up slowly to see Buizel with a saddened look on his face. Next to him was Poochyena, whimpering as he had his ears down. I felt so ashamed in front of them as I sobbed.
"I'm s-so sorry…" I cried, "I d-didn't… sniff… mean to …. sob… scare you…."
Suddenly, I saw something that made my watering eyes widen in shock. Buizel sniffed and then had tears visible rolling down his face. He walked over to my right and crawled into my lap. He slowly reached for my face, and with his right paw, wiped my right eye of the tears that it held.
"Bui bu, bu bu bui…." Buizel said with a trembling voice as his tears showed more.
Suddenly, I felt a small, cold, and wet tongue lick the bottom of my left eye. I looked to see Poochyena slowly let his own tears fall as he climbed into my lap as well. He then nuzzled his little nose against my face, whimpering as he started to cry.
"Poochy…. Chy…" he struggled to say during his weeping.
It was like they were telling me not to cry. My heart was screaming in emotional torment. I gritted my teeth, as I let a sob out.
With that, both of the bursted into intense crying, as they hugged me around my neck and snuggled their tear-drenched fur into my skin. I simply sat there dazed at what was going on.
"G-Guys… w-what are you…?" I said.
"Don't you get it?" Purgy said, catching my attention as I looked back at all of them smiling.
"G-Get what?" I said, sniffling a bit.
Purgu smirked a bit and said, "The bond you have with Buizel and Poochyena is extremely strong. When the bond between humans and Pokémon become so strong, they can feel what the other is going through. They care for you so much, don't you see?"
Molly nodded and said with a smile, "Buizel and Poochyena aren't crying, cause they're afraid of you or you let them down; they're crying, because you're sad and they can't stand to see you this way."
I gasped, as I looked down at my Pokémon. They kept crying, snuggling me as much as they could. My heart was starting to warm up again, as I smiled. I closed my eyes and hugged them dearly and closely. They sniffled and quieted down when I started to shush them.
"Shhh, it's alright now… sniff," I said, "I'm okay now… please don't cry…"
They stooped hugging me to look my in the eyes. It was beautiful. Their eyes shone like diamonds, as they looked at me with love and concern. I petted their backs after I wiped my tears away.
"Thank you, you two. I needed that. Can I see a big smile?" I said, making my friends and the trainers smile.
With that, Buizel and Poochyena slowly formed a tiny fake smile on their faces. I smirked at them as I took both my hands and started to scratch their chins.
"Come on, I know you can smile bigger than that. Let's see a big smile!" I said cheerfully.
In a few seconds of feeling their chins scratched, both closed their eyes and smiled the biggest smiles I had ever seen them do. They moaned in happiness, as they leaned into me and hugged me. I smiled and hugged them back. The others came over and hugged us. It was a good time. I felt revived again.
"Hey, you."
The moment was cut when we heard someone say that. We looked around when we heard the voice again.
"Over here, idiots."
We looked to see someone standing on our left. I blinked in shock as I recognized who it is. Of all the people to interrupt a special moment, it had to be him.
It was Skyler.
He pointed at me and said, "Back away from the Buizel and Poochyena for me. I wanna capture them."
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