Hello fellow readers. This is Toadly1998.
Welcome to the third instalment of the Louis Serrano Chronicles, Pokémon: Free Will. The sequel to Pokémon: One of a Kind, and Pokémon: United Bonds.
I hope you all enjoy reading this story. It is a blast to write.
The feather pen drew well today. Ink ran the nib as it was dipped, and then dragged across parchment forming a side-view of a Pokémon.
"Well it's not as good as Tracey could do, but it's a start."
The boy dropped his feather to the table, ink running from the end. He had a thoughtful look around his room, with posters of Pokémon stuck on the wall, the wind blowing through the window, and a picture of the boy and his Pokémon after winning a tournament.
Then, the boy found himself in thought
Tracey.
The Academy.
The Pokémon.
...
'Has it really been six years since then?'
These words echoed through Louis Serrano's mind.
*SNIP*
The secateurs clipped at the flowers, deadheading the dried roses to the lawn.
Janet smiled, knowing this work would only enhance the bush's exuberant colour as the summer months crept onward toward their cold home.
*SNIP*
Louis turned his gaze to his mother's motion outside.
The young adult tried to drown out the outdoor noises. With each growing thought, the number of times he would get sidetracked increased.
Unable to think clearly, Louis stood up, grabbed some supplies and walked downstairs and out the door into the cold air outside. Janet turned, sensing movement, and caught a glimpse of her son departing.
"Where are you off to, Louis?" she called.
"I'm just heading to the temple," replied Louis. "I've got a lot on my mind."
The frosted grass crunched with each of Louis' passing footsteps. The nearby trees held a small amount of snow in boughs.
Memories of the past flooded the boy's subconscious. From the day he gained the ability to talk to Pokémon, all the way to when he made his first steps onto the National Pokémon Academy grounds. Without even knowing, Louis had already crossed the old bridge, made his way through the misty forest, its barked-wood thicker now during the cold season, and found himself at the Temple of Ho-Ken.
Louis' eyes shifted from side-to-side, believing that something was missing.
"That's weird," he said to himself. "Usually, Scizor would be out here."
The chilled wind sent shivers down the boy's spine. He proceeded to jog toward the entryway of the temple. But, before he could step in, Louis saw that the inside of the temple was full of tribespeople. Some were nurturing their Pokémon, while others were simply inside to warm themselves up.
The warm heat emitting from the temple didn't go unnoticed from the boy.
Now, Louis made small steps into the temple, not wanting to draw attention. He found a small area inside where he sat and took in the relaxing, warm heat, melting away the chill factor from the boy's body.
"When did you get here?" a voice asked.
Startled, the boy turned to the sound. It was Scizor, who the boy thought was not present.
"Just now," Louis answered. "I just needed to be somewhere so I could think clearly."
Scizor grew curious.
"Got a lot on your mind?" it asked.
"...you could say that," responded Louis.
Then, the sound of footsteps grew closer to the pair.
"Is something wrong, Scizor?" an elderly voice asked.
Scizor turned its head to see Chief Tanaka approaching.
"No," answered Scizor. "It's just the kid."
That last word made Louis freeze in place, briefly. Soon, he stood up.
"Scizor, I'm nineteen now," said Louis.
The Chief turned his head to the young adult. The chief's face, lined with more charismatic wrinkles than Louis' last visit, formed a smile as warm as the summer to be.
"Ah, Louis," he greeted. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Yeah, sorry I haven't been here in a while," replied Louis.
The chief pulled a long stick of sandalwood incense from his yukata sleeve. He lit it and placed it beside the windowsill.
As the fine, whispy, scented smoke rose across the view, the chief spoke again.
"So, what brings you here?" asked Chief Tanaka.
The boy's eyes panned the room, taking in the relative peace.
"I just needed a place to think," answered Louis.
"And also, is Taki available?" he asked.
With that question, the chief fell silent. The boy wondered why Chief Tanaka's mood suddenly shifted.
"I'm afraid she's not," the wise old man answered.
"No?" blurted Louis. "Why not?"
Scizor backed away, allowing the two to discuss more private matters. As the temple guardian strode to perform a perimeter check, the young adult and chief conversed once more.
"Taki has been quite busy lately," the chief stated. "I haven't seen her or her Pokémon at this temple since..."
"Since when?" asked Louis, raising an eyebrow.
The chief paused, selecting his next words carefully.
"...since she went off on another adventure."
The boy's face shifted, pondering the cryptic clue on offer.
"Oh..." he said.
As he stared at the floor, the glistening glare reflecting off of his pendant shined in his eyes. This, in turn, brought another question in mind.
"Actually, there's something I never got the chance to ask years ago," Louis spoke.
"What is it?" pondered Chief Tanaka.
Louis gently grabbed the strap around his neck and lifted up the crystal-like gift he received.
"About this pendant..." he began.
"I've been wondering why I was given this? Especially after I started talking to Pokémon."
Chief Tanaka, curious about this question, stared attentively at the boy.
"Why do you ask?" he replied.
"Because I wasn't sure if it was supposed to symbolise something or...have some connections to anything."
Then, more memories flashed before the boy's eyes.
"And...there was the time where you gave me a separate one to give to one of my Pokémon at the academy," he finished.
Fully understanding the boy's question, Chief Tanaka smiled at the boy.
"Your pendant represents something very important," he answered. "It symbolises the connection between humans and Pokémon."
Louis raised an eyebrow.
"Physically or spiritually?"
"Heh. You still think there is a difference?" clarified the chief.
"The importance of connections between others is often the key to ever-lasting friendships. Whether it's between a Pokémon or another person, it doesn't matter."
Louis was surprised by this answer. His brow dropped, now in deep thought.
"Was there any other reason why you asked?" the elder questioned.
Louis hesitated to answer.
"...no."
The pebble launched itself from the boot of his step, as Miguel walked the loose stone path, homeward. The flapping of wings from a nearby Pidgeot blew cold wind around the man, who then wrapped his arms around his body.
"Y'know, if it wasn't so cold, I'd find that breeze relaxing," said Miguel.
The bird-type ascended another few feet, as to not freeze the man in the cold.
Soon, the Serrano household came into view. From afar, Miguel detected a cloud of steam blowing out a window.
The man licked his lips.
"Oh, I can't wait any longer," he said, before picking up his pace.
"Hey, wait up!" called Pidgeot.
Janet finished slicing up and sprinkling on some garnish on a recently-cooked dish of grilled mushrooms with garlic.
Before reaching to grab something out of the fridge, the front door opened.
"Honey, we're home!" called Miguel.
Janet peered past the portal to the kitchen and saw Miguel placing his jacket on a coat rack as Pidgeot flew and landed on a nearby windowsill.
"I wasn't expecting you to be back so soon," said Janet.
"Yeah, well, I just came home for a bite," replied Miguel.
The sight of rising, hot steam coming from the dish on the table made Miguel's eyes glitter.
"Ooooh," he said. "Looks good."
It wasn't long before Miguel sat at the table and devoured the plate of mushrooms and garlic.
Janet, in the meantime, made her and Miguel some tea and sat with him.
"So, what did you and Pidgeot get up to?" asked Janet.
"Just went outside of town to see if there was anything exciting to catalogue," answered Miguel.
The man took a sip from his cup of tea.
"If it wasn't so freezing, we would've been out longer," he finished.
"Well, don't blame me if you catch a cold," called Pidgeot.
Miguel rolled his eyes. He then returned his attention to his wife.
"How's Louis doing?" he asked.
"He went to the temple not long ago," answered Janet. "Been a while since he's done that."
Miguel stirred his tea, before taking a sip.
...
"He really hasn't been the same since he quit the Academy."
...w-wait. What did he say? ...Louis quit? Why? ...hmm, may need to delve deeper into it.
Anyway, thanks for reading. Is there something you enjoyed? Can you guess what happens next? Or...what do you hope to see in future chapters? If so, go ahead and leave a review explaining any of these reasons. (Please don't leave hurtful reviews)
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