Chapter 35- That Uncanny Realisation
Back at camp, Julia was none too pleased about her progress. Meiko had escaped and she was furious at herself for not saving all those dragons in time. Not only that, she was irritated at not knowing who Salvia and Romeo were to her. This was becoming too much for her and Meiko was pretty intimidating. Also meeting Starship and Vibrava at the hospital was a mandatory for her and she felt guiltier and angrier. She could never have a moment of peace and quiet.
"Jules, it is okay. This really isn't your fault; all teenagers have faulty prioritisation. Look at us, we're the real deal!" Evelyn attempted consoling her best friend, but with little progress. "Well, this time it really was!" Julia snapped whilst depressed. "But Julia, none of us knew about this unprecedented attack! So how exactly could you blame yourself?" she asked.
"Even otherwise, they were low-grade grenades, so what exactly is the problem?" asked Starling. "That's the point, damn it! They were low-key grenades and yet they could kill dragons!" Julia snapped. "Grenades are dangerous dear, they could even kill mermaids!" Starling assured. "But they were dragons!" she exclaimed.
"Jules, you aren't the only one who'll be fighting the war. We are all in this together; you aren't exactly responsible for everything here!"
"If that's the case, why is it that only Saphira and I heard this? Make your point clear!"
"You were at the lagoon! It's the furthest point in Paraiosa and besides, the Dragon's Sedge is too isolated!"
"Why do I fell you guys are making pathetic excuses for your own incompetence?"
Hearing this angered them. "Stop being so rude, Julia! We were honestly not that close and even otherwise, do you really think the other Pokémon are ready for this?" yelled Evelyn. Finally, she snapped. Not taking any more of this nonsense, Julia then walked straight up to them and said "So easy this stuff is right? Why not you guys go ahead and do everything? You sound so confident of yourselves that you could put up this ever-so-condescending air about this right? We'll I've had it! Go ahead and fight this stinking war yourselves! I've about had it with all of this bloodshed and murder. You guys think that being repeatedly injured and losing pints of blood is cakewalk just because I'm an instinctive psychic, right? Well, have it your way. Go ahead and do this entire thing with all possible psychological independence, okay? Good bye!"
Both friends were taken aback. Julia had never been this furious before. Were they really taking too much advantage if her? Julia was walking away from camp and leaving the two Pokémon to lead these themselves. While walking to the forest nearby, she turned around and said "What you guys really lack is empathy. And in case you were wondering who I was just fighting, it was a freaking Vaporeon!"
Starling was shocked and Evelyn was horrified. Her own kind could be so cruel and evil- that was unthinkable and unforgivable. Julia then walked away, leaving her friends in limbo as she then went to a cave where it was forsaken and nobody really went there and it had a pretty view at night. She herself was repenting what she said, but then again, her friends never got the baseness of the situation. If their low-key grenades could actually kill dragons, heaven knows what their real weapons could destroy. Humans were really such a terrible race. Suddenly, she saw a ninja like figure dash across so quickly that it looked like television waves. Julia's senses immediately heightened. If she had to attack, she had to be in full alertness, but she really didn't want any more fighting at the moment. Even Meiko, a water-type was able to destroy Julia; the heaven knows how Hunter's fire, poison, ice, flying and bug-types were. Then again, everybody underestimated the power of bug-type Pokémon, so the last was no fear as such.
It was turning dark and she didn't want to battle at such an hour. The ninja closed into to her but Julia for some reason, suddenly just stopped. She stood there relaxed and almost placid which was actually weird. "Hopefully they'll miss or take pity on me and go." Said she. "Even if I do get hurt, I doubt it'll pain." Then the ninja suddenly grabbed Julia from being and a serpentine tail wound round her legs. Julia tried not to care, which she didn't fell like, but when a small flame was lit, she was shocked to see who it was- It was Juliana! Surprise, surprise.
"What do you want?" asked Julia actually quite angry. "Nothing really. I want you." Replied Juliana placidly. Julia's expression changed. "Are you trying to joke with me? Typical. I really don't care on what you are doing to me, so whatever you do- I'll put it this way- I don't give a damn." She replied almost wanting to be attacked now, being so regular in her routine.
Juliana's grip loosened as she brought the flame closer. Then she smirked. "Can't stop quoting movies, can you?" she quipped. Then her smirk grew. "I heard about the fiasco, so sad." Julia was getting angrier, but feeling powerless at the moment, did nothing. "Aren't you going to attack me?" she asked. "What?" Juliana looked confused. She was rather surprised to see Julia this masochistic. "No way! Don't be ridiculous, why should I? Our old vendetta is complete and besides, is there any need to?" she replied.
"In case you've been living under a rock, or rather society's protection- there is a war going on between us and humans." Said Julia placidly. Juliana then smiled. "Humph. So typical of you- saying things placidly or dramatically so that I can be caught in your web of lies, or rather conspiracies. Try and understand Julia, I know all about this damned war. Do you actually think I'm that evil? Hell yeah, I know. Then again, I have nothing to do with it. Coming to think about it, I do, but well, not as you imagine." Said she.
"Y...you mean that you're siding with the humans?!" exclaimed Julia in horror.
Juliana then released Julia's legs for some much needed circulation and then left. "It's the only way I can save Severus. Even otherwise, I don't know why I'm doing this for him anyway. We broke up a long time back." She said as she walked away, not even turning her head to the Grovyle who was now even more surprised by this. "You guys... are dumped?" she asked faintly.
"It's got no association with you whatsoever." Said Juliana as she then departed to some random abstract area. Now Julia was even more distressed. Pokémon were siding with the humans and Juliana's usual vivacious, vindictive personality had died down, now replaced with a detached and cold one. The war was inevitably traumatising everyone- actively and passively. This had to end soon, but not as soon as she desired.
Julia then shrugged, attempting to forget this. Luckily, Juliana was on neutral terms with her, so the whole nightmare of her attacking or doing any random kind of hazing was eliminated. Mind you- this was a million times worse than war. Teenagers- strange creatures, aren't they? Then again, that's what makes them special.
Still lost in thought, she went to the cave hangout where she decided to have a nap. Out there, she snuggled onto a rock and fell asleep. Halfway through her nap, she experienced some tugging movements. Mildly fazed by this, she moaned sleepily "Just five more minutes, mama!" Then, her legs were sharply tugged and she woke up with a start and was about to scream at the perpetrator for spoiling her nap.
When she raised her voice to scream though, she started palpitating and her eyes were widened in horror. It was none other than Death herself- staring at her in the eye-Meiko! Julia then crawled away from her, hoping she'd go away only to see her evil gaze fixated onto her. "Hello, Julia. How nice to see you. Confused? I'm the Vaporeon who was marginally close to kicking your butt to oblivion. The name's Meiko. Pleased to meet you." She hissed.
"H...how do you know my name?" asked Julia stammering. "Darling, who doesn't know you? Master was praising your abilities to high heavens. Besides, I'm a Pokémon. Even if master was unable to figure out who you were, I knew. Beautiful name, Julia. It's said that Romans would name their kids after the months they were born in and depending if they were a male or female, the suffixes would be –us or –a respectively. Like in May, it'll be Maius or Maia."
Then Meiko's glances grew cold. "Die, woman!" she screamed as she was about to unleash an Aqua Tail onto the young Grovyle. Julia on the other hand, didn't sit idle. She then let out a Leaf Blade, scathing Meiko and then running towards the exit. Once out of the cave, she ran like the wind, only to find a huge boulder coming straight behind her. She screamed as it started closing in on her. "Wonderful! I'm going to die at such an hour, in such a state!" she complained as she struggled to save herself from the boulder until she found a detour and took it, when she found another cave. Heaving a relieved sigh, she got in and saw someone inside. "Er...miss?" she inquired and when the figure turned around, she grew deathly pale for it was none other than Meiko, her eyes dazzling with a dark shine. Julia turned around only to find the boulder block the exit as well and she was horrified.
"You're stuck in a time loop. So either way, you're dead." Said Meiko as she raised her sharpened claws on her paws to strike her heart when Julia suddenly used a light Psyshock and Meiko was struck across. Furious, she got to Julia and a scuffle began, only physical. Both were barely injured, but when Julia struck Meiko on the head, she grew furious. She then pinned Julia down to the ground and tied her up with some old vines. Then she glared at her and sadistically said "Goodbye, Julia- you will be sorely missed." And then she prepared to use Hydro Pump from a distance. "Do you even know that move?" Julia mumbled weakly, but still frightened. "Hell yeah I do, girl." She replied crassly while Julia struggled to get over those bonds.
The minute Meiko let out her attack, Julia then screamed really loudly and agonised when she suddenly heard a woman's voice and then jerked and looked around- the cave was quiet and placid, albeit some bugs were freaked out by the noise. It was an hour past midnight and the cave was open. Julia was terrified, but then sighed in relief. "Blimey, it was just a dream!" she said and then felt relieved all over as she proceeded to get back to sleep. At that very minute, she saw a faint image of Cresselia and then Julia leapt up and tried to hug her, only to feel nothing but an outline. She was terrified and then looked up to Cresselia, then felt really sleepy again and then dropped asleep.
She then found herself in that same old blue sky with clouds with Cresselia herself. "What did you do?" asked Julia. "I am communicating with your soul dear; I need to have you asleep so that it won't hurt." She answered. "I do apologise darling. Darkrai's behaviour was a little over the top." Julia then stared at the deity. Then Cresselia spoke "Fortunately I arrived on time."
There was a dreamy silence for a few minutes.
"I had a heart attack out there! I thought I was really gonna die! But honestly, what brings you here?" Julia asked. Cresselia seemed surprised hearing this. "I am the mediator. I stop Darkrai from going out of control and give you pleasant dreams. Right now this is the pleasant dream." Said she as she stroked Julia's forehead. Suddenly, she calmed down and felt eased. Then she spoke "There is more in it, though. I came to tell you something else." Julia just inclined towards the deity.
"Ever wondered about your ability?" she asked. Julia was surprised- what was with the weird question? "You know, like how Arceus has Multitype and I have Levitate..." said she. Then it hit Julia- "Ability? Never even though as much about it, except in my childhood." She answered. "It was something like this- I never exactly wondered too much about it because I thought it'd be something lame and mainstream. So I wanted something different, so I did have hopes once of cultivating something different..."
"And you have." Cresselia continued smiling. "It has done you far good." Then she bent towards her and asked "But do you know about what it originally was, before your powers were nascent or even evident?" This baffled Julia. She just shook her head and wondered about it for a few minutes until Cresselia thought of jogging her memory. "Do you think it would be Overgrow? That too is an instinctive ability- it works during periods of dire emergency."
Julia pondered over this. "You know, when I was younger I do remember something- Mom did tell me about abilities, but during emergency, all I did was panic. My attacks never increased, only my hopes and defences, rather my defences fell too. And when it really was a dire emergency like when at battle with Roseanna, my psychic ability was the only thing that activated. I'd never been much of an attacker unless I was provoked anyway, so Nah... I doubt so."
Cresselia looked interested. "You know, honey there are two types of abilities- normal and dream world. Who knows? It may even be Unburden- your speed increases after using or consuming your item." Said she. Julia then refreshed her memory. Once she and her pals were out foraging when a Mightyena had attempted to attack and they ran for their lives with Julia screaming for obvious reasons. Then she noticed her pecha berry and being hungry anyway, she went and ate it. Suddenly she felt lighter- psychologically and practically. She then moved quicker and was able to save Evelyn and fly away on Starling, saving everyone in the process. Who know? That really must be it.
Cresselia smiled. "So I felt. I was right- Unburden really is your ability. You weren't just aspiring to be special Julia- you were born one!" Julia's ears perked hearing this. It was really flattering to hear this, especially from a goddess! Then her face fell. "If that really is the case, then why is my psychic ability predominating? Does it mean that my ability is weak?" she asked.
Cresselia smiled. "No darling, it is not true. The reason you psychic ability is working faster is because you have inevitably awakened it while you were alone, thinking so much. At that moment, both your instinct and subconscious work together. Your instinct provokes you to attack and your subconscious the power. They say your subconscious makes 98% of your mind, darling. That's why it does so."
"It also acts faster... to protect you. Only your instinct can save you from such peril and that is obvious for everyone. Also because you are special and more tuned to these things your abilities awakened as early as eight and overtake your usual abilities. Have you ever felt anything else special?"
"Well..." said Julia "I do remember the fact that I can write Asvadia and English. I can't read what I wrote, but it makes a lot of sense. That's kind of weird because only humanoid Pokémon can write like Gardevoirs and Bisharps. Feral ones can't. I can't read anyway."
This made Cresselia lift Julia and embrace her. "Ah yes, sweet bun. You really are a genius in your own right! You are psychically inclined, smarter than any average Pokémon, blessed with human intelligence and also such an amazing telekinetic! Yes darling, you are going to lead the war. Do not fear, your instincts will be your guide." She proclaimed.
Then, while Julia felt like a queen, she suddenly broke off "Do you like romances?"
"What?!" Julia blushed like a tomato.
"You know, infatuation, crushes. Most teenagers have those." Said she giggling.
"Well, you probably know about it anyway being psychokinetic and clairvoyant and all."
"Well, it'll be unfair and I want to hear it from you!"
"Well, there is someone. Rather two. There was once this Zweilous I had infatuated over. He was rather young and about 15 years old. His name was Aidan and he was rather cute. I never talked much to him, but I felt he was the hottest guy on earth. There was also something special in him- he had moon-blindness, so he could see sometimes which was amazing! And then one day, he told me I was one of the most beautiful women ever seen on earth. We were mutual pals anyway, so I could digest it fairly easily. As much as I knew it was platonic, I felt really weird. Then something happened- he had a partner! I felt nothing, for she was really pretty and well, I couldn't fall for a committed man. All the same, I felt he was really special."
"Then something happened- he was diagnosed with a blood cancer. I never saw him after that." Her expression tuned wistful until Cresselia hugged her again. Then Julia confessed "After Aidan, there was another guy. He was a Dusknoir and ten years older than Aidan. I liked him, but he too was distant, so I gave up on the idea. Even otherwise, he was kind of creepy, especially when he was around me, so well, I gave it up."
Cresselia smiled. "Fear not, dear. It's normal for teenagers to fell this way." Julia beamed- finally she saw someone she could understand. "It's just that now I really can't think of dating any guy- I need more freedom at least for now. Otherwise, I won't mind." She admitted. Seeing Cresselia's weird expression though made her grimace. "Starling and I are just friends! Oh any by the way, just BEST friends." She argued, blushing at the idea- how could anyone even think of such a thing? It never even occurred to her!
After a tender giggle Cresselia then caressed Julia's cheek rather motherly and said "Julia, you are a girl of untapped talents. You are beautiful, kind, motherly and really talented. You will definitely lead this world to success and mark my words. At the same time, do not take all the pressure upon yourself. The others will be just as happy to save their land and they'll pitch in too. You are not alone- the whole world is with you." After an eloquent pause, she then said "And whenever you have trouble, do not ever worry- I will be watching you and blessing you." Following which she disappeared and then Julia woke up.
It was morning and everything was calm at the moment. Julia reflected heavily on her past memories and sighed dreaming of Aidan. At that very minute, Evelyn popped in along with Starling. "Where were you?" Evelyn asked concerned. "We were looking everywhere for you!" Starling then looked at her and said "Sorry about the bout. It's just that we want to help too. We have to, man! It's our motherland we're fighting for and after losing all that blood, we'd be morons if we were to ditch you now, are we?"
Julia looked at them fondly and smiled. They really were the best friends ever and she'd do everything to help and protect them. "Cresselia bless them!" said she as she prayed for Aidan as well and then they went outside to decide their next plan. It as going to be big- really intense and that she was sure of...