Approaching the dinner table I couldn't help myself but gawk at the wooden platform which was overladen with dishes. Pasta. Soups. Roasted meats. Glancing around the table I noticed that Eon's Pokemon had chosen to join us for the meal. My mouth watered at the decadent spread. I was so hungry after my long nap. Granted I knew that Lula and the ones who had been playing sports were just as famished I was. Kyle took a seat next to me, much to my chagrin. Bry and Lula sat on the opposite side. Despite everything good that happened today, he still appeared disheartened. As Eon offered plates to us, I couldn't help but want to change that. Considering what I could offer him, my stomach plummeted. The idea of what I wanted to do was scary. Yet for Kyle, I was willing to go that far. The trust I had in him was absolute despite the betrayal during training. He had been willing to take Lula's attack for me. The least I could do was give him my heart and soul. He deserved happiness. My mind wandered to the Ranger Academy. I knew their role in the world was not exaggerated. They were the best of the best trainers. Their knowledge was expansive to the point it was astonishing. Rangers were a dime a dozen but could run an entire Pokemon Center, Gym, and City by themselves should circumstances require their attention. Which made the circumstances surrounding Elaina's death so mysterious. With that much training and power, to be taken down by several bullets? It was impossible. Nonetheless, I needed to focus on helping him reach that goal. Sighing, I turned to notice that I was being observed by Kyle. Faking a smile, he moved his chair a little bit closer to mine.
"Not hungry?" he asked.
"Just...thinking," I said trying to deflect his question.
"About what?" he asked as he lifted some potato salad to his mouth. I remained silent for a minute before shaking my head.
"Nothing. I should probably grab a-"
"Already done, Rosie," Bry said, as he rode on the back of Lula's tail. The water/fairy type winked, as she placed a dish full of a spicy-looking stew in front of me. My mouth watered at the scent of the herbs and berries which filled my dinner. Too impatient, I leaned down and took a massive bite of the meal. Salty sweetness accented by the slightest hint of heat filled my maw. I reveled in the appetizing curry, taking my time to eat it bit by bit. Lula returned to her seat on the opposite side of Kyle, laying her head into his lap. I stared at the water type as she winked at me. I wanted to be upset with her for making her claim yet knew this was only part of the game.
"I'm not feeling so good Master," she whined pitifully. The act seemed to pass over his head as he remained naive of her intentions.
"Really? What's wrong?"
"My tummy hurts. I'm not sure I can eat anything. I might go to sleep early. All the play from earlier might have made me sick," she continued, closing her eyes. To his credit, he started to pet her mane, tenderly.
"Do you want me to get you some medicine? Or maybe Lucia could use Aromatherapy to make you feel better!" Kyle begged, but she shook her head.
"I...I think I just need rest," Lula said, as she pulled out of his reach, and slid to the floor. Bry finished his Poffin with two large bites. His cheeks bulged as he stored the food in them, with a guilty large grin.
"I'll see she makes it upstairs. Be a good girl, Rosie!" he teased me again. In response, I playfully nipped at his tail making him yip in shock.
"Call me that again, and I tell your Mom you electrocuted Kyle," I replied with a devilish grin.
"You wouldn't!" he cried out, swallowing both bites. I watched him choke and hack on the pastry. Mirth filled our company, as Eon and his pokemon started laughing at the scene. I couldn't help but feel slightly bad but knew that he would get me back later on. As the two rounded the bend, I looked to Kyle who returned his attention to dinner.
"So Kyle?"
As one, both our eyes turned to look at the gorgeous water snake who leaned forward slightly. She flashed a coy smile, before speaking up again.
"If you were given the choice of what region you would love to work out of as a Ranger where would you pick?"
"Lula and I agreed on Hoenn," Kyle replied almost instantly. My stomach flipped at the answer. Taking another bite of food, I contemplated the reasons behind it. Unfortunately, I wasn't very knowledgeable of places outside of Sinnoh. Thanks to Kyle I was learning slowly about Unova. Granted, Johto was extremely far away from Sinnoh. My thoughts switched to my other family. While I loved Kyle and his family, I couldn't help but be angry with myself for abandoning Lily and Fang. They still needed me in their lives. I had been so blinded by depression that I had failed to see the obvious facts. My gaze flicked to Kyle who was deep in conversation with the Milotic about Johto. Eon had spent a great deal of time in the region. As the two discussed the culture and food, I noticed that Eon's Dragonite was staring directly at me. It wasn't hidden but in fact, was a direct challenge. I met his gaze, and after a minute he averted his eyes from me.
What did he want?
Glancing to Eon he appeared to notice the event but held his tongue. After finishing my meal, I decided it was time that our plan went into motion.
"Hey, Kyle. I'm sorry to interrupt, but can I talk to you outside for a minute?" I asked, as a lump formed in the back of my throat. Looking at my friend, I watched him swallow a chunk of beef, and place his fork onto the table.
"Sure. Here or...‽"
"No. Alone. I have some things to get off my chest," I whispered. He nodded and stood up.
"Sorry guys. I'm gonna go catch some fresh air with Rose here. I'll be back to finish it when I get back," Kyle said, leading me away. I jumped off of the chair, careful to not scratch the cushioning. As we exited the house via the rear sliding doors, I inhaled deeply. It was a warm and comforting night. Kyle's presence calmed my nerves. We crossed the balcony and onto the grassy field.
"What's on your mind Rose?"
I thought hard about what topic I could broach. I needed to keep his attention for as long as possible.
"Are you really sure about your dreams?" I asked. I knew that this was a hard question, but I needed to be sure about his motives.
"Rose? What are you really asking?" Kyle demanded. I could see that I had hit a sensitive nerve, but I needed him distracted for as long as I could. It would give Lula and Bry a chance to finish setting up the trap. More importantly, it gave me a chance to bring up my most dire concerns.
"Don't tell me you are thinking of giving up on me," he accused and I immediately felt the blood drain from my face. He got the wrong idea. I was quick to try and repair the damage.
"No Kyle. I'm in this with you. I've told you I'm your friend. It's just...I don't want to see you die, trying to prove something to us. Lula. Bry. Emily-"
"Don't. Rose...I know you're trying to help but I've wanted this since the day I decided I didn't want to become a Pokemon Trainer. You aren't going to..."
"Are you doing this for the right reasons?" I demanded, turning to him.
"What are you talking about?"
"I know you want to protect others. However, I'd rather see you pick a safer job than... I just...I don't want to lose you," I said lowering my voice. I allowed my walls to drop again around him. Something about this male, made every attempt to put up walls nigh impossible. As Kyle pulled me into his chest, I knew that I had gotten through. While this hadn't been what was really on my mind, it was nice to know that he cared enough to allay my fears and concerns.
"You won't. If things get too...hard or difficult I'll back off. I promise. More importantly, I have to say this Rose. Promise me you won't let anything happen to you while we are there. I know you to help me achieve my dreams, but if you end up getting hurt, it would haunt me forever. Please?"
"I-" I hesitated to answer his question. Lucky for me I didn't have to.
SPLASH!
I started to grin as I watched the clear orb smack into my friend's face. A moment later, I joined his fate as I was attacked by a large object. It compressed against my side gently before exploding. In a second, my fur was coated from top to bottom in warm water. It drenched me entirely from head to tail. Glancing around, I noticed that the porch lights exposed Bry and Lula who were standing behind a barrier of orbs of water stacked on top of each other.
"You traitor!" Kyle shouted at me, as he started laughing ecstatically. On cue, he started dashing towards his Primarina and the Emolga. I followed suit, as we both got pelted continuously with water balloons. When I finally arrived at the first orb, I watched as Bry tried to jump out of reach. Unfortunately, he crossed himself up falling off the pile and onto the dirt.
"Hey there, friend," I said, with a cold gleaming smile.
"Hiya...Rose. Think you could help me up?" he asked, as a sheepish look overtook his expression.
"Remember when you called me Rosie during dinner?" I asked, lifting up a single orb off of the stack. His eyes widened as he looked from the sphere to me.
"No. Nownownow...let's not be hasty. I was joking."
"Me too," I replied, letting the orb slip from my paw and onto the mouse. Despite it being a smaller one, the Emolga came out of the orb sputtering and coughing. I reached for another when I was pincered by two water balloons. The liquid sent me rolling, but I quickly got up, looking for the source. Kyle stuck his tongue out at me, only to be splashed by Lula.
"You little otter!" he shouted, rushing to grab another orb.
For about twenty minutes we went back forth, with us all ending up soaked to the bone. It was blissful chaos with taunts and spheres consistently being lobbed across the muddy field. Eventually, we all collapsed in a circle, huffing from the physical exercise. Glancing around at the group, I rolled onto my back and stared into the night sky. This was the feeling I had been missing all my life. I belonged here. At this moment, I was happy my sister had invited me to be a part of something bigger. The bright moonlight above me twinkled as its crescent shape peeked out behind the few clouds which littered the sky.
"Thanks for that guys," Kyle said, gasping for air. My vision remained focused on the beautiful image above me, but my attention was devoted to Kyle. Before I could speak, Lula spoke up first, hitting the nail on the head. She wasn't going to let him get away with what he had said several days prior.
"Master. We all love you. I know things haven't been ideal but we couldn't bear to lose you. Kyle...you are all I have had since I was a Popplio. Suicide isn't the way. We all want you to succeed and be happy. Whatever it takes. Right Bry? Rose?"
Sitting up I faced Kyle, noticing that his eyes started to run.
"Dad told me something before we went on vacation."
Kyle sat up, meeting Emolga's gaze.
"He was well aware that you were tormented. He doesn't hold what happened against you. It's a sign that you are far more powerful than we could have imagined."
"What?" Lula exclaimed and I sensed a big bombshell was coming.
"Remember I discussed Gold Aura with you?" Bry asked, shaking his fur out.
Kyle shook his head and leaned forward intently.
"So...Gold Aura is the strongest Aura any being can attain. Even Lucario who trains all their lives can only manage to reach Violet Aura. Gold requires the utmost focus and more important inner reflection. You've shown signs of maybe attaining that power. Which is rarer than anything else in the world."
"How rare?" I demanded, my claws unsheathing themselves as I grew tenser at the news.
"There are only two humans even capable of reaching that level and mastering it. Red and Diantha," Bry responded.
Kyle exhaled loudly, and I smiled leaning into his shoulder on his bad side.
"What's wrong, Master?" Lula asked, as his face slumped under some unforeseen burden.
"It's not about power. I just-" he trailed off, and I sensed that the event with the shadow from earlier still haunted him.
"We won't let you turn. You are safe with us Kyle. I promise," I urged, placing my paw on his leg.
"But what if you aren't safe with me?" he asked.
"You worry too much! You may have almost killed Rose but that's 'cause she's a cold unfeeling bitttc….of trouble," Bry said, as I turned to look at him with murderous intent. An awkward silence filled the air, only for Lula to break it a moment later.
"Master. I mean...Kyle. Katherine wouldn't want you to dwell on the bad. The same boy who was willing to fight for us is deep down in here" On cue, she placed a large paw onto his chest above his beating heart. "She admired how bright you shine. Don't give in to despair. Into sorrow."
Her words reached him, as he let out another shaky sigh before pulling the Primarina into his arms.
"Thank you all," he whispered.
"Don't worry. We'll get through this. We still have one more day of rest and relaxation. Let's get some rest and make the most of it. Maybe the three of us can go down to the beach. For now-" Lula said, only to be interrupted by Kyle.
"Would you guys mind sleeping in the bed with me tonight? I hate to ask but-"
"YAY! Absolutely Master!" Lula exclaimed and I couldn't help but smirk at her enthusiasm.
"That sounds like a good idea Kyle," a male voice called out from the porch. Looking back, I felt the urge to growl at the intrusive male but held it back. Eon's Dragonite stood on the porch. My eyes homed in again on the flap of skin that hung limply behind his massive arms. The wing had been heavily damaged. From what I could tell it seemed that flying was out of the question for the Dragon-type. It hadn't been like that prior to the fight with Mewtwo which had my curiosity. Nonetheless, I made note of it and took a defensive position in front of Kyle.
"What brings you out here?" Lula asked.
'I was worried that he got lost or was busy training. Didn't expect I'd come out to find a full-out water battle going on between friends. Brings a smile to my maw. Nonetheless, sleep would do you all good. You've been up quite a while and resting leads to recovery. I'll leave you all to it. By the way, Kyle," the dragon said, stopping with his back turned to us.
"Let it go. Do what you have to. Cry. Forgive yourself and move forward. It's part of the growing process. Eon and I were always impressed by your fortitude despite the odds. I speak for all of us in this mansion. You would make for a fantastic Pokemon Ranger. We are all cheering for you."
Before Kyle could reply, the lizard left, leaving us to reflect on his words. I sat back onto my haunches and yawned loudly. Everyone turned to me, and I noticed that Kyle's expression was one of pure exhaustion.
"You should go rest, Master," Lula said, forming a large blue bubble. As it emerged, I nudged him forward onto the sphere. He collapsed onto it and mumbled incoherently.
"I love you all too…"
I smiled as we headed up the porch deck and inside. As I sat at the precipice of warmth and safety, I heard a voice call to me. Whirling around, I was ready to defend Kyle at any cost.
"He cannot protect you forever."
My eyes narrowed, and I felt the urge to beat back this shadow but decided to not give them the satisfaction. Slamming the door shut, I exhaled softly, trying to calm my fury. This thing continued to torment us every step of the way.
"Stressed out?"
My eyes flicked right to where Eon stood with a plate of chocolate cake.
"You could say that," I replied cautiously.
"Cake?" he offered, slicing a piece off and offering me a plate. I stared at the dish suspiciously before accepting it quietly.
"I know you have a lot on your plate. Kyle's chosen you as his partner for the Academy," Eon stated.
"What of it? That's none of your damn business!" I asked growling angrily. Information that hadn't been passed onto him, seemed to fall out of his lips.
"You weren't paying attention earlier were you? Kyle told us about the decision between you and Lula. To be fair, I don't blame him for choosing you."
My attention was now peaked as I faced the former Champion.
"What makes you say that?"
"Well...You are loyal. Strong-willed, and smart. You are stricter than Lula, which helps balance him out. It has nothing to do with your strength, which you undeniably have."
His compliments threatened to quell my distrust but I refused to let my guard down.
"What do you want Eon?" I demanded. He cut another bite of cake off of his plate and scooped it into his mouth before taking a sip of milk.
"Me? To talk to Kyle's closest ally. I-I wanted to convey something to you. Well, Dragonite twisted my arm into admitting some stuff. You have no reason to trust or listen to me. I'm not the enemy. I swear to you: I'm on your side. I was told by Lusamine that Kyle would have things harder from here on out."
I remained silent but took a small bite of the cake. My appetite was barely there in the presence of this liar but I had no choice but to try and appease him. Kyle would want me to be amicable despite everything in me warning me away.
"Rose. You both are going to be facing dangers you can't even begin to fathom. The training at the school is scary. You'll confront every demon you possibly know and when they are done making you face them...you'll make new ones. I'm responsible for one of the demons which haunts Kyle."
His words made my hair stand on end and sent a chilling air down my spine. Looking up to Eon I noticed that he appeared conflicted.
"Dragonite is solely responsible for your sister's death. I took the blame at the time because as his trainer, I wanted to protect him from Kyle and your wrath. I still do. If you want to kill Dragonite, I ask you to punish me instead," he said solemnly.
My jaw tightened at his proclamation but I forced my paws to be steady. I wouldn't give in to the blood lust I used to let consume me. I was no longer that mon. I was indebted to Kyle for showing me happiness.
"I won't," I stated coldly.
"Th-thank you. The past few months we've had time to discuss things. He's right about quite a bit when it comes to how we handled the situations. Sacrifices needed to be made but not at Kyle's expense. We should have faced Mewtwo alone and left you both out of it. We had tried to keep innocent bystanders out of the crossfire. If Lusamine hadn't insisted you had a role to play, we would have left well enough alone. Dragonite was scared that if we faced Mewtwo when he abducted your sister that we could save her, but at the cost of one if not both of our lives. I know this is heavy stuff, but I want you to know that since then, we've gotten our thoughts and heads back on straight. If you are willing to let us back in, we'd like to help him train."
I considered the offer for a moment. Every bone in my body screamed that this was a trap and that accepting it would lead to Kyle hurt or worse. My mind flashed back to Lula's words again.
He needs you now. More than me anyways.
"No," I stated firmly. Eon seemed put back my tone but bowed his head slightly.
"I can't blame you for it. To be frank, his forgiveness was entirely unexpected. However, there's something that bothered me. I didn't understand it until I looked at you. You both have grown so much since the last time we saw each other."
Finally, he managed to crack my shell despite my best efforts. Closing my eyes, I evaluated myself but couldn't see what he saw in me. Looking back at him confused, he winked and headed to the sink.
"I'm not referring to your levels," Eon said, taking the final bite of cake.
"Rose. Can't you see it?"
For the life of me, I had trouble seeing what he was referring to. Before I could ask his meaning, he took his empty dish to the sink. Laying it gently he waved at me as he started to leave.
I scooped a small bit of the dessert into my mouth and swallowed it quietly. His words stirred up the fears I had about his dark side. Not only that but it appeared that Eon had an inclination about that kind of strength he possessed. His final words spun around in my head, as I tried to figure out his meaning.
"Why tell me all this?" I asked before he could leave.
"To tell the truth because I feel guilty. I set him on this path. I will be solely responsible for whatever happens to him at the end of it. I'm not looking for forgiveness-"
"That's not what it sounds like," I retorted, with a low rumbling through my chest. He paused before replying.
"You are probably right. Just...whatever happens, will you take care of Kyle? He needs a good friend, and I think you can help him reach that goal."
I remained quiet for a second before giving a slight nod of my head. With the conversation done, he left me to my thoughts. I ate the pastry in silence, unable to remain calm. Each bite brought with it another dilemma. Lusamine was up to something but I couldn't put my finger on it. Standing up, I moved away to compose my thoughts. My heart was heavy, but I couldn't hold onto all the swirling emotions. They filtered like sand through my paws until only one thing remained. I had to protect Kyle. No matter what it cost me. As if to answer some unbidden prayer a thought spoke out among the chaos, and I realized what my next step would be. The fear I had felt the first time melted away as I was positive this was the right path. In the wake of the certainty though was a new fear. One I had faced once but would have no choice to face now.
Clouds floated over the mansion as bright light filtered in from the radiant sun above them. Another joy-filled day was about to begin but with one minor exception. Morning came starting an angry chain reaction among three Pokemon. Lula's tail covered my head, and Bry sat on my left leg. Pawing her limb away, I shook my fur out. As I tried to sit up, I startled the small mouse who shocked me in response. The current flowed through my body and into Lula who let out a piercing scream which made both of us flinch in response.
"LULA!" I snapped, angrily. I tried to shake the paralysis out unable to. To her credit, the water type rolled her immobilized body off of my own.
"So-sorry! Where's Master?" she asked.
My eyes automatically moved to the covers where a crescent-shaped imprint was left where Kyle had been comfortably snoring last night. Bry moved the sheets out of the way as I fought against the shocks which constantly ran through my muscles. Each breath was painful as the paralysis ran its course through my body.
"HAHAHAHA!" Bry laughed, at my plight.
"Shut it rat," I said, through bared teeth, as I tried to break free of my electric prison. Despite my best efforts, it was futile. Relaxing back into my spot, I swore that as soon as I got free he would end up back in the hospital.
"You gotta admit it's pretty fun-OW!" he cried out as a small ice shard popped him in the cheek. He glanced to Lula whose cheeks were puffed out. Her mane was puffed out from the static which ran along her head.
"Look what you did to me! It's not funny! Master is going to need at least an hour just to fix this!" Lula whined angrily.
"It was an accident. I swear!" Bryan tried to defend himself. His pleas fell on deaf ears as both Lula and I proceeded to verbally lash the electric glider as we waited for the status effect to fade away. Lucky for me, I was the first to get free. Delivering a swift paw smack that sent him rolling, I dashed down the stairs to go check on Kyle. I only hoped he wasn't training. I slipped past Johnson who sidestepped my all-out sprint. As I slid a couple feet, I regathered my balance and stopped at the foot of the steps. A giant fin impeded my forward progress. Glancing up I noticed that Eon's water type was slithering slowly. The Milotic was still covered in a heavy blanket that wrapped her from the neck down. My eyes moved up the length of her body to her head where her eyes were fully shut.
"Mo cinna bun bun? Please?"
A giant smile filled my lips, as I gently moved under her scaly slick tail and down the hallway leading to the massive dining room and kitchen. I slowed my gait as it grew more apparent with each passing second that I was all alone. I paused to catch my breath despite my concern for Kyle growing with each passing second. When my heart rate had finally reached a normal level, it spiked again. I could hear gleeful noise being made around the corner. Moving closer to the edge, I peeked around to notice that Lucia the Lilligant, and Kyle were standing extremely close. She was framed by Kyle's larger body. Ducking back out of sight, I decided to listen in, and see what the discussion was about.
"It's so squishy and wet," Kyle exclaimed in a breathy voice.
"Well, what do you expect? Granted you are being a little too rough. I want you to go slower," Lucia replied, her voice a mere whisper.
"Like this?"
"Softer. Right….yeah. Mmmm. You're doing good."
"Sorry. This is my first time doing something like this," Kyle mumbled. I could hear embarrassment, and I couldn't help but feel my heart twinge. Glancing back around the corner I noticed that his hands were angled down and moving slowly in concert with her leafy appendages. My horror turned as the Lilligant let out a shocked 'eep', as he pressed closer.
"It's my first time too. If you keep up like this you'll be an expert in no time."
"I'll only do this with you," Kyle replied, and my heart sunk into the pit of my stomach. A small growl filled my throat but I held it back. I had to see what they were doing entirely.
"What are you doing?" I snapped, coming around the corner. Kyle jumped a literal foot in the air, launching a massive ball into the air. As he turned around I noticed that both he and Lucia were covered head to toe in white powder. Before I could ask what they were doing, the orb of sticky soft dough impaled itself on my horn. Immediately regret and guilt clouded my judgment as Kyle placed his only good arm behind his head sheepishly.
"R-rose! Morning. Did I wake you up? I tried to be discreet," Kyle said in a stuttery voice.
"Fine," I said, overly annoyed at the ball which was now stuck to my head. Reaching up, I tried to remove it, only for pieces to get stuck.
"Stop! You'll ruin it!" Lucia cried out, moving as fast as she could. Stopping my efforts, I watched as both Kyle and the grass type removed the goop off my appendage. I sighed as I was finally free of the orb.
"What are you doing up this early?" he asked working the dough again trying to reform it into a large sphere with his only good arm.
"I was looking for you," I said trying to keep any jealousy out of my voice. I felt stupid for not seeing the obvious signs as to what was seen. Flour on the tiles. The brick oven was lit.
"I'm sorry," Lucia said with a swift bow. " I simply wanted to spend time with Master Kyle since I haven't seen him since the fight. He promised he would help with breakfast today."
I watched Kyle's muscles as he carefully massaged the goop into a flat ball. I remained silent, as I observed him to the extent of all else. There was a satisfaction in watching him strive despite the problems he had endured. I didn't want to think that
"I think it's as soft as it's going to be. I think it is ready for the oven," Lucia said, patting my friend's shoulder and moving to place the food into the oven.
"What is that even supposed to be?" I asked as she pulled her arms away from the open fire.
"It's a cinnamon bake. I have this cinnamon cream cheese, that I'll add after. This was my first time making a thinner dough which required some assistance from one more," she said sweetly. A small growl died in the back of my throat, as I tried to exercise some modicum of self-control. I moved to the other side of the counter, where Kyle came to stand beside me.
"Something on your mind?" he asked.
I thought hard for a minute but shook my head. There were things I wanted to discuss with him in private. Now wasn't the time for us to go over it. We had promised that training would be held off until tomorrow when we returned home.
"Where's Lula and Bry?"
"The rodent decided it'd be funny to shock us all when we woke up," I said, in a dry tone. Kyle started to move, but I pawed his arm.
"Everyone is fine. I'm sure Lula is recovering. I would expect-"
"MORNING MASTER!" Lula sang. Her melodic voice rang out across the vastness of the kitchen. It echoed gently, putting a smile on everyone's face.
"Morning Lula. Sorry, I left you guys so early," Kyle apologized.
"I was worried something might have happened to you," the water fairy type said, as she pulled herself onto a stool while we watched the Lilligant prepare the rest of the morning's meal. She was efficient despite not being able to sprint full speed between the fridge and the stovetop. As she sliced up several veggies for an omelet, I listened as Lula and Kyle spoke idly about plans for the day. My mind wasn't worried about the now. When we returned home from vacation it would be back to training. Despite my best efforts, I knew I would eventually have to confront other events from my past. Sighing, I laid my head on the cool countertop.
"OOH! We could go to the beach! Rose...do you like the water?" Lula asked.
"Yes. I wouldn't object to that-"
"That sounds like a grand idea," a voice from the door drew our attention. Turning, I couldn't hold in my joy. Pushing Lula out of the way, I rushed over to greet Olivia. She pulled me into her arms and stroked my fur.
"It's so good to see you all in good spirits. Son. How are you feeling?"
"I'm great. I thought you had work today?" he asked. I could hear the suspicion in his voice. Inhaling her scent, I wasn't put off. It smelled and looked like her. Even sounded like her. I wasn't subjective to hallucinations or psychic moves. This was Olivia.
"I finished the last batch of berries last night. Nothing left but to let the seeds grow. I've done my part. Boss didn't see any reason I couldn't dip out for today."
Kissing her son tenderly, I was excited to get this day started. My family was here, and we would get the chance to hang out at the beach.
"First...before you go, a proper meal is in order! I've stewed some berries from yesterday. It shouldn't take long to brew some hot cocoa," Lucia piped up, as she tended to a pot of boiling liquid.
I closed my eyes and rested considering what I wanted to do at the beach. I could definitely work on honing my claws. Catching some sun rays would be nice. Honestly, I was itching to get back into training but was worried that might cause Kyle to have a relapse.
"Rose."
I recognized the male's voice no matter the time of day. Glaring up at the offending party I let out an angry sigh.
"What do you want Dragon?" I asked.
"A word. Alone. If you'd be so kind," he stated. My attention was peaked at his tone. Shifting my weight, I licked Kyle's hand and hopped off of my stool.
"What business do you have with my daughter-"
"It's personal. I'm going to have to ask you to trust me," Dragonite started only for Olivia to bar my way.
"No. I won't. While I don't agree with everything she's done, you aren't entirely free of blame for what happened to MY son," Olivia stated. I had been on the receiving end of this, but I was more curious as to why he would call me out publicly. I intended to find out.
"Mom. I can handle myself. Thank you," I said in a small soft voice. She glanced at me and sighed.
"If you even think of hurting a single hair on her head, I swear I'll make you regret it," she said with a firm voice.
"I know," the orange lizard replied courteously. Following him outside, I stared closer at the wound on his back. His left wing was practically hanging out of the socket. Blackened and scarred, it was apparent that flying was completely out of the question. The question that remained was who had caused it? My thoughts drifted to Lusamine. As we came out onto the back porch he took an abrupt left. I closed the sliding glass door behind me and followed him to the deck fence. He leaned against it and inhaled the morning dew loudly. His theatrics weren't appreciated as I was still distrustful of his demeanor.
"Rose. Did Eon speak with you last night?"
"Yes. He told me everything," I replied, unsheathing my claws. I let my gaze come off of his face and focus on the tips of my claws. My tongue flicked out to clean the appendages happy that the dislocated one from the fight had healed properly.
"I see. I sought you out for two reasons this morning. I knew that if he had the conversation with him, you might seek retribution."
I let my eyes glance in his direction. His appearance was humbled despite the rough tone of his voice. Yet I had mistaken the tone for anger. It was fear. It became apparent that he was hoping to appease me by providing his life for the egregious mistake that had cost Katherine her life. I was many things but I had left my vengeful nature when I had decided to fall in love with my sister's crush.
"What is the other reason?"
He took a pause at my words before acknowledging the question.
"I wanted to question you about something. Concerning Kyle. I know that I'll be overstepping my bounds, but I think that my life is a short price to pay if I can help you."
"I don't want or need your help," I snapped.
"Are you sure? There is something stalking him. Something far more powerful than you or anyone else. Virizion warned me last night while you slept what it was capable of. She has a bleeding wound that isn't healing."
My eyes widened, and he called my bluff.
"You know you can't."
"That's-"
He spat a small flame and turned on me. I grew defensive as he rose his voice a little.
"You both can't go back to being normal. The fight with Mewtwo changed everything. Kyle's life is irreversibly linked to something. This thing...whatever it is, won't stop. It won't give up. Not until it wins. How long can you keep your guard up before you slip up?" he challenged me.
"Until my dying breath," I retorted, with a low growl.
"You are strong. You all are. I'm not here to fight you. I'm asking you, what will you do?"
His words gave me pause. I didn't have a plan. I knew that my opponent was relentless, and I would have to be just as relentless if we were to have any hope of getting free of this.
"Kyle is only human. He can compete with you on a good day. A bad day...you'll always have the edge. I don't want to see the day come where you slip up. It would make her life's forfeit empty. You really care for him. It's obvious."
"Then what are you suggesting?" I demanded. His words were like bug moves. Super effective at targeting my soft spots. I didn't want to listen. Yet I knew if I didn't, I would hate myself for being too proud. Mewtwo had only been the first threat.
"Kyle will need you. There's no doubt about that. Just...if the day comes that you should need help, and you have no one to turn to, give Eon one more chance."
Looking up at the dragon I noticed that his eyes were moister than they had been a minute before.
"Take my life. I need to atone for my crime. Eon wants to do good, and I know he can. He's the best thing I've ever had. I'm not saying we are alike, but he gave me a second chance. I want to believe he can do the same for Kyle."
I slowed my breathing and closed my eyes. As much as their help wasn't wanted, I understood what he was getting at. Having a former champion on our side would stack the future in our odds. However, I wasn't comfortable putting our health in danger if we decided to trust again. I fought a short internal tug of war before coming to a decision.
"I refuse to hurt you," I stated calmly. His gaze grew narrow, as I stood my ground.
"Kyle's future isn't set in stone. Not by you. Not by anyone. With that in mind, I'm not letting anyone decide how we approach this situation. Just like with Mewtwo, if the need arises, I will lay it down for him."
"And if that's not enough?"
"Then Lula and Bryan will as well. Delilah will fight to keep him safe. But most importantly, Kyle won't give in."
A strong breeze whistled through the air as he bowed his head further.
"What is your plan then?"
"I don't have one," I admitted, avoiding his gaze.
"Kyle has a really good friend. I would be lying if I didn't say I was jealous," a male said, coming around the corner. My attention was drawn to Eon as he stretched his arms above his head.
"I-I-" Dragonite stammered, and I sensed something else was amiss.
"It is not for you to decide, Dragonite. Seeking her retribution out, and forcing her to make a decision on an uncertain future? We agreed, that when they arrived we would tell them the truth and let them take their own path."
"Yes, sir, but-"
"No buts," Eon said in a calm manner. "While I understand wanting to atone, Rose made it clear she has no desire to hurt either of us. I agree that they should plan for whatever attacked them, but if they attend Ranger Academy all of our questions become moot. Only if they fail out of the school will it become necessary to plan how to attack whatever that was. Virizion is being attended by Johnson. I sent him a few minutes ago to check in on her. If he hasn't come back by noon I'll know something went wrong."
Glancing between the two, I opened my mouth to speak but shut it. I was only a bystander in this conversation.
"I'm sorry. I just-"
"I know. I understand why you did it. Let them enjoy their vacation, Dragonite. Kyle's forgiven us. It's in our best interest to let him move on."
I stood up when the Champion called my name.
"Yes?" I responded.
"Just remember your promise to me."
I reflected on his words before I threw them back at him.
"I promised that to Kyle. Not you."
Without another look over my shoulder, I returned to the kitchen. Everything was in full swing. Food was being devoured by Pokemon and a storm of laughter filled the air. The warm scent of cinnamon drew me into the group. Jumping up to the seat by Kyle, I noticed he appeared at ease. With his family supporting him, and friends pushing him forward, I had no doubt he would recover. This is what we all needed. Pushing my walls down, I allowed myself a moment to engulf myself entirely in the festivities. Food was eaten. Jokes and stories were told. And amidst the noise, I found myself contemplating Katherine. She had foreseen and knew this would happen. I sent her another thankful prayer as I swallowed my fourth cinnamon roll.
"AAAAH! I'm so stuffed," Lula cried out as our group headed to the beach. Eon leads the way, with Kyle, Bry, Lula, and myself all floating behind on bubbles. The liquid was buoyant and provided amazing support. Glancing at the water otter, I noticed she had intentionally distanced me from Kyle. Our eyes met for a minute, and she taunted me playfully, sticking her tongue out. I could see how she was playing this game, but I didn't care. Nothing was going to ruin today for me. Leaning back, my eyes glanced into the dark foreboding forest which surrounded us. Pokemon of all different kinds flitted in and out of view as we hovered towards the beach. The bubble was calming and helped me relax. Before I knew it, I had passed out as I waited for us to arrive at the secret spot, Eon had promised would be worth it.
The pitch-black was great for allowing me to take a moment to return to my center. In my memories, I looked for the sister…the daughter…the friend who I had been. A broken mirror emerged from the depths as a dim light shone above. Looking into the cracks I saw the normal Absol I could have been. I recognized Katherine. She stared from the opposite side with a nonchalant smile. Tilting my head back and forth the reflection did the same.
"You aren't me."
"You aren't me…but I could be."
I jumped back a step as the voice hit my ears. It sounded just like her. I knew that it wasn't but it didn't prevent me from longing for her to come back.
"Rose. My dear old Rose."
The voice shifted. Masculine. In my ear. Over and over and over again. My eyes widened, as water spilled over my eyelids. Looking down at my paws, I could see the blood. His blood.
"STOP!" I screamed.
"Rose. Shhh!" a womanly voice exclaimed, pulling me tight into her bosom. Searching around, the feminine scent gave me clarity. A dream. A nightmare. Looking up into the massive chest, I recognized the person who comforted me. She smiled warmly, as she let me go slowly.
"How long was I out?" I asked, groggily.
"Not that long. Lula and Kyle warned me not to wake you. You were twitching in your sleep. I knew that given enough time you'd wake on your own."
I groaned as the images returned and I felt the urge to vomit overtake me momentarily. Shoving it down, I sat up and splayed my claws in the sand. Glancing around, I was stunned by the view that I was surrounded with. Palm trees swayed heavily in the breeze. Clear blue skies mirrored the clean waves which crashed down on the white beach. Bryan was up in one of the trees devouring Nanab berries without much restraint. Kyle however was nowhere to be seen. My heart rate accelerated as I turned around to face Mom.
"Where is he?" I demanded, my fear growing with each passing second.
"Easy. Easy. Here…"
Her hands caressed my cheeks as she tilted my head left to a large boulder about fifty yards out. My eyes searched around it for any sign but were unable to make out anything.
"Look for the bubbles," she directed me, and I squinted trying to get some focus. And then I saw it. Miniature bubbles floated to the surface of the water, dissipating as they reached the top.
"He's diving with Lula. The two are looking for pearls and such. He promised to get you something nice while he was down there."
I nodded absentmindedly. I was curious as to how he was managing to swim with one bad arm, but I suspected that Lula was pulling him along. Relaxing, I stretched out and searched for a path to reach Kyle. Granted with my speed, I wouldn't be able to just run across the water to him. But I could get down there to observe what they were doing.
"Thanks for watching me Mom," I said, before leaning in and kissing her cheek.
"Be careful out there. I saw a few Jellicent and Tentacruels."
I threw a paw up as I full out sprinted around the beach, looking for a good entry point. As I ran past Bryan, his joke caught my ears.
"The princess has woken up," he called out from his perch."
"Drop dead Rat!" I retorted, with a large smile filling my lips. It was this joy that propelled me down the beachside. Each stride filled me with the freedom and inner peace I desired. As I came into the forest, I oriented myself slightly back towards my goal. I had seen a cliff that jumping off of would lead to my friend's exact location. Through brush and vine, I weaved in and out, nothing more than a blur. As I whipped around another large tree, I saw an opening. The edge of the cliff was in front of me. I didn't hesitate as I dashed forward and launched myself skywards bound. As my claws left the ground, I closed my eyes and basked in the sun's warmth. I was weightless for a minute and my heart rate slowed momentarily. Glancing down, I could make out two shapes which I immediately recognized. Hoping they would move out of the way, I streamlined myself and aimed downwards. Plummeting with gravity's aid, I slipped into the crisp cool waters without disturbing anything. The pressure of the water around me threatened to overwhelm me for a second. I shook my head before reorienting my up and down. Breaking the water's surface, I inhaled deeply. The ocean was salty but refreshing nonetheless. Paddling, I was whirled around face to face with Kyle.
"What were you thinking? Crazy Absol!"
I giggled, as he shook his head.
"Your sister never would have done something like that," he said with a broad smile.
"Good thing I'm not her," I replied, before splashing him with water. To my surprise, the act made his smile grow wider.
"Do you really wanna fight? Lula's domain is out here."
I acknowledged his point, with a tilt of my head.
"It's…really good to see you like this. Playful. Happy. Relaxed…for once you aren't biting someone's head off or questioning me," he said, his tone emphatic.
I nodded slowly, and rolled onto my back, coasting along.
"It's because of her," I said, with a smile. Before I could turn around to see where Kyle had gone, a paw grabbed my rear hind legs and drag me under. Inhaling oxygen as I went under, I glanced down to notice that I couldn't make out the figure. The sun and light faded as we went deeper and deeper. My ears popped as I tried to break free of the grasp. My ability to hold the little oxygen in my lungs grew tenuous and I knew that if I didn't reach the surface I would surely drown. With a violent twist, I tried to break free. My chest heaved and I inhaled….fresh oxygen? My eyes widened as the figure let me go, and broached my view. Her blue mane swayed this way and that. Lula smirked as she danced around me slowly. Glancing around, I was stunned by the beauty which lay deep in the ocean. Carracosta, Basculin, and Wailords swam past us in silence, staring at the three weird intruders. Lula pointed down, and I could just make out the reefs and coral at the bottom. A brown leather bag sat at the seat of the ocean. Kyle made his way to it and lifted the sack without any effort. I followed suit, as we swam along the bottom for what seemed like hours. Kyle meticulously examined various stones and shells discarded. Despite nothing looking worthy, he would deposit some items into his pouch, and move along. I followed along, enjoying the serenity of the deep ocean blue.
When we finally returned to the surface, Kyle and Lula's pouches were full. Our limbs were sore, and our appetites ferocious. Kyle dragged himself with his good arm to lay his head in his mother's lap.
"Hey, sweetie. How was the bottom?" she asked.
"Beautiful. Not as beautiful as these two, but…close. I found a bunch of stuff. Thanks, Lula," Kyle praised his water type.
"Any time Master. Next time can we ditch the dead weight?"
"Fat," I scoffed, glaring at her evilly. She smirked and stuck her tongue out again playfully.
"Lula! We just got her in a good mood too. You know how rare that is?" Kyle reprimanded, with an air of joking.
"Hey! I can be happy," I tried to defend myself, only for Mom to tap my forehead.
"Sure you can. When you aren't worrying about fifty different things," she said, booping my nose. I grunted and glanced away nonplussed by their ribbing.
"Anyways, Eon told me that when we are done, Dragonite will lead us back. Just give him a ring. That way we can grab a hot meal and rest for the night," Mom said.
"Where's Delilah?"
"She said she's not a fan of the beach. Sand gets everywhere and she gets homesick. She's reading a book if I had to venture a guess," Bryan said, as he sidled up next to Lula.
My eyes returned to the beach, admiring the orange and purples of the now setting sun. It cast an artistic scene before our eyes. Today had been an absolute joy. I would cherish it amidst the hard times that were sure to follow.