"Nova, do you want to go flying? … Guess not. I'll go hunting. Hope you feel better soon."
In my peripheral vision I see Phendrene's flaming tail exit my cave. She has been attending to me as I stay in my cave. I simply don't have energy. I feel tired and lethargic from everything.
Sighing, I flip my body over, getting sore from lying in one position, and feel the residue of Phendrene's warmth on the cave floor. She has been the only one I have talked to after the incident, what with us sleeping in the same cave. I would ask Blight about his identity to confirm it, and then maybe ask him of the name Scourge, but that can wait until I'm ready. I'm going to make bad decisions if I act while emotionally unstable, and ruin everything. Like I did that night.
For now, I teleported them all back to the desert. If the twins are going to come back every now and then, we might as well stay here.
I feel a little guilty, because my actions had left them in confusion. That night, I fell asleep in Phendrene's arms, so naturally they thought something happened to me again, but they had a fainted Haxorus to take care of. When I was composed enough to talk, I gathered the two Salamence and the Dratini and teleported them back to the Shallows, reuniting the separated group. The instant we arrived, I immediately came back to my cave, which smelled of that stupid Haxorus, because apparently she had been using it. Though many of them wanted to ask me about my absence, I deferred them for others to answer, mainly Phendrene, because I've told her everything there is about my time when I was imprisoned. Nothing about what happened after, though. …
Thankfully, she doesn't ask me when I make it obvious I don't want to talk about it. If I stop talking, she starts talking about what it was like being stuck down south, where she managed to convince Blight to give her some battling lessons. I was surprised when I first heard that. I would think that she would be afraid and alone without me.
"Nova?" I hear her call just as I'm thinking about her. "I caught a Sandshrew. Do you want it now?"
I sit up. "Yes, thank you," I answer, and she walks in with a piece of meat, but I notice she's giving me all the good pieces. "Where's the rest? Don't just give me the best parts. The hunter deserves it more."
"But you teleport us. Psychic abilities must take up a lot of energy." She insists handing it to me with a warm smile, and I can only accept her offer as she sits down beside me. "I'm not that hungry now, anyway," she says and swings her tail around. "If it's gone cold, use my fire."
"Thanks, Phendrene, but it's fresh enough." Her overly attentive care is starting to remind me of someone I'm trying to forget. "You don't need to worry so much."
She sits beside me patiently until I finish gobbling it down. "If you're done… do you want to, maybe try flying?" she suggests. I shake my head, and she sighs in understanding. "That's all right. Get your rest and feel better," she says before leaving the cave again.
I would go flying by myself, but that would make Phendrene quite unhappy if she saw me, so I don't. The problem is that flying with her takes too much effort. I have to slow down, and match her sluggish movements… It's not her fault, but that doesn't mean I like it. So I just stay inside.
"Um, Nova? You there? Can I come in?" This time, it's Vie's voice.
"Okay," I answer. I'm aware that my antics are probably worrying people, so I try my best to answer to them. None of them are guilty of anything, except for that Haxorus, who at least has the foresight to not come and bother me.
Vie walks in, her arms fidgeting. "I just wanted to talk to you, Nova. We haven't really talked to each other in… a while. Is that fine with you?"
I nod lightly, prompting her to take a seat across me. "What is it?" I ask politely.
"Nothing!" she gives a casual laugh as she smiles. "I'm just wondering how you're doing these days."
Her relaxedness makes me open up more, and I talk to Vie as if she were Phendrene. She is my childhood friend, after all. "I'm doing much better than before, but it was pretty bad." I pause and take a look at her. She seems intent on listening and gestures me to continue. "You know when you're used to something that is so integral to you, and it just disappears? That's what happened. I felt so helpless without my psychic powers."
"I see. I suppose I can't fully sympathize with you, considering I use physical attacks to fight." She flexes her claws to show me.
But it's not all that different. "Just imagine if your arm stops moving when you prepare a claw attack. Using psychic powers comes naturally to me – I will something to happen, and it happens. When I move a rock around, I can't really explain how I do it, just like we can't explain how we move our arms when we want to. Does that make sense?"
"…Yeah," she answers. "That must feel pretty horrible, then."
"That was only the start." I find myself willing to talk more and more. "There were some Pokémon that aren't dragons, and apparently they were in charge of taking care of me. And the only good thing they did was giving me a nice bed. Other than that, they kept on talking about me through a glass window, completely ignoring the fact that I could see their strange looks and fingers directed at me. So I just kept myself alone, with no one to talk to…" I sigh. "Sorry for complaining so much. I just…"
"Hey, it's okay. You're with us now, aren't you?" She gives me a reassuring pat on the arm. "We all know that you're just Nova. Remember when you always beat me in pebble dodge?"
I find a smile slipping up onto my face. "Of course I do. You were always too impatient in throwing the pebble, so you kept on missing."
"I was a bit impulsive back then," she admits.
"A bit? You were so crazed on killing the Salamence!" I laugh at the memory of her and how different it is from the Vie now. "You straight up attacked Spire the first time you saw his Salamence form!"
She looks embarrassed. "I hated Spire's guts the first time I laid eyes on him. But then I realized that he's not all that bad. Then we captured those two, and your father came… I'm glad I left Lyrl with you, Nova." She looks up to me again, with an appreciation in her eyes. "If I stayed in Lyrl, I might have been one of those who tried to kill them."
"The Flygon in Lyrl are not all that different from the bloodthirsty Salamence," I state flatly. I haven't told anyone my thoughts about this, but Vie seems like she will understand. "When I stayed behind to stall them, everyone looked at me with different eyes. Partially because I was psychic, of course, but also because as a Flygon, I didn't stand by their side." I stare down at my body, its image an affirmation of my species. "Just because I have a Flygon body doesn't mean I have to kill Salamence."
"You talk as if you don't have a Flygon mind!" she exclaims with a grin. "But at least you dragged me out of it. I'm thankful for that."
I find myself smiling back at her again, not even on purpose. Never would I have thought that Vie would be one to talk with me about this. "I knew something was wrong when I saw how the Lyrl Flygon treated Phendrene, that it wasn't all so black and white. So we should thank her, really. I even remember blaming her for displacing me from my life in Lyrl, but it was actually for the better. I can't imagine what it would be like if we were still there."
Vie fidgets in her sitting position slightly. "I still can't shake off the feeling that lots of my old friends now hate me for helping Salamence. I can't imagine how much worse it was for you, since you stayed behind…"
"Oh, I'm long since over that. I'd much rather be hated than have my father and Spire get killed," I explain like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Though I probably did overreact about it at first… I mean, I just ran away…"
"Hey, it's all right," she comforts as she sees me become hesitant, grabbing onto my arm. "You're here with us now. And I know you didn't do it on purpose."
"Yeah," I give a cursory answer, because the topic will inevitably lead to the Flygon I don't want to think about. "It's getting a little stuffy in here," I make an excuse. "Let's head outside."
She nods and stands, offering a hand to pull me up, which I accept. Chatting with her about our childhood really has made me feel better. Though she still doesn't know that I'm related to the Salamence King… I need to talk to Blight about that.
The warm sunshine is partially blocked by a shadow and I look up to see a Charizard swooping down and landing next to us. "Nova, you came out! I was practicing some of the dance moves that I would make with you. Can we try?"
I look over to Vie, who to my surprise is holding back a chuckle. "That's nice of you, Phendrene. Sure, Nova, go ahead. I'll watch."
If even Vie encourages it, I suppose I have to comply with Phendrene's demands. "All right," I answer and stand opposite of Phendrene. Seeing her small nod as a cue, I launch myself in tandem with her and glide by each other in midair. This had been the first move she tried to get me to learn, and it took me a long time to slow myself down enough to match her speed. Then it's a varied sequence of rehearsed moves, sometimes having us hook on each other's hand, or crossing our tails. I'm pretty sure the dance is originally designed for two Charizard, because we're even supposed to breath fire together at parts, but I still play along with it, even if it makes my throat slightly sore.
I don't actually mind it that much, because I'm sure that as we get better, it will be a beautiful performance. What annoys me is that I'll never get to see it, since I am performing in it. Perhaps sometime later we could visit the Charizard's place and see an authentic one?
"Did I keep up with Nova?" Phendrene asks Vie when she lands on top of the rock, where Vie had flew up to watch us from.
"Yep! Sometimes your wings move a bit slow, but that can't be helped, because Flygon have faster wing beats," she explains. "Otherwise, excellent job!" she says with a smile.
"Why do you guys have to be up there?" a shout from below sounds, complaining. "You know I can't get up."
I frown at that voice. "What if it's none of your business?" I yell back at her, prompting Vie to tug on my arm again.
"I know you're mad at Rue for what she did, but… you know her personality. It can't be helped."
I haven't forgiven Rue yet. It doesn't matter if she has both brains and brawn. She's far too arrogant. When I think about how my potent my psychic powers are, I never say it out loud, and I certainly don't let it get to my head and challenge random strangers out of spite. She is also far too inconsiderate. It's not that she doesn't know when people are feeling uncomfortable; she does, but she simply doesn't care. Like when she continued pestering for a battle even when it was obvious Aya didn't want to. …
Just as I begin to remember again, Vie drags me forward off the edge, forcing me to break into flight and land quickly. I am actually rather thankful she did that just as my thoughts were about to get off track.
Rue waits for Phendrene to land before speaking. "Hale is pretty boring to fight on his own, so…" She gestures at us.
"You think the world revolves around you being not bored?" I chastise her selfishness. "We don't exist for your entertainment."
"Great, so Vie, you up for it? Or maybe Phendrene, you want to try?"
"She won't use her tusks," Vie reassures Phendrene, who looks a bit unwilling. "At least, she won't let them touch you."
"Come on!" Rue walks forward boldly and tugs on Phendrene's arm. In my memory, the Charizard would have backed away by now, but she has been less shy recently. "It's not like you have anything better to do," Rue adds.
"Nova," Phendrene turns and calls my name, almost like a distraction. "What are you doing? …Going to go back inside?" she says, almost a plea for me not to.
Before I can answer, Rue butts in. "Come on, you don't have to go with him for everything."
I see Phendrene about to retort, but calm her with a pat on her shoulder. "It's all right, you should try battling with Rue. It'll help for the future."
"But what about you?" she asks, concerned. "I don't want you to stay back in there…"
"Don't worry about me. I'd join if I wanted to. Right now, I need to go find my father."
"Show me your fire attacks first," Rue demands impatiently. I take that as my cue to turn around and leave. The Haxorus is ignoring me the same way I am ignoring her, which implies that she is also mad at me for some reason. What could it be? Being utterly destroyed by a strong attack? That's her own fault for acting up, so I feel no sympathy. If she's not going to try to make an effort to talk, then I won't either. I could use less of her negativity in my life.
Arriving at the lake shortly, I spot two Salamence resting on the side of the adjacent outcrop's shade. They must dislike the heat considering they come from a much colder climate.
"Oh, you're out!" Blight exclaims as he rises to greet me. "How are you feeling?"
"Thanks, I'm feeling all right," I answer and eye Spire, who is still lying there with his eyes closed. "Is Fly faring well in the lake?"
"He is a bit unused to switching between salt and fresh water, but otherwise it's fine. I actually think the ocean can be a bit dangerous, especially if he ventures too far out…" There must be many powerful creatures down there in the ocean, and they sure won't care about the fact that us dragons rule over the land.
I look over to the other smaller Salamence again. "Is Spire sleeping?"
"Of course not. I don't sleep all day like you do." He opens his eyes and stares at me. "What, you have a problem with me resting here?"
"Yes, I'd like to talk to my father in private," I answer, trying my best to stay polite. Spire has been acting aloof, even moreso than me, and I frankly don't have the energy to play nice.
He looks at me for a few more moments, not moving at all. I'm about to ask him what it is before he drops his gaze. "You finally know, huh?"
Oh. I almost forgot that Spire, too, had the privilege of anti-psychic training, so of course he recognizes the name. "I suppose that's what you told Sylar to hide back then?"
"Wait," Blight interrupts our exchange. "You are talking about my… um…"
"Your royal identity, yes," I put it out straight. "Why didn't you tell any of us?"
"It doesn't matter," Spire answers for him. "It actually doesn't matter," he repeats in response to my frown. "What? He's not going back to take the throne or anything."
"Why don't you let him speak for himself?" I ask back with a glare.
"I mean, nothing good would've come out of it," Blight mumbles. "Weren't you guys all talking about killing the Salamence King or something?"
"That was only Vie," I explain. "She's better now, anyway."
"I'm better now?" Vie's voice surprises me from my behind. I turn around to find her just landing. "What was I bad at?"
Even though her tone is not angry, I'm still embarrassed. "I was just talking about how you're less fanatical about killing Salamence," I justify hastily.
"Fanatical? Really?" she responds in a playful tone. "I was too naïve. I thought killing them would solve all the problems."
"So what? I still want him dead," Spire cuts in with a growl. "He deserves to die for what he did to my parents."
I catch Blight giving him a strange look, but Vie speaks first. "How can you be so sure that he's the one? Did you see it with your own eyes?"
"You don't know anything!" Spire spits in anger. "Don't question me!"
"I'm sorry…" Vie answers, embarrassed. Seeing her like that makes me feel that Spire's rudeness is unjustified.
"I don't believe you," I call Spire out. "I met the Salamence King. He was feeble and weak. He didn't even have the power to authorize my release."
"Yeah, well, he's the King! He's still responsible!" Spire shouts back, raising his voice even more. "Why are there suddenly so many of you, anyway? I'm leaving," he says and instantly leaps up and spreads his wings.
"Wait!" Vie shouts and raises her hands, but Spire has already taken to the air.
"Forget about him," I tell her. "What are you here for, anyway?"
"Oh, Phendrene can actually fend off Rue pretty well with her long-range fire attacks. It was interesting to watch, but I wondered if you were doing all right…" She fidgets her claws together.
"I'm only talking to my father," I explain.
"What about?" she asks, and I realize I can't hide it anymore.
"…My father's Salamence royalty. That's what I learned from my stay there," I answer softly.
Vie's eyes widen and she takes a step backwards. "What? Really? That means… Nova, you're…"
I sigh. "It sounds like it matters, but it really doesn't. Neither of us are interested in using this identity for anything. Right, Blight?" I nudge him on the side.
He hasn't reacted at all at me revealing his secret, but is still paying attention. "I wouldn't want to go back. I don't like living in that society where everyone tries to use you for your status. I'm not even the crown prince, anyway."
His words remind me of the other thing I came to him for. "By the way, the Salamence King asked me if I knew about his son, whom he called the half-blood prince." I turn to face my father. "Do you know the prince? I remember his name was Scourge."
"Scourge," Blight repeats. "Well... I knew him from when we were both there… but I left before him, and I haven't met anyone that goes by that name since."
"You don't sound too sure," I pursue further.
"I mean, I did know Scourge, which is what you were asking for. Just not anymore. So I can't really help you there." He clarifies himself and clears his throat. "I don't think you'll find him, though. He's not the type to bond with others."
"I see. I just asked on behalf of the Salamence King, that's all," I explain.
"That's good of you," Vie says and pats me on the back. "He is your relative, after all."
"Weren't you talking about killing him?" I turn to her and joke.
She doesn't answer immediately, and instead looks away. "You said he was feeble and weak? Sounds like he's pretty sad."
"Yeah," I affirm. "He was quite a miserable creature," I say with pity, because it is true. "But enough of that. I should tell the others about my father's identity. It's only fair."
None of them really react to it. Sure, they are surprised at first, but after I explain that none of us are interested in using this identity, their interests fades, too. It's funny, really. If the Salamence King didn't clarify, I'd think my father was the half-blood prince, what with Fen's explanation of him being a half-blood. But there are so many half-bloods here that none of us care about it. I still remember the day my mother told me about it, and warned me to not reveal it ever… That was only living in Lyrl. I'd much rather live with people I care about rather than strangers whom the only thing I share with is species.
The rest of the day is relatively uneventful. Hale comes back when we are eating the evening meal, saying he found some wild Flygon on his hunting journey, and asked them about their life. "They can manipulate sand like Nova," he says, mystified. "They can even create sandstorms."
"All Flygon can," I tell him, remember what I learnt from… that Flygon. "We have innate earth powers. If you and Vie practice hard enough, you'll be able to rely on these attacks to defeat the Haxorus. She's the only species here that can't use anything."
"Hey, that's unfair!" Rue starts whining.
"How is it unfair?" I answer back immediately. "Your species' strength is your physical strength. You're already forbidding us to fly. Why can't we use our innate abilities?"
She glares at me for another moment, before chomping down on her food heavily.
"So, as I was saying," I continue, "do you want to learn?"
"Of course!" Vie exclaims. "That sounds like such a useful skill!"
"Eh, I can try as well," Hale says, much less interested. "I think it will be a lot of practice before it will actually do anything… I can't even move a grain of sand right now…"
"But you have to start somewhere!" Vie scolds her brother.
"And you can move a grain of sand right now," I answer. "Just stare at the sand. Focus and really try to move it. It helps if you extend your hand out, because you can visualise the control over it."
"All right," Vie answers and extends her hand. Her posture reminds me of when I first practiced telekinesis. "It's not working," she says, disappointed.
"I don't think it works," Hale says. "I mean… Nova, you're psychic. I don't think us normal Flygon can."
"I'm sure you can," I affirm. "There was someone else. She… she could do it, and she's not a psychic." I take a deep breath to steady my thoughts. "You might not be focused enough. You have to really will the thing to move."
"That doesn't sound really reliable," Hale continues, but Vie still stays in the posture, her eyes staring intently at the sand.
"How do you even know she's not psychic, anyway?" Rue asks ignorantly from aside.
"What do you know! How many psychic Flygon do you think there are!" I yell back.
She shrugs. "Silex was one."
"No, but Hale! You saw them, right?" I turn and ask. He gives a nod, and I turn back to Rue. "Are you saying that the Flygon Hale met are all psychic?"
"Actually, it was just one. And she seemed pretty different from the rest of us," Hale says in Rue's place.
"Ooh, she?" Rue leans over. "You've found a potential mate, eh?" Somehow, she manages to antagonize the only person on her side as well.
"What? No, of course not! I just met her for a few minutes!" Hale answers, flustered.
"Stop it, you," I push Rue back ever so slightly with my psychic force so that she gets the hint. "Hale, there aren't any different Flygon species. They just live in the wild and so they are more familiar with their roots. We who lived all cooped up in the human contraptions… must have long since forgotten about our innate powers."
"But it doesn't work!" Hale says. "Believe me, I tried."
"It moved!" Vie interrupts us with a loud yell. "I saw a few grains move!" She looks up to me, eager for my approval.
I give her a smile. "Great! Now you just need to practice, and you will be able to manipulate it freely."
"You sure you aren't seeing things, Vie?" Hale asks and holds onto her arm. "To be honest, you look a bit malnourished."
"I'm not malnourished! I just didn't feel like eating much!" Vie answers, clearly upset. "Why won't you believe Nova? You should try as well."
"I guess it can't hurt," he answers, and positions his arm at the floor the same way Vie did. We all watch him intently, but nothing happens.
"I don't think it works," Hale declares.
"Who cares?" Rue says from aside. "You can start when you can see Vie moving noticeable amounts of sand. If she can't, it's a waste of effort anyway."
"Nova wouldn't lie." Phendrene, who has been silent this entire time, speaks up. "Flygon are able to use the powers of the earth."
"And how do you know that, little miss knowledgeable?" Rue asks back condescendingly as she takes a bite off a bone.
"I learnt from my-" she manages to stop herself with a deep breath, clearly having forgotten that the others don't know of her heritage. "I-I just read some books."
"Who cares!" I interrupt, because even though Phendrene is less meek, she certainly still can't win a word fight with Rue, especially if she still wants to hide this secret. "If you two don't believe us, then fine. You don't have to learn from me. But I'm still teaching Vie tonight. And that's her decision."
"I'm not against it," Hale says defensively. "It just doesn't work for me, so I find it a bit hard to believe."
"I promise it moved!" Vie repeats to her brother. "We need to become stronger like Rue and Nova if we want to defend ourselves."
"I know you think you saw something, but that doesn't mean it actually happened. Are you sure you're eating enough? You weren't as skinny as Nova last week. I'll go hunt more for you if you can't-"
"No." Vie stands up, fists clenched. "I told you, I'm fine. Stop bothering me about it. Nova, come and teach me how to move it more."
There's actually not much for me to teach her, because all she needs to do is stare and concentrate. But she clearly is using this as an excuse to get away, so I nod and float myself upright and follow her. I see Rue and Hale's slightly surprised expressions, knowing that my casual use of psychic abilities still make them uncomfortable. They should really get used to it. Spire, who has been eating aside by himself, raises his head as we pass him, but doesn't say anything.
"So, Nova, how am I supposed to make it move more?" Vie asks as I follow her to behind the rocky outcrop we are eating next to.
"Practice. You're definitely using enough focus if it really moved. Now you just need to try it again and again to get a feel of controlling them."
I honestly have no idea if my advice is correct, but that's how it worked when I practiced telekinesis. She gives a nod, clearly taking me very seriously, and moves herself back into the posture, with one arm extended and an intent stare at the floor. Though it is boring, I still try and be cooperative and not disrupt her focus, watching a spot on the floor together with her.
Though it is less than a minute, it still feels like a long time staring into nothing. Eventually, I spot a flicker of movement, a clear irregularity in the sand's patterns. I glance up to Vie's face and see that instead of celebrating this, she is continuing her attempt. But after it shifts again Vie gasps for breath and only then do I realize she had been holding it.
"Focus is good, but you don't need to hold you breath! Otherwise it will never last long enough to be useful. Good job at not losing focus after the first flicker, though."
She is excited at the praise and prepares the posture again. It still takes quite a while before grains start moving, but she keeps at it persistently, and after a long wait, she manages to create a very small pit in the ground. However, as her breathing quickens, she is unable to sustain it, and lets it go, panting heavily. I watch the tiny volume of displaced sand roll back down.
"You just have to try again," I tell her. "You'll get more used to the feeling every time."
And so we continue our practice. My boredom changes to patience upon seeing Vie's diligent attitude, and so I stay beside her as her tutor. Even as the sun sets completely, she still tries again and again. In what feels like forever, but probably is not actually that long, she is able to pick up a small ball of sand and hold it just above the ground.
"I did it!" she says with glee as she continues to maintain her posture.
"Great! Now, try to move it sideways," I instruct.
She swings her arm around a little too fast and the ball dissipates immediately, leaving the sand to fall to the floor. She is left with a look of disappointment.
"Don't worry, managing to hold it was good enough." I give her a pat on the back. "Next time, try moving it a bit more slowly. Your arm's movement was rushed."
She nods and says, "Let me try again," before returning to her posture.
Though I know she is determined, our bodies still have a physical limit. I can already see her quivering involuntarily. "Wait. You need some rest. Let's go drink some water from the lake."
There is a short but noticeable delay as she looks back up to me. "But I need to practice! I need to become stronger at fighting. I need to be able to protect the ones I love," she finishes passionately.
Her sudden outburst leaves me somewhat confused. "I'm just suggesting that you rest for a bit. Exerting yourself too hard won't help. Don't worry, we can continue practicing afterwards."
"Fine," she concedes and turns around in the direction of the lake. I hesitate for a moment before following her on foot. I would suggest getting there by flight, but then I remember that having your wings carry your entire body requires significant energy if you're not a psychic like me. The short distance to the lake is not worth taking flight for if you are already tired.
"What was that about, anyway?" I catch up to her and ask. "I never noticed such a desire for power from you."
"It's not a desire for power," she says as she keeps her eyes firmly on the ground ahead. "I just need to become worthy of… being in this group," she finishes off awkwardly.
Her face is determined, but it only worries me. "You don't have to feel that way! I don't mind at all. If I am the one gifted with these psychic powers, I have a responsibility to defend those who aren't.
Vie doesn't respond to that line. I'm not sure why she's so worked up about not being as strong as others. Perhaps the recent events have made her wary of my reliability as the strongest protector of this group.
Just as I'm about to explain that Blight and Rue are both extremely capable fighters as well, she speaks up again. "Nova… you're not reading my mind, are you?"
I'm taken aback and the sudden question. "No, of course not. I don't read any of your minds unless you give me permission." Though I had read their minds before they discovered my powers, that was when I first learned about this power, and didn't know how much people valued privacy. In retrospect, I should have been more tactful, but what's done is done.
"It's just, my thoughts will be really stupid, and you'll laugh at them," she says as a justification. "You've always been the best Flygon in our group, and I can't help but doubting myself." She turns to me with a pleading gaze. "So please don't read my mind."
"I won't!" I emphasise again, frustrated that she doesn't trust me. "But what you said isn't even true. I only became stronger after I could use my psychic powers. Before that, I was the most useless, since I couldn't even hunt."
"But you were smart. You had insight. The time we made a plan without you, we got two Salamence captured by Lyrl."
Why is she idolizing me so much? "Vie, I wouldn't have made a difference. It was Flora who snitched."
"What?" she exclaims, so surprised she stops in her steps. "Flora?"
I take a moment to realize that I hadn't told this to anyone. "Yeah, she hated the fact that we let a Shelgon join us. But I don't particularly blame her. Most Flygon are like that. Blindly hating Salamence."
Vie gives a cold laugh and continues, the lake just ahead of us. "Someone's species is no grounds to judge them on. Even a Salamence can be very kind." She then kneels down and dips her head into the water, beginning to drink from it.
I've noticed her become more mellow, but still unused to it. What could have happened to call a Salamence kind? My father probably acted friendly enough to leave an impact on her while I was gone.
Feeling the thirst, I bend down and drink as well, and having Vie beside me suddenly takes my mind away from all of my current troubling thoughts and instead to the memories of times long since gone past: the time when we were both Trapinch, living a carefree life in the Shallows. I would never have believed that everything would have changed so much.
"Hi!" A familiar brother's voice startles me. "Are you two here to find me?"
"No, sorry. We're just here to drink," Vie answers.
"Okay then," he says and disappears back under the water. He doesn't have a tone of disappointment or rejection but I still feel a bit guilty. It must be pretty lonely in the water.
"Vie, can you practice on your own for a bit? Just here. I want to speak with my brother," I explain. "He seems a bit lonely."
"Oh. That's thoughtful of you," she says and looks to the water. "Maybe we should talk to him more, as well, but… we don't know really know him well."
"He is my brother. I need to take care of him. You know the basics. Call me if you need any help."
With that, I leap forward and dive down into the water, the coolness around my body rather refreshing. As the water settles, I spot the Dratini swimming towards me. Having swum with him in the ocean, we are familiar with the system of communication using telepathy. I thought you weren't here for me? He thinks as I focus onto his mind.
She was just drinking, but I'm still here! I tell him and paddle around. I haven't gotten to swim for a while.
Father says we stayed here because you were sick for a few days. Can we go back now?
I'm somewhat startled at the excuse Blight gave to my brother, but it makes sense. Of course he wouldn't tell a child about all my emotional troubles. I'm supposed to act as a reliable and confident role model to Fly. Maybe I can bring you tomorrow. I'll have to ask Father. Even though I can simply teleport him whenever I want, it still seems proper to bring my father with him.
Okay! I'm so glad you're better! Now you can teleport us again?
Thinking about this, I notice how much everyone relies on my psychic powers, not just for fighting against enemies (I've only done that once in Lyrl), but also for transport. I am really quite important to them, huh? Wait, Nova, don't get too egotistic. That's how you let your guard down and get captured by the Salamence. Actually, it wasn't really the Salamence. The Lucario, Weavile, and their accomplices are the ones that actually give me trouble, especially the stone that disabled my powers. My non-psychic special attacks are simply not strong enough…
A tap of the Dratini's tail on my side brings me out of my reverie, and I realize I've been completely ignoring his thoughts the whole time. I'm also running out of breath, so I launch myself upwards.
As soon as I surface, I can hear Vie calling me. "Nova! Why did you jump in?" she yells, leaning from the bank.
"I've learned to swim with my brother," I answer, floating myself such that my head remains above the water. "Haven't you seen me with him at the beach?"
"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd swim in this lake. We drink from it," she explains with a minor discomfort in her voice.
"Fine, I'll get out," I say and levitate myself back onto the shore. The desert's lack of wind makes the coldness much more bearable than the beach. I have to go now, I project back toward the Dratini. I'll come back tomorrow, okay?
Okay. Bye bye! He is supportive and never questioning, even for a child. I should really appreciate him more. It's just unlucky that we share a different medium of living; we live in air, and he lives in water.
"Your brother is still good?" Vie asks.
I nod. "He's a very understanding child. My father must have raised him well," I admit.
"Woah, you're saying something good about your father!" Vie tugs on my wet arm and laughs. "You've changed a lot too, Nova."
"I still haven't forgiven him for letting my mother die," I say defiantly, and recall Vie's role in that event. Suddenly, I don't feel as comfortable anymore. "Let's go back to practicing," I add quickly, and start walking.
But she keeps her grasp on my arm firm and doesn't move. As I'm about to tell her to hurry up, she begins to speak. "Nova, about your mother… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have attacked the Salamence. I don't know if you'll be able to forgive me, but… I just wanted you to know, that I really regret it."
"Vie!" Hearing her confession makes my discontent dissipate, so I pull her into a reassuring hug. "It's okay. None of us knew any better when we were younger. I know you didn't mean any harm. Maybe one day you'll save my life, and then we'll be even," I joke.
"You wouldn't need saving," she answers. "You're strong enough to hold of the entirety of Lyrl. But me… I can't do anything."
"Perhaps in someday, my psychic powers won't be enough. And I'll have to rely on you, too. So come on. Let's get practicing," I tell her, not wanting to hear more of her praise if it means that she will continue to speak about herself in such a negative manner.
She doesn't speak as she follows my hand and we head back towards the outcrop. As I look over the familiar terrain, I notice the spot where we used to play pebble dodge. And next to it is the spot where we'd gather as Trapinch and listen to a Flygon teaching us. The legendary Pokémon that I strived to find so much… maybe I really will find one someday with these powers.
A gentle breeze on my wet skin brings me out of my thoughts. Vie's still following me obediently. "How about here?" I ask and stand next to the rock. "Remember? The day before we left the Shallows. We were playing pebble dodge."
"…Yeah. It's been so long." She sighs. "Those were such fun times. Remember when we said we'd be mates? Hah, I was so naïve."
I flinch and turn towards her. "Vie. I, uh, that was-"
"I know, I know." Having let go of my arm and leaning against the rock, she cuts me off with a gesture of her hand. "That was just a thing we said as kids. Should've realized sooner. Still funny, though."
"Vie… Let's get to practicing," I say, unsure of what she is trying to convey by bringing that up.
"Ah, yes. Sorry," she apologizes as she stands back up. "I shouldn't have mentioned it so soon after… what happened. Well then, what should I work on next?" she asks with her hand readied.
Thankful for her statement, I smile and instruct her. "You should still try levitating some sand. Don't try to carry too much, though."
So again, we continue the routine. Though it takes a long time, every improvement that Vie manages to make fills me with a small satisfaction. She begins to be able to move small quantities of sand in midair. It's actually rather wondrous, seeing that my teaching can make Vie perform a skill that she would never have dreamed of without me. Eventually, her control of it improves, and she can even throw a compact piece of sand around.
"These attacks will be so useful!" Vie exclaims as she watches the sand ball fly up and splatter against the rock. "If I can hit Rue without her coming up to me, I might actually stand a chance against her like Phendrene!"
I nod. "That's what I do against Rue as well. She's far too dangerous at close range, so you have to manoeuvre around her carefully."
"See, I told you you would make a good battler!" Vie turns to face me with a grin. "All you had to do was try."
"I could only do it after I learned non-physical attacks, and that was…" I trail off, my mind turning to that Flygon again.
"Sorry," Vie says and puts her arm on my back. "I keep forgetting."
"It's all right," I answer and take a deep breath. "I can't act like this every time I-" A dim orange light in the distance distracts me, I soon realize it must be a Charizard's. I step forward around the corner and find Phendrene holding her tail in her arm to light the way.
"Nova? What are you doing out here so late?" she asks and rushes forward, but stops as she sees Vie. "Oh. Are you two… busy?"
"He was teaching me how to use the sand, but we're done for now," Vie explains quickly. "Sorry for taking his time."
"You don't need to be so apologetic," I add. "Phendrene's an adult now. She can function fine without me."
Truth to be told, that line was also aimed as a praise for the Charizard, which ironically is something to say to a child, but she doesn't seem to react to it. "Let's go to sleep."
"All right," I answer, and turn to Vie. "Good night, then. Maybe you can convince Hale to try now?" I suggest with a grin.
"He's probably asleep already. I'll show him tomorrow, though!" Vie says back. "Anyways, good night. See you tomorrow!"
"Bye!" I give a small wave as she leaps into the air and off in the direction of her cave. I watch her disappear over the rock, and remember how many Flygon often did so when I was a Trapinch here. The skies seemed so unreachable then.
"Nova," Phendrene calls me and holds onto my arm closely. "You need to rest now."
"Okay. Let's walk back."
Though I still enjoy Phendrene's company, there's something missing compared to Vie, especially as I glance over at the Shallows. The sense of nostalgia that wells up within me is overwhelming. But after a day of talking and teaching, I am able to fall asleep rather quickly in the warmth of Phendrene's arms.
I am flying through the air in the desert, trying to search for my past. I wonder where my mother is, where Silex is, where the Trapinch Vie is, but they're all gone. At least I still have the Flygon Vie, right? She twirls the sand around skilfully and throws it at me. I dodge it and throw it back. Just like another game of pebble dodge.
The annoying Haxorus comes over and obnoxiously demands me to go battle with her. Instead, I throw sand at her, and laugh when she covers her eyes frantically and runs away. Being a Flygon means we should use these powers, shouldn't we, Vie?
I notice myself staring down at Phendrene's calm face is the moment I know that it's only a dream, and Rue hasn't really gotten the retribution that I felt so satisfied about. Ah well, I can't really get sand in her eyes in real life, can I? That would just be cruel.
The rise and fall of the Charizard's soft breaths soothes my giddy excitement of the dream. It must have been because I haven't talked to Vie in a long time. I hadn't known that she grew to feel inferior to me so much. She shouldn't feel that way.
Slithering out of Phendrene's grasp carefully, I rise up, feeling invigorated after the night's rest. The sun is already quite a ways up, probably because I slept late last night. Spreading my wings, I leap and glide around the outcrop to the place where they are usually gathered around. And sure enough, I find Hale in the same posture Vie was in yesterday, and Vie herself aside her brother. Rue looks on from aside, though she doesn't seem too interested.
"Nova!" Vie calls as she spots me from afar. "You're up! Where's Phendrene?"
"She's still asleep," I say as I walk over. Hale still seems concentrating but there's no result.
"Did she stay up later than you? You always sleep the most," Vie asks.
"She went to sleep with me, so maybe she's just tired. How's Hale doing?"
"He's not doing," Rue says, annoyed. "They've been trying for a while, and nothing is coming up."
"Because you keep talking!" Hale yells, frustrated. "If Vie can do it, why can't I?" He kicks the sand, making Rue scramble away.
"Hey, I don't have goggles!" she complains and scoots away. "If sand is all you're gonna play with, I'm gonna have to find the two boring Salamence."
I chuckle at her reaction, which makes her glare at me. "What are you laughing at, Shiny?"
"The dream I had this morning. I was throwing sand around with Vie, like we were playing pebble dodge. And you got scared of the sand and ran away," I say with a grin.
"Pebble dodge?" Rue asks in confusion, but I ignore her, because I notice Vie levitate a ball of sand and jump out of the way, and the sand splatters on top of Rue's face.
"Ack! Fine, you guys play, I'm leaving," she announces and runs in the direction of the lake.
"Hey, it's good practice for my abilities anyway," Vie says and gets another ball of sand. "I need to practice my accuracy."
"So I assume I'm not allowed to snatch the 'pebble' from you," I say with a smirk. "Cause I can do that easily."
"Of course not! You're stronger than me. You need to give me a chance to practice, so I can actually protect people."
"Vie." She's starting to talk about that again. "It's all right. You don't need to stress yourself. I can handle everyone."
"But what happened when you got captured by the Salamence?" she asks back. "I can't just rely on you. I have to become stronger."
"That was because I was careless and got hit by an ice attack. If I'm on my guard, I promise that no one can harm any of us."
"Let him be," Hale perks up from aside. "If he promises he can protect us, then I'll believe him. But don't make a promise you can't keep," he tells me in a darker tone.
"But I still want to play," Vie insists and throws the ball of sand she had been holding the whole time.
I jump out of the way easily. "Well, I'm always up for a game of pebble dodge."
"You two have fun, then." Hale says and flexes his wings, undoubtedly preparing to fly away. "Vie, teach me tonight, okay?"
"Only if I practice enough today. How can I teach if I'm still learning?
Hale sighs and shakes his head. "Fine. Do what you want." he says and flies off, away from the Shallows.
"Wait!" Vie calls after him, but he doesn't stop. "What's up with him?"
"He's probably just frustrated about not being able to levitate sand," I explain, seeing Vie's worried expression. "Give him some time to calm down."
"All right. Ready?" Vie sighs and grabs another piece of sand. I step back, preparing to dodge it. However, she intentionally throws the projectile to my side, and I almost jump into it before levitating myself above and out of the way.
"That was a close one!" I shout as I land back on the floor. "Keep it up!"
She smiles at the compliment and gets ready for another one. This time, I only move after the 'pebble' is already launched, so it falls far off to the side. "You need to make it faster than that!"
Dashing forward with haste, Vie raises another ball of sand and launches it straight at me, but as I jump to the side she uses another one to follow it up and it hits me straight on the chest. The dull thud is not that painful, but I still feel defeated.
Vie is ecstatic as she bounds toward me. "I managed to beat Nova in pebble dodge! This is a new record!"
I want to say something about her not letting me even use a 'pebble', but I force my ego down and instead smile at her. "Great job," I praise her and pull her into a hug. "You're a fast learner."
"All thanks to you, Nova," she says warmly, but as she pulls herself out of the hug she gasps suddenly and pushes me down with a force that sends me straight onto the floor. My guard was down so I don't even levitate myself as my back hits the floor.
"Vie? What was that?" I complain and push myself up, only to see her clutching a strange thing protruding from her chest, before she falls backwards onto the floor.
It was an arrow.
Focusing my mind immediately, I realize that there's a foreign mind a distance behind us. Turning around with my arm readied, I catch the next arrow with ease, and send it flying back at its owner on top of the rock. A flare of pain tells me I hit my mark, and I look up to find the Infernape dropping the bow and falling over.
I don't have time to deal with him. I turn back around to The Flygon who took the arrow for me. Her arms are no longer clutching the arrow and instead she is lying in a small pool of blood gathered beneath her. I bend down and put my arms on her. "Vie. Say something." But she doesn't. So I put my head next to hers and concentrate as hard as I can.
A harsh sting of her pain enters my mind, but it doesn't deter me. Nova, please hear me… Below my cave… protect…
Don't talk like you're going to die! I send back to her. Please, Vie, hold on.
There's only an overwhelming sense of relief that I had heard her. So you know now… At least I saved you… take… care…
No! Vie! I project into her mind, but there's no longer a conscious feeling of it. I hold my arms more tightly around her and try again, but there's nothing, not even the pain.
How could this happen so suddenly? She has been with me forever, ever since we were born. She can't leave now. Vie…
Raising my head and opening my eyes, I realize there's exactly one person responsible for it. I turn my head back towards the outcrop, and teleport onto it. Standing above the Infernape shot by his own arrow, I feel only hate. With a swipe of my arm, I grab him and force him into the air.
"Why did you kill her?" I demand. "I don't want anything to do with you, yet you follow me and kill my friend? Why?"
He struggles for breaths, clearly pained by the arrow in his chest. But I don't care. "You killed her! Talk or die!"
I tighten the invisible grip around his neck, but he only smirks. Entering his mind immediately, I can only find a grim satisfaction. Even if I didn't get the psychic Flygon, at least I killed someone.
He's happy with the fact that he killed her.
He doesn't deserve to live.
With a resolute vengeance, I clench and twist his neck as hard as I can. After some resistance, I hear a resounding snap as the body goes limp. I throw the corpse down to the sand below, watching its mangled movements as it lands with a satisfying thud.
But the vindication is brief. As my rage clears, all I am left with is grief. I glance back towards where she lies and glide down. I stare at her body as I land next to her. If not for the arrow, you could almost believe that she was sleeping.
A sudden weakness overcomes me and I fall to the floor next to her. Gathering my arms around her, I let the tears flow freely as the first wail escapes.