Special Chapter 1 - Strength

It was a cloudy day of summer in Cradle Town. The weather brought forth a light drizzle, where it worsened into a moderate sleet, then a raging torrent. All of the town populace had gone to seek shelter from the coming downpour.

All but one.

A Flareon was sprinting through the dense collection of trees that the town was built in. He ran at such an incredible speed that he was arguably leaving afterimages in his wake. Any one of his electric-type cousins would question their own abilities if they saw him.

Soon the Flareon started to gasp and heave, and his momentum began to falter. The rain was violent, and it didn't take long for him to be drenched to the bone. His proud and fluffy mane, tail, and collar were now soaked and heavy. The dirt and grass beneath him was getting so wet that his paws would sink into it each time he pounded his mighty arms and legs against them. The Flareon gritted his teeth and resolved to keep going. He was feeling the burn, and his hearty stamina waned as he flew through the woods, his lungs begging him for respite. He still had a long way to go.

But he didn't care.

The only thing driving him to perform such an amazing feat of endurance was the slight chance that he might see someone again. Even just a glimpse of them would make him happy. And so he ran, ran as his limbs began to feel like bricks, ran until he finally reached his destination. His perception was blurred due to the rain pelting at his face, but when he came to the edge of the forest, he could still make out something pink. He was wheezing as he stumbled in front of it, taking a considerable effort to keep his balance on all fours. He felt like he was about to vomit.

An Espeon was sitting on a lonely bench. She had a paw rested on a satchel slung over her shoulder, and held an umbrella with the other. Her bored expression did not change when she saw him. She recognized him as the neighbor to someone she knew.

The gray weather made her beauty shine in the eyes of the Flareon. She was like a marvelous splash of color on an otherwise bland canvas. His heart throbbed as he shifted his eyes to and from her, as if he was having trouble deeming if he was worthy of even having the privilege to look at her. He took a deep breath to soothe his aching lungs.

Then he told her everything.

Between each of his ragged exhales, he told the girl how much he loved her, how much he yearned for her affection. He told her how he couldn't stop thinking about her, and finally getting to talk to her a few weeks back only made it worse. He told her that he had been in love with her since the day he laid eyes on her. It was one of the few times the Flareon ever felt embarrassed.

He had no intention of convincing her to stay. He would never forgive himself for trying to hold her back to satisfy his own desires. He congratulated her for being given the opportunity to see the world. He just wanted to let her know how he felt all this time, even going as far as listing all the qualities about her that he adored so much. He did it until his voice was hoarse.

The whole time, the Espeon stared at him with an unwavering poker face, practically a glare. The only sound that could be heard after the Flareon's confession was his quiet panting and the drumming of the rain. Her response came in the form of her sliding off the bench, turning to her side, and walking towards the forest's exit, all without saying a word. He watched her journey into the prairie beyond until her figure was a tiny speck in the horizon.

Alone once more, the Flareon took a seat on the opposite side of the bench, as if wanting to not pollute the heavenly spot that the Espeon had graced with her touch.

He felt numb, and did not know why. He was filled with a mixture of uncertainty and doubt.

All he could do now was throw his head back and let the rain blind his vision.