Chapter Four
Tornado
Haru watched Phoebe walk away, then turned back to Celebi. "You were saying...?"
-Oh, yes. Now, to finish my explanation. You were born with the ability to tap into the Earth's elemental energy, the power that gives all Pokémon their strength, and the force that keeps this planet alive. Don't worry, you can't use it up. A good analogy would be that the energy is a river, and you are the waterwheel. You use the water for a different purpose than it was originally intended for, but you aren't using it up.
-And, just like Pokémon, you can only use so much energy. Right now, you can channel a relatively large amount, more than a Bulbasaur of your fighting experience could. But over time, your potential will increase.
-You have this ability because of a safeguard created many millennia ago, when Pokémon and Humans lived together, more than they do now. Ho-oh, Lugia and I didn't exist back then, but we know what happened. The Ancient Pokémon, Mew, created humans who could channel the elemental energy. They passed on their powers through their children, but they became dormant over the years. They were given these abilities so that, in case the Dark Child should ever awaken, they could fight him.
-Now, the powers have been reawakened by Hijou, who plans on controlling each of you so he can overwhelm Lugia, Ho-oh and myself. He is the Dark Child. Well, not Child, anymore...-
"Interesting...thank you for telling me, Celebi." Haru said politely, though questions still raced through her mind. "Am I part Pokémon?"
-That is something that has never been proven. The humans with these powers tend do die quickly...-
"Oh!"
-Not to frighten you. They were untrained, and young.-
"I'm only fourteen." Haru pointed out.
-Are you trying to contradict me?-
"Not actively...but I do like facts to be correct."
Celebi sighed. -Very well.-
Ho-oh lifted her head. "Ho-oho! Ho!"
-Someone is coming!-
Haru called out her Kireihana. "Prepare your Petal Dance attack, Kireihana!"
"Bell...lossom!" she laughed, glowing a slight green.
"And be serious about it!"
Ho-oh glowed brightly, using her Recover technique, and flew over the mountains, dimming her feathers. -It's a human, and not Phoebe! He may be one of the Chosen, but I'm not sure...Celebi, do you want to sense him?-
-Yes, Ho-oh.- Celebi glowed brightly. -He does have power...but I do not know what kind it is.-
A boy walked through the pass, not surprised at seeing Celebi and Haru. "I found you!" he called out. He jogged to them.
He was tall, with hair of an indeterminate color, somewhere between brown and blond. It was gelled back. He wore amber colored glasses, and had light blue eyes. He was wearing a pretty green shirt and blue jean shorts. His legs and arms were darker than his face-but still not very dark.
"Kireihana, are you ready?" Haru whispered. Her Pokémon nodded. "Attack...now!"
"Kiiii!" Kireihana cried, flinging a storm of bright petals at the boy. Haru concentrated, summoning Razor Leaves. Then, she had a better idea.
She clenched her fist, and it began to glow. She flung her hand forward, and blue powder rushed out. Sleep Powder.
"Heh...you think you can beat me with this?" he grinned, apparently immune to Kireihana's attack. The slow moving Sleep Powder hadn't reached him yet. He glowed brownish white for a moment. Then, the petals and Powder were swept up in a large tornado.
Haru's eyes widened, but Celebi had a plan. She flashed, and the Sleep Powder lost its inherent power, becoming dormant. The petals, no longer augmented by Kireihana, were harmless. But the tornado presented a serious threat.
Ho-oh stooped in. "HOOOOOO!" she screamed.
Haru stared as she shot through the tornado, destabilizing it and making it explode. Harmless dust and petals covered everyone.
"Looks like you have help," the boy grinned. "But I'm not trying to hurt you. I need to connect with you guys. Hijou's after me."
Haru raised an eyebrow. "And why should we believe this?"
Celebi stepped in. -I feel no dark stain on him. Hijou leaves his mark on people he uses.-
"Well...tell us your story." Haru said, still not entirely trusting. Something about learning the village you grew up in convicted you kind of changed your view of the world.
"Okay." he said, grinning. "My name is Will Wyndham. I lived in Soyokaze City. When I turned ten, I started the whole "journey" thing. You know."
"Actually, I don't." Haru said. "Where I grew up, in Choumei Town, we don't go on...journeys. People come to our town to participate in the Solstice Festivals, but that's all the outside influence we have."
"Well, a Pokémon Journey is what youths do when we turn ten, or more. Some leave early, some don't. Anyway. My parents paid my flight to Choumei, and I got a Vulpix. It's really cool. Wanna see?"
Normally, Haru would have loved to. Vulpix were one of her favorite Pokémon. But she was oddly reluctant...
-Certainly!- Celebi took the decision from her.
"Right. Max, go!" With a flash of red, a large form appeared. It was much too large to be a Vulpix. And it had too many tails. "Oh, I forgot-I evolved it."
Fear rushed through Haru. She struggled to keep herself calm. "Why did you name it Max?" she asked, trying to ignore the sweat on her brow.
He blushed slightly. "I actually named it Maximum Burn-it sounded pretty cool. But that's a mouthful, so I stick with Max or Ninetales."
"Ah. I need to go...um..." She ransacked her mind for an excuse. "Ah..."
"Go to the little girls room?" Will said jokingly. "Go ahead. We won't spy."
Celebi floated over behind Will, and kicked him. "Ow!"
Haru smiled despite her fear, and walked off, maintaining calm until she was out of sight. Okay, so she walked fast.
She breathed slowly for a few moments, then walked back out. "That was quick." Will commented.
Haru's eyes flashed green. Vines whipped out of the ground and wrapped around the kid.
"Hey! Hey! It was a joke! Calm down!" he said, slowly being choked.
Haru smiled, and released her mental grip on the vines. They withered, and fell to the ground, decomposing very quickly. "Don't joke with me. I'm not in the best of moods."
"Nine!" The Ninetales jumped in front of her master. "Nin, tales!"
"Um..." Haru was suddenly not so courageous when confronted with a very large, powerful Fire type Pokémon. But she had a weapon. She clenched her hand into a fist, and it began to glow softly.
Max's eyes fixated on the glow. With her other hand, she created a clump of Sleep Powder.
"Nin..." he growled. Haru froze, and turned up the glow. She couldn't up its power much, though; the sun wasn't up.
Max focused on the glowing hand, and when he was distracted, she struck. She threw the powder into his face, and, during the few moments while it kept him dazed while deciding whether to work (Sleep Powder was notoriously random), let the charged up energy go.
The relatively weak Solar Beam slammed into the Ninetales, and made him focus his attention elsewhere. Haru gave him another Sleep Powder, then leaped back.
"Hey! What was that for?" Will demanded.
Haru frowned, puzzled. Why had she done that? "I...don't know..." she murmured.
"Yeah. Sure you don't," Will sneered. "But...I can forgive it...with a little motivation..." He leaned in close to Haru.
She gasped, and slapped him. "Ow! Okay, I guess that's out..."
Celebi interrupted. -I believe Haru is not in complete control of herself.-
"What is that supposed to mean!?" Haru demanded, completely losing her cool. Why am I so emotional? she wondered.
"It means you're secretly attracted to me and your subconscious won't allow it." Will leered, leaning on her shoulder.
"Or not." Haru said, pushing him off.
-The Grass elemental energy flowing through you has heightened your senses, allowing you to feel when an elemental power that has an advantage over you is near. It dulled your sense of reason and triggered a self-defense mechanism that overrode logic.- Celebi explained.
"Oh. And I thought it was-" Will stopped when Haru waved a fist in his face. "-nothing." he finished in a squeak.
He muttered, "Must be that time of the-" He was interrupted when Haru tackled him.
"Don't. Ever. Say. That." she said, slapping him once for each word, hesitating, then adding two slaps. "That's for enjoying this."
She got off him, and he stared at her dazedly. "How did you know I enjoyed that?"
"Unfortunate association." she snapped. "Celebi, do you have anything else to say?"
-Only that you might want to recall the Ninetales, Will.-
"Okay. I can do that. Max, come back!"
The slumbering Ninetales was easily recalled. "Okay...now what?"
"We wait for Phoebe-chan." Haru said, calming down with the absence of the Ninetales. Guess you were right, Celebi-san.
-Of course I am. I'm Grass type too, you know.-
She jumped. "Wha-how did-"
Celebi grinned. -I'm just that good.-
Will watched this with a puzzled look on his face. "....what? What just happened?"
Haru glared daggers at him. "Nothing, baka."
"Hey!" Obviously, he knew rudimentary Japanese. "What was that for?"
"Three guesses, baka-chan."
"HEY!"
Celebi sighed. -It's going to be a long night...-
Twenty minutes later, she perked up again. -Someone is coming, Ho-oh!-
Ho-oh sighed, a loud sound. "Hooo, hou."
-I'll go check it out.- She beat her wings, and flew into the air, dimming her blazing feathers again.
Haru walked to the pass, using her training to keep from being seen. Even though Choumei discouraged actual fighting, most of the populace were at least grounded in the basics of ninja skills. She had been trained very well.
It was Phoebe, riding her Starmie and being followed by a Bayleef carrying an unconscious girl and a Butterfree. Haru scanned the pass, looking for any followers. None. She walked into the pass.
"Phoebe!" she exclaimed.
"Haru!" Phoebe cried. The Starmie increased its speed and she jumped off in front of Haru. "Hi!"
"Hello, Phoebe." Phoebe grinned like a madwoman, then remembered something. She ran over to her Bayleef.
"Haru, do you know any healing moves or have some medicine?" she asked.
"No, I'm sorry." Haru said. Ho-oh swooped down right then.
"Ho-oh, can you use Recover on Kendra?" Phoebe asked. "This is Kendra." She pointed at the blue haired woman on the Bayleef.
-Maybe...I can try.- She glowed brightly, and transferred the energy to Kendra. The nasty paleness faded completely, and she became very healthy, but she didn't wake up.
-Sorry. That's all I can do.- She flapped over to her earlier perch. -Did you get the medicine?-
"Yes, I did!" Phoebe said, digging in her pack. She pulled out the pink bottle. "Here it is!"
She ran over to Lugia, and opened the Revive. She sprayed a bit on his head, and on his chest. He glowed, and woke up.
-I'm...alive?-
"YES!" Phoebe exulted. She ran over to Kendra, and sprayed some on her. She glowed too, and awoke.
"Where...am I?"
"You're with me, Haru...chan...Ho-oh, Celebi and Lugia!" Phoebe explained, still very happy.
"Why are you so happy?" Kendra asked, staring at her.
"Ah...well...I don't know..." Her happiness trickled away. "Why am I so happy?"
-I believe your elemental powers are fully regenerated, and they are giving you an emotional boost. The effect should wear off momentarily.-
"Oh."
Ho-oh screeched suddenly. -Someone is here!-
