Unpleasant dreams aside, I awoke well rested. Opening my eyes slowly, I came around to my senses one at a time. I was laying on a hard material in a dimly lit room. My right ankle complained despite the tight compress which was wound against my skin. Sitting up in a fluid motion, I grunted as my body resisted the motions. I wasn't in a good deal of pain. I felt lethargic and exhausted despite resting for what felt like forever.
"You're awake. Good," a voice spoke.
Surrounded by bookshelves the size of Dragonite, I observed my surroundings. I searched for the mysterious voice. My eyes finally rested on a small couch where two figures were obscured by the shadows cast over their faces. One of them stood up, and strode into the light of a green lamp confidently. I recognized the character, and exhaled a breath of relief.
"Eon...where am I?"
The pale boy smiled and acknowledged the books lining the walls.
" My library. I love to read, and it helps me learn more than just combat. You never know when it might come in handy. Like when one of your friends sprains his ankle. Granted she wouldn't let me touch your wounds," he replied motioning towards the other figure. To my surprise, my mom appeared and smiled at me.
Laying back down, groaned and let myself reflect on the fight. My brow furrowed and my mood soured almost immediately.
What chance do we have? None..I couldn't beat Eon. In terms of combat, Eon was able to hold Mewtwo off on his own.
"Kyle. I know what you are thinking and you need to calm down."
Returning to the present, I noticed that Eon had taken a seat next to me on the mahogany table. I rolled away from him. I didn't need him to try and make me feel better. I didn't know if it was the Mega Evolution that Rose and I had undergone but I felt like I had become more pessimistic since then. Much to my surprise, I hadn't been disproven since then, and it only made me feel justified in my attitude.
"Kyle. Everyone saw that fight for what it was. Nobody there was disappointed. In fact, no one spoke badly about the fight. Everyone saw the effort you've put forward come through. Landing blows on not just one but all five opponents at once, is a feat most humans couldn't do even if they tried their hardest. Fighting me at level 80 is something you should-"
"It doesn't matter how well I did! I. Still. Lost. And if I can't hold my own here, how can I protect my family against Mewtwo?" I demanded. My teeth gnashed together angrily, and my fists clenched as I stared into his eyes. His normal nonchalant appearance had changed to a serious one. Getting up, he gave me space.
"Kyle. You don't understand. You aren't facing him alone. You have friends and family who are here to help win this battle. The stakes are high, but no higher than any of the others I've fought. No one here wants to see you fail. Everybody is proud of you," Eon said in a low voice. Hot tears sprung to my eyes. Self loathing filled my stomach making it twist around like a snake in my stomach. I shook my head, and held myself tightly. Before I could offer a retort, my mother pulled me into her warm embrace.
"Son. Nobody expected you to beat Eon. I knew from the moment you stepped in that ring you would get hurt. Your pride hurts, but it shouldn't. Rose, Lula and Bryan are all waiting outside for you. After the fight everyone discussed your abilities. We saw you training with Rose, but seeing you fight a stronger opponent was riveting.. Don't you remember I watched your original training days? You've come a very long way from then."
I pressed against her harder, before she tilted my head up.
"You've always been this star burning bright in my sky.. I know what you are the most afraid of. Watching another friend die while you can't be there to save them."
I looked down again. Her words twisted in my chest and pain was surreal. I didn't want to hear this.
"Katherine's death was her choice. Not your fault at all."
"How could you suggest that?" I whispered, in shock.
"She's right. You disrespect her death by taking the blame onto yourself," Eon spoke up from his plush chair.. I started to pull away, only for her to hold me tighter.
"She chose to die for you. She wanted that. Everyday you hold yourself accountable for the choice she made, you desecrate her memory. She wanted you to live, happy. It's why she did what she did. She got to confess her love, so that her memory would sit with you."
My struggling stopped as her words hit home. My eyes widened as I came to understand what she meant.
"I don't want to lose anyone else," I whispered loudly. "Why would you suggest I should be okay with one of you dying?"
"We know, Kyle. It's why we need to talk about what I suspected during our fight. You were still holding back from your attacks. It made me curious as to why. After speaking with your Mother and Rose, we came to a conclusion You have two things preventing you from reaching your true potential. One is fixable. The other is something you'll have to address at a later time.."
Whipping my legs over the side of the wooden desk, I faced Eon.
"First is your current level. Your strength has grown so expansively and yet you haven't fully grown into it. You hold back without meaning to because you still don't understand how strong you've aren't going to fully understand what it is to be at the level you are at. However there is one more reason that we can address right now." He paused for a moment, to take a sip of water from the cup of water at his feet.
"You refuse to kill unless absolutely necessary. You have to get over that. Killing is going to be necessary in this coming fight. If you are going to hesitate when the time comes, you are going to watch them die. Time and time again.."
I stiffened at the statement.
"Are you saying during this coming fight I should just up and kill all the trainers? That killing shouldn't be something to be averse to?"
"Your father killed numerous times," my mother chimed in.
"That doesn't make it right!" I responded.
"I understand your reasoning behind this, but I've fought so many battles that unless you can be absolutely sure they are down for good, you put yourself at risk. Especially with someone like Mewtwo, who will at every opportunity be seeking to cut you down. Hesitation will lead to someone or yourself dying for the causes you are fighting for."
Before Eon could continue there was scratching at the door, which silenced us all.
"Unfortunately it appears I have overstayed our welcome. You need to learn to use your force with the intent to kill. We can discuss it later. I promised your friends that I'd give them a chance to talk to you alone after you woke up. Rose was the most adamant. She told me three minutes or she'd break the door down. She's a Mon of her word I assume. Think about what we've said Kyle."
They both stood up and opened the heavy oak door, allowing Lula, Rose and Bryan to bum rush me. As the door shut, I was pulled close to Lula as Bryan settled on my head and Rose sat a foot away.
"Kyle! Man that was a rush. I'm super glad I got the chance to become your mon!" Bryan said from above my head.
"Master is amazing! You aren't hurting too bad are you?" Lula asked, petting my hair over and over again.
"I've been better," I responded, only for a cough to calm down the bubbly mood for a minute My eyes found the source staring at me intensely..
"I'm glad you are okay. I was very worried the entire time," Rose said, her eyes burning a hole through mine. Looking away uncomfortably, my mouth fell open. Time slowed to a crawl, as Rose hugged me tightly. She trembled against me violently.
"R-ose?" I questioned concerned for her emotional state.
"She was hilarious to watch. After the fight her and Blaze got into a heated argument. She was defending your sand in the face should've seen it. She told him he was an amateur if he got caught off guard by such a simple move," Bryan said, with a large toothy grin."
"Shut it you little rodent! I haven't forgotten your little Electro Ball from earlier," Rose snapped, pulling herself away from me.
As I sat there surrounded by my friends, I felt my emotional torment fade away bit by bit.. Normality was returning despite the huge changes in my life. Their talk faded into the backgroundas I considered my choices after this fight. Who would I become after this? A Ranger had always been my goal but perhaps I wasn't cut out for that life? Yet Lula, and my father had always supported me. If I was going to kill though, I would be going against the principles that I held so dear and true.
"Kyle," my dark type called out.
"Huh?" I said, snapping myself out of my thoughts.
"I heard everything they said. While they are right about a lot of things, Eon is wrong about killing. There are only two extremes when it comes to killing your opponents. It's either easy or hard. When it becomes easy, it becomes hard to value the life that runs through them. They become simply notches on an expanding belt, and eventually you find you take pleasure in it. It's why I isolated myself. Your order to not kill Mewtwo or his underlings I struggled with. That is until I had a moment to see your with what you believe. Don't waver just because someone else suggests something else. Trust me. You won't regret it in the future. And if they seriously need to die, then I'll make sure they do," she finished, sitting down on her haunches.
"Dark," Bryan whispered into my ear, making me giggle.
"Hey! I can't help my typing!" Rose said,turning her nose up and away.
"You guys are the best," I said, looking down at my hands. Tears filled my eyes again.
"I don't know what I'd do without you. I'm not worthy of such friendship."
"Oh don't start crying now, Master! I'll lick them up!" Lula said, immediately lapping at my left eye.
"H-hey!"
"I got his other eye!" Bryan said, latching himself to the side of my face. Before long I was covered in spit, and was on the floor laughing with my companions. Mid licks I caught sight of Rose giggling with a paw over her mouth. It reminded me so much of Katherine.
"Feeling left out?" I asked, in between laughs.
"N-no!" She stammered in response.
"I wonder if she's ticklish!" Lula whispered to me. Getting up the three of us surrounded the female Absol who backed away suspiciously.
"Wh-what are you guys planning!"
"Get her!" Bryan shouted pointing forward.
In a rush, we tackled her. Over the next fifteen minutes we gently wrestled and tickled ending up in a sweaty pile of happy yet exhausted friends. I couldn't help but feel my fears drain away. Even though Bry and Rose were the newest additions , yet they felt like family. It was such a comfort that they helped me forget the impending fight. As I stared at them, I noticed that Lula had backed away from our current cuddle session, her eyes fixated on me.
"M-master Kyle?"
It was uncharacteristic for her to use my name, which perked me up a little more.
"Yeah Lula?" I responded, shifting my weight forward much to Bri's disappointment. He rolled off my chest and onto the floor. I rubbed his head as she slid towards the door.
"Do you mind if we have a minute alone? There's something on my mind," she stammered.
Nodding, I got up slowly, and followed her into the hallway. Closing the door behind me, I looked around to see we were alone. It had been awhile since she and I had interacted. My guilt came full force. I sensed I had been a terrible trainer for neglecting my starter. We had endured so much together.
"Lula. What's on your mind?" I asked, kneeling down. Her eyes became wide, and a bright pink filled her cheeks.
"I-ummm. I was wondering...I mean…"
"Come on now. It's me. Spit it out," I said, running my hands through her hair. She cooed happily at the contact, her stutter fading as we remained like this for a minute or two.
"Would you be my boyfriend?"
Completely out of left field, but not unexpected, I remained quiet for a minute. I loved Lula. The ends of the Earth wouldn't stop me from protecting her. I stopped mid stroke as I considered her request. For her to bring it up meant, that she was worried about the coming fight like I was.
"Why now Lula?" I demanded, softly.
"Katherine lost the chance after the fight with Mewtwo. I don't want that to be me. She and I were always competing for your attention. There are more circumstances here, but I needed to get this off my chest. I'm in love with you, Kyle."
Staring into her eyes, I felt myself getting lost in their beauty. I couldn't deny that at times in the past I had been deeply attracted to her. I had kept myself in check, but now those sinful thoughts returned in full force. My teenage hormones threatened to overwhelm the logical side of my brain. However, the mere mention of Kat brought with it the fear of losing her. I couldn't bear the thoughts of going steady with her, only to have a repeat. I would rather die than endure that misery again.
"Lula. That would be so nice-"
"YOU MEAN IT?" she screamed, wrapping me entirely in her arms. Her grasp became firmer as she leaned in her lips a mere inch from away gently, I watched as shock and fear filled her eyes.
"Lula. It wouldn't be fair to you right now."
Water filled her vision and I watched as the first few droplets rolled off her muzzle. Moving forward, she recoiled backwards.
"Is it because I'm a Primarina? I'm not an Absol? Or a human girl?Do you not find me attractive?" she asked, an edge to her voice that tugged at my heart strings.
"NO! It's nothing like that Lula! Come on now! Hear me out," I begged softly. Placing my hand on her neck, I leaned in and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"I do love you. As much as Emily and my Mother. Nothing will ever or ever could replace you in my life, Lula. You are my starter, and for that reason, there is no reason I'd deny you that chance. But for now, I don't want to distract us from the fight coming up. More importantly, I don't want to put my or your life in jeopardy if during the battle Mewtwo decides to exploit my feelings. So for that reason….I have to say no for now."
I watched her sigh, and hang her head pitifully. Then the words I spoke seemed to sink in as she looked at me hopefully. Her puppy eyes shone brilliantly. The evil trick she had used as a Popplio to earn extra Poffins made me crack a smile.
"But..after him...there's a chance?"
I hesitated to give her the hope, but realized that doing so would be less painful than to shoot her down entirely. If things didn't go well in our relationship, I wondered if she would break up with me if I failed to perform to her needs. She had been my biggest supporter and I don't think there is anything I could do to hurt her. Pushing those thoughts down, I smiled and booped her nose.
"Absolutely Lula. I promise," I stated firmly. I watched her try to contain the happiness from my statement, but she failed, letting out a soulful moan that sounded more like a song. It reverberated off the walls and I couldn't help but chuckle at her. She was such a free spirit. As I opened the door back up, I noticed that Emolga was chilling on the wooden desk, spread eagle. Rose was curled up tightly into a ball, and appeared to be sleeping next to the chair.. I started to move, only for a voice to resound in my head, drawing me away from the room. I recognized the feminine motherly tone which bounced around in my head. Delilah was calling for me and I heeded her erquest.
Come here Kyle. We need to do some training.
Shifting my weight off of my bad leg, I limped down to the living room, where Elaina, Delilah, Olivia and my sister were all having an animated conversation. As I approached, my sister squealed. She jumped up from her chair, and sprinted full on into me. I braced myself for the worst and was surprised as she jumped up and booped me at the last possible second.
"How are you feeling big bro?" she asked candidly.
"I'm alive. Been much worse. And how are you and Chris getting along?" I asked pulling her into a bear hug. My leg cried out in pain, but I ignored it before placing her back onto the ground. She excitedly pulled me to the couch, where Delilah and Elaina awaited me.
"Man. That show you put on, got me really excited, Kyle. Nobody's taken on all four of Eon's Pokemon," the Illusion fox stated with a creepy smile. I tried to ignore her, but she sidled up right next to me.
"Elaina. You promised to keep yourself in check," Delilah stated with a huff. I ignored the Dark type, and sat down on the hard floors.
"So why did you call me downstairs?" I asked, stretching my neck, and blushing hard as Elaina placed herself into my lap.
"Eon approached me earlier about training everyone on dealing with Illusions and Psychic attacks. Now while your Mother and I have been working on that together, you and your sister still have yet to deal with it. Granted, when I was in the Lopunny garden, I was using my abilities to only suggest and hint. It's why when you turned it back on me I was surprised. Nonetheless, you still need to understand how to ward off actual illusions and keep your wits about you. Mewtwo is strong, however he's not invincible. All Psychic attacks can be warded off if you know what to look for. The main thing to be wary of is things that don't appear right or look wrong." She trailed off for a minute as her eyes shone with power. I sensed my head growing fuzzier and fought to keep my wits about me, even as Elaina seemingly disappeared from my vision.
"That is a simple trick," Delilah said, and although I wasn't sure if she was speaking to me telepathically or not, I could sense that this training was key on facing Mewtwo. Focusing on the world around me, I could still faintly make out the outline of the Pokemon sitting in my lap. It wasn't colored, and was just an invisible edge that was very hard to make out. Nonetheless, it appeared wrong, giving away the illusion. The fuzziness faded away, and Elaina returned in her human form, snuggling against me.
Placing a hand to my temple I groaned as the attack had rendered me physically ill. It made me feel like throwing up, and I had to fight to keep my stomach in check.
"Not pleasant, correct?" Elaina asked, giggling in my ear. I shook my head to try and get some semblance of control over my mind. Everything felt hazy, and I glared daggers at Delilah.
"No warning?"
"Mewtwo won't give you any. If you can't handle mild mannered me, how will you deal with his illusions? His attempts to bait you and read your mind? Don't think for a second, I won't hesitate to put you in a vegatative state to prove a point," Delilah said. Gritting my teeth, I acknowledged the challenge ahead of me. Pushing Elaina out of my lap, I closed my eyes and steeled myself and my nerves.
"Good. Blocking out any psychic attack is a matter of not giving us anything to latch on and use against you. That means you have to still your mind, and not think of anything but the current moment. Focus on a singular task, and avoid emotions. We thrive on your memories, emotions and conscious thoughts as they give us fuel and more strength to work with. Most people don't hide those thoughts actively, which means we don't have to dig as hard. We can still get to them, but the deeper you bury them, the harder we have to fight to get an advantage. While Mewtwo will most certainly be focused on the physical fight, he may attempt to attack you mentally as well. If we can get into your head, then you lose immediately. You'll be defenseless to stop us as you won't know when or where the attack is coming from."
I listened carefully, before sitting up straight. Glancing to my sister, I noticed she was trembling with fear.
"Big brother...stop…"
My eyes returned to Delilah and I noticed that she was aglow with power. I looked at Delilah, and considered attacking her, but Elaina shook her head.
"It's her turn to fight. She's giving Delilah ammunition. This is her fault."
"Please...not Chris. What'd you do to Mother?"
My eyes widened as I watched my sister sob unwillingly as a phantom version of me approached. I could sense her fear and it upset me that there was nothing I could do to comfort her.
"Stop. She's had enough," I whispered, noticing the goosebumps that had risen on my arms. As I asked, blood started to drip from her nose, and she collapsed onto the ground. Grabbing my sister's body, she trembled violently in my arms. Her muscles spasmed without rhyme or reason and I fought to keep her still. As I stared at my sister, a creeping sensation wrapped around my mind as the image seemingly flexed in front of me. Gritting my teeth, I slipped my hands from underneath my sister, and closed my eyes. Was it real? An illusion? Pushing away all thoughts of my sister, and family, I focused on defeating Delilah. On not being manipulated. Opening my eyes, I noticed that I had moved to the couch and was sitting on it facing away from Delilah. She had manipulated me well. Turning around, I was assaulted again by a pressure on my brain and I felt her try to pull me back under her influence. I focused on Delilah's eyes, to the extent of all else. Pain surged through my head but I pushed it down, refusing to back down. Sweat poured down my brow, but the longer I held out, the weaker her influence became. And then she smirked. Not letting my guard down, I glanced right, and came face to face with Mewtwo. Fear radiated itself from my core, as I stared at the picture. Despite my attempts to shield my brain, I noticed something seemed wrong about Mewtwo. His paw wrapped around my throat and lifted me up from the couch. Raising my fist back, I delivered a strong stomach blow which sent the Psychic type sliding, and holding his stomach. I took a step forward, only for Elaina's illusion to dissipate, and her to collapse to her knees.
"Ugh...Big mistake, Delilah. He's getting better at this," Elaina mumbled, falling onto her side, and fainting. She hadn't been ready for my blow and concern filled my mind. Pushing it aside, I turned to Delilah, who had vanished and Lula and Rose emerged. Both badly beaten and bloody, I closed my eyes and willed the image to vanish. Her assault on my mind grew stronger with each passing moment. And then she crossed a line. As I dissipated the final illusion, I came face to face with her. Her broken horn. Her red eyes. Snow white fur. My eyes widened, and I collapsed to the ground as I stared at my deceased friend. Tears spilled down my face, before I howled out in agony.
"ENOUGH DELILAH!" I screamed, trembling with emotion. The illusion faded away, and I felt the pressure vanish entirely. I stood up in a swift motion, and stared at the Psychic/Fairy type. Her eyes were wide with shock, but I felt nothing but disgust with her.
Stomping away, I left the living room. I ignored Elaina, and everyone, moving to the back porch. Time became slow as I tried to come down from the emotional high I felt. My anger peaked and despite her intentions, I hated the Gardevoir for subjecting me to that mental anguish. I clenched the wood railing, and exhaled forcibly. No matter how hard I tried, the image was burned into my head. Her tears. Her final moments with me.
I love you.
"How...how dare she!" I growled angrily. I slammed my fist onto the railing. Blood pooled from my wrist and I lifted my arm up.
I watched the sun set and the stars come out in silence. Alone I remained trying to recover from the fight. Trying to get some control over my emotions. The storm inside of me failed to die down or fade. As I stood there, my Pokemon sidled over one by one until I was surrounded by friends.
"Kyle. It's okay…"Rose spoke, placing her paw on my knee.
"IT'S NOT OKAY!" I screamed, turning on her.
"Master. Calm down. Delilah's sent us to comfort you. She's really sorry for using Katherine against you," Lula said, backing away fearfully.
I huffed angrily, and realized that I had raised my hand to strike at something. Someone. Staring at Rose I noticed that she was shocked by my outburst. I don't know who felt more afraid. Her or me. My newest mon jumped to my shoulder, and placed his extremely tiny paw onto mine. Almost immediately my heart rate settled, and all of my emotions faded. Calmness stilled me as a small blue sphere rotated an inch from my palm. The energy dissipated and I felt better immediately.
"Bry? Ho-how?"
"The stronger your emotional state, the harder your aura is to manipulate. Granted, by utilizing Aura you expel your emotions little by little. It is why Lucario is so calm even in combat. They always release their emotions to help increase their overall strength."
I sighed gratefully, and patted the Emolga's head much to his delight.
"Th-thank you,"I whispered. I felt ashamed that I had been that out of control.
"Don't thank me. I'm happy to help. Now take a deep breath...Rose," the electric flying type said, glancing to my Absol. Looking at her, I noticed that her gaze appeared conflicted.
"Don't get angry with her. It was an accident. Your sister is unresponsive right now. Delilah used an illusion of you, and now she's had a mental break. She fell asleep," Rose said.
I inhaled, and felt a murderous rage start to build up, only for Rose to cut me off mid thought.
"Stop it. Revenge against her won't help. Delilah is in a fit. I've never seen her like this. She's begged your mother to kill her, and won't stop crying. It wasn't her intentions to hurt either of you. She's inconsolable."
I stared at Rose noticing that her normal facade of strength was in full display now. This didn't faze or bother her, like it did me.
"Mom says she'll be fine given some rest," Lula said, placing a paw on my leg.
"I was the triggering factor?" I asked, glancing at Rose. She nodded an affirmative.
"Unfortunately yes. She'd only escalated the illusions one by one. First, Lula. Then Delilah. Then Mom. Then you. When she crossed that line, Emily collapsed. A small seizure took her. You didn't notice since it happened after you left. She had been doing extremely well, calling Delilah out on each of her tricks. She even resisted Delilah's suggestions. It wasn't until she saw you, that things took a drastic turn. There was no way to know she'd have reacted like suspected that you would stop the training once she brought up Katherine and needed you to acknowledge that. If you could face it now, seeing her on the battlefield would be less jarring. Her precognition warned her too late of this. It was destined to be, and she's upset about it. She's scared you may act irrationally."
I contemplated the words, and sighed. Being angry at the Gardevoir wouldn't help anyone. I started to walk, with Rose trailing alongside me. My face must have been blank cause she gave a worrying look at me.
"Are you going to be okay?" she asked, in a mere whisper.
"I...Yeah. Just seeing her was enough to set me off. I should-"
"If you didn't react I would have been more upset at that. She left a lasting impression and her memory is one you don't need to get over," Rose said. I nodded appreciatively, and chewed the inside of my cheek. As I walked up the stairs, I tried to get my mind gathered up so that I could respond appropriately. I arrived at my sister's door and could hear sobbing inside. Opening up the door, I noticed that Delilah was the only one there. Her eyes were red with pain and as I entered she backed away fearfully.
"K-kyle….I-"
"Calm down, Delilah," I said, moving to my sister's side in three long strides. The wooden floors creaked under my weight as I examined the guest room. Minus the light pink paint, a book shelf and my sister's clothes strewn across the ground, I would have mistaken it for the same guest room. Looking down at Emily, I noticed her face was construed in a look of fear. Her breathing was labored but continuous.
"How long-"
"Seven hours, K-kyle," Delilah spoke, her voice a mere whisper.
As angry as I wanted to be with her, my mind was only concerned for her well being. Placing my hand on hers I knelt down beside her.
"Em. It's me. It's going to be okay," I said, my voice cracking as I stared at her. She let out a sigh, but remained unconscious, despite my presence. Turning to face Delilah, she started to shake.
"Kyle...I…"
"Don't Delilah. I'm not going to hurt you. Nor am I going to attack you over this. We both needed this training. I wish you hadn't gone in as hard as you did, but I understand why you did. I'm still furious with you, but all that matters to me is that she wakes up," I said, sitting down next to her. She flinched instinctively, and I felt the urge to strike dissipate moments later. It had been an
accident and one that despite it's heavy implications, still was out of her control. Time crawled by, even as Eon checked up on us. The rest of everyone gave me and her space. Finally, I'd had enough waiting, and spoke up.
"You know what I'm going to say right?"
She remained quiet, although I couldn't tell if it was for lack of understanding.
"I do understand. I'm reluctant to keep training you. Especially since I put her here. As much as I'd like to make up for it, if she doesn't wake up ever, I'm afraid that I'll hate myself forever."
Placing a hand on her shoulder, I let out a low sigh.
"As much as I hate that you hurt her, I'm also grateful," I said, turning my attention to my sister. "If she goes into this fight, I fear I won't be able to protect her. There's a lot going on, and to think that I stand a chance of being everywhere at once is a fool's errand. If she's not there though, then I wouldn't have to put her in a bad spot. My mother too. Arren and Pene have seen our share of fights together. The Ariados ambush was before we even had Pokemon. So suffice it to say, that I've been in bad situations. However I'm afraid of the coming fight. Even with Sarah, Eon and Rose we probably don't stand a chance."
Silence permeated the air before she responded to my statement.
"A chance is all we need. Mewtwo has great insight like I do, but upon sifting through your memories I found the key to winning all of this. Mewtwo is consistently taxxing his psychic powers. It's why you were even able to strike him. He's controlling both Reshiram and Zekrom. Having to force two Pokemon...especially legendaries is an issue even for him. However it makes sense why he did. To have three legendaries means that even if humans were to try and take him down, his leverage is absolute," Delilah said.
Her words shook me down, and I had to take a deep breath.
"So?"
"I believe when you face him, he will be severely disadvantaged."
A loud gasp filled the air, and I noticed that my sibling had started to stir;. She kicked the sheets off as she stretched, and stood in a fluid motion.
"AAAHHH HYUUUUUUWAA! That was some great sleep."
"EM!" I bum rushed her, pulling her into my arms and holding her tightly. She struggled to get free as I squeezed the living daylights out of my sister.
"Big bro! Too...too tight!" she gasped, as I let her go and held her at arm's length. My eyes widened as I recognized something I hadn't seen before. She was now level 30. The psychic training with Delilah had pushed her to heights unseen.
"Hmmm? What's wrong?" she asked.
Booping her nose I smiled and acknowledged that she has grown into a beautiful young woman. Smiling, I took a step back, when she placed a hand to her head.
"Delilah.." she whispered, before glancing at me.
"What?"
"The memories are coming back bit by bit...give her a minute," Delilah spoke, cringing as she stared at Emily.
After a minute, my young sister exhaled hard, and placed a hand on her hip.
"While I don't agree with your methods, you've helped me get much much stronger. I won't let big bro die on the battlefield," she said, firmly. I laughed heartily at the statement, much to her chagrin. She puffed her cheeks out and gave me a playful shove.
"Aren't I the one whose supposed to protect you?" I asked, putting my hands up as she wailed on me teasingly.
"KYLLLEEEEE!"
"Then again, why would you wanna protect the one who keeps beating you in video games?" I taunted skipping out of reach of her next mock punch.
"I hate you!"
"Love you too little sis. It's good to see you back up and about." I said, rubbing her hair into a mess. She harrumphed, and elbowed my side, making me grunt in pain.
""Meanie."
"Troublemaker."
"Bully."
"Pain in my rear."
"Big brooo!"
Turning to face Delilah, I noticed she had left, and Eon had entered.
"How's the ankle treating you?" he asked, leaning against the wall. While it had been sore since I woke up, I had found numerous ways to keep myself focused off the physical pain and on the immediate future.
"Good enough I guess."
He placed a hand on his blade before shrugging.
"Good. So...are you ready to kick your training into high gear? I have five days to train you on physical combat. While I don't want to train you like Rose did, I do intend to help you become more aware of your full potential. Hate to say it but you are still not that much of a threat. Even to me."
The roast stung, and I felt my happiness fade as I stared at him.
"It's not your fault. You haven't fully adjusted to your , you've grown quite a bit.. See when you are levelling up as a human, it's to be expected that you reach level 30. Reaching level 40 is beyond what normal people aim for. Level 50 humans are a rarity,and 55 is reserved for the Pokemon Rangers. So for you to be as strong as you were when we met was a bit of a surprise. You were looking to become a Ranger and with your power growing as it had I wouldn't have been surprised if you passed the physical with flying colors. Most graduates at Ranger Academy leave at level 57. However above level 60 is when Humans run into huge issues. Issues that even you can't begin to fathom. For one, your energy consumption and stat management becomes extremely counter productive. Sure you can output damage, but you can't sustain it for very long in a fight without knowing how and where to attack. Not only that but when you start exerting full force attacks you risk self inflicted damage."
"Self damage?"
"Human muscle specifically is prone to tearing when striking with more force than you are capable of withstanding. Humans in general can withstand tons of punishment. Our body is extremely resilient. However when you start pushing the limits of what you can do, you threaten to dismember yourself. Essentially if you push too hard, your heart will explode. With training you can reach those higher levels and limits by toughening the fibers inside of your body. But even I'm not immune to the effects. After the fight with Mewtwo I was so exhausted I had to rest for three days after visiting you. My body was on the verge of collapse when we first met. It's why I didn't come to free Katherine. I heard that Diantha after a serious battle with her Gardevoir was asleep for a month. Despite the toll it took on her, she awoke fully aware of what had occured while she was asleep. Her Gardevoir is exquisite for numerous reasons. You'll find out all about if after this battle you attend Ranger Indoctrination."
I nodded excitedly before asking the obvious question.
"If we win this fight, do you think you'll recommend me to her?"
He smirked and rubbed the back of his head.
"We aren't exactly close friends. The last and only student I recommended to her school failed out. Nonetheless, I can't really put in a good word for you without having some proof that you are worth the time and effort to train you. You know the statistics for failures. A 1 percent graduation rate with her as headmaster. If you prove yourself, I would gladly endorse you. It's only fair I offer something in return for your help."
Holding up a clenched fist, I nodded firmly.
"I'll do whatever it takes! My dream is so close I can practically taste it!"
"That's the spirit." Eon challenged.
Back to where I had been defeated with overwhelming force, and a greater appreciation for what I was capable of, I faced Eon ready to get stronger.
"Kyle. Wait. Before we start, I want you to wear this."
Moving forward until we were an arm's breath apart, he attached a small white bracelet to the wrist opposite my Pokewatch. Almost immediately, I felt drained, and fell down to the ground.
"Ooopsie. My bad. I have it set to level 1. Gimme a second," He said. Turning the bracelet over, I noticed a single led screen. Two red digital numbers flashed on the screen in rapid succession. He tapped the right button numerous times until the numbers 5 5 appeared in bold red.
"This band will help restrict your body's normal power output so that when you go full out, you know how to naturally control it. Granted, at the level you are right now it's more to prevent you from inflicting self damage. I would tell you not to take it off unless things get that desperate you have to. And if it does be ready to deal with the consequences. I don't. See?"
He lifted his own wrist exposing a red and black bracelet the exact same as mine. It flickered the numbers 55 in rapid succession.
"How strong are you?" I asked curiously, as he matched my level to his. Without looking up he answered nonchalantly.
"80. Granted I'm not the strongest champion nor human in the world. That distinction goes to Red and Diantha. Both of them are scary strong. I met Red and even without trying to spar, I knew I wouldn't last that long. He exudes power. However Diantha is so refined that she hides it entirely. Two different animals."
I nodded as my muscles acclimated to the new weight which covered my body.
"Won't this make me slower?" I asked.
"Not really. In fact it'll help you control your strength better. Essentially, the lower you place it, it gives you a wider variation on how much power you output. To put it in a way you can understand, I'll describe the idea in relation to pokemon. You know how Pokemon evolve correct?"
Nodding, I listened raptly.
"Essentially with the limiter on your wrist, it controls your evolution. Imagine being able to fight at a Bulbasaurs level, Ivysaur's and Venasaurs. However instead of just fighting at those levels, you had max stats possible at those stages of development. It gives you quite a bit of leverage as most people underestimate you until they actually face you."
My eyes widened as I realized the potential behind it.
"Okay. Onto the good stuff. Hands up and back up. We are both sitting at 55. This should get you just started on understanding what speed and attack at this level will be like for you. We'll do 65 tomorrow and from there relax. The others are busy discussing their roles in the kitchen. You and I will be the main force. So while discussing tactics would be nice, we have more important things to do. Getting you strong enough to hold your own against Mewtwo is the main issue. Then from there we can discuss how to bring him down. Sound like a plan?" he asked.
"Yeah," I responded nervously.
"Okay. Let's get this party started. Swords out. Blunt side forward. Our strikes will hurt but won't maim or cut. I'm sure I can handle you at this level."
I nodded, and drew my blade in a swift motion and held it at waist height. The blade wavered for a second, as I stared at him over the tip.
"Use whatever tools you need to face me. Bring it!"
Pushing off, I closed the 15 feet in a second, and swung my blade. He deflected the attack, and countered, with a thrust. I blocked with my weapon crying out as the weapon vibrated. I jumped back, and caught myself a step later, as he pursued. I threw an upward slash, which he parried, and slashed at me. Back and forth we went, raining sparks around us. Time moved to a crawl as each time he attacked, I defended and in response countered with my own. Our feet danced off the ground as we pushed off and met again in clashes that sent us flying backwards. Yet we always moved in concert. Closing the distance until we were mere inches away, our weapons whirled and spun in fantastic fashion grazing and deflecting each other. A side kick from him, dropped me, and I jumped up from my fall in time to get up and dodge his next blow. As he turned to face me, I weaved my blade up, angling the light off the edge of my sword and into his eyes. He grunted, and I responded with a soaring uppercut, and kick. He dug his feet into the ground stopping a mere foot away.
"Nice. Improvisation. You're getting the hang of this."
"Thanks!" I responded, breathing heavily. My arms were heavy and sweat poured down from my hair, but I refused to back down for a second.
"GO KYLE!"
"BIG BRO IS AMAZING!"
Turning over my shoulder I noticed that I had amassed a small crowd. Rose Emily, Bryan and Lula watched on with giant smiles plastered on their faces.
"MASTER! YOU GOT THIS!"
"COME ON. FIGHT!"
Acknowledging their support, I raised my sword up again, and grasped the hilt with both hands.
"Getting serious for once? Alright then. Come!"
Eon and I met in a whirlwind, our strikes gouging the dirt. My eyes tracked each movement, as we battered at each other time and time again. I was growing far more exhausted, and for a moment, I felt like the uphill battle had become insurmountable. Digging deep, I countered his next strike, only for a blow across my face from the hilt of his sword to send me reeling backwards. I recovered, and dashed sideways to avoid a downward slash. I delivered a side kick and followed up with aimed at his neck. He blocked the attack and I followed him. As he hopped backwards, I launched my tool at where he would land. He narrowly avoided the weapon, but tripped sideways. Following up I delivered a cross hook which sent him rolling. As he got up, I dodged his wild slash, and punched him in the gut. Before my strike could land he caught it.
"This is getting fun," Eon said, slamming his sword onto the ground. "Let's see how good those hands are."
I smirked, as I considered the days that Arren and I had trained together in cqc.
"Your funeral. Arren's a genius and I learned from him."
"Talk is cheap," Eon replied with a smile.
Pushing off hard, I met him with a blow. My punch was caught, as he retaliated with a flurry of fists, which I promptly weaved in and out of. Keeping my guard up, I blocked where needed, and slid around him,as we countered, blocked and evaded each other in rapid succession. As I threw my next strike, his hand grabbed my sleeve pulling me towards his elbow. I ducked and drove my elbow into his side. He bounced back, delivering a turn kick which made me slide back, and made me wince in pain.
"Good. Very good. It's been awhile since I've fought at this level. You are a pretty natural learner.."
The praise made me warm and tingle with excitement despite the exhaustion I felt.
"I'd say we are done for now. Go shower, and meet up with us for dinner. If I'm correct, Elaina caught us a wild Boufflant for dinner."
"By herself?" I asked, wiping the excessive sweat off my brow.
Eon chuckled at my apparent skeptiscism.
"While Elaina is extremely promiscuous when it comes to you, she is an extremely talented fighter. She doesn't take hits that well, but her speed and cunning more than makes up for that. Sarah raised her from a Zorua egg, when we first started dating. What's more surprising is her repertoire of moves. She knows things like Counter, Flamethrower, Aerial Ace, U-turn and even Toxic. Probably the most surprising thing was Sarah managed to get an older gentleman to teach her Fake Tears. She doesn't use it much in combat, but around her trainer, she's always using it to get her out of trouble."
"Not like I have much of a choice, my sweet boyfriend. She's unrelenting and a troublemaker," said female trainer stated as she approached us.
"Oh. Hey gorgeous. What's up?" Eon asked, massaging her shoulders tenderly.
"Nothing much. Kyle's friends are an interesting bunch that's for sure. The plans that Arren made along with the two contingencies are extremely well thought out. How did he come up with this with so little information?" she asked turning to me.
Staring at the blonde for a minute, I found myself getting loss in those dark sapphire blue my head to clear my thoughts, I answered the question as best I could.
"I gave him what I knew and told him the general mission. The goal is pretty simple. Stop Mewtwo from getting the wish stone. He's very tactile. Every single move he makes is not a split decision. It's one he's considered and questioned numerous times. Once he makes a move though it's game over for most opponents. If we hadn't had him during the Ariados incident, Penelope and I would be dead."
She took it in for a minute before sighing loudly.
"You sure know how to pick em, I'll tell you that. Pene on the other hand was proving she knew how to manage Pokemon Teams as well. She's already balanced out where everyone should be and how to counter act/ deal with any potential typing issues. Now it comes down to you. What do you offer to the table?" she asked.
Her question weighed heavily on me, and I looked away ashamed.
"Easy babe. He's still green about the ears, but I figure that Kyle will more than make up for a matter of fact, I think already know how he fits into their group."
"Lemme guess. I'm the muscle?" I asked, feeling ashamed.
"Wrong. It's why Bry picked you and Lula continues to follow you even in these dangerous situations. Not saying your friends aren't sound, but you help bring them back onto the line that's supposed to be instead of what could be. You're their moral compass."
The revelation hit like a ton of bricks and the truth made me giggle softly.
"I guess…"
"I know," Eon responded, patting my shoulder. "Dragonite and the others have been quick to point out how hard you've been working. It shows. I've trained with dozens of trainers. Fought hundreds of opponents. Part of winning fights is being able to detect the strengths and capitalize on the weaknesses of each. However, for all your self doubt, you are truly incorruptible."
I shook my head and sighed loudly.
"I'm not infallible. I make mistakes."
"Quick. Mewtwo promises to spare your friends if you give him the wish stone. What do you do?"
"He'll kill them afterwards. So I fight!" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, and a hand shot up to my offending appendage.
"The right decision. Mewtwo's on the ground unconscious. Defenseless. Do you kill-"
"No!" I shouted, my fingers curling into tight fists.
"And that's what I mean. Most people aren't willing to put emotions first and follow won't kill your friends because he needs you to quit. Mewtwo is unconscious but could wake up at any minute, so killing him guarantees survival," Eon said, pulling his lover to his side. She blushed hard and wrapped her arm around his waist. The sweet lovey dovey moment ruined the gravity of the words he spoke.
"KIlling isn't necessary and the fact you value that is a good thing. While your Mother and I agree that your refusal to kill is dangerous, we also merit that you were raised to value life. It's one of the key things that makes a Ranger."
We stood there for a minute as the warm breeze passed us by. It was comforting and I found myself seeking solace in the warm oranges and purples as the sunset slowly over the horizon.
"Kyle. I can't promise you anything from this fight outside of my absolute desire to fight for us. And everyone here feels the same," Sarah said ruffling my hair. I groaned and pulled out of her reach, as she stared at me.
"Things will be tough. There's a chance that some of us not make it home. I can only tell you this. Diantha foresaw this fight and didn't see the sense in interfering with it. So-"
A large windstorm picked up overhead throwing dust around us. I raised a hand to ward off the air, only for it to die down as soon as it came. Looking to Eon and Sarah I noticed that we had become surrounded by a darkness as great as the outside world. Yellow light filtered in from glowing bands, and I looked up to see rows of sharp teeth and a snake like tongue flicked over my face covering it entirely in drool. Screaming in fear, I tripped, only for Eon to speak up from the other side of me.
"That's enough Rayquaza! Jeesh. Way to give the poor guy a heart attack." Eon shouted out from right in front of me. The darkness faded away, and the large dragon slid until it's head lay next to Eon.
"Awwww! Just having fun Master Eon. I've returned from the recon. I have some great and bad news," the snake like Mon said, with a toothy grin.
I trembled from head to toe, as she nuzzled her owner. The adrenaline from the event faded little by little as I stared at the mon. It was gorgeous to behold and terrifying at the same time. Focused only on the legendary, I failed to hear the news until Eon caught my attention with two finger snaps right in front of my face. It snapped me out of my captivation, I focused in on the Champion.
"So great news is we now know where Mewtwo is. He's moved to a major Team Rocket base in Kanto. Which is great news. However, I underestimated the amount of time we have which is a big deal. It appears that this Sunday on the 31st Mewtwo will be able to use the stone. The moon will be perfect, and the planets aligned just right.. So if we intend to stop him, we have to leave tomorrow or the day after.."
His words hit me harder and I stuttered trying to get my head around the fact that my time had vanished.
"B-b-but I'm not ready! We still have so much preparation to do training wise! And-"
"Calm down. Remember that Arren's plan called we attack at night time. We'll be safer that way and if we approach from a covered area, it'll be harder for them to just pin us down," Sarah said, allaying my worries for a moment. "Which means we take tomorrow to put you through your final paces. We train you mentally and physically hard. Your form is not that bad, and if we explain some things about combat now that you are at this level, we should be able to finish in no time. Then Wednesday morning, we'll leave early. Kanto is a five hour trip or two by Rayquaza's speed. So Eon will scout out a meeting spot, and we'll all depart at separate times. That night will be action time. We get two shots at this at most. However if we don't stop him the first try, we may not get a second," Eon said, kissing his mate's forehead protectively.
"I don't think there is too much to worry about," Sarah said.
"With me by his side, the odds should be pretty fair. Reshiram and Zekrom surprised us last time. This time, I'll crack their skulls open with my bare claws," Rayquaza stated with a hiss at the end.
"She scares me," I whispered to Eon, much to the Dragon's amusement.
"Same here. You get used to it. She's a softy when you get down to it," Eon replied.
"EXCUSSSSSSE ME? " the wyvern said rising up to her full height and glaring at her owner.
"See? Left her weakspot open already," the white haired male said, scratching a specific spot on his Pokemon. Her tune changed immediately as her head lolled to the side, and she spoke up in soft tones.
"Right there! A little bit harder Eon!"
"Sorry! I didn't catch that," her trainer taunted, much to my amusement.
"Please scratch my belly harder, Master Eon?" the snake asked politely.
"As you wish," the male responded, firming his touch up.
Laughing wholeheartedly at the scene before me, I couldn't help but enjoy their company. Things were looking dire but with friend's like these I wasn't afraid as much of what would come. However now things were getting down to the wire. It was time to get serious and concern myself with preparing for the actual fight.
Dinner was an uncomfortable mess, as everyone considered the things that were to be coming. Lula and Bry did their best to remain upbeat despite the upcoming battles, but it came off as desperate. Sarah, Elaina and Eon excused themselves early. Rose had run off an hour earlier complaining of a stomachache and her disappearance was discomforting. Pene and Arren had been going back and forth as usual about their lives after school. I felt a heavy weight on me, as I sat there at the table. Only one Pokemon had the decency to approach my silent form. The elegant Lilligant which served Eon, tapped my shoulder as she placed an appetizing chocolate cake on the table in front of me.
"L-lucia?" I croaked, stunned by the attention to detail on it. It was about two feet wide, and had all of us intricately crafted onto the top. The icing was thin on the top but thicker on the outsides. Glancing up to the grass type, I noticed she was positively beaming as she smiled.
"While I can't offer much at the coming fight, as I'm not really a battler, I thought I'd offer one last morale boost before you all left. Master Eon is rather lonely despite the outwards appearances. His girlfriend is always busy, and he's always taking care of Champion stuff daily. For him to be home, even if its for a minute is still a gift," she said, offering me a chef's knife to cut the cake.
"Thank you, Lucia," my mother said as she winked at me. I placed the sharp edge at the center of the long side of the cake and applied little pressure to cut down into it.
"It looks so yummy!" my sister said, bumping me as she approached the dessert.
"Easy Em!" I shouted, letting out a breath of relief. I hadn't ruined the cut, despite her intervention. Everyone giggled at our interaction, out mouths drooling in anticipation. I worked slowly cutting the cake into equal pieces, and grabbing the first slice. My eyes widened as I lifted the moist delicacy onto plastic plates Chris had grabbed from the kitchen. The inside was a marbling of chocolate and vanilla cake, with a small layer of cheesecake like filling oozing out. My stomach although heavily filled with the steak, mac and cheese and fresh veggies, cried out in anticipation of the dessert. Holding myself off for last, I served everyone who was present a slice. As I served myself a slice, my mind wandered to Rose. Before I could let go of the thought, my eyes made contact with a certain Psychic/Fairy type who was staring at me intensely.
She needs you. Take 2 slices and go. It's not a stomachache.
Her words made my heartrate skyrocket, but I contained it, as I plated one more for me, and got up from the table. Turning to face the grass type, I hugged her tightly.
"Thank you for everything Lucia. I wish there was some way I could repay you for all the kindness and compassion you've shown me...but-"
She grunted and returned the hug, before letting go. I took a step back to notice her eyes were a little misty.
"Just come back. Promise me that. That cake may be nothing more than a dessert but I hope it gives you the strength to return home! I can't bear the thought that everyone of you may not return. But I'm hoping and praying you will!" she said, bowing gracefully. I returned the gesture, and grabbed both plates slowly from the table.
"No promises, but I will do my best. If you all will excuse me, I think I'm going to go devour these two slices alone in the privacy of my room," I said.
"FATASS!" Pene shouted to my turned shoulder, making me grin.
"Not cool! His mom's right there," Arren said, tsking my friend.
"She's not wrong," my own mother said, and I almost tripped before regaining my balance. Putting the laughter and good natured conversation away for now, I turned my attention to the more delicate situation awaiting me behind the guest room door. Moving forward, I arrived at the barrier, and considered how to approach it. The choice was ripped from my hands, as I noticed it was ajar slightly. Pushing on the door, a loud growl filled the dark air, making me shiver in surprise.
"Rose?" I called out tentatively.
"Kyle? Now's not a good time," the voice called back. I looked for my Absol but found that despite the moon shining through the window she was hidden. Taking careful steps through the area, I searched carefully for my friend. Coming around the edge of the bed, my eyes widened in shock. The covers were soaked in fluid and torn to tatters. The mattress was visible beneath the materials and my worry only skyrocketed as I turned the other corner. I found her pressed against the corner. She was curled up in a ball, but her yellow eyes faced me.
"Rose! Thank-" I said, moving towards her at a rapid pace.
The growl echoed again, and I stopped myself .mid step, staring at her.
"Rose. Talk to me."
"Kyle. Go back down stairs and leave me."
"I'm your friend Rose. I even brought you cake," I said offering the food up. She stared at the plate, and I could see the longing on her face to taste it. Nonetheless she scoffed, closing her eyes.
"Food, sleep. Nothing will make this go away. Just...leave me be."
Sniffing the mattress, I could smell the saltiness of tears, and my heart ached even further at the prospect that she was hurting.
"And...and if I don't?" I asked, letting my voice deepen to make my intentions clear.
"You'll end up getting far more hurt than you bargained for," Rose replied, moving up to show her forward claws.
"I'm not afraid. But you promised we'd be friends and friends don't hide things. Especially if its hurting them," I said. I watched her face hang, and heard it. Sniffling. She was crying. She was distraught and from what I could only imagine. I had never seen her in such a state.
"Rose. You have to-"
"I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. I WON'T….I CAN'T….I...I...UWAGGGHHH!" Her wail made my hairs stand on end. Ignoring my own safety, I placed the sweets on the bedding, and rushed to her side. Pulling her into my chest, I felt her stiffen, but not resist. In fact she pushed against me, sobbing louder and harder. Stroking her stiff fur, I remained silent, comforting her as best I could. She would talk when she was ready. After an hour, her sobbing had faded to mere moans, and even those had become inaudible. She shook against me, before finally sitting up.
" Th-thank you Kyle."
I waved her off, and grabbed one of the desserts and place it in front of her.
"Chocolate makes everything better. How about we eat, and afterwards...if you are comfortable you explain what's bothering you," I said. She hesitated before nodding.
"O-okay."
We each dug int taking our sweet time to relish the food which we consumed. My stomach had more than enough room to savor the bites, and, I considered going back down for seconds. First, I would have to deal with my tortured friend.
"Rose…."
"Hmmm?"
"What's really going on with you? You were happy not even a few hours ago," I said, stroking her fur, and placing another bite of cake into my mouth. She stopped her eating, and sat back before speaking carefully. She was thoughtful of every word and I could sense she wasn't telling me everything. But it was enough to get the picture of why she was so upset.
"I sensed it Kyle. We Absols sense and feel Natural Disasters as readily as you touching my fur. I'm capable of dealing with a storm or two. But the despair I felt in that moment. It belonged to me...which makes me wonder what is going to happen. What would make future me so scared, that it would ripple this far to present me? It scares me to consider the possibilities. Worse though, it means if I stay...If I fight alongside you there is a good chance that we may lose tomorrow. My bad luck always has a way of catching up! I FUCKING HATE IT!" she swore vehemently. I waws startled by her bad language but she ignored my jolt. She took another bite of cake, before turning to me.
"Already things are looking sideways from what I can see. The future may not play out the way I want it to," she said, lowering her head.
"I'm scared too," I whispered. Turning so we could meet each other's gazes, I laid my cards on the table as well.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm willing to fight. I'd give anything if everyone could just walk away unharmed. Unscathed. You and I though know that won't happen. As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone expects us to survive the day after tomorrow. If we do, then we beat the odds," I said, staring into her yellow orbs. She looked away and sighed heavily.
"I don't know why I'm so scared. That's what bothers me," Rose said. Her voice was wounded, and I considered interrupting but decided to remain quiet.
"I wouldn't mind dying. I wouldn't mind if we lost or we killed Mewtwo. I don't care about the logistics that much. But something...I don't know what is eating at me like a parasite and I just need it to stop. Some lingering feeling that I can't quite place."
"Anger?"
"No," she responded sharply.
"Sadness?"
"No. Kyle…"
"Yes?"
"Stop guessing," she stated, bitterly. I acknowledged her request, and took the last of the two bites that sat on the red plasticware.
"I don't know what you want me to do Rose."
She shook her head.
"I guess. Just be here for now. I'm glad you came into my life, Kyle. I just hope I don't become the worst mistake of your life," she whispered to me.
"Rose! How dare you?"
Her head lifted up, and she let out a small chuckle as I glared daggers at her. Her catchphrase had caught on with me, and I couldn't help but smile. Rolling my eyes, I focused on the irritation that had occurred from her statement.
"The worst mistake of my life, was letting Katherine die and not me."
She shook her head, and let out a loud sigh.
"Kat would have probably offed herself to be with you. Lula too probably. You mean a lot to a lot of people and Pokemon. You're my friend and I'm glad we met. I promise. After all this is done, I'll tell you everything. All those secrets and promises I made, will come out and you'll know the truth. Just...if you're alive, give me that chance," she asked.
Rubbing her fur I took the last bite of the sweet taste which filled my mouth, I was bitter at the thought of the coming fight. If Rose had foreseen demise, then what did Delilah see? And if she saw death as well, who would it be? I only hoped that I was strong enough to weather the losses.
After everyone had gone to sleep,I walked downstairs to grab myself a glass of milk. The anxiety had kept me awake and an old home remedy seemed the best cure for my current ailment. As I opened the fridge at 11 o clock at night, I was greeted by a familiar face. Wiping my eyes, I smiled to find that she had already poured me a glass and was sitting at a table with a small thing of chocolate chip cookies. Sniffing the air I recognized the recipe and sat down next to my mother, who kissed my head and smiled.
"Can't sleep?"
"Not really. My son is going to fight a legendary, and the whole entirety of the human race depends on this. Yeah. I'm not exactly holding up as well as I thought. I needed to relieve some stress."
I smiled as I remembered how she had gotten deep into baking after my father's demise. Though it had been hard on her, my mother was such a symbol of strength and I idolized her for everything she had done for us. Leaning into her, I picked up a warm delicacy and took a bite. The melty chocolate made me moan gleefully, and I took another bite glancing up to her face.
"I'm sorry, Kyle. I'm supposed to be raising you the right way, and I asked you earlier to not feel any regret about killing. If your Father had been here, he would have berated me for trying to change your ideals."
I smiled and kissed her cheek before taking a sip of milk.
"You weren't wrong. I won't run anymore. I have to fight with everythingI have. Thanks to you I see that if I don't act, I may end up losing another friend. We both don't want that. I love you so much Mom. I wish I could repay you for everything you've done for me and Em. You are my idol."
Her eyes watered up as she pressed another kiss to my head and I cuddled her.
"I love you son. More than you will ever know. I'm proud of you and happy to have you in my life. You truly are a gift. Never doubt your worth."
Holding my mom closer, I enjoyed her warmth and the simpleness of cookies and milk.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND YET IT'S STILL NOT CLOSE TO BEING DONE. THERE WILL BE THREE MORE CHAPTERS BEFORE i END THIS STORY. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOLLOWING. I AM SO EXCITED TO FINISH THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU GUYS.