Hi, guys! Okay, before we get chapter 37 going, I have some news. I'm thinking Skyborne should be made into an animated movie. What do you think? Now, first thing is first. I need voices! Here's some information for you: journal/Skyborne-383453487. Once you've decided who you want to be, review\message\whatever to tell me and I'll send you a few lines. Also, you can choose to record however you want, wherever you want. As long as I can listen to it and you send me the link, of course! Now, on with the chapter!
Chapter 37
April
I fly with Dawn to the area of the training ground where group six is supposed to meet. Not long ago, I kinda picked up shadow ball. I don't know how exactly it got there, but I just know it. Blake is already far ahead of us, eager to get his chance to beat down Giratina. He knows pursuit, but he probably won't use it as much as he'll use his flying-type moves. Dawn is an endless fountain of dragon type moves. So, the three of us managed to be in the group that leaves tomorrow to defeat Giratina. But, I don't want to be in this group. I don't want to go back to that place. You don't really know fear until you're shoved in a cage staring death right in the face. But, I don't know any other move that can be used anywhere else. Besides, Giratina's ghost type moves won't work on me. I puff out air and let my shoulders sag. I'm stuck.
A crowd of pokemon gather in a group on the ground. Blake is among them and he waves us over with his wing. We rush to meet him and the rest of the team. "Alright! This time, we'll get to put that scumbag to rest!" Blake exclaims. "He won't be able to stop us this time. Not when he's all alone up against a bunch of Skyborne."
"We'll end this war, this time around." Dawn adds. I just nod in response. I'm personally scared of going. Not just for putting myself at risk of getting captured again, but Giratina would surely recognize us. If he does, and the others find out, what could come of that? Grayos's secret has become our secret and I want to keep it that way. If one pokemon with sharp ears and loose lips find out, our secret would spread like wildfire. Then, it's likely that some would do just as they did to Dawn when she was a Dratini. I'm not sure, but they probably will have no problem killing us if word got out. I shudder at the thought. But, I have to act like I'm not one of the sacrifices. The rest of the group gets to know each other and I just smile and chat with the other pokemon. That is, until someone taps me on the shoulder.
I turn to find Fido, the Crobat commander of the first evolution special squadron. He glares down at me with his glowing yellow eyes that makes me want to shrink into a ball. Dawn takes notice of Fido and comes to my side. "Blake!" She calls him over. Blake looks up from chatting with another pokemon and flies over next to her. Blake tries his best to look intimidating, looking right at the Crobat. "Is there something you wanted from April?" Dawn inquires.
"Actually, there's something I needed from all three of you. Leyorra requested that you attend a brief conference with her and Kitiro immediately. She didn't tell me why, but she said that it is not optional." Crobat shoots me a glare. We lock eyes for a long time. "By the way, while I'm here. I must ask where you've been for the last couple of days. Records say you've been gone from training and you've recently left the infirmary." I don't say anything. I study my toes as the tips of my feet touch together to form a point. I don't look up, but I hear his wings flap away from me. I look up to Dawn who is just watching him fly away in silence.
"You don't think this is about...well...you know, um-"
"Yes, I think it is. In fact, I'll bet you tonight's pecha berries at dinner that they want to confront us with...that." Dawn replies calmly to my stuttering voice.
"I'll take that bet." Blake raises his wing. I giggle, Dawn rolls her eyes, Blake beams. Our cycle of humor.
We leave the group behind and sneak out of the training grounds without much notice. I follow behind Blake who follows behind Dawn. Old habits die hard, I suppose. Our train follows Dawn through a cave with a steep incline up to the upper chambers of the tunnels and caverns. With Dawn's memory of the networks, we're there in minutes. Before rounding the corner to the conference room, I take a deep breath. Using all the courage I can get, I enter.
There is one medium-sized rock with a flattened surface in the middle. Three boulders are finely cut to serve as chairs that form a circle around the flattened rock. The two at the sides contain Kitiro and Leyorra, staring straight at us, anticipating our arrival. The boulder-chair at the other side of the flat-surfaced-rock is empty with the absence of Grayos. Kitiro and Leyorra shoot out of their seats with a slight flap of their wings. They land so softly and controlled in front of us. We lock eyes and I feel fear vibrate through every inch of my body. My chest tightens and I feel labored to breathe. If Kitiro and Leyorra start attacking us because they want us dead, I wonder how long we'll be able to fly away before they catch us. I'm already readying my stance to make a bolt for the exit. But, Leyorra smiles at us like nothing is wrong.
"Thank you for coming, Dawn, Blake, and April. We asked you to come here for two different reasons. As you probably guessed, Grayos has told us all he knows about your...past." Leyorra firmly states. She looks down, and studies the floor. I thought I was the only one that did that. Kitiro looks from Leyorra to us and continues where Leyorra left off.
"We know that you three are the sacrifices that Giratina wants. Of course, you probably know by now that it is imperative that Giratina does not capture you. But, we'll get to that eventually. We also know that you've been gone for the past couple of days to the Wings of Legend's domain. Now, while leaving Skyborne unauthorized is forbidden, you have gathered updated and current information on the distortion world. Information that is vital to our success in team 6 to navigate their way through the distortion world. I'd be glad if, tonight after dinner, you could report to me again to describe the layout of the distortion world."
"Yes, sir!" The three of us simultaneously exclaim. I take a breath for the first time in days. We weren't in trouble after all. Leyorra nods to Kitiro.
"Thank you, Kitiro. Now, I'm sure you know that every pokemon in the first evolution and final evolution will be out there fighting. But, that leaves the primary evolution squadrons all by themselves. In the last battle between all of Skyborne and the Wings of Legend, the primary evolution pokemon grew panicked since they knew that it was a war occurring right outside their door. So, we've been asking around for three pokemon to stay behind and make sure that the little ones are fine. So, what we'd like you three to do is-"
"What!?" Blake blurts out. "You're keeping us inside Skyborne to take care of a couple of kids!? That's the same as doing nothing!" Kitiro and Leyorra stare at Blake like they've just been slapped in the face for no reason. I lean over to look around Dawn right at Blake. Just when I thought we'd get out scott-free. Blake showed disrespect to the pokemon that already have a reason to execute us. I see Dawn float a bit forward.
"Sorry. What he meant to say was, with all due respect, we believe that we would be much more useful in the field, fighting our enemies." Dawn explains to try to mend Blake's outburst.
"I understand your concern, you three. But, someone must stay behind this time to care for our younger future warriors. And, frankly, we'd rather keep three first evolution warriors behind than three, more powerful, final evolution warriors. Please understand." Leyorra speaks in a soft voice. But, it won't soften Blake.
"That's not why you want us to stay behind, is it?" Blake challenges with a tone as sharp as a knife. "Why don't you just say it." Leyorra blinks and lets out a breath.
"Okay. Yes, we don't want you out there. Giratina's main motive is to cross over to our world and make it just like his own home. If that were to happen, then Skyborne and all other life besides his own would eventually fade. The choice of whether or not we let that happen falls to Skyborne. And we choose to prevent it with all means necessary. And that means making sure that Giratina can't complete the sacrifice. So, you'll be under the protection of the Skyborne mountain where you'll be safe and out of Giratina's reach." Leyorra tries to reason with us. I watch Dawn's eyes as they grow aflame, something that doesn't happen often to my calm friend.
"You can't do that! We're strong! We can be helpful in the field! We won't get caught when there's three of us!"
"I'm sorry, Dawn. But, our decision is final. You must stay in Skyborne. Our remaining armies will do fine without three warriors."
"But, we can make a difference! Do you want to know who took down Moltres in the last battle? That was Blake and I! And April saved Blake when he was in danger!"
"This doesn't concern what you've done. This concerns what you are and we're not taking any chances. We will ask other warriors to restrain you three so that you cannot leave Skyborne if necessary. And, believe me, we don't want it to be necessary, but we'll pull a few pokemon from our army, subtracting from our forces fighting the Wings of Legend. Please don't make this any harder than it needs to be." Leyorra raises her voice, but is still firm and respectful. The two sides are at a stalemate. Dawn and Blake bore down on them with every ounce of anger they have and Kitiro and Leyorra just stand up tall, looking down at them to urge their authority. I shrink back a bit, not wanting to get in the middle of their own war, but Leyorra takes notice. "April, you haven't said anything. What are you thinking?" There is a long silence in the room as all eyes turn from their opponent and bore down on me.
"Um...well...I want Giratina to go down as much as any of you do...but, Leyorra and Kitiro do make a point...I think it might be best to stay."
"What!?" Blake races around Dawn and stomps right up to me. "How could you say that!?"
"April..." Dawn looks down at me with disappointment. I shrink even more.
"Thank you, April, for seeing sense. Dawn and Blake. You don't have to agree with our judgement and you don't have to like it. We only ask that you follow it. As a warrior of Skyborne, you must do as you're told by your leaders." Leyorra glares at Dawn and Blake. They glare back.
"Fine." Dawn and Blake simultaneously mutter. Leyorra nods and goes back to her original seat at the boulder-chair, leaving us and Kitiro.
"You three are still requested to report the current layout of the distortion world tonight after dinner. You are dismissed." Kitiro finishes and joins Leyorra. I'm the first to move towards the exit. Dawn and Blake linger a bit longer before turning and following me towards the exit. None of us say a word the entire way to the mess hall.