You will find the playlist for this chapter in the comments, I recommend reading this chapter while listening to it.
CH. 6 THE TRIAL BEGIN
Thursday 10 September, Morning/Cloudy
"Hey Gloria!" you called the girl entering the class,
"Have you seen Hop?" you asked Gloria after getting her attention,
"... No, I didn't... Weren't you together this morning?" she asked a bit on the defensive.
"Not really, I knocked on his door, but I got no response."
"Where could he have gone now..." Gloria said with a carking voice, you had her same alarming thought and your heart started biting a bit faster.
It was time for the first period to begin, but Hop was still didn't get here, where was he?
"Could he have returned-" you thought were interrupted by the sudden entrance of Sonia in class, accompanied no other than by Hop himself, upon seeing you he made a reassuring smile to both you and Gloria, before taking a stand in front of the blackboard.
"Good Morning everyone." Sonia greeted as she put her bag on her desk, and everybody got to his place.
"Before we start today, Hop wanted to make an announcement to the class, Hop..."
"Uhm, thanks Miss Kleio..." Hop cleared his throat before he started speaking.
"I wanted to introduce myself again..." said Hop.
"As all of you should already know, I am Hop Mercury, the younger brother of Leon Mercury."
"And I want to let you know that I hate it!" Hop declared rampantly, shocking most of the student, Gloria included a bit.
Alleycat
"I hate it when Leon is the only thing people get close to me to talk about, I hate it when I'm compared to him, and I hate it when somebody asks me to get autographs from Leon for them." Hop continued.
"While I myself admire my brother, and I'm proud of him, I want to build something myself, I want to be known for something that I did and not only to be known as the brother of, I Hop, I have some stories to tell to."
"Thank you, for listening." Hop ended his speech and headed toward his desk.
Clap Clap, Sonia was the only one to clap after Hop's speech.
"Well done Hop, that was a great passionate speech." Sonia praised him.
"Guys, remember to always follow your dream and ambitious, as Hop said-"
As Sonia started her discourse this time, you and Gloria start questioning Hop that just sat near you,
"Hey, are you alright?" Gloria asked, "Where have you been?", you asked in turn.
Hop just smiles and answers "It's alright guys, don't worry."
"Thennn, which that said let's begin our lesson, shall we?"
After the first period ended.
After Hop's speech, only a dozen of the student came to him to apologize regarding their previous attitudes, they ended on good terms with Hop, which seemed happy.
"...", you watched the other student around you, they seemed to ignore or not consider the occurrence of this morning, some looked at Hop with annoyed and hostile expression, none of them got closer to you, and none tried to talk to him after that.
Sunset Bridge
Later during the break
"Hey! What did you think of this morning? Finally, I was able to let everything that was stuck inside me out."
"You were great, well done, I'm really looking forward to what Hop Mercury will do.", you told him.
"Hehe hehe thanks man, surprisingly most of our classmates were understanding. And I don't blame the others who seemed annoyed either, to them all this most have seemed like the complaints of a privileged, and from a certain point of probably it was." Hop laugh awkwardly, massaging his neck.
"Nothing you can do about it, I guess...", you recalled the expression of the others as you told Hop this, the expression of contempt and scorn.
"Yeah, you are probably right..." Hop replied.
"Anyway thank you again, thank you for being with me during that critical moment, both you and Aion fought for my well-being back there."
Hop expressed his gratitude to you. You sense a tie of friendship binding you and Hop…
The Spirit
I am thou... And thou art I...
Thou hast formed a brand new bond…
It shall become the evidence of the unselfishness of the many, overcoming the egoism of one…
Thou shalt be blessed when forging Pokesoul of the Trader Arcana…
THE TRADER ARCANA. RANK 01
You recall Oak's words.
"The Pokesoul ability is the power to control one's own will and valor… And one's heart is strengthened through bonds and selfless acts.
As you form bonds by becoming involved with Confidants, your power gradually develops as said bonds are strengthened.
"... Does this mean that Hop is my Confidant now?", you thought.
Sunset Bridge
"Victor?"
"Yes?"
"I was saying that if is it okay for you to come with me?", Hop asked you again, apparently.
"Come with you where?" you asked perplexed.
"To go by Gloria together, jeez, do you even listen when people talk to you?", the boy scolded you.
"Anyway come with me. We have to convince that troublesome girl to let us explore the Darkest Den." with that said, Hop starts heading toward Gloria's locations, and you just follow him.
Confession Secret
5 Minute Later.
"..."
"I hope you understand...".
Hop and you tried your best to persuade Gloria in letting you explore the Darkest Den.
"Say, Hop... did you really overcome your resentment for Leon?" Gloria asked timidly.
"I... I can't say yes just now..." Hop admitted.
"But I'm done blaming him for everything, I'm gonna strife through my own, regardless of other people's opinions, and I'm going to be whoever and whatever I want to be." he replied.
"... You surely have become strong, huh?" Gloria made a sad smile.
"I do understand that you guys want to continue your exploration in that place." Gloria continued.
"But you guys know nothing about there, it's too dangerous."
"What are you going to do if you encounter a monster stronger than the previous ones!" she loudly demanded.
"We woul-"
"You will what? Fight it? Haven't you guys risked enough already?" Gloria yelled before Hop could counter.
"Ugh..." Hop stuttered.
"Gloria..." you wanted to take your chance and try to persuade her, but the bell that indicated the end of the break ringed interrupted you before you could even say something.
"Please...let me think about it..." Gloria said, before leaving to return to class.
"Good grief..." Hop sighed.
"What are you going to do now?", a voice out of nowhere astonished both you and Hop, soon the owner of the voice revealed himself it was Aion.
"What the hell man, you startled us.", Hop told the adamant silver-haired boy.
"That was not my intention, I apologize, anyway, what are you two going to do about our deal?" Aion asked.
Hop looked at you and after a second of silence he answered,
"We can't go, for now... like I already said before Gloria as to be okay with it too." Hop reaffirms is word from yesterday.
"Why don't you just go without letting her know?" Aion asked.
"We can't!" Hop replied firmly
"What kind of friend would hide and do things behind's another friend's back.", Hop continued.
"I know that this might be hard for you to understand... but this is how we do it... on this planet, we at least.", concluded clumsily Hop.
Aion and Hop stared at each other's eyes for a few seconds,
"Indeed, I can't comprehend it at all, but it seems important enough for you to have the agreement of your friend, so I will not rush you anymore for a response."
"We truly do appreciate it." you showed your gratitude toward Aion.
"... Sooner or later I will eventually have to return to the Darkest Den as always, be it without you, differently from you, for me there is something higher on stake."
"Right, I wonder what it is his deal? His he really an alien?" you thought of Aion were interrupted by Hop's shout.
"SHIT! WE ARE LET FOR LESSON! THE BELLED RINGED ALMOST 6 MINUTES AGO!"
"THE HECK ARE YOU DOING COME ON VICTOR DON'T JUST STAND THERE! SEE YOU LATER AION." with that say Hop dashed in the same direction, Gloria left, with you following him.
"See you later, Aion!", you saluted while heading toward your classroom.
When the Moon's Reaching Out Stars
After school/ Cloudy
You are now together with Gloria at Central Wyndon, Hop excuses himself saying that he had something to do back at the dorm, so he went on leaving you two alone, even Aion seemed to have already left.
On Gloria's suggestion, you decide to stop at Central Wyndon and pick something to eat at Solga-Leon, a fast-food restaurant. After ordering your burgers, which the fast-food claim is made, which 100% organic products, you sat at one of the tables outside and enjoyed your meal, Solga - Leon was near Central Square and Central Station (South).
Despite their recent squabble, Gloria seemed to appreciate your company as she always did.
"Hope you are getting used to Wyndon, Victor.", Gloria said.
"I am getting used to the city, somewhat...", you replied.
"I'm glad to hear that, it seems that you are getting along with Hop even fine, that's nice.", she said that with a noticeable hint of sadness in her voice.
One of the many big screens that were displaying various commercials, interrupted the current commercial regarding the launch of a new Rotom smartphone, to show a breaking news piece.
Reasoning
" We are reporting this breaking news that we just currently gain, the psychologist and Fuji prize winner for psychiatry, Alfred Alder, died this afternoon at Wyndon Central Hospital." said the announcer.
"Uh..." the news seemed to have drawn Gloria's full attention.
"Mr. Alder was rushed to the hospital after he had a sudden attack of panic that "apparently" ended his life, however, the most concerning issue about doctor Alder is that his deceased is probably linked to other incidents that we had in this past months, just last week we had a similar case regarding the anthropologist Mark Mauss, that committed suicide by jumping from a window of a hotel he was staying.
"Once again the name of the Macro Cosmos Conglomerate comes out, as a matter of fact, like with the previous victims, doctor Adler have been exclusively working alongside the energy extracting company, making him the fifth victim that died, and had a connection to the conglomerate.
"As for right now there is no evidence relating Macro Cosmos to the strange episodes of deaths, or to even accuse the conglomerate, despite this the police decide to open an investigation on Macro Cosmos Conglomerate.
"The investigation was allowed and sustain by Macro Cosmos higher ups, and the current chairman of the conglomerate, Rose Pendragon, expressed his grief and condolence toward the lost of ex- collaborators to the Macro Cosmos, and he offered his complete support for the investigation to find the solution to stop the deaths.
"Wait a moment... Pendragon? Is Aion somehow related to this person...", you thought, as they showed the face of the chairman, on the screen.
This news attracted the attention of the people around the square, as many had their sights set on the news.
Gloria had her interest caught too, but you notice that she had a more worried expression on her face than a curious one.
"Is everything alright?" you asked her.
"Huh? Yea- yeah no problem here." Gloria frantically answered.
"Ha, I barely touch my food come on, let's eat." she started eating her burger.
"Alright..."
Evening/ Clear Sky
You got out from your bathroom and you got ready to head to bed.
As always you laid down on your bed revoking the event that occurred during the day.
After you came back from Central Wyndon, you spent the rest of the evening together with Hop and Gloria, Aion was absent once again.
The news of this afternoon was hosted again with apparently new details that added to the case, the recent death of doctor Alfred Alder was the talk of the moment, some students in the dorm were even talking about conspiracy theories.
After the news service finished, you decided to return to your rooms, so you gave the goodnight to Hop and Gloria.
"... Lately Gloria always looks gloomy, I understand that Hop's recent incident and the Darkest Den may have contributed to it... but I feel like there is still something she is not telling us." you fall asleep thinking about it.
Poem of Everyone Soul
You waked up to the dreamlike melody you were by now used to it.
"Welcome back to the Velvet Room." Oak greeted you sitting in is the usual place with Klara standing near him.
"I summoned you today to continue our talk from the first time you entered this room." Oak declared.
"You may remember that on that occasion, I warned you of an upcoming doomsday that may radically change your life, and that the trial for yours and humanity salvation already begin."
"As for right now, this trial seemed to have caused the indirect death of some innocent people." Klara interrupted Oak without any regard.
"The opponent force that you have to eventually clash with is a powerful, tempting, and provocating adversary that has only one goal, lead humanity to his destruction." Oak continued, completely ignoring his assistant.
"In the pursuing of satiety, humans are alienating each other, till their inevitable fall to the pit of solitude, and this adversary wants to use those flaws of mankind to prove their guiltiness, and thus condemn mankind in his entirety."
"It's thus up to you to find the proof, and defend humanity's future from the adversary accusations, you shall be the one that defends and help humanity to absolve from the accusations against them."
"..."
"We cannot, and we will not intervene in this trial, this is something that humanity has to deal with itself, but what we can do is to support you and lead our assistance to you and your allies during this long journey that you are going to undertake."
"Before I head toward the end of the discussion, I would like to remind you about the importance of your Pokesoul and the bonds you will eventually form, i even see that you followed the advice, that surely brings me joy." commented Oak satisfied.
"He is probably talking about the Confidant I formed with Hop...", you thought.
"Let's see, ohhhhh the Trader Arcana," said Klara while opening the big book, from with an orange card, different from the previous one, emerged.
This card had depicted on it a bipedal chameleon with a zigzag line on his belly, holding two fruits in both his hands.
"If it is upside down, it represents Trust, Resourcefulness, and Barter. When it is upside down, it represents Immaturity, Manipulation, and Distrust."
"Make sure to take care of this bond, after all, is an evidence that you can use to show mankind's true potential.", Klara recommended.
"Then till the next time we meet again, dear guest, farewell." after Oak's goodbye, you fell back asleep.
Friday 11 September, Morning/ Cloudy
Want to be close
The bell that marked the end of the lessons ringed,
"Oh, Right before you guys leave, I want to inform everyone that the subscriptions to afterschool activities are open.", said Sonia.
"You are allowed to subscribe up to two activities, these activities will, of course, be distributed through the week in a way that you can participate both the activities you will choose."
"Subscriptions are not obligatory, but they are highly recommended, if you want to know more information, then I will gladly answer them for you, whoever wants to come to talk to me. Which that said, have a nice afternoon everyone." Sonia picked up her bag and left.
"Activities huh?"
"Are any of you guys going to do any?"
"Well, let us go and see what's available.", as soon as Sonia told you about the afterschool activities, many started talking and pondering if to take part or not.
"..." absorbed in your thought, you recall Klara's words.
"As for right now, because of the weakness of his Confidant's heart, its potential, is totally wasted..."
"I suggest to you to build up confidence for yourself, or you may never be able to use this card's true potential..."
"... I suppose trying may not hurt me.", you thought before leaving the class together with Hop and Gloria.
You were spending time which your friends like always, Hop had the intention to bring back the topic of the Darkest Den again, but since Gloria didn't make any mention of it, he decided not to instead not wanting to pressure her too much.
"Anyway, guys are you going to attend an afterschool activity?" Hop asked, exasperated.
"Uhmmm, yes" replied the girl adamantly.
"I'm gonna take botanic classes."
"Botanic?" you asked rate surprise.
"W-well..." Gloria stuttered on her words as she blushed.
"You still didn't tell him?" Hop asked, bugged.
"Tell me what?", you asked.
"You see, Gloria, comes from a family of farmers and herbalist."
"Hey! Mind your own business!" Gloria groaned angrily at the boy.
"What are you so pissed for? I suppose you were going to tell him anyway sooner or later." Hop redacted.
"Sh- shut up!"
"Victor, you know why she is acting this way? Well, you see-"
Who is there
Before he could finish his phrase, Sonia rushed toward us yelling Gloria's name,
"Gloria! Thank God I found you." Sonia told her visibly alarmed.
"Wh- what's the matter, Ms. Kleio.", Gloria asked worriedly.
"Is about your mother, it seems that she had being hospitalized after a failed attempted suicide!" the shocking news, shaken both you, Hop, and especially Gloria, that upon hearing those word from Sonia, she stood helplessly there without knowing how to react till she uttered out some words.
"M...m...mo..."
"Gloria, GLORIA!" Hop is the one to wake her up from her catatonic state by shaking her.
"Hop... Mom, why would Mom... she..." tears started filling the girl's eyes.
"No! I'm sure she's gonna be fine I'm sure the doctors will save her!" Hop tried to reassure Gloria as much as possible,
"Listen you have to be strong now and head to where she is, alright." Hop consoles her by holding her hands, still, in tears, Gloria nodded to Hop before she followed Sonia to head toward the hospital.
"... Hey..." Hop addressed you, you can tell that despite his encouragement to Gloria he was visibly under shock himself.
"... No, let's head to the dorm first then I will tell you..." Hop declared.
Alleycat
Evening/ Cloudy
You were waiting for Gloria's return, in the dorm lounge, you were sitting on the sofa that was placed there for the guests.
It was 19:05, you know exactly the hour because you keep checking the watch every few seconds that passed.
Hop, being impulsive by nature, kept stamping his foot lightly, while his fingers tapped on the arm of the sofa, the tension was unbearable for both you and him.
"..." you recall the talk you had with Hop before the evening, on your way home.
"Gloria... was always neglected by her parents."
"Miss and Mr. Tyr aren't of course bad people, rather they are really nice, but... sometimes I had myself asking if they were serious about raising a child, you know..."
Hop's words surprised you, but you let him continue without interrupting him.
"Like I said this afternoon, the Tyr's in Postwick and Wedgehurst, have a long history of being a family of farmers and herbalist, only till recently starting from Gloria paternal grandfather they become for working as pharmacologists, Gloria's parent to be accurate work in the pharmacognosy branch, both husband and wife work as pharmacologists.", Hop explained.
"Because of their job, they always away from Gloria, thus she always lived most of the time together with her grandparents, and from Gloria's words the time they rare occasions they were together the situation didn't get any better."
"I remember clearly every time they weren't able to take part at Gloria's school plays, family trips, and even... her own birthday parties.", Hop told you these last words while tightening his fists.
"..."
"Gloria never cried or thrown a tantrum on that regard, she would say every time the same things 'It's fine, mama and papa are busy, nothing they can do about it'"
"Gloria's parents aren't bad people, let as be clear, I just think that they weren't supposed to have a family life, simply, for them work is more important than to be a parent, easy as that."
"To make thing worst, about two years ago... Gloria's father was involved in an incident during his work, sadly he did not survive.", Hop confessed.
"His death was devastating for both Gloria and her mother, although they were never there for her, she always loved and care for them." you notice Hop's expression getting sadder.
"Do you understand now? Do you understand why Gloria doesn't say what is on her mind, even if she wants to, and why it's important for me, her friend to have her permission, do you understand why she doesn't want us to return to that place?"
"Gloria is afraid, she is afraid to be left behind again..."
"Afraid of being left behind again..." you thought to head your recalling.
At that exact moment the door of the main gate opened, and from it, Gloria and Sonia entered the dorm, upon seeing them getting inside you, the two of you stormed toward them which worried expression on your faces.
"G-gloria, are you alright, how is your mother.", Hop asked.
"... I'm fine..." Gloria replied with a devastated expression on her face, signs of tears could be seen under her eyes.
"Thankfully, her mother is doing well, the doctors saved her in time, as for right now her mother is not in danger of losing her life."
"THAT'S GOOD!" Hop exclaimed with glee, but after a second glance to both Sonia and Gloria caused his smile to vanish.
"Yes, that's undoubtedly good... but as for how the thing are right now, Miss Tyr is in a coma and there is no knowing when she may recover." the news shocked both you and Hop.
"T-that can't be true..." Hop said downheartedly.
"Plus the doctors said that even if she does wake up from a coma there is not knowing what can happen, has they themselves could not tell what was the issue with her physical and mental health so-"
"I would like to take my leave now if you permit, Miss Kleio." Gloria interrupted Sonia out of the blue.
"S-sure, but don't you want to eat something before you head back in your room you-" Sonia tried persuading her.
"No, I will be fine..." Gloria rejected her suggestion, she starts walking toward her room before stopping exactly in front of both you and Hop.
"Follow me..." was the only word she managed to mutter.
You and Hop did oppose her request, and you ended up following her to her room in silence, leaving Sonia behind.
3 Minutes later.
You entered Gloria's room, the prevalent color theme in her room was yellow, you caught with a quick glance, two plushies, one of a rabbit and the other of a yellow mouse with red cheeks and a bolt-formed tail.
Her room was very clean as expected from Gloria.
"Listen, Gloria, I just want to let you know that-" before Hop could finish the phrase he was interrupted by Gloria.
"Guys..." the girl turned toward us with a determined look, that surprised both of you and Hop, the was no more any trace of sadness or sorrow in her face.
"Could you please take me back to the Wild Area with you?"
End Chapter 6
KLARA'S COMPENDEX
Pokesoul: Lucario
Nickname: Guardian of Aura
Origin: Sinnoh Mythology
Arcana: Trainer
Pokesoul User: Victor Sandmann
Compedex: Hero and vassal of the god Arceus, who often appears in Sinnohan myths and legends. He has saved the region more than once from various cataclysms and disasters. He possesses the ability to perceive the aura of other beings, Lucario can also use the aura as a combat weapon. Agile and dangerous, Lucario is a powerful beast capable of facing any enemy or adversity.
Stats:
Arcana: Trainer Type: Volt Resist: Volt Weakness: Windus
Author's Note
Hey, welcome back guys, once again thank you for being interested in my work. I want to thank again the artist Fiverr sensuoixna, for making me this month a fanart of Hop and Sceptile that you can find on my Deviantart (link in the description).
Hope this chapter was exciting to read, at this point the 'tutorial' should have ended, and from here the story can really roll.
Finally, I want to thank the people that enjoyed my Fanfiction and i will do my best not to disappoint you guys.
I invite you to leave your opinion or criticism in the comment, you can find the Deviantart account and the playlist for this chapter in the comment section.
And with that said until next time, farewell.