As we turned back to head home, my heart weighed heavily on bringing Rose into the team. Concerns and doubts filled my mind, and yet I knew that it would be extremely damaging to any relationship we would have if I treated her any differently than Kat. She had asked to feel what Kat had felt when she spent time with me, and I couldn't help but respect her. Her strength was something I might have to rely on in the coming days. Turning my attention to my Pokewatch, I glanced at the main screen staring at my stats. The fights over the previous days had brought my levels up to just under level 59. Given a little more time I could reach 60. It made me concerned though, as when most humans reached level 75, many of them were at risk of hurting themselves. They were strong, but reports from many Pokemon Professors and Champions was the body couldn't fully utilize it without harming itself. The person had to limit how much they pushed, or else they risked severe injury or death. I was nearing that threshold and I was worried about going further. Even now, I felt like I wasn't truly tapping into the strength which I had already acquired. Glancing up at the sky, my mind filled with dozens of unanswered questions. A buzz on my watch notified me of a missed call and I quickly returned my attention to it. Three missed calls. My mother…
My eyes watered at the prospect of having to face her as a failure. I had hoped to come home victorious with my friend safe and sound. I couldn't face myself much less the disappointment from her. I shook my head before, reaching with a shaky finger to touch the display. Breathing in deeply, I activated the call function, watching as my Mother's face filled the screen. Her demeanor look worn out, but overall good as she let out a breath of relief.
"You're alive. Thank goodness."
As she stared at me, I watched her head tilt as she took in my appearance.
"I-"
"Not now," she stated, cutting me off.
"Huh?" I asked, confused.
"Get home safely, son. I am many things but I'm your mother first and foremost. We can discuss anything when you get back. Be careful and keep your head up. I love you. No matter what."
Before I could respond, the call ended. As I glanced back to Delilah, it was Rose who spoke up.
"She knows already," she said, shaking her fur.
"Knows that Kat is…" I couldn't finish the sentence. I was still in denial and in agony over her death.
"No. A good mother though can tell when her child is suffering from a simple glance. She saw your face and realized something wasn't right. I'm sure she doesn't want to discuss delicate matters over the phone. I like her already, although I'm still not sure how I'll feel when I arrive. I've had too many chance encounters just blindly trust anyone. You included," Rose stated, as she walked beside me.
"Master would never hurt one of us intentionally," Lula retorted, angrily.
"Trust is easily betrayed given the chance. If it came to your life or his, I don't think you know the real answer," Rose responded, haughtily.
"Theirs. I tried to sacrifice myself for your sister when Mewtwo attacked, after Lula passed out. He denied me that," I said, hanging my head in shame.
"Is that so? She failed to mention it during her recollection of the story. I'm not here to judge you. I'm here to keep the promises I made," she said, softly.
"And what exactly did you promise?" I asked, watching as she moved ahead of me.
"Many many things. None of which concern you, human. Sorry…I meant Kyle," she corrected. I stared at her confused as to how someone so beautiful could be so cold and distant. Yet I knew nothing of her history with mankind so it wasn't my position to understand. The last thing Kat had said about her sister was that she was full of layers and at the bottom of it was someone who was devoted and loyal to the core. She was someone that Kat always looked up to even with her skewed and difficult personality. Shutting my mouth, I let it go, unwilling to start an argument with the Dark type.
"Kyle," Chris spoke up, catching me out of my troubled state. The young pup had been quiet most the trip and now I realized I had neglected to take care of him.
"Yeah, bud?" I asked, trying to put on a fake smile and appear cheery.
"Can we eat? I'm getting hungry," he asked.
I smiled broadly and nodded.
"Of course. Can't go home on an empty belly after all. Though Mom is an amazing cook," I said.
"It's okay. I miss her too," Chris said. His words shocked me, and I found my eyes watering up as he said them. Even as young as he was, the Fennekin still understood that I was in pain and tried to ease my own. As we entered town, passing many other people on the way in, I noticed that Rose had tensed up. She retreated to my side, her head whipping around as she stood beside me.
"You okay?" I asked, only for a low growl to come out of her throat.
"I'm fine. I don't need your sympathy," she stated. Her apprehensiveness grew with each passing second. She continued to look around wary of every single person we passed. I glanced to Lula who shrugged. Sighing painfully, I looked for a restaurant to gorge ourselves on. Looking down the street I noticed a vendor, who was extremely young selling the exact same sticks that Lula and I had partook in Unova. My eyes widened as I ran forward to the stand. A younger man worked diligently, as paying customers lined up and left in rapid fashion. As we arrived, the latest patron walked away with four of the delicacies. My mouth watered even as I smelled the fried dough and cheese which he prepared.
"Welcome. How many can I get ya?" the young man asked. Staring at him I couldn't help but notice the resemblance he had to the man who had shared his dish with us.
"Are you related to the elder gentleman in Unova by chance?" I asked, staring at his stand.
"Oh yes! So you've met my grandfather. Huh. Thought he would have given this a rest after all this time. I've almost got his recipe down to the last ingredient but he's always been better at making them." he said puffing his chest out slightly.
"Wow! What are the odds?" I said laughing for the first time. Almost immediately I was reminded of my loss as my mind wondered how Kat would have enjoyed the dish.
"I'll take three per each please," I said, reaching into my wallet to pull my card.
"Wait…is that? It is! You bitch!" he shouted, glaring at Rose. He proceeded to move to harm her, and I intercepted, as Rose stood defiantly behind me.
"Easy, pal. What's going on?" I asked, trying to mediate whatever issues had occurred.
The man stared at me disbelievingly before pointing at my Absol.
"This vermin took 3500 pokedollars from me last week. I'd never forget that weird ass horn in my life. Not only that, but she attacked my little cousin taking his pack of fresh berries off his shoulder. The kid's only seven," he shouted. My eyes watched as several angry people started to approach us.
"Lula. Bubble beam around us. Give us a wall. Delilah, block access to Rose. Chris. By me," I stated quickly. Almost immediately a wall of bubbles emerged creating a defensive barrier between the people who approached our area. Returning my focus to the man in front of me, I quickly tried to defuse the tension.
"Sir. I understand why you are upset, and I don't want any trouble. Make you a deal. You triple the amount she owes you and add it to my tab. Consider it recompense for the pain she's caused and the food she stole. Young Chris here just needs a meal before we leave. I promise she won't cause anymore problems," I spoke quickly, glancing around.
"You gonna stand up for that fucking witch? She's trouble. All of them are," the younger man stated glaring at me.
"I'll stand up for her, yes. She may have done wrong by you, but I will take the heat. If you want to hurt somebody, we can take this elsewhere. You can punish me for her transgressions as much as you like. Cut, maim, strike. Get it out of your system. She made a mistake, and I'm sorry," I said, beggingly. The noise from outside our wall, grew louder, and I became anxious that a fight would ensue. Looking from Rose to me, he sighed heavily.
"The fact you'd be willing to take a chance on this little devil is beyond me. You said triple? Seems fair enough to me," he said, his tone coming down.
"Lula. Disperse," I commanded, watching as the bubbles faded. Before anyone could speak, I threw myself forward at the mercy of the crowd.
A woman was the first to attack, a can flying towards Rose's head. My eyes caught it and pushing off I caught the object and dropped it harmlessly. Delilah looked at me fearfully, but I ignored her as I put Rose behind me and backed up. Handing my card to the food cart owner, I spoke loudly above the rioting crowd.
"LISTEN UP!" I shouted, placing my hand on my blade. I glared at all of them defiantly at the murderous group ready to ward them off if need be. They had the numbers to take me down, but I wasn't going to let them hurt a single hair on Rose.
"You want this Absol. You come through me. I promise I won't be kind or cool about this. I know she's done wrong, but everybody deserves a second chance. I don't want to harm anyone. Man or woman. Adult or child. I just want to eat, grab my things and leave. You want her blood, you can have mine instead. However, you won't touch her," I finished. The crowd stared at me, before a member shouted out.
"Oh yeah? I'll take your head and then take hers too," a woman screamed.
"You won't touch Master! I'll wipe you all away!" Lula sang, watching as the crowd backed away from my water type. She had demonstrated her capabilities very well with the large wall of bubbles which she had used to separate the two groups earlier.
I remained ready, and tense, awaiting the first person to make a move. Silence filled the air before the crowd started to disperse. Every member left, and my group let out a collective breath of relief.
"You-"Rose spoke, her voice trembling with emotion.
Turning around, I noticed that two plastic bags sat on the glass overture of his stand, with steam pouring from the edges.
"That would have been painful to watch," the grandson said, his eyes meeting mine. "They would have torn you to ribbons just to get to her. I doubt they would have cared much if they had gotten hurt in the process. You got guts…I can admire that. The food is ready for you. Here's your card back."
I accepted the piece of plastic well aware that I had spent a great deal of money on this trip. Yet, every cent had been worth the cost I would spend it again if need be.
"There are quite a few folks around here who dislike that pack of raiders. I'd keep her out of sight until you leave this region. I reckon there are more than a few that'd love the chance to shoot her dead," he told me.
"Thanks for the advice," I replied handing the bag to Delilah. "I'll take my chances and keep her safe. Take it easy bud."
We proceeded down the road hastily until we arrived at the Pokemon Center. Ignoring the numerous residents who passed nasty looks, I got us lodging for us to eat our meal in peace. Closing the door behind me, I watched as everyone went to sit down on the beds. Save one. Locking the deadbolt, and letting out a sigh, I turned and faced the Absol. I expected her to snap, and was surprised.
"You-protected me?" Rose stated in disbelief. I could see her still trying to come to terms with what had happened.
"Did you think I'd let them hurt you?" I asked, sighing. Her head turned away, and she let out a small sigh.
"I didn't expect that. Normally when they rage, I take a few hits and run. Nobody has ever stood their ground for me," she stated.
"You thought I'd abandon you to them? I'm not that kind of person," I said, solemnly. I moved around her, and focused on getting lunch. We all had to eat for the next leg of the journey.
"I can take care of myself," she said, snarkily.
"Of course," I replied, as I opened the plastic bags. As I pulled the containers out, I sniffed it carefully. The man had prepared these out of my sight, and I was really worried that he might have slipped something out of spite. He'd get revenge and keep the money without any repercussions. However, he had seemed really sincere so I took a bite without any hesitation.
It was definitely more spicy and chewier than his grandfather's but the cheese and dough was amazing sweet. I swallowed the first bite and finished the rest of the balls in record time. After letting the food cool down to a tolerable level, I nodded to everyone, and moved aside letting them have free reign. As everyone grabbed a stick, I noticed that Rose hung back, her eyes focused only on me. She appeared hesitant to approach the dish even as everyone sat back, enjoying the meal.
"Go ahead," I stated.
"I've never had this before," she said, staring at the containers of food. Reaching past Delilah, I grabbed one, and held it in my hand offering it to the Absol. The cheese dripped onto the makeshift paper cup, preventing me from burning my hands.
"Be careful. It's still hot," I said, as she approached. She sniffed the meal, and touched the cheese with her tongue. Her eyes met mine, and even though I could sense the distrust, she took a small bite. I smiled as her eyes widened.
"It's salty…and sweet…and spicy. It's good," she said simply, watching me. Her yellow eyes were brilliantly colored, and I found myself getting lost in them for a moment.
"Go ahead. Eat as much as you like."
She devoured the stick, and her maw covered in cheese made me blush hard. Despite her death, I now realized how truly attractive their species was. Using my finger I quickly wiped up some of the cheese, sticking it into my mouth without thinking. She blushed at the contact, and I turned away. Glancing to Lula I noticed that everyone was enraptured with the food. My eyes stared outside, and I felt my mind slip to the wayside. How many more good days did I have ahead? Was Mewtwo still coming after me and my family? Would I be safe?
I shuddered as the questions piled up, only to be brought out of my revelry by Delilah. The Psychic type made me face her, as she massaged my shoulder. Rose jumped off the chair and walked to the container, grabbing another stick to sit down and munch on.
"You have too much on your plate. Stop with these thoughts," she said, pressing into my muscles.
"I can't. Not if I am going to keep you guys safe," I replied, glancing around. Lula and Chris were busy talking with each other, while Rose devoured the second one in record time.
"I know how you feel. It's going to be okay," she stated. My heart sank at the statement. It wasn't going to be okay. Without her in my life I felt empty. Broken. Useless. The word reminded me of Kat's question. She wasn't worthless. She had been so precious. I had failed her…and if Mewtwo came again I would fail them.
"I speak for everyone when I say, we don't blame you. And trust me. I can read minds," she said, wiping my eyes as they watered.
"You've done a magnificent job. You rescued Katherine. You saved Chris and myself. You have protected us time and time again. You held your own when it came to Rose. Stop beating yourself up. Life never goes as we expect it to. You can only hope for the best and plan for the worst. You didn't fail Kat. If she had thought so, she would never have attempted the trip to Sinnoh. She knew you could, and had faith the entire time. You buried her and now it's time to rest your own heart. There is nothing else," she finished, stroking my hair.
"I-"
"If you were my son, I would be proud of you. If your mother is like me, you can bet she feels the same."
I nodded sadly, as her words helped alleviate some of the pain. I didn't stop blaming myself for her death, but I was coming to terms with my loss. It would continue to haunt me for the coming days. I just needed to rest now. I had done my share and could only pull my weight so much. Taking some time to relax and be with them, I joined the others on the bed, talking about home.
THIRTY MINUTES LATER
Everyone was transferred to Unova via the PC system and would be in Daycare until I arrived at the Pokemon stop near home. Although Rose had been extremely upset by the prospect, she had gone without that much of a struggle. A simple nod, and groan was all that had come from the conversation. I stood awaiting Britany, my eyes scanning the skies. I caught sight of her flapping down as she came to a skid right in front of me.
"KYLE!"
"Hey," I said smiling genuinely happy to see the fire type.
"How you holding up? I take it everyone was transferred right?" she asked glancing around.
My heart ached as I longed to tell her the truth, but a lie was easier for me to swallow at the time.
"Yup. Transferred and will be waiting for me in Unova," I said, blushing hard.
"Glad to hear it. Did everything go good with the sister?" she asked.
"For the most part. I will say she's extremely tough to deal with. She hates Humans," I said, the truth coming out quicker than the lie. I relaxed my breathing and focused on getting strapped in. It was going to be a long flight.
"Ouch. I've dealt with a few of those in my day. It's simple enough really," she said, looking back at me as the bars locked in place.
"How's that?" I asked, curious.
"Remind her not every human is the same as every Pokemon isn't. Very few Pokemon can argue with that," she said.
I looked up at the sky, noticing that it was still fairly cloudy.
"I guess that would work. She doesn't seem the type to let it go," I said, glancing back at the Pokemon center.
"Pleaaasseee. I've been dealing with you for the past few days consistently. There are guys…and then there are men like you. If you could get me to write my number down you best believe that she'll probably come around sooner rather than later," she said, giggling. I blushed hard at the compliment, as she took off flapping hard. I leaned forward to her scales, enjoying the warmth they offered.
"I'm sorry for the longer trip. I just need to get home as soon as possible. As soon as we land, I'll get you dinner from wherever," I shouted. She let out a snort of fire, and smiled broadly as my statement reached her over the roar of air.
"I very much appreciate it. It's gonna be a long flight so why don't you catch some zzzs. You seem pretty tired anyways," she said.
As much as I felt like arguing, I closed my eyes and with the rhythm of her beating wings fell into a deep sleep.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
"AHHHHH!" I screamed, waking up from my dream. My body shot up in the saddle, as I awoke from my nightmare. My heartrate skyrocketed, as I started to slide free of the harness. Grabbing the horn, I pulled myself back in place, locking the straps on my legs as I sat there.
"Kyle? You okay back there?"
I remained silent as my mind reflected on the dream again. Tears flowed to my eyes as the reality of Kat's death had turned into a haunting nightmare. Rose and the pack had been chanting "YOUR FAULT YOUR FAULT YOUR FAULT!" As the darkness spun around me, I had come face to face with the skeleton of Kat whose eyes lit up orange as it screamed, that I had abandoned her. Blood dripped from her fangs, and as she opened her jaws…I woke up.
"I'm…I'm fine," I yelled back to her, settling down. Glancing to my Pokewatch, I realized we were almost there. I shivered as the cold night wind bit through my short clothes giving me goosebumps. I needed to invest in some real clothes to protect me from the cold.
"You had me worried I'd have to catch you there for a minute," she said, turning her head to face me.
I rubbed my hand against my hair sheepishly and let out a nervous chuckle.
"I only hope you would have," I replied loudly.
"Ha! Some of my passengers I'd have let fallen and not thought twice about saving them. The last guy called me a whore and said that only Muks would want to mate with such a disgusting Pokemon," she said.
My attention shifted away from my problems and onto hers almost immediately. Raising a single hand, I stroked the inside of her wing, blushing as she let out a small roar.
"Easy there. Last thing I want is to have an orgasm midflight," she called back blushing hard.
"Sorry. It's just…I don't get how someone could be so rude. You are extremely beautiful as far as I can tell. Maybe a bit rough around the edges but who isn't?" I stated, scratching her neck affectionately.
She murred at the attention before turning a single eye on me. The wind pushed me back but her blue eye glistened despite the sheer force.
"You are going to make some girl, human or not, the happiest thing alive. Magic fingers. A sweet tongue. Kind to the bone and loyal? I'd marry you right here and now if I could," she said, winking at me.
"Thanks Brittany. I appreciate it," I said, as my face became crestfallen. I could have made Kat that girl if she hadn't been stolen from me. My nightmare returned to the forefront of my mind at the thought. I had been too late. When it counted I had been too dense and too slow to realize the signs.
"All my fault," I whispered, shame eating at my chest.
"Coming up on your destination," she called out.
We spiraled lazily into Unova's Virbank City. We were only a mile from my house now, and I was just so worn from the journey that I needed to get home. As she braked onto the gravel, I undid the straps, hopping off. I fell to the ground hard, my legs still weak from the long flight. Pushing myself up on my arms, I rubbed my thighs back and forth trying to get the blood flowing.
"Easy Kyle! Last thing I need is to have a demerit on my report for letting my passengers hurt themselves," she said, panting. I had put a heavy burden on her, and felt my conscience eat at me for making such a hasty decision.
"My bad," I said, grunting as I forced my legs beneath me. Standing up I wobbled over to the wall, and used it to support myself. Walking into the Pokemon Center, Audino approached me from around the counter.
"Are you okay, Sir?"
"Yeah. Could you do me a favor? For her dinner let her order whatever she wants. Here is my Pokemon ID number. Use it to charge whatever she eats to my house. I'll pay for it," I said. I glanced back to notice that the fire breathing lizard was looking me over with bright eyes and was ogling my lower half. I walked back outside, and she licked her mouth across her chops teasingly.
"I normally wouldn't say this to just any guy, but if you ever need to let off some stress, I'd be more than happy to rock your socks. Thanks for dinner, and I'll see ya around right?" she asked.
Her offer stunned me but I nodded appreciatively.
"Of course. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the lift and stay safe!" I called out as she walked around the edge of the Pokemon Center and towards the rear. I entered through the sliding doors again and walked to the PC. Typing in my ID, I watched as all four Pokeballs were deposited into my hands. Opening the spheres one at a time, I was greeted with each member who stretched out as they came out.
"Finally!" Rose said, sighing heavily.
"What do you mean?" I asked turning towards the Dark type.
"Those 'pets' were so annoying. Talking about their trainers' problems, and training, and grooming, and on and on and on. Ugh. There's a reason we stay so far from civilization," she said, disgusted. I bit my lip as Lula broke the awkward silence.
"Are we almost home Master?"
"Yeah. Just a couple minute sprint down the road," I replied, as we headed through the sliding doors and back into the dark night.
"Will your mother let us stay?" Chris chimed in, trotting up to stand beside me.
"I'm sure she will. If not I'll pay for lodging until we can figure out a more permanent solution. We should have plenty of room though. Especially in the different rooms in the house," I replied, patting his head a few times.
"Let's go guys," I said, breaking out into an all-out sprint. Lula followed via a water bubble, while the others kept up with my pace.
It only took us five minutes to arrive at the old two story home. Its white paint was starting to peel but otherwise was in great condition.
"It's big," Chris commented as we sat streetside.
"Its home," I said, with a happy exhale. I always felt at ease when I returned.
Walking up the driveway, I opened the front door slowly, glancing at my Pokewatch. It was only 10:15 pm which meant Mom was probably still busy in the kitchen or relaxing watching some Pokedocumentaries. My sister would be asleep most likely giving us time to acclimate without too much interruption. My eyes noticed several gouges in the wooden door frame but before I could investigate a single scream caught my attention.
"KYLE!"
Before I could respond, I was tackled by younger sister out of the door. I went sprawling as my sister hugged me tightly, crying tears of happiness into my shirt.
"Hey sis," I said, genuinely happy to see my family again. My arms wrapped around her chest and head stroking her hair. Glancing up I noticed Mom was watching us with a small smile, her eyes looking around at the others.
"Well it seems you made it home okay. Along with some new additions. Welcome all of you. My name is Olivia. You can call me Liv or Mom. Whichever you prefer. Come on in! We have plenty of food and bedding. I'm sure you all our starving after your journey. I made Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner with some rice and veggies. Kyle's favorite," she said. Each of the Pokemon went in one by one, as my sister let me go. I got up with her, and as I moved inside, my Mother pointed to the stairs.
"Go get washed up," she stated loudly. A scream from the kitchen got our attention.
"HE'SSSS SOOOOOO CUTTTTTEEEE! IS HE MINE? IS HE MINE BIG BROTHER?" Emily screamed from the hallway. She had found Chris, and I was absolutely positive she would take really good care of him.
"All yours Em. I gotta go wash up. I'll be down in a minute," I called back. Walking up the steps, I noticed that Mom followed shortly behind silently. As I started to enter the bathroom, her gentle hand steered me towards my bedroom. She closed the door slowly behind us before turning around. My mom led me to the mattress where she sat down beside me. Even in the pale light of the night
"Kyle."
I knew I had to own up to everything. Tears filled my eyes as I reflected on the events of the past 48 hours. At the loss of my friend. I had been so reckless and done so much wrong. Shame filled my cheeks and I tried to hide my face, only for my Mom to tilt my head up so we could see each other.
"I-" I began to sob unable to face her.
"I'm here, sweetie. Don't worry about what I'll think. What happened?" she asked.
"I failed."
"None of that, mister. I raised you by myself to do the right thing. Now tell me what happened," she demanded firm, but compassionately. I felt my heart ache more as I realized that she deserved to know. Looking into her eyes, she remained calm, her expression concerned for me. Knowing how she felt only increased my tear flow. I had to face it no matter how much I wanted to avoid it.
"Kat's gone, Mom. She died," I said, choking out the words. As I said it, I watched her eyes widen at the statement.
"I broke my promise. It's all my fault," I sobbed, hiding my face in my hands.
"Sweetie. Come here," she soothed, pulling my head to her chest. She stroked and patted my back as I wept openly for my Absol. Even having grieved, I still wasn't over it. I was immediately reminded as I stared at the open Pokemon bed which sat at the foot of the bed. The pain hung like a mist and refused to let go.
"I knew something was wrong during that last call. How did she go? Was it peaceful?" she asked.
"She was poisoned to death. She died…in my arms. She…" I considered omitting her final words to me, but knew that there was not a single thing I couldn't tell this woman. My mother had remained calm throughout the entire confession.
"She told me…she was in love with me," I cried out, snorting as my nose became congested. As I looked into her eyes, I noticed that the emotion on her face turned serious. She wasn't angry but more thoughtful on what I had said.
"Of course she did sweetie. There wasn't a day we didn't talk about you. Do you think she didn't care?" she asked
I shook my head as she held me closer. I listened to her breathing, my heart rate dropping.
"Sweetie. I can't make the pain go away. And despite what you might think, you didn't fail. I'll hear the whole story eventually, but if she died with a smile on her face…you did your best. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm proud of you, Kyle. If your father was here too, he'd tell you the same thing," she said. I sniffled pathetically, and tried hard to keep my head up.
"It's not fair," I whined, shaking my head.
"It isn't. She was such a sweet girl, and I'm hurt just as much as you are that's she gone," she spoke. "It's getting late. I want you to eat and rest, so that tomorrow we can sit down and discuss everything. But we do need to address the newcomers. I'm sure your sister is ecstatic to have Chris, and I don't have a problem with-"
The door opened behind me and Delilah floated in, holding the Fennekin in question in her hands. Everyone filed in save Lula who I was sure was eating a huge meal.
"Sorry to interrupt," Delilah spoke, opening the door slowly.
"Not at all. Come in. Come in," she said, facing each one of them. As the trio sat down opposite us, I noticed that Rose was staring at my mother with an angry glare. My mother remained patient despite her attitude.
"So I assume you all are looking to stay here. I don't mind it, and welcome each of you to be a part of my family. May I get your names?"
"I am Delilah."
"My name is Chris."
"Rose," the dark type said, turning her head away.
My mother ignored her, focusing on the two other newcomers.
"A pleasure to meet you all. Is there anything I can do to help facilitate your arrival?" she asked, glancing around at each Pokemon.
"I would like to be of service. I think you and I would get along very well, as we are of similar minds. If that is not too much to ask. I'm sorry for reading your thoughts. It wasn't entirely intentional, but I had to make sure that Chris wouldn't end up back on the street. He's too young to fend for-"
"You don't have to explain, Delilah. And absolutely. We can discuss chores and the like tomorrow. Now you…"
All eyes turned to the Dark type who puffed her chest out and glared at my mother. To her credit, my Mom remained calm, addressing her carefully.
"Now then, Rose. Welcome to our house. I can already sense you are going to make things difficult, but I want to move past that now," she stated.
"I don't really trust you. Or Emily. Or Kyle for that matter," the Absol stated, her eyes finding mine. "I've had issues with humans since I was young, so excuse me if I don't warm up to you overnight."
My mother digested the sentence for a minute before turning to me.
"I'm sure my son has done nothing to warrant your distrust. If he were to do wrong, there would be hell to pay and he knows it. My daughter is good for the most part, save stealing cookies when I'm not looking. I don't need you to trust me. I need you to respect me and my family. Who are you?"
"I'm Katherine's sister," she replied, sitting proudly as she said it.
"I see. Your sister was always a joy to be around. I loved her dearly and despite the loss, I would extend the same love and compassion I offered her. If you threaten my family though in ANY way, be prepared to deal with heavy consequences," she stated. Silence filled the room, before Rose laid down, her eyes closing slowly.
"If you took care of her, then I will do my best to repay the debt. Thank you," she said humbly.
The room let out a collective breath of relief and moved out, leaving me alone with Rose. My mother glanced back but I nodded letting her know I was okay for now.
"Is this where she slept?" Rose asked, walking forward to the diminutive sized bed.
"She picked it out. I offered her a mattress and for myself to sleep on the floor. Lula and she consistently disobeyed my orders to not sleep with me, but I think it's because of how much they cared."
She laid down on it, and let out a groan, rolling around for a second before kicking one of her hind legs out.
"It's very comfortable. More so than I thought," she told me, sitting up.
"I would have done anything for her," I whispered staring at the bed. My eyes watered up again, as I reflected on our first snow day. She had tracked so much in it the small bed she had laid in, had become soaked to the bottom. She had begged me to dry it and I had spent almost five hours just squeezing water out, and trying to get it back to its original softness. The gel on the inside had held its original shape very well over the years.
"Kyle."
"Yes?"
"What will you do now?" she asked, watching me fidget on my bed.
"Sleep. Then tomorrow, I will figure out where to go from here," I said, yawning obnoxiously. My eyes drooped as I laid down in bed.
NEXT MORNING
I must have overslept, because as I sat up in bed, I noticed how quiet my room was. Kat, Rose and the others were outside based off the sound of things. I shifted my weight in my bed and rolled over. The sun was high in the sky and my alarm clock read 11:50 am. I was being lazy as if I didn't have a care in the world. I needed to start getting ready for the ranger exam. The next official one would be in two weeks and there was nothing really stopping me from working out. As I swung my legs over the side of my bed, my ears picked up heavy footsteps like an elephant moving towards my bedroom. My body reacted defensively, grabbing my blade from the desk, and turning around just in time to face a giant orange body which hung in the door way.
"Kyle," a male voice boomed as I inhaled sharply. He was much bigger than I expected.
"Who are you?" I growled, my grip on the blade tightening with each passing second.
"Easy. You can put the weapon down. I'm here on behalf of Eon," he spoke, backing away. I stared at the Dragonite, and exited my room. The door way was too big for him to fit through but he could easily stand in the hall, much to my amusement.
"What are you doing here?"
"Come with me," he stated, walking down the hallway towards the living room. I followed obediently, noticing that I was half naked. As I got downstairs, I noticed that everyone save Mother was frolicking and playing the backyard. Rose was nowhere to be found, and it had me concerned for the Absol, but I let it go for the moment.
"Have a seat," the dragon spoke, slowly sitting on the purple carpet rug opposite of me. Leaning back, I put my butt in the sofa's chair. My eyes focused on his face, as he let out a heavy sigh.
"We hate to ask anything of you and your family. Eon sent me here on a mission to keep an eye on your mother and sister. Eon's currently doing recon in Johto looking for where Mewtwo may have gotten off to."
I interrupted, my temper rising as his words hit home.
"Mewtwo isn't just attacking randomly. He's been following me every step for the past few days. Now then, if you know what Eon's hiding then I deserve to know the whole truth. Not just these half ones to get me to follow whatever you say," I stated, glowering at the Dragon/Flying type. To his credit, he remained silent for a minute before acknowledging my statement.
"You are smart. He warned me that you'd figure things out given time. Very well. Eon has some secrets I'm really not supposed to share. However, I can give you all the details you need to know concerning the events of the past week. There are some things even I don't know. "
I nodded glancing back outside. Everyone still appeared to be focused on play, so I would have some time to interrogate the stronger type.
"When you arrived to fight Mewtwo, we had been preoccupied with two legendaries at the time. A Reshiram and Zekrom. They put up a really good fight, and while the team was well aware of the dangers to you on the ground, we were fully occupied in the sky. If we attempted to intervene, either one of the Legendaries would have struck and the fight would have ended. During this time, Mewtwo was well aware of your impending approach. The other humans he had driven away, but you had been forced shoreside by Zekrom's storms. As such, he used you as bait and as leverage to prevent Eon from stopping his plans right then and there. We hadn't anticipated such strong resistance. Unfortunately, our miscalculation cost you dearly. For that, I have no words to convey our sorrow and shame at our failure. I spoke with Eon last night, and he expressed disgust that he had been too slow to stop the fight."
My hands trembled as unspoken emotion filled my chest. I couldn't believe they knew what was happening and had let it happen without intervening.
"If…If it had been anyone else, they would have died!" I exclaimed tears filling my eyes.
"We know. No matter how strong you become, you cannot save everyone. We held onto the hope that they wouldn't kill you and it proved to be a solid gamble. After you fainted, and Katherine was taken away, Rayquaza took you and your team home, using your pokewatch to find it. Meanwhile, Eon and I pursued Mewtwo who followed his ship leisurely. They escaped view momentarily, and as such we almost gave up hope. Eon stated a desire to protect the Absol, and rescue if need be. We continued our search high and low before coming face to face with Mega Mewtwo. Exhausted, and worn down beyond belief, Mewtwo almost killed us both there. Suffice it to say, his strength overwhelmed and nearly wiped us. Eon though pulled through in the end delivering two severe strikes which levelled the playing field. Having used the last of his Recovers, he realized that prolonging the fight would not end well for anyone. Mewtwo left us, but gave us the location of where he would hold your Absol. Eon realized that the point of this was to divert our attention away from his plans, and he expressed anger that he had fallen victim to another trap. Given the choice to follow Mewtwo or try to rescue Kat, his only hope was that you would wake up. We've made several judgement calls that sounded right at the time but have failed us. We all feel for your loss. However, if you could weigh the rest of the world against her life, would you?"
I was at a loss for words. I couldn't believe things had been fully examined and choices made without my consent. I had lost my best friend, and weighing her life against the rest of humanity was difficult. Yet, I couldn't believe his audacity to ask me that.
"Hmmm. If that's the case, then I could blame you for my sister's death more than Kyle here."
My eyes widened and our heads whipped to Rose who sat several feet away. Her claws scraped the hardwood floor, as she approached regally. I watched her as she slithered past me, rubbing her fur against me before jumping to the couch.
"Absol. Don't start. You don't know how much we've suffered just to protect others," Dragonite threatened.
"My name is Rose. And that. Was. My. Sister," she growled sitting down. "It's unfair of you to demand he pick between humanity and my sister. You weren't there in the pouring rain, watching him dig a grave. You weren't there when he wept tears for her. You weren't there and have no right to hold him accountable for YOUR fuck up."
Her rage was beautiful to behold as she growled fully, threatening the Dragonite who backed up in response.
"Rose…easy," I begged, watching as she flashed me a grin, her canines exposed in a nasty grin.
"You're right, Rose. However, we had to make our choices just like you've made yours. Tell me. Why else are you following Kyle if not for revenge? " Dragonite taunted glancing back to me. I awaited her answer with bated breath as she sat on her haunches.
"Revenge? Ha. I don't need revenge to be satisfied with hurting you. I'm here because of the promises I made to MY dying sister. She cared for Kyle and I do as well. So you can best believe my interest is invested in him and only him."
She spun around and trotted over, jumping onto the couch and curling into a fluffy ball.
"But that's not all you have to say is it? You're here for another reason," she demanded.
My eyes turned onto Dragonite whose jaw was tight with emotion.
"You are really sassy," he growled.
"Part of my nature. Now out with it," she stated glowering at the pseudo legendary.
"It appears that Mewtwo's plan is still on track and we are currently awaiting Jirachi's awakening. According to the latest intel from Eon we have three weeks before Mewtwo can effectively put his plan into play. As such, if we can interfere and capture the Psychic Steel type before then, Mewtwo will be unable to make any wish."
"What does that have to do with Kyle? Skip the needless information," Rose spoke up. I glanced back to her and watched as she rolled her eyes at me. "I want to know what role he has for us to play. I don't like waiting."
"Eon realizes this fight is going to require help from others. Many of the Rangers and the Champions of this region are dealing with other situations that prevent us from calling upon their help. We need you Kyle to help us with this final fight."
"Why me?" I spoke up, glancing back at Rose who now perked up at the statement.
"At this time, you've fought Mewtwo. Given some training with me, and combat experience, I will be able to get you ready for the fight in the future. You are aiming to be a Pokemon Ranger, and as such, training will help prepare you for that role. Eon trusts you, and believes that given a chance, you may prove pivotal to the coming fight. Mewtwo has spies everywhere and if it weren't for the fact that you weren't already involved he wouldn't ask. If things could be done stealthily he would have completed it by now. However, he's been caught twice already, and that's no small feat. He's very good at sneaking around. What do you say?"
I wrapped my head around the information before turning to Absol. Her eyes remained narrow, but after a moment she let out a low sigh.
"You're asking a lot of him, and us. To put our lives on the line," she said, speaking up in my stead.
"Not lightly. We both know the cost of such a fight. If I'm correct, your sister died to protect him. Would you-"
"YOU DON'T SPEAK OF HER!" Rose shouted, letting out a feral growl.
"You know I'm right," Dragonite responded, flinching at her threatening voice.
"Rose. Enough, please," I said, glancing back to Eon's Pokemon. He was right and it bothered me that he knew what Katherine would have wanted.
"You're still hiding why you were bandaged upon our arrival. You can fool a lot of people, but I'm always on guard and cautious. I could smell you even though I was tired. And the smell of smoke permeated the backyard upon my inspection," Rose glanced at me.
Dragonite seemed uncomfortable with the questioning attitude of Absol, but I came to appreciate it. I had been so worn out I hadn't noticed the minor details. Looking the Dragon/Flying type over one more time, I noticed several scratches and burns.
"Several Team Plasma grunts appeared at your house. I arrived only three days prior worn out from a close encounter with Mewtwo. I was left behind due to my size and to keep an eye on your home while you were gone. I managed to repel them, before they could do any damage to your family, but my wounds prevented me from stopping their fleeing."
My mother arrived just as he finished that sentence. She held a gleaming silver grilled cheese sandwiches, and two tall glasses pecha juice.
"Sweetie. I'm sorry. This happened the day I tried to call you. I was sdistraught, but after realizing you weren't in a better situation, I shoved it down. We are all okay and that's all that matters in the end," she said, nodding her appreciation at the large orange Pokemon.
"She's an amazing person, Kyle. You should count your blessings," Dragonite said, smiling broadly at me. My mind turned over the information slowly, as I realized that if things continued my family would be in danger.
"You can't ask me to fight if it puts them at risk. My sister and mother have to be safe, for me to even consider it."
Dragonite waited until my Mother departed, before dropping news that shattered my perceptions of the situation.
"Mewtwo needs you out of the equation. He won't stop. Not until you and everyone you care about is dead. And if you think he's going to be pleasant about getting rid of you, he won't be. He cannot put himself chance you spilling his plan to the wrong people. He needs you dead, and he'll do whatever it takes to make sure that you and Eon fail. We can offer them protection, however, we need strong fighters to help take down the grunts. Once we've done that Mewtwo can be taken down and the Wish Stone secured. Once that's done, you're free to live out the rest of your days. Eon and the team will secure him and make sure that he never harms anyone ever again."
"Sounds good in theory," Rose said, stretching out her claws digging into the chair. "To be honest, I don't trust you one bit when it comes to training him. No. I'll train him," she said staring at me.
"Rose?" I asked, confusion filling my gaze.
"I need to see what you are made of. Who you really are. It'll give us a chance to bond closer for something I've been thinking about since our arrival. For now, I want to raise your level and teach you to harness your power. We'll start tomorrow. As for you…" she turned to the Dragonite, her eyes narrowing until they were slits.
"You've given me a lot to think about, and I want us to hold off on his answer until we've had time to discuss it with everyone. It's not up to just him," Rose said, hopping off and leaving me alone with Eon's Pokemon. We remained quiet for a moment until I spoke up, Rose protection surprising me.
"That one will cause you nothing but trouble," he said shaking his head.
"I don't think so. She's smarter, and definitely wiser than she appears to be. That being said, why hide all of this information from me? A guess as to where my Absol was? The battle between you and Reshiram and Zekrom? You all keeping an eye on my family? This is information I could have used during my trip. It would have allowed to me make better decisions instead of rushing out recklessly," I said, my tone bitter but firm.
"Perhaps you are right. Eon thought it unwise to tamper with your mental state too much. You almost died," he replied.
"Hmph."
My eyes followed to where Rose had left, and grabbing a sandwich from the tray I took a bite, thoughtfully. Although she had seemed antagonistic at first, she had opened my eyes to what Dragonite was really wanting from me. Granted I was in very little position to argue or fight off his proposals but I needed to be wary when it came to the situation. If things turned bad, I needed another set of eyes. Touching my Pokewatch, I typed two quick messages, and sent them off simultaneously. It was time for me to get my head on straight and think like an actual Ranger instead of some kid pretending to play the part. I received responses almost immediately, and I nodded. Good news. I wouldn't be going the fight alone it seemed.
"Dragonite. I'm giving you the chance to come clean right now. If I find out your playing me for Eon's benefit, there will be hell to pay," I said, making sure I was positive I could back up my threat. The dragon stared at me, before sighing heavily.
"Although Eon wouldn't appreciate the threat, I understand the position we are putting you in. We have a place to stay for you. It's safe and should accommodate yourselves rather easily. There is one last thing to disclose but…"
A knock on the door interrupted his sentence. The visitor was unexpected, and I moved to the door cautiously. I was shocked to come face to face through the peephole with Elaina and a mysterious woman standing behind her. She was taller than Elaina, and was covered in a dusty brown trench coat with a cover and hat.
"Kyle! I know you're there! Open up! I promise I won't bite! Unless you let me,"she called out. I glanced to Dragonite who facepalmed at the comment.
"I Forgot to mention that Eon may have placed some protection around you for your own safety," Dragonite stated.
I opened the door slowly, and was immediately barreled over by Elaina who cuddled and nuzzled me.
"IT'S SOOO GOOD TO SEE YOU!"
Before I could react, a broom slammed into Elaina's face sending her sliding across the floor.
"Get off of him. Who are you?" my Mother demanded, glaring down the two newcomers.
"Oh! His girlfriend. We met on-"
"ELAINA. Not now please," the woman behind the girl shouted, removing her hat and trenchcoat revealing an athletically built woman. Her blonde hair fell down in a ponytail that was tied off at her waist. Stunning blue eyes met my face, as she placed a hand on her green dress. Reaching down she helped me stand as she faced her friend.
"You need to stop, seriously Elaina. He doesn't even know what you are. Do you think he'll just accept your true nature? I personally have nothing against it, but still…"the woman spoke her tones exasperated but low in volume.
"Who are you?" I asked, backing away cautiously. Elaina moved back to the woman, stomping her feet childishly as she returned.
"Way to ruin the mood! I was just gonna have some fun with him! And you spoiled my surprise! You are the worst!" she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"Answer the questions. They need to know, Sarah," Dragonite spoke up from behind me.
"Very well. I'm Sarah as the big dumb Barney pointed out, and this is Elaina. One of my most trusted partners. She's easily excitable but otherwise very good at what she does. I doubt you'd have noticed anything strange about her if I hadn't said anything," the woman spoke fiddling with the pair of glasses. "I'm Eon's girlfriend and a Pokemon Ranger. We were tasked with following you the past couple days and making sure to remove any obstacles in the way of you saving Katherine. After your little event in Kalos, I lost track of you. Even Elaina couldn't determine what move you made. So we had to sit and wait for your return," she said, reaching out a hand.
"So on the boat-" I realized, as I shook her hand.
"That was me. You noticed me which is a bit of a shock. Elaina here is pretty good at making people see what they want to," she said.
I turned to Elaina whose image shifted away. As the picture dissolved away a single Zoroark stood beside Sarah. Her dark red eyes met mine and she smile devilishly.
"I hope that doesn't mean you aren't attracted to me! I know it's a lot to take in but I still really really like you," she said, moving forward.
The shocking nature of her reveal, made me woozy and I grabbed a nearby table to prevent myself from passing out.
"Sweetie!" my mom called out.
"It's a lot to take in. Give him a minute," Dragonite stated. My head swam as I considered everything that had happened since my departure. My mind reeled at the possibilities before realizing a key fact.
"Mienshao would have killed me if she hadn't seen you," I said, turning to face Sarah. She blushed shyly, and nodded.
"I didn't expect you would burst out of the window like that. In fact I was on my way to the back side of the building when you appeared above me. Nonetheless, I'm glad you showed up when you did. Mienshao is a tough cookie. She and I got in a tussle good while back as she was just starting to make the Lopunny Garden known. Suffice it to say, our run in reminded her that there were still others capable of tangling with her without fear. Elaina here took her down without breaking a sweat despite the type weakness."
I groaned internally, and moved to the stairs.
"Are you okay?" my Mom and Elaina asked simultaneously. I glanced down to notice that they both stood at the foot of the steps watching me ascend. They shot an angry look at each other, before focusing back on me.
"I'm- I just need a moment to digest all this," I said, heading to my room. As I reached the door, I walked inside and sat down on the bed. My head in my hands, I mediated trying to get my bearings and slow down my heart.
"It's a lot to take in, isn't it?"
"AAAH!" I screamed jumping two feet into the air. The voice had been right by my ear, and I looked to see Rose was sitting next to me.
"Ho-whe-"
"I came up here for a nap. Heard all the stuff downstairs. Curiousity got the better of me. Suffice it to say, I am not surprised. Young ones are easily manipulated by their circumstances. They used you to further their own agendas. It disgusts me, but at the same time, they have a point. Being upfront with you after your little run in with Mewtwo though would have saved you a lot of heartache and pain. Instead of believing in chance and luck, you would have known your fights were rigged to begin with," she said, licking one of her claws.
"What do I do?" I asked turning to her. Her eyes widened at my question before laying her head in my lap. I proceeded to pet her gently behind her horn, admiring the light pink tinge that colored her fur.
"There isn't a right answer Kyle. My sister might have been able to guide you. Lula might be able to guide you. Hell. Anyone could give you an answer but it doesn't make it the right one. However, if your family is in danger, and Dragonite knows of a safe place, its best to take him up on his offer."
I mulled over her words for a second or more as she mewled in pleasure. This was the most comfortable I had seen her near me, and I took solace that she wasn't at my throat both literally and metaphorically.
"You still hate me, don't you?" I asked, watching her eyes flutter shut as she got comfortable.
"Yes. But hating one doesn't mean I can't empathize. You didn't kill my sister, which is cause enough to celebrate. I'd suggest you rest. When you wake up, we can worry about the ifs, ands and buts," she said, with a loud yawn.
"My sister was right though. That Zoroark is extremely slutty," she said with a small giggle.
"WAIT-SHE KNEW?"
I awoke to the smell of cheese and savory meat being fried up in the kitchen. Sitting up in my bed I noticed that I was alone. Sweeping my legs off of my mattress I made my way downstairs slowly, listening as laughter filled the air.
"You know how many times I had to tell Eon that Elaina wasn't me? This damn girl kept toying with him every time he came over to my house!"
I smirked at the joke, and made my way past the living room and into the kitchen. Glancing at the dinner table, I noticed that one plate was still full. Grabbing the plate of food, I moved into the living room, where Sarah, and my family were all joking and talking around the dinner table.
"Kyle!"
"Big brother!" my sister greeted, dragging me over to where Chris and she sat. My eyes wandered among the group as my Mom launched into the story about Lula evolving and breaking the windows with her new voice. As I dug into the creamy and steaming hot meal, I noticed that Rose was watching me attentively, her eyes angry for some unknown reason. I tried to put it out of mind and focused on my meal. There was so much going on in the world, and for the life of me, my mind continually returned to Rose.
"Kyle. I've waited two days. I think it's time I got the full story of what happened after you departed home," my mother said, crossing her legs and leaning forward enthusiastically.
I inhaled deeply, putting the plate of food onto the table. My appetite left as I brought the entirety of our journey to the forefront of my mind. She was right and I was only worried I would be unable to maintain my composure throughout the tale.
"So…"
THREE HOURS LATER
Eyes wet, and fists curled, I remained silent as my words about her death rang out across the room. Her final words to me still swirled around in my head along with guilt and shame.
"You've endured a lot, Kyle. I may have been watching over you, but your strength in the face of those odds was something I think we can all agree was far beyond what anyone could expect from someone so young," Sarah said solemnly.
"It just makes you even more desirable! A white knight in armor," Elaina joked, with a broad smile.
"My son. I know losing her is difficult, but you did the right thing. I wouldn't have it any other way. You fought tooth and nail to get her free and didn't kill anyone on the way out. To be honest, I don't know why you are so hard on yourself," she said, beckoning me to her. I moved like I was in honey to sit down on the couch next to her, as she rubbed my back affectionately.
"You've done the best you can do and that is all I ask. You are strong, my son," she said, wiping my eyes with the back of her hand.
"I'm sorry Big Brother. I wish I could have been there," my sister chimed in. I noticed her eyes were homed in on Rose, and that she had a look of shock on her face.
"I assume you didn't know I was not Kat," Rose spoke to her, making herself known for the first time. My younger sister admitted defeat, shaking her head.
"I wish I could have kept things that way. Naivety is better when it comes to loss of someone you love. Regardless, if you ever have need of me, Kyle's sister, I will serve as best I can," she finished, returning her head down to her paws. Her eyes shut and I felt my guilt return like a tidal wave.
"We don't blame you for the death, nor the actions leading up to it. Brave and resilient. Katherine must have loved you a great deal to make those her final words," Dragonite stated resolute as our gazes met. He bowed slightly in respect and I felt my heart ache.
As I sat there, surrounded by family I realized the decision came down to whether or not I was willing to die for them. In a heartbeat, my mind made itself up and I spoke quickly.
"If you provide sanctuary for them, I wil fight alongside Eon," I said. Dragonite shifted his weight at my words, and then let out a low sigh.
"I'll let him know. Tomorrow we can begin getting everyone over to his house, and from there begin your training," Dragonite said glancing at Rose.
"You won't teach him anything. I thought I made that clear," Rose growled, her hair sticking up out of rage.
"Calm down puppy," Elaina said tauntingly.
"Call me that again, and I'll rip your throat out," the Absol threatened standing up in a swift motion.
"You can have free reign over his training, but if you abuse that ability I will come down and make sure you suffer for it. He needs experience and not just strength," Dragonite responded, folding his arms.
"I know what I'm doing."
"Maybe I'd be better off training him, Dragonite! I mean, I can make sure his stamina and speed are up to par with-"
"NO!" Rose and Dragonite responded shooting down Elaina's attempts to seduce me. Her face grew dejected albeit with a small dirty smile. My Mom nudged me only to be grabbed by two slender hands. I was pulled out of the room with such force, and into the kitchen. My eyes looked down to notice that my baby sister was bawling her eyes out.
"Emily? What's-"
"Big Brother. It's not fair that we have to deal with her. She's mean and crass. She treats you like garbage and it's obvious she's only here to kill Mewtwo…"
"Em…"
"No! You deserve better big Brother. She shouldn't be so mean to you!"
Her words shocked me to my core, and I was surprised she noticed it. My head hung in shame, only for the Pokemon in question to speak up on her own behalf.
"Mewtwo's life is not my concern, little one. Although I am many things, I am not a vengeful Pokemon. You can take that up with Gengar," she said, jokingly.
My sister turned on her heel facing the Dark type, who sat down beside her.
"Don't act sweet with me! I know your real endgame you…you devil!" she called out. It was so unlike her to go around accusing and name calling like she was now.
"Em! Apologize!" I shouted, my temper flaring.
"It's fine. She has every right to say how she feels about me. I'm used to it by now," Rose replied, her head still held high with pride. Emily stepped behind me, and glared daggers at the quadruped before stomping out of the kitchen.
"I'm sorry for how she acted. She's normally a lot more composed," I said, glancing over my shoulder.
Rose leaned against the frame before startling me.
"You tend to listen a lot to your family. Do you think that I'm only here because of revenge? Appearances are deceiving but I'd rather know the truth then for you to lie to me in the long run," she asked, with a long sigh.
"I don't know," I responded, fiddling with my fingers. While it was true that her coming home filled the void of Kat's death, I wasn't so sure it was a good idea. Her temperament and disposition towards humans made speaking and interacting with her very difficult. Despite her best intentions she appeared to care less for me, and the others and more about the end goal. It was something that bothered me quite a bit.
"You seem to hate me, which I often question as to why you are here if you cannot stand humans," I spoke watching her gaze shift uncomfortably.
"It's a lot of things. Experience plays a huge factor into my biases. Do not think me so naïve as to not realize the position I've put you in. No. Revenge is not a dish I deserve or desire. I had my fill of it long ago. I'm here because of the promises I made. Should our venture end in victory, rest assured, all will be revealed then. Much like Eon, I too like to play things close to the chest. It makes me feel safer here. However, I must confess that despite my…cold exterior I feel many things. I've chosen to conceal them and hold them in close. It makes a good leader, as one who can make decisions without your mind being muddied by emotion. As such expect that I'm here to protect and serve you as best I can," she spoke, shaking her fur out.
I nodded as I accepted what she said, even as she turned tail and returned to the living room. In the silence of the kitchen, I had time to contemplate what I wanted. What I needed at the end of the day. The answers were simple. To follow my dreams as a ranger. To protect my family from Mewtwo. To go back to the life I had lived prior to this situation. As such, I was weighed down by a heaviness. If this situation turned south, I didn't know if I would be able to cope. Losing anyone in the next fight would be cause for further shame and guilt. Turning my Pokewatch over, I sent the two text messages to my companions. I needed oversight and guidance. If there was anybody I trusted to keep me grounded it would be these two. I waited patiently as within three minutes I received both answers to my question.
"Send address."
"Sure. I'll be there but I need to pack a few things. Just give me the directions and I'll head there soon."
Returning to the living room, where Dragonite and my Mother sat, I noticed that everyone was animatedly discussing plans for tomorrow.
"Ah! Sweetie. So, unfortunately, I'll be in the office all day tomorrow. I'll have to speak with my superiors and fight for a little bit but I should be able to get the next three weeks off. Speaking with Dragonite, we have need of a cook and more importantly a doctor to take care of any injuries you guys incur."
Her words put a smile on my face and I turned to Emily who was cuddling Chris and stroking his fur absentmindedly. The two together made me smile and it looked like the path to recovery for the fox was going to be painted in silver and gold. He was well groomed, and overfed, despite my efforts to hide the poffins from Emily who insisted on sneaking them to the pup.
"Kyle."
I turned to Dragonite as I sat down next to my sister, much to Elaina's chagrin. She got up swiftly, and sat down next to me, pressing her generous chest against my arm. My ears burned as all stared at the extra attention I was receiving. Faking a cough, I acknowledged Dragonite, before asking the next questions on my mind.
"So…is there enough room for more people? I have a few friends who want to accompany us in the fight against Mewtwo," I said, knowing that surprising Eon would be worse than announcing it now.
"Hmmm. We have the space. However, do these...humans I assume know of the dangers?" Dragonite asked, leaning forward.
I shifted under his stare, before sighing. How much I revealed, was dependent on the Dragon type in front of me.
"No. I'm afraid they are totally in the dark concerning the situation," I lied easily, blushing as Elaina shifted into my lap sensually.
"Kylleeee," she whispered in my ear, running a hand through my hair.
"What?" I hissed, trying to move her out of my view.
"Why so cold? Is it cause you prefer a human girl?" she asked, her tongue slithering against my neck. The touch sent shivers down my spine, and made my breath hitch in my chest. My lower half reacted to the attention, and we both noticed it from our current position.
"Ooooh. Should we-"
"ELAINA! Stop teasing the poor boy!" Sarah screamed.
Relief filled my chest as the Zoroark got up from her seat and moved reluctantly to the floor beside her trainer, her mouthed an apology to me. As she sat down, my mind immediately recognized something I had failed to notice for the numerous hours I had been home. Lula was not around. Jumping up, I ran up the stairs two at a time, and entered my room where she sat on the balcony. Moving slowly not to disturb her, I sat down next to her on the ground.
"Hey, Master."
"How are you holding up?" I asked, concern for her wellbeing replacing all other thoughts.
"I'm…sad. I miss my friend. I know you've been busy and your mind's been occupied, so I don't blame you for forgetting about me," she said, smiling sweetly.
"I didn't forget!" I cried, only for her to boop my face with her paw.
"Master. Don't forget. We've been together longer than almost anyone has been. I know you've been overwhelmed and I don't blame you. On a different note, are YOU okay? I may miss Katherine, but you seem really depressed Master," she said, moving her mane out of her face.
"I-"
"Please be honest. You know I'm here to serve."
"I'm still upset. I don't blame you or anyone for what happened. Now I'm endangering you and everyone again, and it bothers me. I haven't told you but-"
"Rose told me everything. While you were sleeping we had a chance to get to know each other and gossip a little. I appreciate the heads up. Continue," she prompted holding up a paw.
"I never asked you if you wanted to come with for this fight. If you don't-"
"KYLE BREDESON!"
Her shouting my name in anger was something so out of character, I shut my mouth and backed away fearful.
"Who do you think I am?" her voice quieted as a blush overcame her muzzle.
"I-"
"I'm your friend. It didn't cross my mind once to abandon you. I'm with you for the long haul. If we lose, I'll be there right alongside you," she said, forcefully.
"Thank you Lula," I whispered, my eyes misting up.
"Anytime. Don't think you are putting us in danger. Don't be so hard on yourself. Kat made her choice on that beach to intervene when I couldn't. Kat knew she couldn't live with your death on her chest. I feel the same. I choose to stay by you because in the end, you've been the closest relative and family I've ever had. I feel loved and cared for daily. I'm happy here Master, and so for that reason I fight with you. I won't run just because the odds are not stacked in our favor."
Her speech took my breath away and allayed deep set emotions that ruined any arguments I had against her coming with me.
"Thank you Lula," I sputtered blushing coyly.
"Anytime, Master," she replied bowing slightly. As we sat there under the stars, my mind drifted lazily about my family. Keeping them safe was my main priority and there wasn't enough time to see it through. If Mewtwo wouldn't stop until we were dead, then I would have to stop him first. Taking his life would be the first one I had intentionally done, but I wasn't sure if I could go through with it. All Pokemon Rangers made an oath to save life, and preserve it. Would I be able to keep that promise when everything I loved rode on that one oath?
I didn't have an answer. Only more questions.
Hey all. These last two chapters took quite a bit of time to get written up. There was a lot of details I missed and forgot. Needless to say, I'm rushing to get them out so please be patient. I'm enjoying typing out the story so far. Thanks for the support and see you guys in the next week! Bye bye!