Chapter Description: Umbreon, leader of the last wild Pokémon tribe in war-torn Euon, makes a decision that changes the lives of her and her minions forever. Part Four, Extra #13
The Journal
Chapter #34: The Intruder, Part Four (Extra #13)
I woke tired, hungry, and extremely thirsty. I discovered Star by the river, talking to the Cloyster who always seemed to do its best to avoid me.
"Cloyster wants to be a member of our tribe," Star said as I got closer.
"It's your tribe now," I retorted.
"No, it's all of our tribe. I told Cloyster about your rules, and about some of my new rules."
"New rules? Is this a joke?"
"No…Cloyster says he isolated himself because he didn't feel he could be useful to our tribe. I explained how everyone has value and all is welcome. I told him that he can be an asset to our tribe just by being here, listening and talking to others, and being kind. Next, I was going to go to your den and ask to have an assembly so that we can introduce him to the others."
"I am tired of arguing with you. If you want this fool to join us, then tell him that at the very least, he must carry his own weight."
"I might need help," said the Cloyster. "I live in the river, and it used to be true that I was comfortable living here, eating the sea plants that were hidden beneath the silt, but now I've run out of food. Because of my heavy shell and lack of legs, I will no longer be able to retrieve my own food. I am concerned for my life."
"I told him not to worry because we can get him food," said Star. "He can help me watch the eggs and use his Water Gun to tame the fire when it starts to get too big, and he can teach the babies how to swim. Those are all helpful skills, though like I said, we'd value Cloyster even if he couldn't do any of those things."
"We don't need a second Egg Watcher or another Pokémon who can use Water Gun, and there is no reason as to why those 'babies' will need to learn how to swim," I argued.
"Don't be unreasonable. Cloyster, follow me, and I will lead you to the Egg Den."
XO
The next few weeks was more of the same disorienting and disappointing pattern. Star went on with her 'unconditional positive regard' shit. I ignored her and the rest of the tribe as much as possible. While the other tribe members, especially the Sentret and Sandopan, tried to get to me from time to time, Star ignored me entirely, as did the Fires, the Snorlax, and the young Eevee. I spoke to hardly anyone until the day I heard Star enthusiastically scratching on my door post once more.
"Umbreon, look! The other babies are finally hatching!"
I didn't move. I didn't care.
"I know you are in there!" she continued. "I'll let you name them this time, as long as you give them real names. Unless the babies say they prefer your labels."
I got up off the ground. I hated the concept of Star raising future generations on her own; they'd be brainwashed and thus disillusioned by all her positive energy. I needed to step in, even if I was no longer the leader.
"I am coming."
"Hurry! They're going to be born any second!"
I didn't bother to ask how she knew that. It was probably something that her stupid human taught her how to do.
I took my time getting up and walking to the door. Star was standing there with an enormous smile. She placed her paw on mine for a brief second. I was hit with an intense wave of positive energy; it had been a while since we gotten this close, and a while since Star had acted so positively towards me, at least to my face.
"Let's run," said Star.
"Let's walk," I asserted.
"We can trot. A good compromise."
Star trotted, I walked. When I arrived at the Egg Den a few seconds after her, she was already sitting between the two cracking and glowing eggs, a paw on each of them. Several Sentret and most of the Koratta, the Eevee, the three Snorlax, the Fires, Keokeo, Cloyster, and Sandopan were all present. This was all this den could comfortably fit. Never before had this many of us been present in the same den at the same time. The egg on the right glowed, shook, cracked, and out popped a Koratta.
"I think this is my Koratta," Koratta8 spoke. "I can tell by the scent…"
Everyone was a bit surprised, not because the egg was a Koratta, but because for the first time ever, someone was claiming a member of our tribe to be theirs. Koratta8 picked the youngster and cradle her, and before I could comment, the egg on the left hatched. This one was a Sentret.
"This is definitely our egg," said Sentret4. "Mine and Sentret5's."
"Yes, it definitely is," said Sentret5.
The new Sentret scurried over to them.
"Welcome Korrata15 and Sentret17," Sandopan announced.
"Hold on, Korratta8, Sentret5, and Sentret4: do you want to name them?" Star asked.
The three rodent Pokémon looked around to all of us. I noticed that they stared at me a few seconds longer. Perhaps the believed that naming them would be a betrayal to me. I wondered if they realized that I no longer cared.
"Koratta15 looks more like a Kora," Koratta8 declared.
"We think that Sentret17 should be called Sena," said Sentret4.
Star nudged me. The positive energy increased inside me, and I struggled harder to push it away.
"Hey Umbreon, at least they are easy names to remember," said Star.
"Those are lovely names," I heard Sandopan telling Koratta8, Sentret4, and Sentret5.
I walked away and returned to my den. Star trotted up next to me. Her Eevee 'children' trotted next to her.
"Aren't you excited to get to know the new babies?" Star asked.
"No," I quipped.
"Why not?" Eevee2 asked.
I sighed. Already these Pokémon were learning defiance. I should have been keeping a closer eye on them…
"Why not?" Eevee2 repeated.
"You should answer their question," Star advised.
"Fine then, I will," I decided. "Eevee and Eevee2, these new Pokémon are no different from every other Pokémon here. While we are no longer sticking to tradition, it must be acknowledged that we are all equal regardless. We are all the same, and we all must treat other tribe members as the same."
There was some silence. Though they didn't speak more, I got the vibe that they were left unsatisfied with my answer.
"Snowflake and Crystal wanted me to tell you what I told them two weeks ago," said Star. "Babies, do you remember?"
"Yes," they replied together.
"Umbreon, our mother Star told us that there is a difference between being treated as equals and being treated as the same."
"Nice work," Star told Eevee2 as she gave her 'daughter' a paw-touch. Star looked to the other Eevee and rubbed the top of his head. "Crystal, nice effort."
"Thank you," they responded.
"There is no difference," I stated.
"Yes, there is, because…um…I forget the 'because'…" said Eevee2.
I sniggered. So much for teaching them something 'valuable'.
"I used the Cloyster example," Star began. "Umbreon, I told them how I can treat Flareon and Cloyster with equal respect, but in order to do that, I must understand that there are important differences between them. For example, as a partial ice type, Cloyster doesn't like getting too close to the fire. As a fire type, Flareon doesn't like getting to close to the river. I wouldn't play in the river with Flareon or play jump-over-the-fire with Cloyster. But I can still play with both of them, and we can have just as much fun. That is me treating them as equal but not the same."
"I remember now," said Eevee.
"Me too. I remember now too," Eevee2 chirped.
"That's common sense," I responded.
"I know. But since babies aren't usually born with common sense, I had to explain it," Star replied.
"What is the point of this conversation?"
"The point is that everyone is an individual with different needs, and conformity doesn't work for most of us," Star explained. "You saw how happy those Sentret and Koratta were to name their babies. That's because they are tired of conforming."
"Mother also said that you are supposed to be the co-leader. Sandopan and Keokeo and the Fires and the Snorlax and some other people I don't remember also said that," Eevee2 announced.
"But you haven't been leading very much," said the other Eevee.
"They are right," said Star. "I made some new rules, but it's no big deal. You are making this new situation of yours out to be more dramatic than it actually is. You feel humiliated, miserable, and useless when there is no reason to feel that way. I defied you, yes, and I won in battle against you, but that doesn't mean your value decreased because of all that has recently happened."
"Our mother thinks that you should get over yourself," said Eevee.
"Yeah," chimed the other.
"Once again, they are correct," Star smiled.
I silently entered my den. They stood in front of the entrance, watching me.
"Is there anything else that you need?" I grumbled.
"I thought maybe you'd want to know some of the new rules, but I guess that isn't true," Star responded.
"Fine. Come in, and tell me these new rules."
"Certainly."
As expected, Star's rules were not actually rules.
"Everyone will get to pick a name. It is a rule that you can call yourself whatever you want if you are consistent. That last part is there only because it will be super confusing if people change their names all the time if you know what I mean."
"Yes," I impatiently sighed.
Star lifted my chin with her paw. Another zap of energy. Good feelings cloistered me, but I could not truly appreciate this odd source of comfort. I still felt a hole where my pride used to be.
"You look weary. I want you to smile more. I bet if you smile, you will feel less upset with the world."
"That makes no sense," I said as I stepped back.
"Annastasia told me that if everyone on the planet smiled whenever they saw someone else, then the world would be a much better place. There'd be more peace, empathy, and respect."
"Is there evidence to back up that claim?"
"I don't know. Maybe. Why?"
"You live in a dream world, Star. You are going to have to wake up at some point."
"I dream, but that doesn't mean that I am not mindfully present in reality."
I left Star to go to my Thinking Spot. I expected her to follow me, though I didn't want her to. She seems to be forcing me to like her. I like her, but I don't know why. It's like she has used attract on me. Yes, that must be it. I am a sucker for not realizing it sooner.
"You've been messing with me, Star, using your psychic abilities against me."
She tilted her head to the side.
"Umbreon, I am not messing with you, I promise. Are you implying that I have hypnotized you? I don't understand."
Her voice is always so innocent sounding. She is either extremely innocent or a psychopath. This is why psychic types have no friends.
"I feel different around you," I mumbled.
"Different from what, exactly? I am trying to understand. I think I know what you are talking about, but I am not completely certain," she replied.
"I request that you tell me what you think I am thinking."
She coughed a little laugh.
"You think I am drawing you towards me against your will," she giggled.
"That is precisely what I think," I grumbled.
"But what if it's against my will as well?"
I thought about this. Star traced shapes in the snow while I collected my thoughts.
"Star, this is too hard for me. I cannot help but feel manipulated by you. Whether or not you are doing this on purpose doesn't matter. The fact of the matter is that our relationship needs distance."
Star looked sad. It made me sad too, but I did my best to not look the part.
"I thought you liked me."
"I don't know what I think."
Star doesn't realize quite how difficult it is for me to admit when I am wrong, especially to someone with less prestige than myself. Then again, Star probably has more prestige now—but that makes it even worse since she is the one who took that from me. She has managed to gain the trust and respect of the entire tribe. They come to her for their needs and desires, and she serves them.
She is a better leader than I am. At least she is now. It'd been interesting to see how she does years from now—a leadership position in the short term is often durable, some may even find it fun—but in the long haul, it proves to be a monster of a job.
"Umbreon, come to me when you get your thoughts straightened out, k?"
"Ummm, yeah, 'k'."
Later that night I watched Star longer than I usually do. She was goofy and energetic though it was late in the evening and only the nocturnal members of our tribe were normally this active now.
She was dancing around in the snowy moonlight with the Eevee while singing this tune I never heard before. She and the younger ones looked like fools. And the song was no lullaby.
"The hulk of a man with a beer in his hand looked like a drunk old fool!
And I knew that if I hit him right, I could knock him off that stool!
But everybody said, 'Watch out - that's Tiger Man McCool.
He's had a whole lot of fights, and he always come out the winner'.
But I'd had myself about five too many, and I walked up tall and proud,
I faced his back and I faced the fact that he'd never stooped or bowed.
I said, 'Tiger Man, you're a pussycat', and a hush fell on the crowd,
I said, 'Let's you and me go outside and see who's the winner'."
What is this nonsense song?
"Star," I growled under my breath.
I walked outside. Star and the Eevee noticed me but they didn't stop their idiotic dancing and Star kept singing that ridiculous joke of a song.
"I got arthritic elbows, boy, I got dislocated knees!
From pickin' fights with thunderstorms and chargin' into trees!
And my nose been broke so often I might lose it if I sneeze!
And, son, you say you still wanna be a winner?"
"What is that song?" I interrupted.
"The song I was just singing?" Star queried.
"Yes, that one."
"It's called 'The Winner'!" Eevee2 sang.
"It is annoying, cease the singing," I commanded.
"But we like it," the Eevee whined.
"Annastasia and her brother and papa used to sing it for me," said Star.
"Annastasia did this, Annastasia did that…let go of this person, Star, let go of that life."
"Why do you say things like that?" Eevee2 cried.
"Don't cry, baby," Star cooed. "It's just for fun, Umbreon. It's silly. We like to be silly sometimes."
I am going to go back to picking my battles carefully.
"What's the matter?" Eevee asked.
"Nothing. Good evening," I said before walking away.
"Snowflake, Crystal, and I send our good night wishes!" Star called after me.
"And you know what happens when you wish upon a Star!" Eevee2 yelled.
Good things. Wishing upon a Star leads to good things.
But I don't have a wish. The part of my life that left me most unsatisfied was over. I had my adventures when I was younger. I did my trials. I followed our tradition and became chief. I let go of my dreams and took on the role that was meant for me.
I stayed up all night, and so did Star and the Eevee. Even though I told myself I would not give into this petty nonsense by even acknowledging their presence, they were aggravating me beyond what I once figured was possible.
But just when I thought I was through, just after I got up to go admonish the trio, the entire mood of the night shifted into something peaceful and somber. I held my breath and listened to her song.
"More money everybody needs, the maze which we get lost in feeds
The clichés that we swallow as we follow our dreams
The dreams you carry on your back, are heavy but you live with that
Till someone who is out there sings along
Stay who you are
You'll break my heart if you change
The world can be cruel, lonely
Loving you only
By taking away what's true
Stay who you are."
Star noticed me and stopped. I noted that the Eevee were once again asleep, or pretending to be.
"What was that?" I queried.
"A song one of my humans taught me. You like it. I can tell. You like it because it's not silly like the other ones."
"You are sending messages to me. Don't deny it, because I know. It's been two decades since I heard music, but I still understand what it does to people."
"Every time a person looks at another person, they are sending a message. Songs are no different. I am not denying that."
I want this to stop.
"What's wrong?" Star inquired.
"What's wrong is that…you are changing my life."
"Everyone's life is constantly changing at every moment. It's a beautiful part of life, don't you think?"
"Not unless it helps."
"What is your wish, Umbreon? What do you want? You don't want friendship, you don't want new family members, you don't want to take risks, you don't want to enjoy anything."
"It's a dark time."
"I know that the war is horrible, but we are currently safe here, and we won't be here forever. Sooner or later someone will bring us to a better place."
"Until then…"
"We stay positive and work together. It's okay to have dreams and wishes and stars to look at before bed each night."
It's okay to wish on a Star.
"Goodnight, Umbreon. I'll make a wish for you. If you need anything else, remember that I'm your girl. Psychic-type or not, I am loyal, and I swear by it. I'll help you till I'm gone from this Earth."
"I'll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Star."
"Goodnight."
And then the two Eevee said:
"Goodnight, Pangari."
XO
+ Inspiration and Aesthetic for this chapter is the song Stay Who You Are by Nick Howard. This is the song that is actually the aesthetic for this entire fanfiction so hopefully, you've listened to it:) It's on YouTube.
+ No, I did not use the word 'Pangari' ever before and it will be revealed in future chapters so don't worry about it for now:)
+ Next chapter is a Jocelyn extra. There will be two Jocelyn entries in a row, the second one being a continuation of the first, the way Valentino's entries were.
For a list of characters, places, and other quick facts introduced in this chapter, check below the cut.
OCs Introduced:
- Cloyster (Star's latest companion).
- Sentret4
- Sentret5
- Korrata8
- Korrata15 aka 'Kora'
- Sentret17 aka 'Sena'
Important Items/Miscellaneous Other:
- Star installs new rules as coleader.
- Star differeniates between equality and sameness.