Sneasel opened her eyes, only to find that she was lying in a tree. She was confused. The last thing she remembers was that Mienshao threw her out of the castle from a good height.
Was she dead? It had to be. If not? Where she was?
She got up from the ground and looked around, with no clue how she ended up here. There were no more trees, it was the only one in this meadow and grass, on a hill. Although that place... seemed very familiar. She had a feeling she was already here. She touch the tree, she had a connection with it, but what kind?
She saw that the tree had scratches of cuts, like a Pokémon with sharp claws was responsible. But according to the scratches, he must have two claws. Like those of... her.
She looked at her claws in confusion and compared with those on the tree. The scratches were small compared to hers, it must have been a very small Pokémon. She remembered that when she was very young, she scratched in a tree to see how powerful her attacks were until her father forbade her. But the most curious thing is that she only did it in a tree.
At that moment, Sneasel was surprised. This was the tree, to which she spent time alone or with her father to relax or take a nap. How could she forget? Yes, this tree is close. Near her house.
She looked around once more and saw that it was indeed 600 meters from her. It had been 6 years since the last time. She could not help, but feeling sentimental to see her beloved home after such a long absence.
She walk towards it, slowly. She passed through the brush, remembering what she did here, running for all for no reason. She liked running a lot, feeling free.
Then the door opened. Sneasel stopped and her face showed a lot of surprise. What she saw was impossible to believe. Because it was like that, since the one who opened her house was her own father.
She could not believe it. For the first time in six years, she saw her father again and not in a sad memory. She wanted to cry or go hug him, but all this was too good to be true. Her father had died and there was nothing she could to bring him to life.
"Sneasel!" Weavile shouted as he looked where she was. "It's time!"
She looked back at her father, even his voice was the same as she remembered. Her heart told her to go with him, but in her mind she knew that something is wrong, regardless of her great sentimental impulses.
"I'm going!"
Sneasel was surprised, since it wasn't her voice, it was from someone else. Of a little girl. Before she could guess who it was, she ran in front of her. She was shocked to see that girl was herself.
A younger Sneasel ran to her father with much happiness. An expression that the current one did not carry for a long time. She arrived at Weavile and carry her, then enter the home.
Had she traveled to the past or is this a simple memory? With confusion and no answer, she advanced to his house. When she arrived, he touched the door of the house, she doubted if she should enter. SHe had made a promise by finish Mienshao, she would return here. She felt that she had broken her word by being here and having failed in a big way. But she needed to know what's going on. With a feeling of failure and doubt, she enter the house.
Upon entering, everything was very dark, she could not see anything. Nothing except a light that surrounded a younger Sneasel from the center of the home. She was sitting, looking pensive. Sneasel did not see her father or understood this scene. She moved slowly, confused. When she arrived, the light went out and that Sneasel disappeared like nothing. First of all there was a light from behind her.
She looked back and saw two Pokémon. The light was very strong, but she could see the figures and distinguish that were girl and Ursaring. Sh recognized that moment perfectly, it was the day that Ursaring told her the news that his father had passed away.
She could not hear what they said, but their voices passed through her head in no order. She was approaching until the intense light was gone and both of them too.
She coudn't see anything Hear nothing. She was alone. Suddenly she had fallen to a bottom without her moving.
After a few seconds, she fell off the floor. Now she was in a cave. Many things were happening and still without any clue as to what is happening. She kept moving forward without knowing where she was going. Then she hear an evil laugh. Sneasel was very angry to hear that the laugh was from Mienshao. Was this a nightmare or a dream? It would be a dream if she could put her claws on her. A very good one.
She kept moving until she saw that there was a stone wall in front of her. She could not go there. She turned back and saw that there was another wall where she had previously went. Now where would she go? She was trapped. She turn back again and then without any explanation, Mienshao appeared and strangled Sneasel's neck, and lifted her.
She tried to break free with all the forces she could, but Mienshao's strength was greater than the thief. Then she started crashing against the cave wall. After three times of crashing her, hse broke the wall and ended up on the other side.
Now she was in a hallway. In a straight corridor and with only one path. Sneasel watched as the wall rebuilt itself until there was no crack. Even if there wasn't, she had a feeling that Mienshao was no longer there. She wanted so much to come back to attack her and make her pay. Although now, she had to move forward and not stop.
She road had a door. She opened it and Snivy appeared in front of the thief, invading her personal space.
"This is your fault!"
Before she could react, he disappeared as if nothing. She was shocked and confused, but still moved on. Now she was in a room with no way out and the door with what she entered had disappeared.
She looked around until she saw a crack in the wall. She quickly used fury swipes with all her strength. She wish she had the shadow claw movement to destroy the crack of a single attack. That make her angry, because she couldn't learn it.
She finally destroyed it enough so that she could pass, when she reached the other side, hse found Vulpix with an angry expression.
"I never trust you. And Buneary neither shouldn't." She said, before disappearing.
This began to anger Sneasel. This was not real, someone was trying to make her confuse her. But she wouldn't let it, she's strong. She kept walking.
It seemed that she somehow returned to the hall, but the hall was different. It had faded, before the hall was orange, now you could barely see the orange. Although it was not important and moved on.
She came back to the door, where she opened and appeared Snivy. It was easy to assume that someone else from the rescue team or both humans would appear. She didn't care what kind of insult he prepared for them, he wanted to end this.
She opened the door and met Deino and Cubone. "Chusma! Chusma!" Deino shouted.
"Thief!" Cubone shouted and the two disappeared.
With those two insults, Sneasel began to get too angry. "When I'm done, I'm going to burn the whole castle down!"
Sneasel, move angrily, looking for a door. The quicker she find the door, the quick she comes out of whatever this is.
She found the door and opened. Now she was on the castle walkway and in the middle of the storm. She couldn't see anything, only when lightning strikes. She didn't like how the storm was going, but when she looked back, she knew that before she looked, the door was gone.
Again without option, she moved through the storm, but with problems. When she advanced, every certain time, she saw a figure as the lightning struck and listened voices. The first was of her father, standing. After several steps, she saw the Mienshao and his father in the middle of the air after being attacked by her. Then one os her, escaping from her house. Another of herself, stealing Pokémon. One hurting a Pokémon. Then one facing Mienshao and shortly after she was thrown by el Ingobernable through the window.
She was angry to remember that moment, although she also felt useless and helpless. A feeling she avoided after making that promise.
That happened again, but this time, each ray showed the rescue team, being defeated. One by one. For every time that happened, she began to worry, more and more. Then another lightning bolt, saw the figure of Mario, on the wall. What surprised Sneasel, that at the time the Light left, Maria was there.
She couldn't believe it, she was shocked. Especially that Maria was hurt, too. She looked at the thief, who was paralyzed.
"Maria... you..."
"You let us die!" She said.
Maria tried to move forward, but her wounds or body aches, make her walk very awkwardly. Since it seemed she wanted to head towards Sneasel, but she couldn't.
The thief thought that their life was not her problem or her responsibility. She was only with them for a benefit. She helped them escape and they helped her achieve her goal, even though they didn't know about her intentions after a while.
But Maria's look and words made Sneasel feel... vulnerable and... shocked. Did she care, without her knowing?
Now, the journalist was heading towards the barrier, involuntarily while still looking at Sneasel. "My blood is in your hands!" There she fell.
"No!" Sneasel shouted and ran to try to save her.
When she arrive, it was too late. She had fallen and Sneasel could not see her. the darkness made it impossible for her to locate her and that also must have already been on the ground.
She felt so bad… "Maria..." She didn't know her much. In a short time, she didn't care much, no matter that it was the first time she met a human. But she somehow proven not to be a nobody. She discovered her intentions and motives, then surprised her even more by telling about her father and about her world with a deep sadness in her voice.
She didn't know what to say or think at the time. She had never thought about the pain of others, although she rarely did. After this, among the people she met and it was difficult to admit, she was the one who suffered more than the rest. More than Sneasel.
Then she notice a shadow, a very big shadow. She immediately alarmed and looked back as fast as she could. The one who was behind was Type: null somehow and attacked on her. The two fell out of the castle.
She felt the wind against her face and not counting the exact time, she was about to fall on the ground. But when hitting the ground, after passing through and fell into the hall again.
The thief had trouble getting up by the pain and with little effort removing the debris. She looked around again and saw that everything that the color had turned gray and that the wood was neglected.
But she look forward, she saw the same door. The moment of opening it, a person will appear to criticize or insult her. All that seemed very annoying, although now, She was no longer sure to move on. She approached it, opened it while her claws trembled and slowly.
When she opened it, Mario appeared, grabbing Sneasel with much concern and despair.
"Where is my sister!?" Mario shouted, not letting her answer. "Where is she!? Please! Tell me! TELL ME!"
Mario disappeared, leaving Sneasel without thinking. She knew very well how close and how much the brothers loved each other. But if either of them were to lose the other, it would be a great pain and a tragedy. Sneasel, already experience that and personally they don't deserve that.
She continued along another hall. There was no noise, not even from his own steps and breathing. She walked with some fear, while looking around. Waiting for something else to appear.
She arrive at the door, stop there. She knew there was someone behind that door and she knew well who it was. That person that she didn't even want to see, because she had no courage.
She take a deep breath and with fear entered.
A cry. A cry is the only thing she hear in the middle of this place dominated by darkness.
Listening to her was enough to make the thief nervous. She look at the direction of the noise, slowly. She saw Buneary, surrounded by a light, crying with her paws on her face and on her knees.
Seeing her like this, she felt her breath cut out. She wanted to get out of here, she didn't want to confront her. But for some reason, she walked to Buneary.
When she touch her shoulder, Buneary looked at her, tears in her eyes. Sneasel was shocked to see her face like this.
"Why!?" Buneary asked, and Sneasel didn't answer. "Why didn't you help us!?Why did you leave us behind!? I trusted you!"
She grabbed her with a lot of strength and Sneasel was still shocked and paralyzed to do something, since she wanted to break free. Moments later she react and try to break free, but she couldn't.
Then the two Pokémon began to sink into the ground. Desperately she try to break free, although this time, she use all her strength. But it didn't gave results and ended both down.
Now she return to the hall and Buneary was nowhere. Sneasel was scared now, not only because of what just happened, but the hall changed again. To worst. Since the hall became more gloomy, the wood was rotten and black spots on several parts.
At that moment, she began to hear a voice that echoed all over the place. "How do you feel abandoning them?" That voice was of Mienshao, if she wasn't wrong. "People who gave you the opportunity to trust you and so you pay them like this?"
"Shut up!"
"Everything for what? Revenge, to bring him back? Or to become the Pokémon you were meant to be?"
"I SAID SHUT UP!" Sneasel shouted as she covered her ears.
She also began to hear other voices. Speaking at the same time in a way that tormented the thief.
So she ran to the door, opened it and there was another hallway. There was no one at the door, something that didn't matter now. She wanted to stop listening to the voices. She wanted to get out of here.
She went to the right, then to the left, again to the left and moved on. In front was a door to the end. But the voice kept multiplying and getting louder every second. She accelerated the pass with at full speed. Upon arrival, she opened it, entered and closed the door with all her strenght.
She had finally left the hall and finally could not hear those voices. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She rest for a few moments until she opened them.
In front of her, there was a very, very small lake. Sneasel walked towards it, curiously. She could see her reflection, she was wet and dirty, she wasn't surprised, so many things happened.
Suddenly, her reflection began to cloud. That call her attention to that detail and look closely. Not only was it clouding, it was changing the figure. Modifying until the figure she saw was from Mienshao.
She got angry at seeing Mienshao again, but the funny thing is that Mienshao's reflection copied that same angry expression. Whoever did this, she doesn't like it at all. She was not naive to believe that the reflection was of herself. She was not-.
So their impact when they saw their claws, they were no longer claws, they were paws. She couldn't believe it, it couldn't happen. She turned into Mienshao. The Pokémon she hated most in her life.
She backed away, still trying to deny what is happening, until the ground disappeared and she fell.
After a few moments, she fell on the same hill. She looked around with confusion and very alarmed. She looked at her body and had returned to normal, something that calmed her a lot. Also returning here comforted her.
Then she heard a laugh, looked to her left side and saw her father, carrying with his shoulders a younger Sneasel, while he ran through the undergrowth. She kept laughing very happy at the adrenaline and feeling the wind on her face. It was one of her favorite activities with her father.
Sneasel could not help feeling very sad to see this, she really missed those moments and it was hard to believe that many years passed.
She looked away and closed her eyes. She missed her house a lot, the moments, the happiness, being that innocent girl. But above all, her father. She began to release a tear as she remembered that past life.
"Are you all right?"
The thief opened her eyes. Even with tears in her eyes, she looked back to the left side and saw that her father was standing and with a smile on his face.
Sneasel was perplexed, her father just spoke to her. "Father? Is that you?" She asked as she stood up.
"Given that you only have one and that is a Weavile, yes. It's me."
She couldn't believe it, she was talking to her late father, again. This was too good to be true. Sneasel always wanted to see him again, but she knew that this was not real, no matter how much she wanted it to be.
Although her feelings made her leave the reason behind. "I-I, uh, um-" Sneasel tried to talk, but she couldn't. Finally her emotions won over her and she ended up hugging her father and began to cry.
Her father also hugged her back and still smiling. She could feel her father's fur and hug perfectly, as if it were real. That detail made Sneasel very sentimental.
"I missed you too much!" She said, in tears.
"I know, hija. I know."
It lasted a long moment of that hug until Sneasel stopped and cleaned her tears. "H-How is it possible?"
"You sure have a lot of questions, but we won't talk about that." Weavile said, and then sat down where he was. "We will talk about your behavior."
"My... behavior?" Sneasel asked, confused. If one day, he returned among the dead, the first thing she would do is spend time with her and talk. But not that kind of talk.
"Yes." He said, while with his hand he signaled his daughter to sit with him.
Unsure, she obeyed to her father and sat next to him.
"I knew you were a bad girl. Do you want to explain this behavior so... what's the word...? Drastic."
Was surprised. She wondered if he knew what she did in the last six years. Everything seems to point it. And personally, she wasn't sure if she really wanted to talk about it.
"Dad… after… that day. I made the promise that the one did to you, the one that killed you. I will make her pay with her life."
"Ah. So with that you justified you became a thief. Eh?"
"I know that being a thief was bad, but I did it to seek justice by my own hand. I also rob the Ungovernables, the bad guys, even other thieves for-. "
"Are you sure only the bad guys?"
The truth is that not only the bad guys. There were times that she rob people who didn't deserve to be robbed. Like to steal very valuable things and sell them to the highest bidder. Or steal Póke.
So the time she was a thief was not so good after all.
"Okay, I did bad things, but I did it for you-."
"Doing these things for me was a good justification?" Weavile asked, but Sneasel did not answer. She remain silent for a few seconds. "Also, do you think I would agree with revenge? I raised you to be a good girl. Then tell me. Why did you go that way, knowing that the wrong thing?"
Sneasel, looked away. She made a deep breath. "You were the only one who love more in the world. You made me smile and be happy that no one else could. You were my reason to live. When you died, I didn't want to live anymore. My heart was broken." She only drop tear in her left eye. "But I couldn't let her get away with it, she had to pay. Once I did, I would return here and take my life. That's why I didn't care about my life and what I had to do to keep my promise. Because I I'm already dead."
Weavile, remained silent with all the explanation. She really suffered for his death. If no reason to live, Sneasel wanted to die so she could not live with the pain. But that same pain is what kept her alive all that time, to end a unsettling score with Mienshao. There she would have no more reason to live.
A sad fate for Sneasel. And she accepted it. She was not afraid to receive death with open arms.
Then Sneasel's father gave a sigh and spoke again after a brief silence. "Well, you are wrong. There is a reason for you to live and be happy."
The thief, she look at her father, confused. There was nothing that could heal her broken heart and fill her father's hole. There is nothing.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Friendship." He replied.
"Friendship?"
"Of course. Friendship! Do you remember when I told you how my team was created and how we became friends?"
She remembered the story very well. He said that day, he was eating with Buneary's father in the restaurant town. When he was child and without evolving. Although it wasn't just the two of them, there were also girls who were in love with him. He always attracted them for his charisma and beauty. One moment, Lopunny got dirty and ran off to clean his fur.
He was addicted to everything related to cleaning. When he got dirty, he couldn't stand it and he needed to be cleaned at all costs.
Returning to the anecdote, when Lopunny was gone, a Jynx entered and demanded a kiss from Weavile. He of course ended up running away, since he preferred to die, before kissing that Pokémon. When he was hiding, Decidueye found him by chance.
What happens is that Decidueye's father was the former head of the guild and he wanted his son to take up his position. The detail is that he was lazy and preferred not to work. But of course his father disagreed with his son and forced him to look for partners to create his team before nightfall, or else would end up being punished for a year.
The detail is that Weavile told Decidere his problem, while watching if Jynx was close by chance. He took advantage of the situation and made him join the team, in return that he was not going to tell her where he was, without any other choice, he accepted.
Then they would find Ursaring, who was a Teddiursa who by chance sought to join the team. So he invite him to join the team. Of course, Ursaring wanted to join them, but he didn't want Decidueye to be the leader, since he learned that he was going to let him and Weavile do the hard work, while he rests at a safe distance. So challenge him in a fight to be the team leader.
Decidueye didn't want to fight and ordered Weavile to fight for him, but Jynx found them and he had to flee to avoid the kiss, leaving the two alone.
Ursaring attacked Decidueye who was running from him. In the middle of the attack, the normal guy dirtied Lopunny accidentally. It turned out that this was not the first time that he messed it up and had already been several times. Lopunny tired of it, (and that Ursaring insulted him for behaving like a princess) attacked him.
While Decidueye supported Loppuny, Weavile had returned and collided with him, causing the two to fight. Making a total chaos. Only they were caught by a rescue team and brought to the guild all four.
The four were scolded for the problems they caused, especially Decidueye for his actions and manipulating Weavile in that way. Ursaring also told him that he wanted to join a rescue team. So much that he was willing to join Decidueye, no matter what he did or how badly he dislike it.
Unfortunately Decidueye's father did not let him join a rescue team of his guild, claiming he was a wild Pokémon. Since he considered aggressive and unable to have a life in the society of the people.
He tried to convince him otherwise, but the boss was more persistent. When Ursaring had lost hope, Decidueye defended Ursaring, acting with kindness. They were very surprised by him and wanted to team up with him. And that he would be willing to do his best in the missions. That also made Weavile and Lopunny join the team. Without further remedy, the guild leader ended up making the team officially.
From that day they became good friends. Sneasel loved the story, especially that in the end Jynx caught Weavile and kissed him. She laughed a lot at that.
"Yes. I remember very well. But what does this have to do with it?" She asked. "Especially with friendship?"
"Since that day, my whole life changed. It wasn't that I was alone in my childhood, but as time went by, I felt that I was no longer alone. I had friends who really loved me and took care of my back. And I did the same to them. That union was unbreakable that continued to grow as if it were a second family. That was one of the two things that the best thing that happened to me in life."
Her father's words made him reflect on this. He really had a great affection from his friends, it wouldn't surprise him that he gave his life to save one of them. She didn't understand how much friendship can come to be a second family. When she was in school, she had friends, but not a relationship like the Oran team. So she couldn't comment on that.
Then she looked back at his father, but with another doubt. "What the second best happened to you?"
"You, of course." Weavile said and she was not so surprised. "From the moment you were born, you were in a great place in my heart. My obligation as a father was to take care of you and make you happy."
"And you did a great job."
"I appreciate very much. Really." He said, then he became sentimental. "I am so sorry for leaving you alone. I wish I was with you, but I couldn't leave Ursaring there. I would never live with guilt. I could never make you happy, knowing I left a good friend behind."
She found her father's words with a lot of truth in them. If he had lived and not Ursaring, he could not be the same and fully understood his father's motives.
"All right, dad. You are a great Pokémon and a good person. But instead, I don't. I'm sorry, pa. For not being la hija you want me to be." Sneasel said.
"Hija. You made a mistake. A very big one. Life is like that, people make mistakes. Everybody. Including me. But we learn from those mistakes and move on. You can still be happy and have friends like the ones I had." He said as he stood up.
The words of his Weavile father were very wise and true. There is no one who has avoided making a mistake in his whole life. Without mistakes, nobody can grow and be better if they have not learned. That's a fact.
But even so, she didn't think she could have a happy life. Not after what he had done. She had to pay for her actions. She also didn't feel that someone was willing to be her friend.
"But what friends? Who can be my friend?" Sneasel asked, while she was also getting up. "Who wants to have a thief, a liar as a friend?"
"True, it is very difficult. But at the bottom of your heart, you know who they are."
Sneasel, began to wonder who her father was referring to. She thought about the people she met over time. She didn't know many Pokémon that were in her school and those she knew, she didn't think they were willing to be her friends.
During her six years of being thief, she made many enemies than friends. She made alliances with other thieves and met Pokémon with a good heart, but she also didn't feel that she had a strong union with any of them.
She ran out of options. If it wasn't some of them, then who?
Suddenly, her expression changed. It could be them. They were very obvious, but they hadn't crossed her mind to the top. But she was very doubtful.
"You mean the rescue team?" She asked.
"And the two brothers." He affirmed. "Believe it or not, you have created a link with them."
Once she thought about it, that little time she was with them, she created a link with them that she couldn't describe. When she fought against Snivy, she felt a flame inside her. Not only did she want to beat Snivy for that key, but for overcoming him. Like a rivalry. One that she experience for the first time.
Cubone was like a younger brother. Someone who liked to bother a lot. She could not help smiling at the occurrences that Deino made. Were very funny. Vulpix, didn't take much time with her, but she would like to annoy her like Cubone. Mario seemed like a sweet and insecure boy. But I felt affection for him.
Finally. She felt a strong relationship with Maria and Buneary. On the one hand, the normal type, her kindness and her desire to take care of others were very great. She couldn't believe there was such a Pokémon and she was very glad she existed. She will like a full day with her.
On the other hand, compared to the human and her. She felt out of her level. Maria has overcome any problem and move on. Only to bring her brother home. Especially that all possibilities were against her. Knowing that she did not know how to fight and very vulnerable than the rest. She had a courage like no other and determination that overcame all adversities. Something that she envied too much.
Now they were all trapped and she had the opportunity to help them. But she didn't, they were in danger of death because of her act of selfishness and her desire for revenge.
It was all her fault. She would like to do some respect. But she felt that when she arrived, it would be too late
With low hopes, she look again at her father. "Can I save them?"
"Yes." He replied. Then the younger Sneasel ran towards them, while they looked at each other. "It's never too late to help someone. Hija, I want you to make me a promise. Be strong, compassionate and above all that you find happiness." Then the girl stood next to Weavile and looked at the current Sneasel. "Live and leave the pain behind."
Sneasel saw that he had his arm extended. After so much time, finding a new purpose was not going to be easy. And neither earn the trust and an honest life. But her father tried very hard to give her daughter a life that could be happy and she was not going to let all those years be wasted.
She took her father's claw with her two claws and he took her daughter's claw from the other claw. The two smiled, thus officially making the promise.
The two let go of their hands. Sneasel reflected that. When she touched his father's claw, she felt very real. That caused me to question.
"Am I dreaming or am I dead?" Sneasel asked. Neither scared nor worried.
"Open your eyes and find out."
Sneasel, opened her eyes. She was lying on the ground on the catwalk of the castle, while the storm was still there.
She could feel cold and water all over her body. And specially, her heart. It was beating. She was alive. She started to get up, but trouble with all the pain in her body.
She looked around. How do she end up here? She must have fallen outside the castle and it wasn't the catwalk. Before losing consciousness, she saw exactly where she was going to fall. But the most surprising thing is that she feels no pain for the fall or at least survived.
Could it have been a miracle or... was there someone who saved her?
She gave up on those questions and walked to the barrier. She look at the dark landscape that was lit by the moon. Soon the sun will rise, but now that is not important.
She took a breath and took the feather that was in her left ear and looked at it. That feather was a gift from her father. When she was little, she hated that her left ear was small, she wanted to have her long as the rest of the male. One of her birthday got the gift and put it there. She got very happy.
Now it was the only thing she had that reminded him of her father. But when she made the promise, she held it very strong with tears in her eyes. Not only a memory, but an object that remembered her hatred and sadness.
For the first time in her life, she released it and the wind took it away.
Goodbye padre. I will miss you.
At the time of releasing it. Her hatred and sadness left. That dream was what Sneasel needed. See her father again. One last time. It didn't matter if it was him or not.
Now she turned back and looked up. Her eyes were fixed on the broken window. In that room were they, the rescue team, the brothers and los Ingobernables. Her new goal is to go up and do what she should have done. Save them.
Don't worry. I'm coming for you. I promise.