Psychic Gyms are neat.
The future is uncertain.
No prophecy here.
;;;
Chapter 45 Fortune Telling Gym
"What do you know, daddy-o?" hollers the man in suspenders. "Here you are, future Champ!"
Alex is still looking around the Gym, confused. It's just one room, and the man with suspenders is the only other person here. Sienna looks away from the fireplace in the back to the man talking to them. Alex only listens as he tries to find the Gym Leader.
"Bwaha!" the suspenders man laughs at Alex. "This place is a maze inside of a ball! Try gettin' your head 'round that one, right?" Alex pauses and glares at the man. "Even if you find your way around, you'll have to watch out for all those Psychic types! They've got some crazy powers, am I right? But don't give up, and you'll find your way!"
"But how do we find them?" Alex grumbles, looking around the room again.
The suspenders man smirks.
"Maybe here?" Sienna suggests. Alex looks over. She is pointing to the space between the two Gym stones. There is a strange design on the floor.
Alex watches, his arms crossed, as his sister steps on the design. He watches with growing concern as she lets out a strangled gasp and her eyes grow wide.
"Sis?" Alex asks hesitantly.
Suspenders-man smirks wider.
"I found it, Alex," Sienna chokes out. Eyes wide with awe, she takes a step forward, and promptly disappears.
"Sis!" Alex cries, rushing forwards. He steps on the center mark.
The walls of the room break apart and fly off. Alex gapes. He is surrounded by stars. Dark space and small lights swirl around everywhere. He wonders if this is the center of the universe. The boy takes a few steps forwards, watching the white and purple patches in the sky swirl like he imagines galaxies would. A bunch of rocks float into view, slowly circling the platform. Then Alex looks down at the blue walkway he stepped on.
It appears the Gym defies physics.
The blue path he is on is an outer, confusing maze of walkways that curve around to make a circle. Below, the paths are green. Further down, purple walkways.
It is as if the Gym is a completely different world.
"This is so cool, right?" Sienna asks. Alex looks up to see her face still gazing at the stars. "It looks like we're in space."
"Yah," Alex scoffs. "It must be some hologram stuff. Come on, sis. We've got a Gym badge to win."
Alex links an arm through hers and starts dragging her along the path. Sienna stares at the stars a little longer before letting out a shaky sigh. She turns her head back down and keeps up with her brother. "This is amazing."
Alex snorts, pretending he isn't as impressed. "You're only saying that because you love star gazing."
Sienna chuckles a little. "I guess you can say that. The sky is always amazing if you think about it."
Alex snorts again. "I'd rather be on the Earth, thank you very much."
;;;
A yellow warp panel takes them to the green pathway. Sienna ooh's at the sky.
"It's a Pikachu constellation," she whispers in awe. "And look at those rocks floating in the air. Do you think they're meteorites?"
"Don't care," Alex says, dragging her to the next Gym Trainer.
;;;
"There's a Lunatone. And I think that's a Staryu."
Alex sighs and continues to drag his sister through the Gym. "Can you get your head out of the clouds for a minute and help me through the maze?"
"There's a Poké Ball," Sienna breathes in awe.
"Ugh," Alex grunts. He really is impressed, but truly needs her help. The circular shape of the Gym is not assisting him in figuring out where to go.
"We'll probably never come back," Sienna says quietly. Alex looks to see her smiling slightly, glancing down at him. "I'm trying to make the most of it. Sorry for being a bother."
Alex cracks a smile and drags her to another warp panel. "Just try to focus more, eh? Else I might just push you off the side."
"Alex," Sienna sighs and chuckles.
"Being serious," Alex says, smiling brightly. "But knowing my luck, you'll probably end up right in front of the Gym Leader."
;;;
"Alex, did you see that," Sienna exclaims.
"Sort of?" Alex bites his lip.
"It looked sort of like an arrow," Sienna says, trying to see where the streak of light went.
"It looked like a normal shooting star to me," Alex mutters. He looks up at the dark, never-ending sky. "Well, maybe it was a bit big."
"I swear it was shaped like an arrow." Sienna looks over at the floating rock beside them. "It looked like it had a tail, even."
"Now you're seeing things." Alex moves her to the warp panel. "It's got to be this Gym. Using the warp panels doesn't help."
"You just hate them," Sienna jokes. "It's like with Fletchling, you just had a bad first impression."
"That last Gym was creepy," Alex whines."
Sienna smiles and shakes her head. As Alex steps on the warp panel, he can hear her mutter something as she looks to the sky.
"With all that light, I swear it wasn't just a shooting star."
;;;
The Gym Leader is a proud looking woman. Her dark skin complements her periwinkle eyes, but her confident expression the first thing noticed about her. Alex is in awe at how her hair is curled up, and staying up in a strange design. Sliver stars hang from her ears, and sliver hoops are around her wrists and shoulders. Her black outfit almost completely disappears as her cape swirls around her, stars on the inside seem to twinkle as it moves.
She looks completely at Alex, as if knowing he will be first to challenge her.
"A ritual to decide your fate and future," the Gym Leader speaks in a calm, even tone. She suddenly smiles. "The battle begins!"
Alex gapes when the woman starts to float.
;;;
At the end of both battles, before they appear back in the Gym, Gym Leader Olympia tells the siblings the same haiku.
Alexander snorts and smirks when he hears it after his battle.
Sienna continues to stare into the tired eyes of Olympia after her battle. The girl feels like she is being told something she doesn't want to hear.
"Create your own path.
Let nothing get in your way.
Your fate, your future."
;;;
"Now," Olympia says, holding out a hand to Xena, "the Psychic Badge. A testament to your skill. Proof of your power."
Xena nods gratefully. It is easier to hear this haiku then the one before. She has squashed the nagging feeling inside of her that says to listen to Olympia's words of hope. Hope is not something she can afford to have ripping her apart now, and not ever again.
"A symbol of trust." Olympia continues. "Level 90 or below… Pokémon obey."
Xena takes the next item offered, TM04 Calm Mind.
"Special Attack and Special Defense are increased." Olympia pauses. "The Calm Mind TM."
Then Olympia does something different from when she battled Alexander. She turns to the redheaded boy. "Power that takes life awakens – voices of woe. That is your future." Then she turns to Xena. The brunette stands stiff, eyes going wide. "Power that grants life awakens – voices of woe. That is your future."
Xena starts to shut down her feelings, leaving only worry for her brother. If she needs to, she'll change the future and face the life-taking Pokémon.
"Back from whence you came. You can be transported there." Xena's feels her heart skip a beat at that. "Warp to the entrance?"
"Sure," Alexander mutters. Xena can see his sadness and fear. He wants to go home, and doesn't want to face a Pokémon that takes life.
It only cements her resolve to keep him safe.
"Farewell…" Olympia says. Alexander grabs Xena's hand, and together they are warped to the first room of the Gym.
Alexander goes to check their names on the stones. Xena keeps her feelings repressed and a fake smile on her face. She is going to make sure her brother and her Pokémon get through this. Even if it means she has to stop breathing a few months early.
A/N: Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you Defender31415 for your review! It really is about time Kirlia evolved, eh? I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you again for your review!
Have a happy May, everyone.
Chapter 46 Release Date: A Sunday in June
