There is a dull ache in my side. I try to feel it, but my hand is blocked by some sort of cloth. Opening my eyes, I find myself in a small, dark room, lying on a small bed that takes up half of it, my body covered in a puffy white blanket. The side of the wall my feet is facing is transparent with a faded reflection of myself, telling me that it is glass. It opens to a large messy room full of paper on desks and strange machines or contraptions put aside. The only entrance to the room seems to be on the far end, where there is a double door. The lights at the top are very dim, explaining the darkness in here. No one is in the room at the moment, but it feels like it should be occupied in its natural state.
How did I get here? I push myself up, trying to wake myself up properly. The memory of a Haxorus jumping off a cliff resurfaces and I stiffen in shock.
I've been captured by the Salamence.
No wonder these marble stone walls are so cold, I'm somewhere in the mountains. But there is no window in sight. The ceiling is fairly low, too. There is a hatch to the right side of the wall, and around it I observe artificial lines that must be its opening.
The lights flicker on as the door to the large room opens, startling me so much that I lie down and pretend to be unconscious. I hear soft footsteps come closer and closer, followed a knock on the glass.
I remain still, trying to concentrate and grasp onto the person's mind, but I can't.
"I know you're awake," comes a muffled and squeaky female voice.
Opening my eyes again, I spot a yellow figure standing outside the glass wall. The black rings on its neck and ears complement the white, vulnerable belly. She steps aside to the right and the hatch opens, giving a small window of her face. "How is your wound?" she asks.
Unsure of her intentions, I simply stay silent and hide under the blankets, only peeking out with my head.
She sighs, and makes a face that I can only partially see from the hatch. "If you don't know already, we are not allowed to harm you. I'm here to make sure your injury is healing."
"Injuries that you made!" I shout back, staying under my blankets.
"No, your injury was that of a Haxorus, if I am not mistaken," she answers impatiently. "Now, remove your bandage and show me the wound at the hatch."
I don't feel like coming out of the blankets. It's warm and comfortable.
"The faster you show me, the faster you get food," she says flatly. Only then do I realize that my stomach is aching. Reluctantly, I climb out of my warm bed, and look at my own body. Other than the bandage around my waist, there are no signs of injury. But I remember distinctively being too weak to even stand up… It was the ice shards, wasn't it?
"What do I do with this?" I ask and point to the bandage.
"Just peel it off."
I grab onto one point and pull hard. It comes off around me, and eventually I can see a scabbed gash where the Haxorus tusk hit.
"Good news for you, it's healed. Now hand me the bandage through the hatch," she orders. I give it to her, and she scrunches it up. "All right. Now, just wait for your food," she finishes before navigating back through the messy room adjacent to my cellar, and then through the double doors.
How did she know that I was awake? I look up at the ceiling, and immediately spot a small camera in the inner corner opposite my bed. So they are monitoring me. Not that I care. Beginning to feel cold again, I climb into the blankets and bury my face in the soft pillow.
This isn't another strange dream. I am captured by the Salamence and in one of their buildings. I get the feeling that this is somewhere important, considering the quality of stone used for the walls, and the comfort of this bed, but I have no idea where.
Who was that girl, anyway? I've never seen her species before, and as a result I can't tell her age. She isn't a dragon, much like the Lucario and Weavile that attacked me. Why are these Pokémon with the Salamence?
I shake my head and push it further into the pillow. That's the least of my worries. What about Rue? Did she get out safely? She doesn't seem to be here, so I hope she made it back to the desert on foot. But even so, she will only meet up with Vie and Hale. I feel my breath stop as I realize that they have no way of going back down south to the shore. It took me weeks to fly down there the first time, and that's without a Haxorus. They can't even carry the Haxorus, she has to walk on foot. All the others still down south at the beach… they won't hear a word of me. Phendrene will probably think that I ran away again. Oh no…
Why did they have to capture me? Just because I'm a psychic Flygon? I don't even know why I'm psychic. They should just let me go. I don't even want to bother them. …But they don't know that. Last time I took a Salamence's cave and ended up destroying it. They must think of me as a rogue Flygon that is running rampant in their territory.
At least from what that yellow creature said, they are not allowed to harm me. Still, I am stuck in this tiny prison, unable to fly, practice psychic, or do anything. What do they want from me?
I hear the door open and more footsteps, this time more than one person, prompting me to hide my head under the covers and stay silent, holding my tail close to curl into as tight a position as possible. I don't want people looking at me thinking I'm some kind of monster.
There's another few knocks on the glass, and the sound of the hatch opening, but I don't feel like appearing to them. The same voice calls, "It's your food." A grumble in my stomach makes me grudgingly sneak out of the covers and look out. The yellow creature is still there, followed by the Lucario and a large green bug with blades for arms. I ignore their looks at me and grab the pieces of meat through the chute, and start gulping them down.
"A few days ago… …found him… …with a Haxorus," I hear some of what the Lucario mutters to the others. "He… …float himself… …dragon pulses…"
Becoming fed up at being talked about so obviously, I slap my tail against the glass wall and give them a defiant look. The Lucario gives a short laugh, and comments, "What a nasty temperament! Scyther, it's almost like you…" Then he continues gossiping about what happened on the day of my capture, completely ignoring my discontent. They're treating me as a different creature, not one of their own. Perhaps a monster whose capture gives them glory.
I feel sick at my curiosity, tension welling up in my thoughts. I do want to ask them questions, of how many days ago it was, of whether the Haxorus was here, but I don't want to speak to them. That would just satisfy them, seeing me in such a vulnerable position. I'll never give them that, even if it means I know nothing. As soon as all the meat is stuffed in, I climb back under my blankets as fast as possible and curl up against the soft bed, trying to find solace in privacy.
As time passes, I hear various different footsteps and voices chattering about me. I learn to place my head under the pillow to block all sound and light out, pretending I'm in a dark world of nothingness. I only ever come out whenever the creature I now know as Ampharos gives me food. Otherwise, I refuse to answer to anything.
But my stubbornness makes me lonely. The desire to speak to someone gnaws at me from within, but still I refuse. If they treat me like a monster, then I'll act like one to them. I can tell that they're never going to release me, anyway. With my psychic powers still disabled, I have no way out of this. I am stuck here for good. When alone, I've tried using pulses on the wall or glass but they all withhold my attacks. My helplessness makes me angry, but there's nothing I can do.
I am unable to keep track of time. I don't even know if they give me two or three or four meals every day, because I can't gauge how long a day is. After some dozen meals, I become far too bored, and take peeks out from under the covers. Though I try to be discreet, they still notice, and often times stare back, and we engage in a staring contest before inevitably they get bored, leaving me alone again. As strange as it sounds, seeing their condescending looks and fingers pointed at me has become my only interest in here.
But that's only when they even bother to see me. Most of the time the room is empty, but sometimes some of the bipedal Pokémon sit at tables, occupied with work. I'm beginning to think that the Salamence aren't involved, and the ones that day never existed, until one pushes the door open and walks in. At that time, Ampharos is sitting in the room. A few words from the Salamence make her leave, though she clearly isn't happy about it.
The Salamence walks nearer and I cover myself completely, trying to pretend I'm asleep. But he must have noticed the movements in my blankets, for I hear the sound of the hatch opening, and a call. "Dear psychic Flygon, I need to talk to you."
It's the first time I've heard any semblance of politeness in this desolate prison. Every time I've heard someone talk to me here, it was at best neutral and at worst derisive. I poke my entire head out of the blanket, and glance at the small space the hatchet had opened, seeing a lean Salamence face. "What do you want?" I ask, still keeping the rest of my body within my blankets.
"I just want to talk. Does that sound good?" he says and smiles.
"You're not some interrogator for the King, are you?" I ask, still suspicious.
"There is no need for an interrogator. For I am the King."
I stare at his friendly face. In my mind, the Salamence King had always been huge. His royal image would be adorned with various pieces of accessories that indicated his status, at least a gold crown. And when he spoke, it would be in a deep, dark tone, with evil laughter interspersing every sentence. Only now do I realize how silly my childhood imagination was. Here he stands. A slightly below-average sized male Salamence, no noticeable features, and a normal voice.
I shake my head. "I don't believe you," I say out of denial.
"It's true. I am Zeal, King of the Salamence," he says again, and stares at me with a straight eye. Though I've long since lost my mind reading powers, I find myself believing him.
"Fine!" I answer bitterly, still keeping myself within the bed. "What does the King want from me? You just want to keep me cooped up in here the rest of my life, right? Because I'm a monster?" I even believed that I was one myself, when they first knew. Yet when I've finally made peace with my friends, they come and lock me up.
But he only shakes his head. "I am… unrelated to these matters," he says, in an almost regretful tone. "Before we talk further, I would like to know your name. Would you like to tell me?"
Seeing genuine interest in his eyes, I shift my arms out of the blankets and sit up. "My name is Nova," I say. "Um, what should I call you?"
"You may call me King, or Zeal, I don't mind if you scrap the title," he says with a laugh. "I don't know what type of person you are, but I have a request that hasn't been able to be fulfilled by anyone. And you are my best hope. I was wondering if you would honour my request and help me. I understand that as a Flygon, you must have quite some animosity with the Salamence, but I hope you will still hear me out. Please come closer."
I wonder how he could ask this of what to him is the most dangerous Flygon that there could ever be. He must be extremely desperate. I would definitely like to hear more, especially if he really is the Salamence King. He doesn't seem like the type that would kill Spire's parents. It feels like he isn't even in charge of this place. So I move the blankets aside, and sit down next to the hatch, which is fairly low, probably to accommodate the Salamence's shorter height. "So, King, what is your request?"
"It's about my son… the Bagon prince," the King begins. "He left. I couldn't protect his mother, and am deeply regretful for that. But he didn't understand, and surely blamed me for her death. So he ran away. Being raised as a prince, in this palace, he has never been very strong. I can only wonder what dangers are out there. I have ordered searches, to the desert, to the canyons, to the forests… None of them returned anything. That was six years ago, and now everyone is telling me to give up, and that he must've died in the wild, but-"
"Wait," I interrupt, pulling myself away from the hatch. "Six years ago. That's when my home was attacked by Salamence," I return, my voice raising in anger. "So you were the one responsible! My friend was right," I hiss, feeling my sympathy fade.
"Please forgive me," he begs quietly, his voice trembling. "I didn't mean any of it. I didn't know that the General would let the soldiers to do such a thing. Please… just listen to this old Salamence, who only wants to find his son."
He looks positively morose, and I started to question if he really was the King yet again. I would have never believed that the Salamence King, painted as a villain for my entire life, was as pitiful as this. No matter who had told me, I wouldn't have believed it. But now I'm seeing it with my own eyes, and I know for it to be true.
"I have no power here," he continues. "I was the youngest child, and never thought I would be next in line. But somehow, all my older brothers died together, in a deadly fight for the throne. I knew the other Salamence were behind it, but I could do nothing. And now I'm just a figurehead," he says in despair. "But I don't mind. I'm satisfied with this life. I only want my son back. Please, help me find the half-blood prince."
I just stand there, staring at his sullen face, trying to make sense of the revelations. I had never been acquainted with any sort of leadership system. The only time I met the Flygon ones in Lyrl were when they tried to kill me and I had to hold that one hostage. But Rue has told me tales of fanciful power struggles of humans and all different Pokémon kingdoms. I once dismissed them as stories, legends, and laughed them away. But only now I realize how wrong I've been. Living in the wild, away from any sort of organized society, I had no idea that such thing could happen. But here I am, with the dolour of the Salamence King getting to me as my heart softens.
"The half-blood prince," I repeat. "He's a half-blood. What was his mother's species?"
His eyes lighten up, hearing that I've accepted his request. "She was a Garchomp. We met when I was travelling around in my youth, never bothering with any princely duties…"
"All right, if you don't mind me asking, how did you fail to protect her?" I continue, inquiring about the past of the royal family.
He pauses for a second. "After the Bagon prince… She laid an egg, of which hatched a Trapinch. Even if she was truly unfaithful, I still wouldn't have ordered her death… but the news spread, and everyone decided her fate for me," he says with the usual helplessness.
"So what happened to the Trapinch?" I ask further.
"I sent him off to live in the wild in the desert. I have no idea if he made it, and it sickens me to think that my servants might have…"
I sigh. The Salamence King's life really seems quite miserable. "And your son, the Bagon – his name was?"
"Scourge," the King answers. "I wanted for him to be a bit more fierce than me… for I was named Snowflake at birth. But, of course, it was deemed as an unfit secondary name to a King, so they all referred to me by the royal bloodline's surname after these mountains, Zeal."
"I know a few Salamence," I tell him, trying to find connections. "Their names are Blight, Spire, Sylar, and Era. Do you recognize any of their names? Could they be of help in finding the prince?"
"I haven't heard the other names, but I do know Blight," he answers. "He was my nephew, and a prodigy who-"
"Wait," I interrupt him. "Blight was your nephew? He is Salamence royalty?"
"Yes, but he was never too close with my son," he continues. "He was my sister's child, a prodigy who was called for during the Hydreigon's reign. He didn't want to take up any responsibilities, and just flew off one day. Then, a while later, he came back and answered the Hydreigon's call, only to slay them. Truly a hero of the Salamence; no, a hero of all dragons."
I wasn't listening very carefully, still mulling over the implications. The Salamence King is my great uncle! So that was what Sylar recognized, and Spire was trying to hide from us. I suppose it wouldn't go well with anyone, especially Vie. And it makes sense, because where else would Blight learn the ability to defend himself against psychics? Certainly not if he was a common Salamence. …So what about Spire? Is he royalty, too? But the Salamence King doesn't recognize his name, and he says his parents are dead.
"Nova, sir?" he calls me, bringing me out of my reverie. "How do you know Blight, if I may ask?"
"I just… met him somewhere. That's all," I lie, not feeling comfortable about this identity. "It's time to release me now," I begin, feeling we have discussed enough. "I will try to find the half-blood prince to the best of my abilities. But I have had enough of this prison."
He sighs. "I think you realize already that I don't have any power here."
"Wait." I frown. "That means you said all of that for nothing? I'm still going to be stuck here?"
"Please, quiet down," he hushes. "I may be a weak old Salamence, but I can still open this door. I do not know where they have installed the device that has inhibited your psychic powers, but it should be near here. I will lead you to the closest unoccupied room that has a window, and hopefully if we are discovered then, you can use your powers to escape. Are you ready?"
"Now?"
"It is past midnight. I convinced the Ampharos to go to sleep. No one should be monitoring your camera at this hour," he explains, seemingly having planned this thoroughly. "Those misfits probably think my stance is the same as the General, who wants you to stay imprisoned. They have let their guard down."
"But won't you be in trouble?" I ask further.
"Oh, Nova. Even if I'm a figurehead, I'm still the King. The common Salamence would be in an uproar if anything were to happen to me. Do not worry for me. Now, quietly," he says, as I hear a metallic sound as the door to my room opens with a creak. The King begins walking to the exit. With a last glance behind at the blanket and pillow that have provided me comfort in this isolation, I follow his steps. I should tell Fen to get some blankets and pillows for his beds.
Ahead of me, the Salamence King extends his head beyond the door, looking around. "We're in the clear," he whispers, and dashes right. I follow him as he turns immediately again up a spiral of stairs.
"You're on the lowest floor," he explains as we walk. It's quite a ways up to the surface."
"They really made sure to imprison me carefully, huh?" I scoff. "They made faces when they looked at me. They thought I was a monster."
"Who knows what those non-dragons think?" the King returned. "I don't even know why the other Salamence let them-"
He stops and I bump into his tail. "King Zeal?" I step ahead around the corner of the final rotation of the steps, and am greeted with four of those Pokémon the King was just talking about, an open balcony just behind them. Lucario, Weavile, Scyther, and a red-brown fiery ape. Instinctively I try to levitate them but then see that the Weavile still has the device in his hand. It's a black stone with some metal cover adorned on the top.
"My, my," the Lucario begins. "Our King up to some tricks, aren't we?"
The King stiffens. "How did you-"
"I knew what was going on when our lovely Ampharos told you were there," Lucario replies. "The General always talks of you like you are no consequence. I knew you wanted this Flygon really bad, but who would know that you wanted us to capture him to release him? How redundant," he spits and clenches his fist.
"Now, no need for bloodshed," the Weavile began. "You go back to your room," he says, pointing at me. "And you are never to visit him again." This time he points to the King.
"What do you want me for, anyway?" I yell in protest. "I don't want to bother anyone. Please, just let me go," I beg, knowing there is no way I win a battle against the four of them without my psychic attacks.
"I know what you're capable of, monster," the Scyther seethes. "You can float people with your mind, slam them into rocks, drown them in water, drop them off cliffs-"
"I have never done any of those!" I step forward in front of the King, who takes the opportunity to hide farther backwards. "Why would I? I have no reason to!"
"You're a psychic," the Lucario answers. "And the General wants you captive, so tough luck, I don't care about excuses. Now, are you going to walk yourself back or are we going to have to carry you?" he says in a threatening voice and steps forward.
You have to try to escape.
I examine the four of them. Only the bug can fly. Though I have no psychic abilities, I'm still naturally good at flying. If I aim for the opening above them, I can rush through and fly into the night sky, where I will be free.
"I'll go back," I mislead them, my mind actually completely focused on reaching that window of freedom. I steady my legs, and leap upwards, just as I see the Lucario's arms ready up. Even knowing that it is too late, I desperately flap my wings to reach the window, only to see him charge an azure sphere and send it at me, the huge force hitting me straight in my chest. I cry in pain as my wings lose strength and I drop to the floor, just short of the balcony ledge.
The Lucario walks out and looks down over me. "What a disobedient Flygon. Now you've done it," he says and swings his leg back to kick me in the face. I close my eyes and brace myself for the impact, but instead I hear a loud crackling sound as the Lucario screams. Climbing back onto my foot as fast as possible, I see the Lucario on the floor, his body full of burn marks. And I notice the Flygon right beside me. A Flygon I could never forget.
She puts an arm in front of me. "Nova, stay down!" she shouts as she launches one of her signature dragon pulses at them. Only the fire ape leaps out of the way as the other two take the brunt of the hit and are sent flying against the wall. The Salamence King is nowhere in sight, presumably having hidden himself.
"Infernape, arrows!" Scyther cries, and I see the one he just called Infernape draw something from his belt as he leaps off the wall. But as he draws his bow, she fires a beam of ice and freezes his hand before he can do anything with it.
I hear the Weavile let out a grunt as suddenly there's a black stone hurtling towards us. She pushes me aside and it bounces off her before landing on the ground. For a moment, something flickers, and I see a vision of red and white, but her grip on my arm jostles me up. "What are you doing, staring into nothing like that? Fly out already!" I nod and take off into the night sky as she follows swiftly in pursuit. Ascending rapidly, I take a look behind me. It's a large palace situated at a plateau in the mountains that surround us. Around it, I can see many Salamence scattered across the ground, but they all seem to be sleeping.
A sudden touch in my neck almost makes me lose balance. "Nova, you had me so worried!" She catches up and nuzzles me.
"Aya… how did you know I was here?" I ask, feeling my mind clear from the tense situation. "You…"
"I knew something must have happened when you disappeared!" she exclaims as she looks up to me. "So I eavesdropped on some Salamence, and came here, waiting for an opportunity to rescue you," she explains. "I'm so glad I didn't give up! I hope it wasn't too bad in there."
"It was terrible," I say, my voice shaking. "I was stuck in this small room… and I couldn't do anything."
"Be glad that you're free again," she says with a cheer and spreads her wings wide.
But this is too good. Overwhelmed by her sudden presence in what was just an incredibly bleak situation, I begin to recall my most recent memories of her from before. She taught me how to fire dragon pulses, how to swim in the sea, and all I rewarded with her with teleporting away, without even saying goodbye. The guilt builds up inside me and I begin to feel sick.
"Aya… I didn't get captured. I left you," I blurt out. "I-I'm actually a psychic. I don't know why, I just am. And that day, I just teleported away. …" I close my eyes and try to speed ahead, thinking that she would desert me after this. But I feel her grasp on my arm immediately.
"Hey, it's okay," she comforts me softly. "We're back together. That's all that matters. I don't care if you're psychic or anything, Nova. As long as you're still you."
"Really?" I reopen my eyes to see her kind face. "But I still don't deserve you, Aya, I-"
"Don't say that!" she interrupts harshly and slaps my arm. "We're not about deserving each other. We're here for each other."
Still feeling horrible for this Flygon I've betrayed, I shake my head. "I wasn't there for you. I'm a-"
"Nova!" she stops me again. "Why must you be so angry at yourself? Things happen. Bad decisions are made. It's all part of life. Don't worry about it."
I can't take her words in. I already find it hard to believe that she's back, and to save me as well, and from such powerful opponents, too. The feelings I had when I was with her resurge, of safeness, of acceptance, which all come crashing down once I rationalize my actions. I can't look her straight in the eye. She has done so much for me, even after I left her selfishly. She won't even listen to my confessions. I don't deserve her. No one deserves her.
"We're at the northeast end of the mountains," she begins, as if nothing had ever happened. "And it's approaching autumn. Why don't we go to the forests? I heard the red leaves are an amazing sight."
"There aren't any," I respond flatly.
"Not in Whitewind! But further east, where the Dragonite live. They say that the whole mountain turns red!" she exclaims in wonder.
"Aya, stop," I plead.
"Are you tired?" she asks, looking over with worry. "Let's rest. They haven't followed us." She tugs onto my arm and brings me lower, and guides me to beneath a rocky overhang. "We're still pretty deep in the mountains, but we can continue tomorrow. Are you hungry? Do I need to hunt you something?"
"No, Aya…" I manage to get out as I land, feeling a heavy burden. "I can't go with you…" I detach myself from her and step backwards to the mountain wall "I can't!" I shake my head violently and claw at air. "Find someone else, Aya."
I feel her arms surround me, calming me down. "What's wrong, Nova?" she says in a sweet voice. "What's making you feel so bad? You weren't like this before. Tell me."
"I… I need to go. To my old friends. They're worried about me. I have to go to them. I can't go with you." I can't formulate my words properly. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, that's completely fine!" she says and releases me from the hug, the cheer back in her voice. "We'll visit them. And then go to see the red leaves," she suggests with a smile.
I almost want to say yes, but I know I can't. "I have to stay with them. I have to protect them. They're not strong like you are."
"But Nova… I thought we were best friends." A newfound disappointment enters her voice.
I even loved you as a mate, I almost say, but keep it in. "But they're my friends, too. You could come and live with us," I suggest.
"No!" she yells, surprising me, and takes a few steps backwards. "I… I can't. You don't understand how a frail female like me feels. I can't be with people." She wraps her arms around her body, shrinking herself.
"What? Don't joke, Aya… you're not weak or frail!" I am completely confounded by her sudden change in demeanour. What once was a confident Flygon now speaks of herself as if she were a helpless child. "Aya, you don't have to stay. But you could at least try to just meet and say hello." I step over and wrap my arm around her, nuzzling her in the neck. "Please, do it as a favour for me."
I don't want to lose her again. But my old friends, it's not about whether I want to, it's that I can't lose them. Aya may be pleasant and nice to hang around, but they were the ones I grew up with my entire life.
She gives a soft pack on my back returns the hug. "Fine. I'll go for you, Nova. But be done with your business quickly. I won't stay for long."
"Thank you." Given her previous reaction, this is already her conceding to me, so I don't ask for any more. Pulling myself away, enough to see her face, I ask, "Are you ready for me to teleport you, then?"
"Okay," she says as she steadies her breath. "I just hold onto you?"
I nod and reaffirm my grip on her. The sensation of teleportation coming back makes me rather at peace, knowing my powers are back. The sudden warm air makes me feel comfortable, and I see, again, the Shallows lake before me.
"Go see them," Aya lets go of me and urges. "I'll wait here."
I find it strange that she is not asking more about my psychic powers, but say nothing about that. "You can wait in my cave. It's better than being out in the open."
Her gaze falters briefly, and I'm worried she won't, but then she responds, "All right."
Passing by the fireplace I know they usually stay at, I only spot a few charred pieces of wood on the floor. Of course, they must be sleeping. I'm not actually sure where Rue sleeps, because I've always slept earlier and woken up later, but I know where Vie and Hale's cave is.
"This is my cave from my childhood," I tell Aya as I lead her in. "You can-"
I stop as I see a Haxorus sprawled across the floor. She's using my cave? That's fine, I guess, considering that I'm not here, but…
"What is it?" Aya asks, not having turned the corner.
"This is one of my friends," I say as I walk over to the Haxorus and bend over. "Hey, Rue, wakey wakey!" I call. "Nova's back!"
"Huh?" she sits up immediately, almost hitting my face with hers. "Nova? Nova!" She leaps onto me in a hug. "Hahaha! Awesome! I knew you could escape from the Salamence!"
I smile at her touch, even if her actions are a bit rough. "It wasn't me, really. It was thanks to this Flygon here," I say and gesture behind, only to find Aya missing. "Wait, Aya!" I let go of Rue and run outside, finding her standing outside my cave, leaning onto the rocky outcrop.
"You didn't say there would be anyone in there."
Before I can console her, the Haxorus calls. "Nova?" Rue runs out, somewhat confused. "Oh. This is the Flygon you're talking about?" she comments as she sees Aya, who is still looking away. "Aya, right? I'm Rue. Nice to meet you." She extends a hand only to for Aya to completely ignore it.
"She's quite shy," I explain. "Kind of like Phendrene when she was younger." I can't believe I'm making this analogy. Aya was nothing like Phendrene when she was with me. But now…
"I see," Rue says. "So, how'd you meet her?" she asks me.
I'm want to answer but as the words won't come out. If there's one person I wouldn't feel comfortable introducing Aya to, it'd be Rue. It's strange, because she was the only one I told that I fell in love. Maybe that is exactly why.
Seeing my silence, Rue looks over to Aya in understanding. "Ah. So she's that one," she says, in a tone I'm not sure I like. "How'd she save you from the Salamence then? Must be pretty strong, right?" Her gaze to Aya gains a hint of interest, but not in the right way.
"Rue… don't," I warn her.
"What?" she looks back towards me with her normal face. "She is pretty strong, right? Otherwise, how'd you run off with her?"
I sigh, not sure that I'm able to take both of their odd behaviour without going insane. "Come on, be nice," I say to Rue. "I'll go fetch Vie and Hale. You can ask her about what happened," I suggest and leap off into the sky, heading for Vie's cave.
It's less than a minute before I'm at the entrance, a familiar sight from my childhood memory. I decide to not intrude and call their names at the entrance. "Vie! Hale! It's me, Nova!"
"Nova?" "He's back!" I hear their voice from within the cave. There are some scuffling sounds and the two Flygon emerge from the dark cave. Vie runs over and pulls me into a hug, and when she finishes I gesture Hale for one as well, even if he is initially reluctant.
"We were so worried!" Vie comments. "Rue said that you got knocked out pretty quick by some ice attack, but I was sure that you'd find a way out with your psychic abilities."
"It wasn't all by myself," I say, embarrassed at her praise. "Someone helped me. I'll tell you the details later. Come on, I brought her here with me."
"Her?" Hale asks, confused, but I don't answer and simply fly back into the air, slowing myself so the other two Flygon can follow me. But as I near our cave again, I find Aya having flown on top of the rock above my cave, presumably to escape from Rue.
"What did you do?" I land beside the Haxorus on the ground as she stares up at Aya. "I told you she's shy!"
"Yeah, well, if she managed to rescue you, surely she's strong enough for a battle, right?" Rue answers, her arms crossed. "I was just asking for one."
"Leave her alone if she doesn't want one!" I return angrily, and fly up to the rocks. "Aya, are you all right?"
She gives me a weak look. "This is why I don't like meeting new people," she says.
I take her hand. "Come on, the Haxorus is just mean. My other Flygon friends are nice." I give her a smile.
She takes a deep breath and glides down to the cave again, with me behind her. Vie and Hale have landed, and are talking to Rue when they notice Aya.
"Hey!" Hale says cheerfully. "You're the one that helped Nova escape from the Salamence? Thanks so much!" he says with his usual cheer.
To my delight, Aya gives a small smile and nods politely, though she doesn't say anything.
"You two, are you… um, what is your relationship with each other?" Vie asks, and I tense up again.
Aya answers for me. "We're friends," she states in a quiet voice.
Rue snickers. "You must have been very good friends if you made Nova leave for-"
"Stop it!" I slap her on the leg with my tail. "Why do you have to be so mean?" Looking over to Aya worriedly, I notice she has a blank expression at the comment.
Rue gives another snort and shakes her head, unfazed at my action. "She's strong, right? If she can rescue Nova, shouldn't she be stronger than Nova?" Why does she always have to bring things back to strength? I grab onto her arm but she doesn't stop. "So why isn't she accepting my battle? Can't she easily beat me in that case?" Rue says and glares at the newcomer Flygon, heavy sarcasm in her voice.
All of us fall silent. I don't know what the twins are thinking, but I'm positively fuming at this stupid, egoistic Haxorus, yet I know nothing short of beating her up will stop her.
The silence is broken by a quiet utterance. "I can." We turn our heads to the speaker, Aya.
"Wait, so you're saying you can beat me easily. That's what you mean, right?" Rue steps forward menacingly. I move to stop her but Aya puts a hand on me, her eyes filled with determination.
"Of course. You can't even touch me, Haxorus," Aya says and leaps up, spreading her wings to glide backwards. Rue scrambles after her as she continues luring Rue away from us. Remembering Aya's gaze, I stand and watch quietly.
Soon, Aya stops her short backward jumps and readies a stance. "Don't come near me," she warns, but of course Rue doesn't listen. Aya easily dodges Rue's leap, and begins charging something up in her mouth, something I know is far stronger than a normal dragon pulse. There's a bright orange light fired into the air, and the three of us spectating are all blinded momentarily. I hear a huge crash and the ground even trembles.
"What was that?" Hale yells over the noise.
"No idea!" Vie exclaims. "Are… Are they okay?"
I open my eyes again and leap into flight. There are several small craters on the ground, Rue lying unconscious in one of them. I want to tend to her, but looking upward, I spot a Flygon's silhouette appear across the moon as it vanishes, and know that this is my last chance.
She has flown herself up high, far out of sight and earshot of anyone on the ground. But I catch up by speeding myself with psychic powers. "No! Aya! Don't leave, please!"
"What do you want me to do!" I see her figure stop in the night and stare back at me, the moonlight lighting the side of her face. "You've seen me try. I can't interact with people."
"Lies!" I yell back, frustrated. "You were so good to me when we first met. This is just the Haxorus. My other friends are all right. Please." I lower my voice and reach out for her arm but she moves it away. Tears are building up in my eyes. "I don't want to lose anyone… not you, not them… no one…"
"You think I can go back after I did that to her?" she argues back in a sardonic tone. "I didn't even want to touch her. But Haxorus tusks are deadly. So I used my strongest attack. They'll never accept me after this."
"They will! Give them some time!" I try and hold her again but she escapes my grasp again. "Please, I'm begging you… don't make me choose…"
"You have to. Either go with me, or go with them." Her words are like a claw that shatters my heart. I stare up at this Flygon through my tears, her face no longer a smile. I know, if I were to go with her now, nothing would be the same anymore. And there's still Phendrene, my father, my brother…
"And so? What is your answer?" Aya asks, almost as if she is impatient.
And that pushes me over the line. Gritting my teeth, I stare up to her. "You can leave!" I roar. "If you really loved me, you wouldn't have made me choose! What's the point if I love you and you don't love me back! You're so selfish! So leave! I never want to see you again!"
Her expression turns to that of shock, and then sorrow. I almost regret my words for a moment, but I know they are true. When she turns around and glides off without a word, I don't follow or call out. I just watch her figure recede into the distance, my mind bringing back distant and painful memories. Of racing through the canyons with each other. Of cuddling under an alcove for warmth. Of ascending the waterfall in a spiral around each other. Of tutoring me our species' weakness, and then special attacks. Of escaping a blocked cavern with combined effort. Of her tugging me in the water as she taught me to swim. And finally, of the first time I saw her, the graceful body that lay on the floor, and the smile that I will never forget, no matter how much I want to.
How cruel am I to utter those words? She's not selfish at all. She had helped me so much in my darkest times, keeping me company, hunting for me, teaching me, doing everything for me. And then, when it was my turn, I sacrificed nothing. … But no. She asked for the one thing that I couldn't sacrifice. My friends.
Feeling the pain build up in my heart, I can no longer stand the loneliness. I have to have someone beside me, to make the suffering more bearable, if ever so slightly. Recalling my mind to that of a familiar Charizard, I teleport myself away again, and arrive above the beachside forest, this time in midair. Through my teary eyes I see a dim light below, and find Phendrene right before me. She must have gone searching for me again in the middle of the night.
"Nova?"
I don't respond, and draw myself closer. This time, it is my turn to latch onto her and cry. My head begins to hurt, probably at the sudden teleportation, but I don't care. I'd rather I black out, I don't want to think. Thinking only makes everything hurt more. I bury my face into her neck as far as I can, and let myself wail. I feel her take control and glide me down to the ground. She says something to me, but I don't hear it. I just want to forget about that Flygon that once brought me so much happiness, because now it only brings pain.