We're finally going back to the desert!
I'd usually fly when the others hunt, but I know I'll get my share of flying time in the desert. Instead, I wander around through the terrain I've become intimately familiar with.
Breakfast in such a familiar place reminds me of my ambivalent feelings towards the prey, but I easily push it away. It's a fact of life. The world is just like this. It's not as if I will stop eating. It's better to forget about it.
I smile.
"You seem really happy," Vie comments.
"We're going to the desert! Aren't you happy?"
"Yeah." She smiles back tentatively.
I finish eating quickly, and take another wander before we leave. This time, I stop by the shelter, and crawl inside. The darkness is vaguely soothing, reminding me of the times I'd slept inside here. Look, there's the bag I left behind. Flipping through it is much easier with separate fingers. There's the toy cube. I haven't gotten around to trying to play with it after I evolved. There's the branch, which looks much less chewy than when I was a Trapinch. And there's the black stone.
Which I killed a Salamence with. Pebble dodge turned out to be useful, huh? …Am I feeling remorse? I shouldn't. He killed my mother.
To think a Trapinch could kill a Salamence. Maybe that's my destiny – to defeat those stronger than me. With these powers, I can even best the gods!
The stone looks so dark. It's like a void that extends inwards. The more I stare into it, the more I wonder what's inside it, and what could have possibly made it with this colouring and shape…
I bring it close to my head, to observe it close.
There's no time to play. You're leaving soon.
Right. I place it back onto the floor and run out back to the clearing. Everyone seems mostly finished, and Rue is already gathering the remains to make the soil more fertile under some berry plants.
"All right, get ready!" she announces loudly to everyone, and within a few minutes everyone assembles together at the large clearings. Some of us get a last few sips of water before heading to the dry desert.
"Okay, so to reiterate," the Haxorus announces to everyone. "Hale, you'll lead the way, because Vie and Nova will be carrying others – and the moment you spot Lyrl in the distance, we stop. The two Salamence will stay together around the area, so any stray Flygon should avoid them. The rest of us will head in and ask about the Shallows, so no personal meetings with old friends and such. Then we leave and head to the Shallows. Understood?"
"Will they let me in?" Phendrene asks.
"We'll convince them."
And so the journey begins. Hale leads the way in front, while the rest of us stay behind him.
"Just a random question," Rue says as we've only just began, "How do you guys even know where to go? The desert all looks the same."
"It's easy to spot the walls from afar. And we just use the mountains in the distance as an approximate measure."
She knows talking requires far too much effort in a high-speed flight and doesn't ask anything else afterwards. We're quick to leave the forest biome and soon a familiar expanse of sand fills my vision.
I take note of the others flying next to me. Vie is pondering about her older brothers, while Hale is thinking about his old friends in a more general way. Rue is somewhat bored, because she doesn't know anyone there. Phendrene is considering to snuff her tail flame out (even though she can finally let it burn in the desert) to show the Flygon that she's not dangerous.
But I dare not touch the minds of two Salamence. In fact, maybe I'm using the ability too liberally. But I'm not reading their secrets. Rather, I'm only concerned about what is on their mind currently. During long times of nothingness like flying, they let the things that they care and worry about the most take over their mind. I'm merely trying to understand and help them.
Eating Sandshrew flesh again is quite refreshing. Tasting the metallic taste of blood incites a feeling of a guilty pleasure, something like giving into your instincts. It's a rather strange perspective I've gained, what with not feeling as much remorse.
That doesn't mean I've changed. It's only for the better. Wasting time thinking about something I won't change, it's pointless. I still care about lives that others don't care about (like that Growlithe), which is why I am still not willing to hunt. The world is simply like this. Deal with it.
Same with the scenario concerning my father. He is a Salamence and he left my mother and I alone. It has already happened, so I let it be. Although that doesn't mean we will be bonding anytime soon. The least I can do is tolerate his presence.
It's still early afternoon when we are in the vicinity of Lyrl. The fastest trip yet, because all the other trips had someone who was slower than we are now. The two Salamence are slightly frustrated at being left alone in a desert, but Vie's assurance that we will come back for them before an hour passes helps somewhat. Blight is worried about the Dratini having no water, but he also says he knows that we should be able to arrive at the Shallows' lake today. The journey had taken a few days for us as a Trapinch. But as a dragon gifted with flight, it is much easier to travel.
I feel the Salamence's worry in the unfamiliar territory is unwarranted. It's not like Lyrl has a patrol squad. I don't even think they have a formal military. The two Salamence are both older and stronger than me. They should be able to take care of themselves.
The five of us continue heading towards the small city Flygon have built upon remains of human civilisation. Come to think of it, I've never known why it was called Lyrl. Quite taxing on the tongue, I have to admit.
And so we meet the guards again.
"We're just visiting," Hale tries to explain straight away. "We'll leave before sundown."
It's a different one every time we come, but the reactions are similar for similar parties. If we're Flygon they let us straight in, but if we have anyone else they become confused and call their superiors. Even though they might take, what was it called, "DNA samples" because Haxorus is a rare species. At least Phendrene didn't have to face that the first time she entered. Mum had went ahead and negotiated first, for a strange Charmander she found in the desert… I don't see why someone like her deserves to die. Then again, I don't believe any semblance of a god exists, don't I? If they do, they must not care about us mortals, and have us merely as playthings to watch.
I realise I've drifted off into thought as the guard brings his superior. They have a little argument but Rue steps in and with that convincing tone of hers he lets even Phendrene through. I guess shutting off her flame did help. When she gets to the Shallows, she'll be able to keep it up as much as she wants.
To be fair, the guards aren't giving us a hard time. They must already have seen Haxorus visitors before, Rue thinks to herself. She's right. After all, the adult forms of Pokémon are far more likely to travel elsewhere than their children, so it's a lot more likely for Haxorus to have been here rather than Fraxure.
Phendrene's tug on me brings me out of my musing, and I realise that we're heading in. I can recognise the multitude of thoughts from many people around me. Though I shy away from reading them. I don't care about strangers' thoughts, especially if they're likely to think about the two non-Flygon ones here in a negative light.
I shouldn't be reading my friends' thoughts so much, anyway. We should get our job done first.
It's quite a ways walk to the clearing, since apparently we used the wrong entrance this time since Silex wasn't here to guide us around. The responsibility is on me, I guess, since I'm the one that comes over the most often to visit Zeta.
We still arrive fairly quickly, with quite a myriad of looks towards the Haxorus and the Charmeleon. I also recognise quite a few familiar faces.
"Vie and Hale? Wow! Where have you been?" a female Flygon I don't recognise calls.
They did get around better than I did. Although I can recite the names of most of my peers from back in the Shallows, I was never as talkative.
After some introductory remarks, Hale asks for the information we came here for. "So, have you been back to the Shallows, or did you stay here?"
"Nah, risking meeting Salamence is dangerous. Plus, it's simpler when we hunt around the area we have to deliver it to, although food's a bit scarce lately…"
Rue tells them to ask more people for confirmation, and that it would be faster if we asked people separately. We stay in roughly the same area, but it isn't hard finding people to talk to, as many seem to flock to us, whether intrigued by the different species or simply seeing an old friend.
"Nova." I didn't expect someone to come to me, but this voice I recognise. It's Skein. My mother's friend. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. We're just visiting with more friends this time," I tell him.
"Where's Silex?"
My heart skips a beat. "She didn't come today. …Helping Sceptile or something."
"I see." He moves his head closer to me in a secretive manner. "Well, I want to tell you…"
"About my father's species? I know already."
He pauses. "Oh."
"Thank you, though." I smile at him. "I appreciate the effort."
"I thought you'd be a bit more upset… knowing your mother… you know."
"I was, but I'm over it now." What did Silex say again? He was jealous of my father? Maybe. I can see how he'd be upset if my mother chose a Salamence over him. I don't know if I came up with that conclusion by myself, or if I'm subconsciously reading his mind. "You loved my mother, didn't you?"
"Yeah. Sorry if that's-"
"It's fine. I don't mind. She's not here anymore, anyway."
"Nova!" I hear someone shout. The voice is female.
"I'll be off, then. Give Silex my regards," Skein says.
"Wait!" I ask, remembering my purpose for being here isn't for chatting about my Mum. "One more thing. Have you been to the Shallows?"
He seems confused. "No, why?"
"Just wondering. See you!"
Skein nods and turns to walk away. I turn towards the Flygon waiting for me. "Hello."
"I couldn't catch you the last few times you came in! It's been a while, hasn't it?"
The voice is vaguely familiar, but I don't want to embarrass myself by asking her name. I try and get a glimpse of her mind but it's just Nova's group is back. Right, who would think about their own name all the time?
"Yeah," I try and pass off knowing her with some generic question. "What have you been doing?"
"We moved, but now that I'm a Flygon I come here often for Zeta. Can you believe that he's still a Trapinch? I heard there was a Charmeleon so I knew it must have been you guys! Where's Vie and the others?"
"Oh, they're just around here. They're just talking to other people." She knows Zeta? Is it Dice? She had a red shell as a Trapinch but unlike Vie and Hale (whose light skin colouration becomes a lot more noticeable amidst Flygon rather than by ourselves) that feature didn't pass on after she evolved. I haven't seen her since we left for the first time, when we were both Trapinch. She's not from the Shallows, though, so it's not that I don't like her, it's just that she's not of use for our purposes now. At any rate, I'm glad she can't read my mind. In fact, if anyone could read our mind, we'd be in danger, because they'd know we have Salamence with us.
Dice has gone on to find the twins, and I'm left alone again. Glancing around, I realise Rue is showing off her tusks again, while Phendrene seems to be chatting with a Vibrava. I don't get around very well, do I?
"Nova!" I suddenly hear a different female voice. Another Flygon runs over to me. "It's me, Navy! How are you?"
Even though I usually spend my time with Zeta, I've still seen her around. "Hey. I'm fine. You?"
To be honest, it is somewhat overwhelming to be back around everyone after being used to the company of only a few people.
"I can hunt better now that I'm a Flygon. It's a little tough, because prey's getting scarce, because there are so many hunting around. So I have to fly far out to possibly find some Sandshrew. Enough about me, how's it in the forest?"
"It's decent." I would talk to her more but right now it's not time for idle chat. "By the way, have you ever gone back to the Shallows?"
She pauses. "No, why?"
"Just wondering. People don't go there anymore, do they?"
She thinks for a moment. "Well, some people used to still check it just after the Salamence had attacked, but no one really pays attention to that place anymore. Why does it matter, though?"
I feel self-conscious – anyone listening in on us would find it strange that we're asking so much about the Shallows. But no one is, so that's fine.
"It's just food for thought. I mean, all the Flygon you know live here, right?"
"You don't!" she answers, and laughs. "And I know a few others who left to elsewhere in the desert. I mean, not everyone wants to live here. I for one think its fine, because it's pretty nice here, you know?"
She's still easy to talk to, but it still feels off, because the group of us that have been together are so close. Even without being through the Salamence attack down south, we still lived together on a day-to-day basis in the forest. I can't talk to my old acquaintances like I used to.
"Nova," a Haxorus paw taps on my arm during my conversation. "We need to go."
"This fast?" Navy asks, confused.
"We'll be coming back," I tell her. "We just need to, um…"
"There's this Dratini we need to help," Rue cuts in. "It's a little complicated. Nova might be back even as soon as tomorrow, so don't worry."
"Oh… Okay. See you then," she says.
"Bye."
Rue grabs the other people as well and we start walking back out of Lyrl. Phendrene's Vibrava friend seemed determined to follow along so we couldn't talk about our plans, so my mind wanders off to what the two Salamence must be doing outside right now.
When we arrive at the gate, Phendrene bids goodbye to the Vibrava. I am tempted to ask her about the Vibrava but she seems in a good mood so I don't disturb her.
"I assume all the answers were negative?" Rue says once we're out of earshot. "That is, no one has gone to the Shallows."
"Yep," I answer.
"Same here," Vie says.
"There still might be stray Flygon hanging around, though," Hale says. "We're far from the only ones that don't like the atmosphere in Lyrl."
I didn't mind it much, personally, but at that point I got kicked out with Phendrene, which was why I didn't stay there.
"Wait, everyone." Phendrene's voice, louder than she used to be, still surprises me. "Where are those two?"
I raise my head and glance around, trying to search for a sign of a Salamence. "Let's get into the air," I suggest. Rue climbs onto my back quickly and I leap up into the sky. The sounds of the other two Flygon taking flight is faint in the background as I scour around for the blue dragons.
Nothing.
"Oh hell no. Don't tell me they went off to the Shallows by themselves," Rue says angrily.
"I doubt they would," I reply. "Maybe they retreated further because there were Flygon…"
But a few minutes of searching around the area still yields nothing. Hale motions us back to the sand (as it would be too difficult to hold a conversation in mid-air).
"Great. Now what?" The Haxorus is very frustrated on my back.
"Let's head to the Shallows first? It's a short flight," Hale suggests.
"The reason we're going to the Shallows is for that Dratini," Rue replies. "What's the point of going without him?"
"Let's go back to Lyrl to ask?" Vie says, unsure.
"Ask what? What will people in Lyrl know?" Rue returns.
"Maybe they will have sighted Salamence," Phendrene says quietly. "If not, we can just go to the Shallows."
"Sounds good," I say.
"Fine," the Haxorus agrees. "Stupid Salamence. Can't even stay still-"
"You can rant after you get off my back, okay?" I tell her, annoyed.
She manages to keep quiet until she gets off near the gate again, at which point I ignore her and her thoughts. She's not the only one worried, but cursing won't solve anything.
"Excuse me," Hale walks up to the guard, the same one as when we entered. "Have you seen any Salamence around here?"
"Huh? What?"
"We're just a little worried, because we heard rumours," Vie steps in and helps Hale lie.
"…No! Of course not. …"
His tone is suspicious and I instantly enter his mind. Can't tell the group with the Haxorus and Charmeleon…
"You're LYING." I step forward immediately. "Tell us!"
"Whoa, Nova-"
"Vie, wait." I turn back to the Flygon guard, who is shrinking in front of me. "I know you're lying!"
"I'm s-sorry! My boss said to keep it from you guys. I-I don't know why!"
"I don't care. Tell us what happened."
"A group of soldiers – ones higher ranking than me! – went to capture those Salamence. And brought them in from here."
"Where are they?" I shout.
The guard is back against the wall now. "I don't know anything else!"
"Let's go find him." I call to the others. "Rue, what are you doing? Climb onto me!"
The others seem ready and mobilised from their faces and thoughts, with Phendrene on Vie's back already. But Rue just stands there staring at me.
"…How did you know he was lying?"
"Who cares! Come on!"
Rue climbs on without pressing the issue further and I take off over on top of Lyrl, glancing down at the short human structures that Flygon now own. There are not many other Flygon that fly for leisure so the skies are quite empty.
"But it's not like you to…" the Haxorus starts.
"Shut up. Talk later."
A large clearing congregated with many Flygon is hard to miss. There seems to be an elevated stage left clean.
"Wait, Nova, don't barge in like that! It's too suspicious. Let's hide in the crowd."
Like a Haxorus and a Charmeleon in a Flygon crowd isn't going to be suspicious. Even so, I listen to her and land around the area, a bit far from the front of the crowd but close enough to peer in.
I can even see Vibrava and Trapinch in the crowd. …
"Are you sure this place is relevant to the captured Salamence?" Vie asks me.
"What else could it be? A concert? There are loudspeakers."
"What's a concert? Or even loudspeakers?"
"Nothing relevant, but-"
A loud voice coming from the loudspeakers interrupts me. "Welcome, brothers and sisters." It's a happy male voice. "I'm sure those of us gathering here have all heard of the news. We have captured," – a pause – "Salamence!"
There's a cheer from the crowd. I grit my teeth, feeling anxious.
"It's been five years since the Shallows was attacked and the Flygon community had to merge to avoid the danger of being attacked. Many lives were lost that day. Five years later, we gain our first victory on the Salamence!"
Five years? We weren't even fighting anymore. And now you have to make this propaganda and reignite the flames of hatred between the two species…
A familiar snarl is heard and by peeking my head upwards I see many, many Flygon dragging out the two Salamence who are tied up by ropes. The Dratini, normally so snugly curled around my father's neck, is nowhere to be seen.
What happened to the plan? Why couldn't they get away? Why does Lyrl even have a military?
"It is due to their sabotage that our technological systems have stopped working," the loud voice booms.
"What was that about their technology?" I ask.
"Dice told me there's been some trouble," Vie says in a hushed voice. "But that's irrelevant. What can we do now?"
"I don't know," Hale responds. "Even with Rue's fighting abilities, we can't take on everyone."
"Hah, let's hope what happened to Silex happens to them too," Rue gives a sarcastic joke. I glare at her, but stay quiet.
"And for that, they will be punished," the voice continues. "…with execution!"
My breath stops. Execution? …Really?
"We need to do something," Phendrene says urgently, uncharacteristic of her. "I can keep them at bay with my fire, and Rue with her tusks. We can keep them occupied because they aren't use to our attacks. And you three untie them-"
"But before the execution, we have some accomplices of them! The group with the Haxorus over there!"
A shiver goes down my spine as the other Flygon around us have realised our presence, leaving a gap around us five. How did they know we're related? Someone must have told them…
"Go!" Rue gives a cry, and runs over towards the Salamence. The civilian crowd immediately parts a way for the angry Haxorus and the rest of us follow her to the Salamence, who are still tied up.
"Free Blight first," Rue whispers to us. "If he could defeat the Hydreigon, he's got to be useful-"
"I'm afraid your alliance with the Salamence is over now," the stupid voice says.
"Stop hiding behind your loudspeaker!" I yell, frustrated at his taunts. "Come out!"
"I'm not hiding." I hear the voice in its normal form, and a particular Flygon walks from behind the masses of soldiers to us, holding a microphone in one hand. His face is plump and paunchy, and his wing muscles are small, as if he doesn't fly much.
"Accomplices of the Salamence, I give you a chance," he speaks into the microphone. "You are not our enemy. You will be left alone if you do not interfere with us."
"Interfere with your murder of innocent dragons?" Vie shouts.
"Salamence aren't innocent. I wonder how that thought came to mind? Did you not hear of the Flygon killed at the Shallows five years ago?"
"I know full well," Vie spits back. "My parents were both killed. But these two Salamence are innocent."
"My, what strange a thought process you have?" he announces ever so smugly.
"It's useless. We can't convince them," I say.
"Prepare to fight, guys," Rue whispers.
"But… what can we do?" Hale responds. "The five of us up against… everyone? We might as well give up…"
"No! You want them to die?" Vie pushes Hale in the side in the side.
"Well, on with the show! We have prepared guillotines!"
Guillotines?! How savage are they?
The Charmeleon shouts cry and breathes a huge blast of fire over to the soldiers standing between us and the two Salamence. The light distracts me for a moment and I can even feel the heat – those Flygon scatter easily with warning shouts. Then she runs over onto the stage quickly and starts biting on the ropes tying Blight together.
The rest of us follow her lead quickly, but the instant I feel the ropes I can tell they are not easy to break. Spire is struggling hard but he can't get out. On the other hand, Blight is calm, although he seems to want to speak but his mouth is tied shut.
Burn them.
That's Blight's thought. I'm about to relay it to Phendrene who is still frantically chewing on Blight's ropes before I hear many footsteps. Turning around, I see dozens of Flygon, surrounding us from below the stage.
"A good show, Charmeleon," the voice comments. "But you are outnumbered and outmatched."
"Maybe outnumbered, but certainly not outmatched," the Haxorus replies in battle stance. "Relish in your opportunity to feel the blades of Haxorus," she taunts, causing the Flygon to falter.
"Look at your own position before taunting," the voice scoffs. "For the three Flygon standing upon the stage, this is truly your last chance to-"
"We won't betray our friends!" Hale shouts firmly.
"Very well." The Flygon announcer-leader has flown to one of the roofs nearby. "Attack."
The first Flygon tries to climb the stairs but gets a stream of flames in his face. The next almost gets a Haxorus tusk in her head. Vie and Hale start fending off ones that attack from the air, with more skilled movements they undoubtedly learnt with Rue. While I just stand here next to the two struggling Salamence, staring at my friends trying to defend the two Salamence and me with their lives.
The situation is so surreal. We were supposed to be fighting Salamence. And here we are, fighting the Flygon of Lyrl.
The plan couldn't have gone wrong. Even if they found Spire and Blight, the two would have been able to fight or run. The Flygon must have been prepared.
Someone tipped them off.
Glancing amongst the civilian Flygon crowd watching the battle, I methodically sift through their minds.
A Salamence? I thought they finally would leave us alone.
…
I'm scared. What if it's going to be like the Shallows again?
…
Why are these Flygon defending them? It doesn't make sense.
…
Finally, we've captured the Salamence this time! This will be our chance.
…
It's not my fault. Flygon shouldn't have mingled with Salamence.
That one. A female Flygon observing discretely from the side.
At least I did something for you, Mother and Father. Who knew spending time with that group of Flygon could lead to this.
It's Flora.
Though I remember there only being one Shelgon. They must have made more friends.
We all but forgot about her. But she knew.
She knew that we had Salamence with us! They killed both her parents. And she took her petty revenge on them by getting them captured. I bet she wants these two Salamence dead, even if they have nothing to do with the Salamence who killed her parents.
"Ah!" The Haxorus's grunt of pain brings me out of Flora's mind and back to my fighting friends. I've been just standing here pondering, while they're putting their life on the line.
Phendrene uses her tail, now aflame, to swat away Rue's attacker.
Vie and Hale seem to be faring a bit better. They're surrounding the two Salamence and me, and anyone approaching from the sky fights from a disadvantage.
Meanwhile, the lone Flygon, microphone still in hand, watches from above. He's the one behind all this.
The Haxorus stumbles back, blood dripping from her arm. I close my eyes, not wanting to see the injury.
They're still fighting. For a hopeless cause. And I'm standing here, being useless.
…
No.
It's not hopeless. And I'm not useless.
If this is the way I come out to the world, then so be it.
I open my eyes. Phendrene alone can hardly hold against the Flygon. Vie and Hale seem to be getting tired too. Rue clutches her wound and gasps for breaths.
My hand reaches out to the Flygon on top of the roof. Instantly, I take control of his body and lift him into the open air.
"Stop!"
The noise dies down slowly. One by one, the Flygon stop fighting and their gazes come to the one in the air. Phendrene is the last one to realise and is still hissing at the Flygon in front of her before Rue tugs on her shoulder, and she too looks up.
"What sorcery is this!" the leader shouts from above, now in a panicked tone.
"Don't any of you move an inch if you want him alive. Phendrene, go burn the ropes."
She stares at me. "Nova… you…"
"Do it!" I order with my invisible hand held firm around the leader, and she runs over to them immediately.
I look around. Just about everyone else's eyes has moved to me.
"Flygon," the one I'm holding up calls me, even though he is one himself. "You won't get out of this-"
With a clench of my fist, I choke him by applying pressure to his neck. "You shut your mouth."
Vie runs over to Rue and helps her back up. But she still takes a moment to glance at me and my outstretched arm, and then back to the Flygon I am holding in the air.
The soldiers of Lyrl seem restless. One of them tenses their muscle in preparation of attacking, but I see it all too clearly. As he lunges towards Rue I use my other hand to easily throw him onto the wall of a building to the side.
"Don't try anything funny," I warn them.
"Nova!" Blight's voice sounds behind me. "You-"
"You don't distract me, either! Phendrene, release Spire."
The entire world is silent. Everyone's gaze is still on me. It feels like forever until finally I hear Spire's snarl.
He glares at me with a deathly glare, completely ignoring the fact that I just saved his life. So what if I tried to read his mind?
"Everyone, fly away now," I order. "Blight, carry Rue as best you can. You know where to meet up."
"We need to find Fly!" Blight's worried voice disrupts my focus.
"Right. Where's the Dratini?" I turn back and shout at the Flygon leader I'm holding up in the air.
"G-give them the Dratini…"
A Flygon runs out of a room somewhere, holding Fly, and walks up to us.
Hale is about to take Fly over before the Flygon steps backwards. "Wait," she says. "You have a hostage. But I do too. Release our leader, and-"
"Nice try." With another swipe of my arm I push her off the stairs of the stage while catching the Dratini in midair. Ignoring the Flygon's yelp as she hits the ground, I levitate Fly towards Blight and let him tangle around the Salamence's neck.
"Leave!" I shout at my friends. Rue limps onto Blight, who seems to shift uncomfortably as the Haxorus weighs on him. Hale is helping Spire get the last of his ropes off him. But Phendrene, after climbing onto Vie, says my name.
"Nova, you can-"
"They'll follow us. I can handle myself. Go!" I'm afraid to take my mind off the leader I'm holding in midair. It's the only reason they're not attacking us.
One by one, they take off, and fly into the distance.
"If anyone follows them, your leader is dead," I threaten as some Flygon soldiers attempt to start into the air.
Only until I can't see my friends anymore do I let go off the leader I'd been holding up. He almost drops to the floor before he rights himself with his wings.
The relief is so overwhelming that I sigh and sit down on the floor. The continued silence is so misleading. Everyone's attention here is still definitely centred upon me. I don't care anymore. They all know. Everyone in Lyrl knows. Finally, I have nothing to hide.
"What are you?" Someone shouts from the crowd. "Some kind of witch?"
I give out a loud bitter laugh. "What are you? Savage beasts that want to murder other dragons. You have no right to call me anything."
No one dares approach me for a solid minute as they all just watch me sit on the stage. It is then I remember I have some unfinished business with a certain someone, and right myself, startling the crowd.
I walk off the stage slowly. The crowd of soldiers part ways, afraid of me. The crowd of civilians shifts, too. I spot a particular one run from the scene.
"Oh Flora, you're not getting away." Another swift movement of my arm lets me take control of Flora. At the same time, a soldier charges at me from behind but I note his mind and use my other arm to fling him against another wall.
"Nova you traitor – let me go!" she shouts. It is her voice, all right.
I bring her closer through telekinesis and throw her on the ground in front of me. "Now, what should your punishment of telling them about the Salamence be?"
"You… How could you?" She pushes herself up from the ground, staring at me with what must be hatred. "The Salamence killed my parents! How could you ever live with monsters like them!"
"Really." I feel a faint smile creep up onto my lips. "I find that quite humorous. Especially because I just… saved… two lives."
The realisation comes to me.
They're just like what we thought of the Salamence. It's only because I was born a Flygon… that I ever though the Salamence were evil for opposing us. Both of them, collectively as a species, hate each other and would murder each other fervently if given the chance to.
Mum's death is brought back into my mind. Vie attacked that Salamence as a Trapinch. Her hatred of the Salamence was what ultimately caused my mother's death…
"Charge at him at once!" the leader suddenly shouts. "He can't control all of you at once!"
I hear the cries of many Flygon and instantly levitate myself into the sky. I have to let go of Flora, but it's still satisfying to see the soldiers crash into each other.
"Why do you defend the Salamence?" someone shouts. It's the voice of a young Vibrava, surely confused at my actions.
The first time we tolerated Spire was because he swore to kill the Salamence King, just like us. But now, I'm here, in the midst of Lyrl Flygon, pondering about whether I still want to kill the Salamence King, and if I would stop my friends if they attempt to do so.
"He's insane," someone says, and there is muttering throughout the crowd.
I wonder how many people I know are watching me from below. Thinking about the Nova that they used to know, then seeing this psychic Flygon toying with their beloved army.
Fate must have been reading my thoughts, because at that instant, someone shouts my name.
"Nova! Please, talk to us!" Jay yells at me. "What happened to you?"
"I saw the truth," I answer.
I sense multiple minds congregate behind me in mid-air, attempting to attack me from behind. I turn around instantly and with a wave of my arm they are all stopped as I rise further into the air.
"He's sided with the Salamence!" another frantic voice shouts.
"Sides? There are no sides," I reply. "You're all the same."
With that, I decide I've spent enough time in this rotten place for my friends to be safe, and launch myself in a random direction to simply get out.
As I leave the walls, I give a quick glance behind. No one dare follows me. I wonder what they are saying about me right now. Nova, the traitor. Nova, the Salamence sympathiser. But I don't regret making the whole world of Flygon hate me. I don't share their values, and I don't have any close friends. The only person I would ever want to see again is Zeta.
I falter at the realisation and almost drop out of my flight. After this, I'll never be able to see Zeta again. He will probably hear from the others that Nova went crazy and saved two Salamence. And how will he react? Maybe he will act nonchalant, like he always is. And forget about me.
I shake my head to stop myself from tearing up. It's time to find my way back to the Shallows. I only know its vague direction, but the cliffs and caverns there should be easily noticeable.
We're never going to be able to go back to Lyrl anymore. Even Vie and Hale would be recognised on sight, thanks to their skin colouration. I would have managed to pass off without any noticeable traits in my appearance, if I hadn't loitered around in the crowds of Flygon. In the end, I didn't get any retribution I planned to obtain from Flora.
…
The Shallows hasn't changed much. It's the same, but empty. No, that's an understatement. It's desolate.
I see the others gathered around Vie's cave, because that's surely where the twins led everyone. But for me, I skip on by to the cave I used to live in from so long ago and curl up inside, closing my eyes and trying to block out everything that has just happened. I want to pretend that everything has been a dream, and my Mum will come and wake me up and bring me flying and tell me to hunt and then, I'll go play with Vie and listen to Silex and…
"Nova." The Charmeleon's voice. I don't bother opening my eyes. "You are really a psychic."
I don't respond and just lie there, in a vague hope that she'll think I'm asleep and walk away.
"You can tell me." She lies down in front of me and pulls me into a hug.
"What is there to tell?" I whisper with my eyes still closed. "I am really a psychic. You've seen it."
I hear heavy footsteps coming in. "You didn't need to hide it from us," Rue says.
"You know now anyway, don't you?" I push myself out of Phendrene's hug. "I'm going flying."
"Wait!" The Haxorus grabs onto my arm again. "This is your cave from a child, right?"
"I'm not in the mood for chitchat. Haxorus, let go of me."
"Fine. But talk to us tonight," she says as her grip loosens.
"Maybe," is my last response to them before I run out and leap into the open sky. Using wings feels a lot more natural than levitation. The cool wind flowing against it nice as well. Looking over this place where I used to live, I can only wonder what my mother would think of me now.
Killing the Salamence King, huh? We're no different than the Flygon I looked down upon in Lyrl.
I want to go somewhere else. The desert reminds me too much of my old life.
The innocence that the Growlithe reminds me so much of… It will never come back.