Chapter 10 - Isolation

The next morning carried anything but a pleasant awakening, following a restless night deterred by troubled thoughts and fatigue. When I tried to move at first light, my limbs defied my brain, tightening up in recollection to the water ride I had unwillingly embarked on the day before. So much fog filled my vision that I nearly ran right into Nuzleaf on my way into the other room.

"Howdy kiddo!" he chimed upon my entry.

"Wha—Nuzleaf, you're back!" I cheered and gave him a hug. He seemed a little taken aback, but he returned the act of affection without fail.

"I wasn't gone for too long, I reckon. How've you been holding up? Anything interesting been happenin'?"

I thought about the events that transpired over the past few days. Yes, plenty had happened.

"No sir, just school as usual," I replied casually. "Nothing interesting going on."

"You sure?" he said with a hint of concern. "If any of them kids is pickin' on you I'd be happy to have a chat with ol' Simipour."

"Nope. I'm getting along with everyone just fine," I assured him. The innocence in my tone satisfied him enough to move the morning conversation to other topics such as the weather and breakfast.

I made my way to the school in decent time, and another day of class began.

In third period Watchog gave us a lesson about attacking as a team, and he allowed us to use him as our target. He assumed he was strong enough to easily tank through any attack we could throw at him, claiming to be "invincible". He regretted that statement many times over, and I was proud to say I was the first one who made him double over in pain with a vine whip to the gut.

Another couple of days passed without anything incredibly interesting happening. Pancham's lip was still swollen after being clocked by Deerling, and he and Shelmet did everything they could to avoid me. Leah, who had been a huge talker before our argument, barely said a word each day.

I didn't care. I was still seething that she plunged me into a cold river, but it made me twice as angry that she did it with Pancham and Shelmet of all Pokemon. She hated those two even more than I did!

The village was small, and we lived right next to each other. So avoiding her entirely wasn't always possible. Whenever I did see her, though, I did the best I could to pretend she didn't exist. Part of me hoped she would approach me at some point, maybe to apologize… but it never came.

I told myself I was fine with that. So be it then. I wouldn't be associating myself with her anymore.

Notwithstanding an expedient 'turf war' of sorts, school went on as usual. Day by day I got more accustomed to the routine of everyday life in Serene Village.

It wasn't until one day, after nearly a week had passed since the forest fight, that more drama occurred. Farfetch'd was late that day, and I was abruptly put on the spot in front of the whole class with a question that made my blood run cold. And done by Pancham, to my absolute lack of surprise.

"Has anyone wondered where Sage is actually from?" he suddenly said out of absolutely, positively nowhere.

"Hmm," Deerling mused, leaning forwards over her desk to look at me. "I've… wondered that myself. You kinda just showed up out of nowhere, you know?"

"Wait, you're not Nuzleaf's kid?" Shelmet blurted. He probably wasn't joking.

"...It's true. You never really mentioned it," I heard Leah say, the very sound of her voice catching me off guard. I did not allow myself to meet her gaze, but from the corner of my eye I could only sense curiosity coming from her.

Everyone was looking at me expectantly, like I had some divine obligation to tell them. Even Espurr's usual blank stare couldn't mask her interest. I shook my head.

There's no way they'll believe me, right?

I thought for a moment, considering.

But then again... What do I have to lose? Nuzleaf believed me. Why shouldn't they?

"Aye! Planet to Sage!"

Pancham's shout, lulled a bit by his swollen lip, snapped me out of my thoughts. I sighed. Here goes nothing.

"I'm not from… here," I told them. They looked at me like I had dodged the question entirely. I didn't exactly blame them.

"Like, here here… I'm actually from the human world."

Silence for a moment was followed by a few gasps followed by a snort of disbelief from the back row. And then laughter.

Of course.

"D-do y'all actually believe this liar's stories?" Shelmet giggled so hard the chin of his helmet clanged against the lid. "Like, what?!"

"Of course not." Pancham snorted.

"Sage, if you're gonna lie to all of us, at least make it believable!"

I scanned the rest of the classroom, looking for support. But I got none.

Except from Espurr.

"Why would Sage lie about something like that?" she questioned them. Nothing about her voice suggested she was kidding. "What does he have to gain?"

"Attention, obviously!"

To my dismay, Espurr did not argue the point any further, simply humming to herself in what sounded like confliction.

I knew I couldn't really be too upset about this; just because I knew it was true didn't make it realistic to others, unfortunately. Deerling and Goomy looked much too shocked to actually believe what I said, and Leah... her expression hardly changed at all.

Before things could escalate, a voice sounded above the class from in front of the offices above.

"Sometimes it is the most unbelievable things that you must believe in the most." Principal Simipour strolled down the steps to stand in front of the class. His hands were crossed behind his back, and he wore a smile that was impossible to read.

"Perhaps what Sage says isn't true… but what if we suppose it is true? How fair would it to judge him before you find out for yourself?"

Nobody said a word. For whatever it was worth, I shot a look of gratitude in his direction.

"...not that I heard anything Sage said, haha!"

The whole class, including myself, deadpanned. I wondered if his short speech would have been quite as favorable to myself if he had overheard my unlikely claims.

He wasn't done though.

"But the moral is this: the gravity of your perspective defines your reality. The angle at which you see things determines what is there to be seen. It is the prism of truth."

He nodded at me. Farfetch'd showed up before he could say anything more, and class began as usual. I let the lesson drone out the awkwardness that still hung in the air, and the rest of the day went by smoothly.

I walked back to the village with Espurr. Goomy and Deerling were going to come too, but Audino wanted them for something. As we walked, we talked about schoolwork and the village and how ridiculous the vice principal was for unsuccessfully trying to tank all of our attacks for a battling lesson. I was grateful that she didn't bring up the awkward human topic that I was certain had been hovering at the front of her mind all day. I supposed that was just something that would have to blow over. Hopefully Pancham and Shelmet didn't give me too hard of a time about it.

When we reached the plaza, we saw the three Pokemon that had chewed out Leah on my first day at the village circled together. Carracosta, Hippopotas, and Lombre all were discussing something that sounded vaguely interesting, so Espurr and I decided to listen in.

"No way, I didn't get nearly a good enough look. I'm not trying to get poisoned anytime soon," Lombre said, looking disappointed.

"It is to be expected, I suppose." Carracosta answered him, putting a large hand on his shoulders. "Don't worry yourself. The honey-making season is known as dangerous for good reason."

"Zat is true..." Hippopotas said. "But who doesn't like zemselves a taste of ze Combee's honey? It is vorth ze risk, in my opinion."

Carracosta shook his head. "I can't say I agree. It's best to just be patient and wait until the danger has passed. Nectar Meadows is no laughing matter at this time of year."

"Uh oh, looks like honey season has begun," Espurr whispered to me, drawing my attention back to her.

I tilted my head at her. "Huh? Honey season?"

"Yes, in Nectar Meadows," she said. "It's a large area closeby that's full of flowers. Bee Pokemon go there to make honey around this time in the spring. They're rather hostile, so it's ill-advised anyone goes there, even including the strongest adults in the village."

I nodded methodically. Lombre had mentioned poison, and Espurr had mentioned bees, so that likely meant bug and poison types. Hard pass on that one from me.

"If we're gonna explore a dungeon this afternoon—" I told her. "—Let's definitely not go there. I don't think I'd fare well."

"Agreed."

"E-excuse me?" A faint voice was heard over by the group of adults, shifting my focus back over to their conversation. A little green Pokemon, too young to be in our class, stood by them and requated their audience.

"Oh, hello Budew. You're Roselia's little one, aren't you?" Carracosta said.

"Y-yes," the child responded. "But, my mom... She's not feeling very well at all. I heard you talking about honey at Nectar Meadows, so..."

"Woah there, little one," Lombre intervened. "I'm mighty sorry to hear poor Roselia is feeling down, but going there right now is a very, very bad thing to do."

"Lombre is right," Carracosta said. "It is not a place for a wee little one like yourself to be at this time of year. You'd best stick by your mother's side instead. That will surely help her get better."

Budew just nodded before running off.

Espurr and I, putting the conversation towards the back of our minds, explored a nearby river with Deerling and Goomy for the rest of the day.

I went to bed that night still inwardly cringing at my failure to get everyone to believe I was a human earlier. It wouldn't keep me awake for long, however, as my exhaustion from playing all day by the riverbank with my friends overcame me.

I woke the next day and went through my normal morning routine. I walked to school and arrived at the usual time, sitting down in my seat and waiting with everyone else arriving for class to start. This time, instead of Farfetch'd teaching our opening period, Audino replaced him.

"Alright kids, time for health class!" she declared with a smile.

Shelmet's voice sounded off from behind me, a hint of disgust laced in it. "Egh, we're not gonna learn about that nasty stuff we talked about last time, are we?"

"No, Shelmet, no worries about that." Audino laughed. "Today, our topic will be evolution. Does anyone know what evolution is?"

"Evolution is what happens when you become an adult," Leah answered with a paw raised.

"Not even close," Pancham scoffed. "Evolution just makes you bigger, that's all. It has nothing to do with being a grown up."

"Well," Audino began. "In a sense, Leah isn't entirely wro-"

A sudden cry from the school gate interrupted the lesson. "Excuse me!" an approaching Pokemon exclaimed, catching everyone's attention.

"Oh, Miss Roselia!" Audino said, sounding a bit surprised. "I thought I prescribed you to stay in bed for the week with your illness!"

"I know..." she wheezed, out of breath. "I'm here because... because I can't find Budew!"

Everyone in the classroom, including Audino, gasped in shock.

"W-we haven't seen your child, unfortunately," Audino said, mirroring her distress. "In the meantime, you need to get some rest. I'll contact the sheriffs about Budew after I make sure you haven't overworked yourself."

Audino led Roselia away to the infirmary, leaving the class to converse about what was just witnessed.

"This could be bad," said a progressively nervous Deerling. "What if Budew's in trouble?"

"Come on, Deerling. There's probably nothing to worry about," Pancham tried to assure her. "Roselia is just overreacting."

"How could you say that?!" Deerling cried. "Of course a mother will panic when her child goes missing!"

In the midst of it all, the conversation that I had overheard the day before in the plaza was as clear as day. My blood ran cold, knowing the worst was all too likely.

Oh son of a—! That kid couldn't have actually...

"Espurr!" I hissed, shifting around to face her.

"What's up?"

"You don't think...?"

She didn't respond, instead meeting my troubled gaze with her own.

"We have to go do something!" I pleaded.

"Well... I don't think—" she nervously replied. "Don't you think it's best if an adult does this? We don't even know if Budew is there—"

"What?" I snapped. "No, we don't have time for this! Simipour and Farfetch'd are away today, and there's no way anyone in the village is going to Nectar Meadow at this time of year."

"Sage, I get it, but—"

I ignored her, raising my voice above the commotion Deerling and Pancham were making.

"Guys!" I shouted, getting their attention. "Hold on! I think I know where Budew went!"

"Wait, really?" a surprised Deerling said. "Where?"

"…Nectar Meadows."

Another collective gasp from everyone.

Before I could elaborate, however, Pancham spoke up. "You can't fool me, Sage." he snided.

"...What?" I snarled.

"After your lies from yesterday, you really think we'll believe that you just happen to know where Budew is? This is a serious matter, Sage! You shouldn't be lying in a time like this."

"Whew, that was a close one!" Shelmet signed in relief. "He probably wanted to lead some pour soul to the meadow with him and put them in danger! But not us, we're smarter than that."

Not even bothering to restrain myself, I sprang up from my chair, knocking it backwards in the process. "Are you kidding me?" I hissed at him. "Why would I possibly lie about this?"

If there weren't such pressing matters upon us all at the moment, I might have attacked them both right there. This really wasn't going the way I had hoped it would. It was just another replay of yesterday's extravaganza.

"All you've done is seek attention since you've gotten here," Pancham coolly responded. "If you aren't lying, then where's your proof?"

"Proof or it didn't happen!" Shelmet echoed.

I wasn't sure what to say. They had a point; I truly had no proof. But if only they had been there yesterday!

"Am I wrong guys?" Pancham asked the rest of the class. I looked around, seeking support. To my dismay, I got none.

Everyone but Shelmet and Pancham had an uncomfortable look on their face, like they wanted to believe me but couldn't bring themselves to. Perhaps some of them did believe me but were just too scared to go. Espurr just looked at me with sadness, her expression speaking for her.

'What if she's not there? It's too dangerous. It's not worth it' — this was what her eyes told me. She didn't need to say it out loud for me to understand.

I was all alone.

Betrayal nipped at my conscience as I tried to conjure a response. I knew it was hopeless; there was nothing I could say to sway them. Their minds were made up just like that, and all because Pancham stupidly assumed I was lying. I was at my wit's end.

"Fine," I spat. "I'll go myself."

Yet another gasp rang through the class. I expected as much.

"What?!" Deerling cried. "No, Sage, that's suicide!"

Espurr looked absolutely horrified, recalling my comment about type matchup the day before. "Sage, you can't—"

I drowned them out. The sting of isolation finally hit me, and I resented them all for it as I dashed out of the gate—all alone. I didn't need to look back to know that nobody was coming with me.