Transformation: Project Legend
Chapter 36- through the ashes
A/N: And her is the first update of the New Year! While this chapter was conceived in the final weeks of last year I tried my best to make it to the deadline to make this the last update of the old year but still I am glad I got back to this one. I would like to extend a thank you to the many faithful who patiently waited for an update tot his story and I will inform that I aim to return to frequent updates with moderate sized chapters to make up for the long wait. We are entering a new phase that has many new challenges, new characters, new danger, and new excitement with the same spirit of prior chapters.
I hope you all enjoy.
Jonesycat.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, Nintendo does. The transformation universe is created by TurtlesandMonkeys and I am borrowing with permission. Each OC belongs to their respective owners and creators and are being used at the request of their creator.
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The gentle lapping of water touched my face; I could hear the waves roll against the shore. I slowly opened my eyes and could see the sky at twilight, the sun setting in the distance, lighting the sky with hues of yellow and pink. I just rested my head in the ground and closed my eyes, feeling the waves lap against my body. I inhaled to taste the sea salt air and exhaled in a gasp of pleasure. Fresh air, for the first time since I can remember; it felt great to even breath it in.
I lay there for the longest time, feeling so exhausted but also at peace. All those times in the facility were beginning to feel like a bad dream that I was waking up from. Miyuki was right, she did let us out like she promised, but she was still back there. Was she ok?
And the others, did they get away too? Maybe they are resting, like I am.
Too tired to even think anymore, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me again.
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The smoke began to clear in the arena and Miyuki coughed as dust bounced off her body. Her bullet wound ached even more and she clutched it, whimpering, clenching her teeth to avoid form crying out. She felt so tired. Somehow she managed to get on her feet and looked at herself. Her body and clothes were caked with dust and ash, her hand looking so pale with the dust it might as well been a ghost's hand. Her face and hair probably looked the same and she shook herself, getting most of the dust and ash of herself and then went to her knees, trembling. Drake…what happened to him…
The words of the council taunted her in her mind.
"You are becoming more like them with each passing day…"
"And you have already fallen in love with one of them."
"Even though you are well aware of his fate…"
She felt tears beginning to stream into her eyes.
"Your human emotions are already consuming your good judgment..."
"Particularly the one emotion known as 'love'…"
She punched the floor, but this time, she only felt her knuckles sting in response.
Maybe she always knew but couldn't except it. Maybe she really bought into this facade and let it cloud her emotions.
A noise behind her snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned with a gasp and saw the dust stir and saw a weak human hand reach out before slumping. Drake…
She immediately crawled and grabbed the hand and pulled, tugging Drake out. She held his misshapen form against her lap, cradling his head in her arms. His tendrils flopped weakly and his eyes were half closed, as if he struggled to stay awake. He was alive, but not for long…
"Oh Drake…" was all Miyuki could say before being overtaken by the welling in her chest and she buried her face into his shoulder. "It should have been me, not you! Not you…not you…" She began to sob, hearing the slow beating of his heart. This wasn't supposed to happen…
She felt a reassuring hand wipe a tear from her cheek and saw that Drake smiled with the human half of his face, her eyes staring into his. "It's…gonna be…ok…" He said softly, forcing the words out. She nodded. "Yes…everything will be ok. It always does."
She felt the tears returning, she could feel Drake tremble and see he was beginning to cry, for her… for them. They are already mourning the life they will not have together…
"Can…can you tell… Samantha…that I'll be watching her...when you see her..." he asked. She nodded and squeezed his hand. "Of course I will." She could feel it in his hands that it was almost time.
She bent down and planted a gentle kiss on him and felt him return it. When they parted she gently grabbed his hand and leaned her face into it. "I love you."
He smiled with his eye and began to close it. "And I…love you…" His heart thumped one last time.
Miyuki gently rested his arm on his chest, feeling it slump as she did.
And she knew he was gone.
She sat there, silent, unmoving, never tearing her eyes away from his body.
She threw her head back and released a wail of immense loss before burying her head in her arms against his body.
And she realized right then that indeed she was human, because she's never felt this way in her long life as a legendary before.
So this is what true loss, true sorrow felt like.
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"My son…"
He was floating in the blue deep once again. He wasn't breathing but didn't feel the need to do so; he just continued to sink in the deep.
"My son…"
He turned his gaze and saw a shimmering light taking the form of a beautiful woman, one with kind deep blue eyes. Mother…
He reached out for her but something different was coming from where she was a moment ago, a monstrous shape with glowing blue eyes.
The Lugia swam over him, bubbles trailing in its wake. "Spread your wings, my son."
Wings? But he didn't have any wings, did he? He closed his eyes as he continued to sink. I can't…
The voice was near him.
"Open your eyes, my son…"
He did and saw a silver tail between his legs, his skin glowing silver white. He was a little Lugia! The larger Lugia smiled with her eyes. The youngling felt suddenly elated and he could swim through the deep. As he got near the surface something was happening on the other side of the water. A large Lugia was writhing against electric rings and a mad man was underneath it, struggling with the panel.
The youngling recognized the man.
"Time to return home, my son…" His mother said before fading away.
Mother! Wait! I-
The water opened up and evaporated, leaving him floating and his Lugia form withered away, leaving him in his true self, the form of the mad man, scarred and battered, the silver wing clutched in his palm.
Daniel, Maddie, Mother…
Pain shot him into the real world, and Alexander Scottsdale snapped his eyes open, aware of a stabbing pain shooting through his body in waves as he saw grunts moving debris off of him.
"Ma'am looks like he's still alive." A grunt said as he flashed his flashlight over Scottsdale's cut face. The light hurt his eyes.
"Well now, it certainly is a miracle." A voice cooed and he saw Alice walk into view with a face of mock joy. She leaned in to his face. "You should consider yourself lucky we found you."
He leaned up to say something but pain held him down and he felt a gurgling in his throat. Was he bleeding internally? She looked to the field medic with a serious glare. "Will he live?"
"Tough to say until we check him into the medical facility on island two."
She shook her head. "No, send him to Valentine's ward in Opal city. It's closer."
Scottsdale flinched. Valentine's ward was hers. She'd surely kill him there.
"What does it matter if he lives?" The medic asked. She smiled. "We're not quite done with him and need him alive. The master would be most displeased if he dies now."
He reached out with his one good hand. "You...took my son..." He snarled before leaning his head back. He needed to conserve his strength. She smiled at him and leaned into his face. "No, you took him. And now you've let him get away." She got up. "But no worry, he'll be back in more worthy hands when we've recaptured him."
"Ma'am! We found another one!" There were sounds of a struggle and Alice turned with a smile. "Could that be who I think it is?"
The grunt pushed a battered and bruised Miyuki before her feet. Her armored guard immediately went by her and restrained her arms. She glared at Alice with burning eyes. Alice smiled. "Enjoying the simple life of a mere human? I know exactly what you are…or rather were." She smirked. "Very clever, Mew."
"So you finally figured it out." Miyuki said with a grin. "So I guess that leaves you no choice but to kill me huh?" Alice took her pistol and brought the barrel under Miyuki's chin. "Oh, you'd want that wouldn't you. But that would be to easy now, would it?"
She put her dainty hand over Miyuki's bullet wound and stuck her thumb in. "I wouldn't want to rob you of the pleasantries of being one of us." She holstered her pistol and walked over to the corpse her guards were dragging, of the half formed Deoxys.
Alice looked over him. "Oh my, was this your love?" she cooed. "Oh how heart wrenching it must be to lose him so suddenly. Think of the life you two could have lived." She smiled seeing the pain wrack across Miyuki's defiant face. Alice narrowed her eyes in a cruel smile. "You'll see what it means to be one of us, to live a life of solitude, until you can't take no more and chose either to allow us to return your legendary heritage through the virus or the sweet release of death." Miyuki only stared with bitter tearing eyes.
Alice looked back to the corpse and saw it began to glow with a soft green light. The human parts of his body seemed to meld into the Deoxys half of his body until the two got washed in an indistinguishable light and the shape compacted. When the light cleared, only a small green gem remained.
Alice picked it up and inspected it. "My…what a lovely parting gift." She gave it to one of her guards. "Take it in for analysis." She turned back toward Miyuki. "This is just the beginning, my dear Ms. Hanabi." Her face sharpened. "Take her away."
The guards began to move her while a medical team came in and attached Scottsdale to a stretcher. She looked at the ruins of the arena. A fitting metaphor for what this project was under Alexander's rule…
She looked skyward. "But from the ashes we begin anew."
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Miyuki was pushed into the cargo bay of a chopper by the guards. She fell forward and her injuries stung once more. She hissed slightly.
She heard sniffling in the corner and looked up and saw a young blond girl with her head to her knees, her hands tied behind her. She looked up and saw Miyuki. Miyuki sat up and edged toward the girl. Judging from her attire she was a pokemon trainer, an ace maybe. "Who are you?" The girl asked, sniffing back tears as if trying to regain composure.
"I'm not with them if that's what you're wondering." Miyuki replied. "Guess we're in the same boat. You know, imprisoned, battered." She chuckled dryly. The girl cracked a light smile.
"I'm Tammy…I…I came in her trying to find what was going on…"
Miyuki nodded. She must have set off the alarm…
"Well I'm Miyuki. Guess you can say I'm a bit of a saboteur." She chuckled at the thought. Tammy seemed lost in her own thoughts however.
"I shouldn't have rushed in. Blaziken would still be alive if I had just waited..." Tammy began a new set of tears. Miyuki cocked her head to the side. "You lost some one too." It was more of a statement than a question. Tammy nodded. "Come here." Miyuki said as she leaned toward Tammy. The girl cried against her shoulder. "It's ok…it's ok…if we hold together, we can make it." She said reassuringly, half for Tammy, half for herself.
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Felicity packed some more essentials into her bag, turning back and sliding her hoodie over her shirt and pulling the hood back. "Samantha, you almost ready?" She called out.
Samantha came in wearing light blue shorts and a white T-shirt that fit her. Her wavy hair was loose under a cap she wore. "Ready. Archie's ready too I think." The Pidgeot walked by and gave her a playful tug on her blue hair. Felicity smiled. "Good now let's get a move on while its still day light." She picked up her bag and gave one to Samantha. "So any idea where we're going?" Samantha asked.
Felicity ran a hand through her hair. "We're going back to Cerise to see if Jen can give us a lift to the nearest route then we can walk there to Opal city."
"Opal City?" Samantha asked. Felicity nodded. "They got a TV station there and I'm sure we can tell 'em your story."
"But what of they don't believe me?" Samantha bit her lip with worry. Felicity leaned in. "Then we'll find someone who will. Your friends are counting on us." Samantha nodded. "Right."
Felicity walked to the lobby where Briana was finished preparing something. She turned and gave a set of blue beads to Samantha and a set of red for Felicity. "Take this so that the spirits will have their blessing and protection on you during this journey." She said with a bow. Felicity smiled. "Thanks Bri." She hugged her and gave her a warm smile. Briana returned the smile. Samantha then hugged her next.
Felicity was smiling when she looked out the window and saw an Umbreon running across and barking behind it. Lady Angela walked into view with a walking stick. Briana looked with concern. "What could Lady Angela want this early?"
She opened the door and allowed the blind woman and her Umbreon in. "Good morning, M'lady, what brings you here?" Angela turned her head, her blindfold covering her eyes.
"I have seen it…death came for someone close to this child." Samantha's eyes widened while Felicity held her close. "What, someone has died?" Angela nodded. "I could not see who but it was someone who had a hand in the child's destiny." She shook her head. "But death has not stopped with this one person. It hungers for another."
She faced them. "I've come to warn you to say that the shadow of death will be on this journey. Be on guard for when it will strike." Felicity narrowed her eyes. "Thanks for the warning, but we're ready for anything on this journey, right Samantha?" Samantha nodded warily. Angela nodded. "Very well but also know this, I saw a Lugia soar in my vision, getting ever closer to freedom…"
Samantha looked up with a hopeful expression. "Daniel?" Angela turned her head. "I believe so…but there is a dark shadow blocking his path...the shadow of someone in his past."
Samantha walked forward. "If we tell everyone the secret, will it help Daniel be free?" Angela shook her head. "I do not know, but surely the price for his freedom will come with great risk indeed."
Felicity smirked. "We're prepared to take that risk." Angela smiled. "Are you now?"
Felicity stood up and took Samantha's hand. "Together we will." Angela nodded. "Than may the spirits bless you well on this journey. And child." Samantha looked. "Hold tight your dreams, your wishes, for they grant you wings to soar…" She looked to Felicity. "Like this one."
Felicity furrowed her brow and nodded to Samantha and began to walk for the door. Samantha stopped and turned and bowed to Angela. "Thank you, ms. Angela, I know your blessing will protect me and Felicity. We'll come back with everyone, I promise."
Angela only smiled but deep inside she had a small shadow of doubt about how much her blessing will protect them. The forces of shadow are strengthening…
Still…there is hope, the hope that lives in the child.
She bowed to Briana and began to walk with her stick and her Umbreon at her side to return to her house.
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And this feels like a good stopping point. Samantha and Felicity are finally embarking on their journey that has already been predicted to be ill fated yet there is some hope for a different hopeful outcome. Their journey will be one of the main focuses that the next few chapters cover.
On the subject of Drake's death and Miyuki's humanity, I always knew that I would have to right this chapter and that a fan-favorite will die and that's always hard to watch. While it was sad to write, I did try to inject some hopefulness with the forming of the Deoxys Gem and sharing a final goodbye with Miyuki. And while Miyuki may no longer be a legendary, her journey is just really beginning and this time she'll have to contend with her new humanity that is now her true identity.
Scottsdale is still alive but appears too injured to continue the project. Alice seems to be eying his position and is already giving orders like its her project. With Scottsdale out of action she is now the full time antagonist who will be even more of an adversary with the legends in captivity. I also established Opal City, the city that Felicity and Samantha will journey to as also a city that has a front for Dark Gale, much like the Celadon Casino was a front for Team Rocket in the original games, Valentine's Ward.
The dream in the middle was intended to be ambiguous about the dreamer until it was revealed to be Scottsdale's dream. Once again the subject is about Lugias but this one seems to be leaning toward the belief he had when he was drowning that the Lugia that saved him was the soul of his mother. What would that mean for him, and more importantly, what would it mean for Daniel?
Well I hope you all enjoyed this update. Happy New Year!
Please review. MEE-YAA!