"Where's the Water starter?"
I didn't know where I was.
"Well, we have him, but I don't think you two would want him."
I felt empty.
A Froakie appeared on the table. However, it wasn't a normal Froakie. His yellow eyes were paler than regular Froakie eyes and his blue skin was so pale. He also didn't look happy. More depressed actually.
I tried not to think.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Stop," I pleaded quietly.
Froakie seemed to look more sad after hearing that, but I'm pretty sure I was the only one to notice.
"Please," tears pooled beneath my eyes, falling down the side of my face. "Please stop."
I was lying on the ground, eyes staring up at the night sky. Stars twinkled above me, the moon providing a dim glow on the field I was laying in.
"Why did I push him?" I gritted my teeth, the salty taste of my own tears in my throat. "I already knew he was going to die, so why did I push him?"
Fresh tears welled up, refusing to be pushed back.
"All of you," I thought of my Pokemon. "I failed all of you. The way I was behaving after the battle with Alain, why did I let his words get to me!?"
I felt the wind pick up and a sweet scent came with it. I blinked. The stars were moving. Tiny little dots of light, floating around, dancing in the sky. Then they began to come closer, down to Earth.
I sat up, blinking away tears. I was still in Laverre City, but it was different. The sky was turning a hue of black, pink, and purple. It was a soothing combination. Strange colorful flowers were growing rapidly all around me across the field of grass, their scent alluring. A thrumming sensation was coursing through me, a total of 13 times. I felt my head turn to look at the huge tree, not that far away, and at the clock carved into it. Both hands had stopped at the number 13 and weren't moving.
I began hearing strange cries around me and I looked to see different kinds of Fairy type Pokemon coming out to play. Spritzee flew over my head, a Florges to my left, creating flowers for the Flabebe around her. There were even a couple I didn't recognize, one of them who looked like a witch who was staring at me from afar.
I stood, the amazing sight before me temporarily distracting me from my grief. Route 14 was known for it's swamp and creepy bare trees, but now it was alive. Fall leaves decorated the limbs and the water glistened with lights even this far away.
"What is this?" I breathed.
"Ah," a sweet voice spoke. "So you're here as well."
I turned around to see a woman in a pink kimono-dress sitting among the flowers, letting a Ralts, Snubbull, and a Pokemon that looked like a Ponyta, but not on fire, play around her.
"Aren't they just the sweetest," Valerie gave a small laugh of joy, deep eyes twinkling. "Fairies are just truly the cutest."
The Snubbull gave short barks at Valerie and the Fairy gym leader responded in kind. The Snubbull seemed happy at the response she gave and ran off.
"You can speak to Pokemon?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"Only Fairies," Valerie swept up the Ralts on her large sleeves and brought their heads together, both touching each other gently. "For as long as I have been alive, I have been able to understand them. They have always been by my side, always caring for me, and in turn, I cared for them."
She set the Ralts down and stood, her eyes seeming like she was staring into my soul. However, they felt kind. She moved past me, her walk barely disturbing the flowers as they bowed away as she passed.
"We are experiencing what many call the Witching Hour," she spoke as I followed her, careful not to step on a Pokemon whenever they ran past. "However, that is a term too crude for a place and time like this. This," she swept out her arms, sleeves swaying in the wind. "Is the time when the human realm and the Fairy realm touch. Only those who are attuned to their call can be here, or those who are called forth. Here, the relationship with Pokemon is heightened to a level where it can be physically present."
She stopped and looked back at me when she said that last part.
"Why," I cast my eyes down. "Why am I here?"
She came closer and lifted my face a little higher with her sleeves and I could feel her hands through the soft fabric. "You are full of chaos, your inner demons have been allowed to roam about within you. You have tried so hard, only to fall deeper into despair. Your bond with your Pokemon has been stretched too thin and snapped."
Images of Lucario and Frogadier flashed through my mind and I struggled to hold back tears.
"Let me see them," Valerie whispered.
She stepped back as I reached and grabbed one of my pokeballs. Opening it, Arcanine came out. He shook himself and looked around. He then looked at me.
"Close you eyes," Valerie advised. "Feel your bond with him."
I did as she instructed and I felt warmth. A deep bond, one forged a while back. Memories of feeding a sick Growlithe mushed berries I had foraged in a cave surfaced. He managed to bring a light of happiness into my life, one I never knew I needed.
"You and I," I touched the side of his face with one hand, stroking his fur. "We've been through so much in such a short period of time."
"Your bond is strong," Valerie smiled. "But can that be said for all your Pokemon?"
I let the rest of them out, Corvisquire squawking and flapping his wings. Lucario looked worried, not able to meet my gaze. Mawile glared at me and turned away, her back jaw snapping shut firmly.
Unlike Arcanine, I felt vague bonds with them. Corvisquire was a gift and he may not have been wanting to be given away. Lucario still had trouble keeping his aura maintained and probably felt responsible whenever he lost control. Mawile only came with me because we both had the same goal of stopping those who were evil. Yet I had called her out to battle against Valerie earlier and didn't even try to understand her during the fight.
I fell to my knees. I had been so focused on the threats plaguing Kalos and on Frogadier's looming death, that I had failed to try and see what was going on with each Pokemon that was journeying with me. My attention was almost always focused towards Frogadier, wishing to heal him despite knowing it was impossible.
I slammed my fist on the ground, surprising my Pokemon. "I'm a sorry excuse for a trainer!"
I looked up at them. "I never payed attention to each of your feelings like I should have. I struggled to change an unchangeable future, not caring how it affected each of you. And in the end, Frogadier still..."
I choked up. Arcanine bowed his head, as did the rest of my Pokemon. Mawile still wouldn't look at me, but I could tell his death affected her.
"What's done is done," I said regrettably. "And I have no right to be your trainer. No right to call you a friend. Every value that makes one a good trainer, I didn't embody that, not in the slightest!"
"All I can do," I felt tears stream down my face once more. "Is ask of your forgiveness. I know I don't deserve it one bit, but without any of you, I don't think I could be strong enough to face the Cult, or any other evil out there."
Arcanine snorted, a flicker of flame curling past his maw. Then he stepped forwards and lowered his massive head. He nudged his pokeball and he was sucked back inside of it. Corvisquire stood taller and met my eyes with beady ones. Within them, I felt pride and a sense of loyalty. But there was more than that. He felt happy. Happy to be with me. He walked forwards and jabbed his pokeball with his beak, returning into it.
I looked to Lucario. He stood and breathed in. Then he let loose a howl, one that could be heard throughout the city. He let out a breath and grinned at me, holding out his paw.
I reached out my own hand, grasping his as he pulled me up. I smiled, feeling a tear drop where we grasped each other, his aura connecting to me, solidifying our bond. "Thank you. Let's work together so we can master Mega Evolution. We'll show Alain just how powerful our bond is next time around."
He growled in agreement, kicking up his pokeball and punching it, letting himself be sucked into it.
Finally, it was Mawile's turn.
"Mawile," I said gently, kneeling. She still wouldn't look at me.
"I'm sorry," I apologized. "Especially to you. I used you in that last battle, thinking of you more as a tool to win instead of a living being. And because of that, we didn't win, much less get a single hit in."
"I won't blame you if you just want to walk away," I closed my eyes, already knowing what was to come. "But please, find it in your heart to forgive me."
A second passed. Then another. Then, I felt it. It was weak, but I felt a new bond form to replace the one that had broke. I opened my eyes to see Mawile staring at me, hand resting on my own.
"So you'll give me another chance?" I whispered.
Mawile closed her eyes, then reopened them, determination blazing in them. She nodded and I sobbed with joy. "Thank you. Thank you."
Wiping away my tears, I held out her pokeball. "I'll never use you like that ever again. Together, let us work to bring justice to those seeking Kalos harm. Let me prove myself to you who I really am."
Mawile smiled and touched the pokeball gently. Once sucked inside, I felt my bonds with my Pokemon forge new ones and become whole. While not all of them may be strong, we could work our way to it, together. But there was still something missing. A feeling like there was supposed to be something there, but it wasn't.
"Zeno," Valerie spoke softly, reminding me that she was still there. "Rise."
Slowly, I stood. The Fairy woman smiled an beckoned me to go with her. Clipping each pokeball to my belt securely, I followed after her. The field of grass seemed endless now, Fairy Pokemon playing around us, little lights of many colors twirling around us. Then Valerie stopped. Ahead of us was a bed of flowers, all aqua blue. And lying in the center was Frogadier.
I hurried past Valerie who stayed where she was and dropped to my knees. "Frogadier."
He looked so peaceful, as if he were asleep.
"Remember the words I said to you when we first met," I stroked his head, letting tears come slowly. "I'll take him. I knew what was going to happen to you eventually, but I didn't care. All I could see was a lonely Frogadier who wanted to live a life just like any other Pokemon."
"So I gave that to you," I smiled, thinking of the memories. "You were my first Pokemon here in Kalos you know. You looked so happy that you could go with me on my journey. I don't regret that decision for a moment. Through thick and thin, we traveled and fought together. Almost every gym badge so far was earned with your help. I saw you imitate me, using the move Cut like I did. I remember you practicing even before you could use that attack."
"I..." I gripped both fist. "Your fate was always there, looming over me like a shadow! But, I still wanted you to battle, to make friends, enjoy your life as much as you could! I wanted you to live!"
I started choking up. "I-I thought if I could do j-just that, you would be happy! And maybe... maybe if I could push you to get stronger, you would! If you could evolve, I believed you would get healthier! If I could do just that, maybe... just maybe! Maybe you would survive!"
"I'm sorry," I cried, holding his body against me.. "I'm so sorry! I pushed you too far! I was too much of a coward to let fate play out as it should!"
"Our bond," I sobbed. "It was strong! No matter what, I felt we could do anything! I didn't want to lose you! Frogadier!"
A soft feeling. I could feel a presence before me, a kind one. I could feel the gentle feeling of life swirl around me. I opened my eyes to a find myself somewhere new. An endless field of orange, red, purple, and blue flowers. Standing tall before me was an ancient looking tree, smaller than the one in Laverre. This one was white and old looking, with long craggily branches.
"To fight against the tide of chaos," a voice rang out from the tree, humming with the power of life. "To ensure the survival of Kalos, only the strongest of bonds can overcome the darkness ahead."
The tree began glowing, shaking as cracks formed on the white trunk. "Hero Born of Darkness, Savior of Alola, please, help Kalos in our time of need."
With a flash of multi-colored lights, the tree exploded, filling the area with light. A large shape moved, bending down. I saw beautiful branches of different colors, glowing and emitting the very essence of life. I could feel the thrum of energy. It grew to a steady beat. I felt a twitch and his hold tightened, if only softly.
I leaned back. "Frogadier!"
I could feel it filling the empty spot.
"Please," I was breathing hard, pouring all of my hope through my tears. "PLEASE! LIVE!"
Frogadier's chest shot up, arching his back as he breathed. His eyes shot open and I cried with joy. I hugged him, crying for all it was worth. Finally, I lay him back down on the bed of blue flowers.
"Fro," he said, sounding a bit weak, but within him, I felt something strong. A bond that had formed between us when we had first met, one that could never break.
Suddenly, the scenery around us flickered, switching between this beautiful world to one on fire, people and Pokemon running from cloaked figures, the symbol of chaos on their hoods.
"What's happening!?" I shot up, but then the switching stopped and we were back in the world of fairies.
Valerie's gaze had hardened slightly. "This isn't good. We need to leave as soon as possible."
"Frogadier," I saw him trying to sit up, but I stopped him. "You can't. I don't know exactly what's happened to you, how you're alive, but I can endanger you in this weak state."
"Fro," Frogadier protested, clenching his eyes shut. I felt his desire to fight, to help those in need. It grew stronger and stronger, our bond increasing in power, a humming sensation coursing through my body.
"Fro... FRO!" Frogadier shouted, his body exploding with light, blasting me back a couple feet.
"Frogadier!" I yelled, eyes wide as he stood, still shouting as the light intensified.
...
The one leading the Cult grinned at the sight before him. The fields were aflame, houses burning, and blood soaking the earth. The ones who survived the initial attack had fled to the main city, trainers and their Pokemon holding the Cult back.
He held the skull high above him in the palm of his hand, roaring with laughter. "Oh how wondrous a sight this is! These beautiful sacrifices shall taint this land full of power and give us what we desire! All in your name! Chaos!"
He could feel the power within this land being changed, forced to become something evil. It would be one of the last ingredients needed to bring Chaos back. Then, something changed. The presence of a new energy.
The man turned around, his Gengar immediately appearing next to him. There, near that huge tree where the clock now showed the hands past 13, a column of water rose into the sky, a powerful energy rippling through the air. And within the raging torrent, a pair of eyes flashed red.
Guess who's coming! Next up is the chapter that marks the official halfway point. Prepare yourselves. Time for an epic mid-season finale! Toodles!
