She Could Not Stop for Death

Krystal and I walked out of the Pokemon Center, and we turned the corner just in time to nearly bump into a fisherman. The man yet out a scream and stumbled back a bit, his eyes wide and surprised.

I was nearly surprised as he was. What was with his wild reaction?

"You okay, sir?" I asked as Krystal stared at him with a tilted head.

The fisherman caught his breath, putting his hand on his chest. "Woo. . . Sorry, I . . . I just don't really like Absols. The whole Grim Reaper scythe thing. . ." The man chuckled a bit, wilting slightly under my deadpanned gaze. "Heh-heh. Well, gotta go!"

We watched the man run into the Pokemon Center, and I gave a sigh. "Why are people so prejudiced against Absols?"

Krystal tapped my leg with a forepaw and said, "Never mind him, let's go. It's a beautiful day out here."

Krystal, or rather, Krystal's hyper sensitive horn was right. The sky was clear, with the bright warm Sun shinning down on Santalune City. The colorful flowers and the nice looking Roselia fountain could put anyone in a good mood. We walked away from the Pokemon Center and up the path towards Route 22. As we walked along the road, Krystal suddenly said thoughtfully, "You know, you can't really blame that man for his reaction. My horn does look like Death's scythe."

I laughed at this and petted her head, "Aw, you wouldn't kill a fly!"

Krystal looked up at me, and she said, "An Absol, by nature, and sometimes experience, has got to know a few things about death."

That made me curious, and I reasoned that Krystal might have a point. As all Absols could foresee natural disasters, it would be more than likely that they'd probably see the death those disasters can bring.

I started to wonder if I was wondering into some uncomfortable territory for her, but my curiosity had been awakened, and an explorer's/treasure hunter's/writer's/reporter's curiosity cannot be be ignored. So, I gave her a questioning look and asked gently, "What do you know?" I figured that in the "worst" case scenario, Krystal would just tell me that she didn't want to talk about it and we could move on to something else.

I did not expect Krystal to give me such an impish look. It was surprising to me, to say the least, as if I had just seen another side to her. She took a few steps backwards from my touch, and then began to moan pitifully. "Oooh. It hurts. It hurts so much. I can't see!" she said as she began to stumble around, her legs shaking as if unable to support her weight. Eventually her left legs appeared to give out, and she fell on her left side. She gave a loud, labored breath, her eyes wide as she rolled onto back. "Jayron. . . I - I'm scared!" She brought her limbs in close to her body and rolled onto her right side and was still.

As I stared at her, I was unsure whether to applaud or run to her side. I blinked at her prone form, then said, "Very nice performance, Krystal. You can get up now."

Krystal didn't move or respond to me, so I sighed and walked over to her. I bent down and rubbed the tuft of fur on the side of her head.

"Come on, Krystal. Let's go," I said.

I looked at her impatiently when she didn't move, and I poked her cheek a few times as I said, "Krystal, I know you're alive, so just get up already."

I waited for a few more seconds, my patience wearing thin. This was definitely no longer funny. I gave an annoyed sigh as I lifted her chin with my left hand. "Krystal!" I said loudly, giving her a little shake.

My frustration and harshness suddenly evaporated when she still didn't move a muscle. I was positive I was being punked, I knew it for a fact, but much to my chagrin, I was concerned. I fought as hard as I could, but my heart beat out my mind and I leaned in close to her and said softly in concern, "Krystal?"

"Pffffffft!"

Krystal suddenly let out the breath she had been holding right into my face. I recoiled backwards and instinctively wiped at my face with my shirt sleeve.

"Sorry! Sorry!" Krystal said as she closed her eyes and laughed, "I didn't expect you be so close when I ran out of air."

I brought my arm down and glared at her. "That wasn't all that funny, you know," I said as I stood up.

Krystal stopped laughing and nodded, "Yeah. I suppose not. But I was convincing, wasn't I?"

"Yes, you were. So please don't do that again," I said authoritatively.

Krystal looked up at me, making her red eyes a little bigger. I'd say she was doing it subconsciously, but after the stunt she just pulled, I'm not so sure. Anyway, she looked up at me and said, "You don't have to be so worried, Jayron. Do you really think I'd go without you?"

At first, I took this as a very morbid joke, but as I looked at my dear friend, and saw the sincerity in those beautiful red eyes, it became crystal clear that this wasn't a joke.

Smiling warmly at her, I reached over and scratched the back of her neck, and I said, "Well, I have no objections to that. Not like we could possibly live without each other, anyway."

Krystal nodded as she closed her eyes and sighed in contentment. Then I said to her with a cocky grin, "But how about we just both live forever instead?"

Krystal laughed at this, and it was infectious, of course, so I was immediately laughing along with her. She then licked her lips and said, "Again, I'm sorry for . . . all that. And the Pokemon spit."

"I don't mind," I said offhandedly.

"Reaaaally. . ." Krystal said.

Before I could even reflect on her tone of voice, Krystal immediately jumped up and assaulted my face with licks. Not to be outdone, I pretty much held onto her and planted an innocent kiss on her forehead. This actually surprised her enough to let me run my left hand through the soft fur that covered her head.

"He-hey! Leave my fur alone!" she said playfully.

I continued hugging her and said, "I love you, kitty!"

Krystal tilted her head at me, a warm smile gracing her face, and she replied, "I love you too, silly!"