Toa Solaric: I don't own Pokémon. Welcome back to another chapter of my Sun and Moon: Michael's Journey.
Sun and Moon: Michael's Journey
Ch18: Litten's new beginning
Litten was seen walking across the alley with a large fruit in his jaw. He looks like he was in a hurry like usually. After all, his mentor figure was going to helping him with his training again as he shown sight of feeling a bit better than before.
He soon comes across the brick stairs and led him down to the area under the small bridge across the stream. This is where he and his mentor been living after that Alola Persian made a roughhouse with their previous one.
There he saw on the battered couch was his mentor— Stouland. Litten soon comes toward his mentor and placed the fruit in front of him as he waiting for the elder pokemon to eat it. Rather than taking the fruit, Stouland barks to him.
Litten nodded in understanding before he soon goes into a battle stance and focused the power through the back of his chest and a small part of them glowing red.
Like before Stouland will point out what he needs to work on, but not today like this when Litten hearing coughing sounds from his mentor. Stouland is coughing more than usual than before. This was far more than the times before.
It wasn't long until Stouland shown signs of not being able to breathe and that made Litten realized that his condition was far worse.
Litten soon hurries out of the area in order to look for the old lady before he bumped into someone's leg.
"Oww…" A voice that Litten was quite familiar with and he looks up to see Mizuki who was carried two grocery bags. There was RotomDex right next to her.
"Litten, is that you?" Mizuki asked with a surprised expression. She is surprised to see Litten here once again.
"Lit! Lit! Lit!" Litten explains.
"Rotom, what does he says?" Mizuki asked, confused.
"Oh wow! A real Kanto Ninetales!" Lillie said in awe of the beautiful fur of the golden hair fox pokemon before her presence.
Michael and Lillie are currently at the Pokemon Center as the redhead teen wants to see his old friend after they reunited. Lillie came along after Michael explains to her what happens on the island and she wants to meet one of Michael's original pokemon, especially since it was none other than a Kanto version of Ninetales.
Espeon and Ninetales are just staring at each other. But what really is going on was Espeon is giving his old teammate information about the new world especially Alola region. The information fascination the golden kitsune since she never imagined that they would end up in a world without Shadow Pokemon when she used to be one. Despite being sad that others will think they die in the final battle, but Ninetales agreed that the knowledge of Shadow Pokemon should never bring up again and she chooses to stay with Michael by his side once again.
Ninetales then walks toward Michael, Lillie moved few feet back and seeing Ninetales wrapping the redhead with her tails before cuddling against his face with her own face.
Lillie noticed that Shiron, who is standing behind her legs and watching quietly at Michael with his Ninetales. It seems that she wasn't the only one who is fascinated with a variation of Ninetales, but Shiron doesn't seem to know how to approach the golden hair fox pokemon.
"Hey Shiron… why don't you go says hello?" Lillie asked softly to her baby ice type.
Shiron soon hesitated come out after her mama and slowly made her way as her presence was noticed by Ninetales herself. Ninetales stared at the supposed younger counterpart of her previous evolution state while Shiron looks somewhat awe at the large fox pokemon in front of her.
(Pokemon Translation On!)
"You must be Shiron. Nice to meet you." Ninetales said softly. "I am Ninetales. I'm glad that I finally met you."
This made Shiron looks surprised at her. Something about her tone indicated that she seems friendly enough for her to approach her.
"A-Are you a Vulpix like me before?" Shiron asked startled.
"Yes, I was. But I was born of fire type and where the region is different. But you're the first one that I see born of ice type which our type supposed to be stronger against." Ninetales answered. Though she doesn't understand how the process for the type changes in Alola, but Shiron is proof of the change and made Ninetales rather intrigued at the young kit before her.
"But I must admit that this region is different from what I've known. Alola is truly a strange place." She added.
"I-I wonder… but would you be my big sister?" Shiron asked quietly. Ninetales seems very nice especially from the same species, but different types and she didn't have any family with her kinds except for the one who she calls Mama.
"If you like, then I won't mind," Ninetales said before licked the top of Shiron's fluffy hair.
(Translation Off!)
Lillie cannot help look at the scene with glee.
"Your Ninetales is really sweet…" Lillie said, smiling. "How did you end up with such wonderful pokemon like her? I remember you say that it is difficult for Pokemon to exist where you came from," she asked.
"It's true... I did say that. But Ninetales wasn't like that back when I met her as a Vulpix." Michael explained when thinking about Ninetales used to be a vicious Shadow Vulpix.
"She lost her previous trainer in an accident and ends up being forced to work under her kidnapper. It takes longer to get her to trust people again and fight beside me." He said, which wasn't far from his tale of Shadow Pokemon conflict. This made Lillie winced with sympathy when hearing Ninetales's story.
"I see…" Lillie said.
"You don't need to apology. With every pokemon, you met… there will be different stories out there." Michael said.
Back in the house of Professor Kukui and Mizuki, Professor Kukui is going over the video that RotomDex shows him.
"It's truly fascinating that these two different species living together." Professor Kukui comment in awe.
"Yeah, but I wonder if Stouland will even recover… Professor," Mizuki said as she watching her pokemon eating dinner.
"I am sure that." Professor Kukui said before he remembers something. "That is right! Do you remember the Floette that you told me about? I contact my old friend Professor Sycamore in Kalos and he told me that Floette thought to exist in Kalos's legend—The Floette of Eternity." He said.
This made both Mizuki and RotomDex look surprised at the professor with a surprised expression.
"The Floette of Eternity…?" Mizuki said in shock.
"What!? This is unbelievable… are you saying that she was telling the truth!" RotomDex asked.
"Of course, I did!" Mizuki refuted. "So Professor, why is this Floette that I saw was only known in a legend?" she asked politely to her teacher and guardian.
"To start that… you need to know the legend of how Kalos region was back then. It wasn't like the Kalos we know today, but it was full conflict." Professor Kukui started, becoming a bit serious.
Beside Mizuki and Rotom, but Mizuki's pokemon take their time from their food and listening to the professor's story.
"Once a man has loved a pokemon very much… an age of war going on, his dear pokemon was sent straight to the battlefield. Several years later, the man was given a tiny box. No matter what he takes, he wants to bring his pokemon back. He then made a machine that gave it back life and brings back his beloved pokemon. His pokemon was brought back with eternal life." Professor Kukui said.
"T-That is unbelievable…" RotomDex said.
"Is the man happy again when seeing the pokemon again?" Mizuki asked.
Soon the professor's expression turned into a frown. "But due to the war that got his Pokemon killed… it driving him from being the kind man and wants to seek vengeance for hurting his pokemon. Even if his pokemon was revived, but his grudge never let's go. So he turned the machine he created into an ultimate weapon to wipe the two factors that started the war, both human and Pokemon alike." Professor Kukui said as Mizuki and the pokemon gasped in shock.
"The pokemon who return to life saw all of the destruction… must aware that the life grant to it by the machine was used by the life-force of the many pokemon and the human friend it once known changed completely. So the pokemon who returns to life… left the man. That pokemon was none other than the same Floette you saw, Mizuki." Professor Kukui said.
"…" Mizuki seem somewhat conflict by the story and Professor places his hand on her shoulder.
"Mizuki, I'm not telling you this to scare you. But I want you to be aware of the truth as you witness something that considers how the legend of Kalos was born. Even people of Kalos aware of the legend of their region and how it come to being." Professor Kukui said calmly.
"Professor, what happened to the man who loved his Floette?" Mizuki asked. "You didn't say anything about him…"
"I am not sure, but people say that he still wander around and searched his pokemon… but it still skeptical to me about how he can live that long. Did he used the machine he bought to make him immortal?" The professor wondered. It too bad that the machine supposed to be lost forever… even his old friend didn't know what happened to the machine that referred to as 'Ultimate Weapon'.
But Professor thinks it better a machine that takes away life be left forgotten and rotten away than letting anyone abused it.
(Next day)
The school was over, Michael was finishing looking through the book while Mizuki and RotomDex are beside him. Walking on his left was none than Magnus who choose to stay outside of the backpack for today.
"If people claim that you saw a Floette in this region, they would consider you mentally insane," Michael stated with a deadpanned expression. But the book that Mizuki show him got him interested in the history of Kalos region.
"But you believed me right?" Mizuki asked, not being offended by words from her friend.
Michael soon returned the book to her. "Well, I am a bit curious about Floette who claims to be immortal…" Michael said quietly. Though he is also a bit disgusted about a machine that can take life and used as a deadly weapon, he is relief such a weapon no longer exist.
"Then do you think that I can find Floette again?" Mizuki asked hopefully.
"It's possible that it could still be on Melemele Island as Alola far from other regions," Michael stated with a thoughtful expression. "But what you're going to do when you find the Floette? Are you going to catch it?" he asked, a bit curious. If Floette supposed to be immortal… then he assumed that it can easily heal from any wounds but he won't know for certain.
"Well… I am not sure. But maybe a proper picture with my camera this time." Mizuki shrugged.
"Is that so?" Michael asked.
"Hey, Michael… I have this question that I want to know," Mizuki asked. "Do you think it's right for us human to bring back those who were dead?" She felt touch to the man who lost his Pokémon, but is it alright for a human to have ways to bring back the dead? Since her mom told her that everything will die someday eventually.
"That is like asking if we should become gods. Too many people who tried to play gods end up making things more miserable for everyone else." Michael scoffed. "Who are we to demand those that have been laid to rest be forcibly brought back to life? What kind of people would we become if we forced those that rest to be alive and awake now?" he asked.
"I guess that I don't know how to answer those questions… since I am still a kid." Mizuki said, cannot really think of answers for these complicated questions.
"Of course… it is complex then you think-"
Just then they heard movements from the bushes next to them and… emerged out of there was none other than Litten himself!
"Litten?" Mizuki asked as the fire kitten hurry toward them. "What are you doing here?"
"Lit! Lit! Lit!" Litten said with a desperation expression upon on his face. Something about his expression and his tone made the two trainers felt like it really is urgent despite not understanding what is going on from him.
"Sound like something serious happen if he comes all of the ways here…" Michael said as he didn't need Espeon to translate for this.
"Then Litten, would you show us the way?" Mizuki asked as Litten nodded.
Litten soon turns around and leading them straight to town, then he led them straight to the place where he and Stouland were staying.
Stouland lied there on the ground and seem to have the trouble of gasping for air.
"It seems that Stouland has some breathing problem!" RotomDex deduced.
"Can Velvet do anything?" Mizuki asked worried to Michael.
"Unfortunately Wish won't help with this problem. The only thing we can do is getting him straight to Nurse Joy." Michael said. 'But there is no doubt that it's almost time…' He soon comes close to Stouland and tried to move him, but finding him surprisingly heavy.
He soon takes out a pokeball and released Espeon who awakened from his nap.
(Looks like he had some serious trouble.) Espeon said before using his psychic power to help to lift up Stouland from the ground.
"Let's go!" Michael said before he and Espeon take the lead for the Pokemon Center.
It wasn't long until they reached the Pokemon Center. Michael, Espeon, and Mizuki are waiting outside of the operation room while Mizuki trying her best to conform Litten who seem to be worried about Stouland.
"I'm sure that Nurse will make Stouland better," Mizuki assured to the worried Litten in her arms.
So Stouland know that his time will end soon, right? Michael thought.
(There is no doubt about it…) Espeon said. (So who is going to break the news for Litten? I doubt Mizuki will be able to do the harsh task…)
Before Michael can think up an respond, Nurse Joy come out of the operation room and Litten jumps out of Mizuki's arms as he ran toward Stouland.
"How is Stouland doing?" Mizuki asked.
"There is nothing wrong with Stouland, but the reason for this because—" The door to the operation room was closed as Mizuki's eyes wide in shock at Nurse Joy's words next.
"D-Does Litten know about it?" Mizuki asked quietly.
"There is no doubt that he is aware of it…" Nurse Joy said, glancing back at Litten who stay close to Stouland.
Soon Michael spoke up. "I am sure that this will be hard for Litten consider that Stouland is the closest thing he has as both of parent and a mentor." He always got a feeling that is what kind of relationship both Litten and Stouland have with each other.
"Is that why you know Wish won't help Stouland since his time come?" Mizuki asked.
"I always did have the feeling… there is coming and we have to let it come," he said quietly.
"…" Mizuki remained quiet with a sad expression. She remembers the early conversation about bringing something back to life as she still doesn't have answers for Michael's complicated questions.
"What were you do now?" Michael asked.
"I want to stay with Litten when that time comes," Mizuki said quietly. "That is the only thing I will do to help him. Will you stay as well?" she asked.
"I guess that I will," Michael said.
(Night)
Michael soon ends the phone after he explains to James that he won't be back to the mansion for tonight. Michael turned to see Mizuki with RotomDex heading for the operating room in order to keep Litten and Stouland.
"Michael…" Michael stops and turned to see Nurse Joy who approaching him.
"Is there something the matter?" He asked.
"It's related to what you told me about Miss Lillie before." Nurse Joy said, feeling that this would be the best time of talking to him about it.
This made Michael looks serious when Nurse Joy talks about Lillie's trauma. They have been waiting for a possible result from studied of Lillie's blood than telling him nothing is wrong. It looks like Nurse Joy might be revealing something that related to what's been going on with her.
"Did you find something?" He asked.
"It's best that we don't talk out here. Please follow me." Nurse Joy said.
They soon went into the same room that he and Lillie went there before. Michael soon closed the door and faces the pink haired nurse with a serious expression.
"So you believed me that you find something related to the attack she received when she was younger?" Michael asked.
"Yes, I did and I'm sorry about delaying the meeting for a while. I was trying to get help in identifying the sample." Nurse Joy explains calmly and soft. "But I think that I should let you be aware first due to you being matured enough to handle it and tried to uncover the truth behind her attack." She explains.
"I see… So were you able to identify the Pokemon who caused the attack?" Michael asked as Nurse Joy brings up the picture.
"Here… this is the result of studied Lillie's blood sample." Michael looks at the picture and his eyes cannot help wide in shock.
"What in the world…?" Whatever he saw in the picture made Michael certain that those are completely unnatural to a body of normal human like Lillie and himself.
"Whoever attacked Miss Lillie when she was young… the DNA doesn't match up with any pokemon in our database. But what we did learn that whoever attacks her left strain of very poison toxic in her vein." Nurse Joy said grimly at the result from Lillie's blood sample.
This made Michael gritting his teeth at the new information he learned related to Lillie's attack. Lillie was poisoned and no one even noticed it!? "What is the poison level, Nurse Joy?" he questioned coldly.
"The poison level is stronger than a Muk and a Garbador. Far dangerous than anyone would've seen. It hard to believe that she survived this long, but it possible the poison bound to her like a symbiotic in order to survive. But it possible that this poison is what caused her phobia." Nurse Joy continued calmly.
"As a doctor, can you extract the poison from her or not?" Michael asked. He is certain that Lillie's family have enough money to even afford such an expensive operation!
"We don't have much information about this toxic within Miss Lillie. There is a chance that we end up causing her end up in a vegetative state…if we conduct the operation." Nurse Joy finished with the unfortunate news.
So there is no chance for Lillie being able to recover without being brain dead…! Michael thought angry and slammed hard on the wall.
Even if they were close to the truth… they don't have any way of saving Lillie from the poison coursing through her body. The blasted poison has been overlooked for the phobia.
Just when Michael is about to continue with despaired the news that Lillie can't be saved, Nurse Joy revealed something that might give him a shimmer of hope.
"But there is one thing that might help her… consider that you're an Island Challenger."
This made Michael looks up at Nurse Joy. "What can I do as Island Challenger…?" he asked.
"You must find Tapu Fini on Poni Island, the guardian whose water can cure the impossible illnesses out there." Nurse Joy said calmly.
"You're saying that Tapu Fini might be able to help Lillie and get rid of her poison for good?" Michael asked, skeptical. Not to mention that Lillie told him that Tapu Fini is one of the four guardian deities in Alola and that specialty with water healed anything. But Michael is still skeptical if that is true or not when he never saw it work before.
"Yes, Tapu Fini can produced water that can heal any kind of illnesses." Nurse Joy said. "But Tapu Fini will only help those who earned her respect. As for why I say because the Guardian deities won't show up for people in a long time, maybe someone like you can do. But you will still have to earn her respect. If you're willing to go visit her on Poni Island."
Michael soon made up his mind after Nurse Joy warned him to be careful. "If Tapu Fini is the only one who can fix her. Then I will make sure that Lillie is freed from her cursed fate…" Michael said seriously.
It wasn't long until Michael left the office before he noticed Mizuki and RotomDex ran off in a hurry outside of the Pokemon Center.
Mizuki with both RotomDex was searching for Litten and Stouland, who left the Pokemon Center. Just a little while ago, Mizuki returned with foods for Litten and Stouland but to find them nowhere in the operation room before they realized that both pokemon left. So Mizuki decides to go out and searching for them. Even with Rowlet in the air, they still cannot find the missing pair.
"Litten! Where are you!?" Mizuki calling out to the fire kitten pokemon.
"Where could they be!?" RotomDex wondered.
Rowlet is still searching under Mizuki's request before he spotted something looks like an explosion not far from where they're. He soon returned back to his trainer and says something to RotomDex.
"Hoo! Hoo!" Rowlet said. "Hooo! Hooo! Hooo! Hooo!"
"What did you say? You think that you find them?" Rowlet nodded to RotomDex's translation.
"Please lead us to them!" Mizuki pleaded as Rowlet nodded and began moving swiftly through the air.
It wasn't long until a few minutes before they heard the sound of what looks like battling going on and seeing Litten was sent rolling across the ground. The one who attack was… a Mega Heracross with purple glowing purple eyes.
Mizuki's eyes are wide as she recognized this certain Heracross from before and saw a familiar helmet masked woman nearby—Essentia. "That woman who pretends to be Mao…!?"
"Mizuki, look over there!" RotomDex said, pointed his hand to somewhere not far from the battle. Mizuki saw where RotomDex was pointing and see Stouland lying on the ground with bruises.
"Heracross initiated Mega Punch!" The mysterious helmet woman commanded coldly.
Mega Heracross moved immediate and gathering energy in the punch as it was going to deal a blow on Litten who couldn't get away.
Mizuki got out her pokeball and Porygon2 materialized out of it.
"Porygon2, Aerial Ace!" Mizuki commanded as Porygon2 flight from the side and assaulted Mega Heracross with a glowing arm. This made Litten looks surprised at the ones who saved him in the pinch.
"…" The mystery woman didn't seem to react much upon seeing someone else intervene with her affair.
But it seems to make Mega Heracross upset and swing its fist at Porygon2.
"Used Conversation2!" Mizuki shouts as Porygon2 glow brief as Mega Heracross's attack went through Porygon2 and didn't do anything to the virtual pokemon, who becomes a Ghost-type.
'Ok… I need to think. I don't have anything against her team of Mega evolved… and the only Z-move I've access is Breakneck Blitz. But I can least get Michael or anyone's attention...' She thought.
"Porygon2, used Ice Beam!"
"Countered with Brick Break!"
Porygon2 fired the powerful blast of ice toward Mega Heracross, who punched hard and shattered the ice. Mega Heracross about to attack again when small blasts of flame come at it from the side. This made the Mega pokemon hissed in pain. Mizuki turns around and seeing Litten, who barely get himself up, was the one who released the attack.
Litten soon dodged the blows from Mega Heracross before Porygon2 dived down and come to rescue the fire pokemon from a blow that crushed the ground.
"Litten, don't push yourself too much!" Mizuki said before she pressed on her Normalium Z stone and it starts to glow. "Rowlet, let's do this!"
Rowlet soon lands on the ground and mimicking her poses.
"Mega Heracross, stop her…!" Essentia ordered as Mega Heracross charging at rapid speed.
"BREAKNECK BILITZ!" Mizuki shouts as the energy transferring straight from her and then into Rowlet.
Rowlet soon swings up into the air and going to charge at Mega Heracross before an explosion hit occurred in the area. It wasn't long until the smoke faded away, Mizuki and others' horror, Mega Heracross was still standing and the Z-move didn't do any damage to them.
Mega Heracross soon slammed its fist straight at Rowlet before sending him flying straight to the wall hard.
"Rowlet!" Mizuki cried out in shock before returning her pokemon back to his pokeball.
Essentia's attention soon made to the injury Stouland and walks toward the aged old Pokemon, but small fireballs stop her from the attempt and made her looks at the one who was responsible for it… Litten.
It surprised that even after being injured, Litten was still been able to stand and won't go down if anyone tried to get close to his mentor.
"RAWWR!" Litten soon firing more Embers at her, but Mega Heracross swiped them away and charging orange energy beam from its jaw.
"Get away, Litten!" Mizuki pleaded before the blast about to hit Litten.
Just when it seems to be the end for Litten, a bright green shield emerged out of nowhere and Litten looks up in surprise at his unexpected saviors. Michael who had a calm expression while sitting on the back of his Ninetales as Protect vanished upon the attack.
"Michael…" Mizuki said, cannot help but feel happy that her friend is here.
"I saw the explosion and I never expect to see you again…" Michael said before getting off of his pokemon while glaring at Essentia.
"That is a Kanto Ninetales!" RotomDex exclaimed before documenting the unexpected presence of variation of Ninetales here. But he never imagined that Michael would have one!
"Heat Wave!" Michael commanded calmly.
Ninetales complied and exhales powerful wind of flames before struck Mega Heracross without any problem.
Since Mega Heracross already used Hyper Beam, it couldn't move away from the devastating attack of Heat Wave. The attack also did much damaged to Mega Heracross before it was forced to reversal back to its original form and fainted.
Essentia soon returns Heracross before she turns around and calling out her Gengar.
"Initiated… Mega Wave!" Essentia shouts as her Mega Wave stone activated and the energy spreading to her Gengar before it becomes Mega Gengar now.
Ninetales cannot help but growl angry while Mega Gengar chuckled at the same time before firing Shadow Balls at Ninetales.
Ninetales soon start charging as Mega Gengar firing Shadow Balls and she leaps straight into the air. Then the unexpected happens as Ninetale's red eyes glowing and causing Mega Gengar starting to panic immediately.
"What in the world is that?" Mizuki asked, confused.
"That was Confused Ray!" RotomDex recognized the Ghost-type move but surprised that Michael didn't give a specific command.
"Gengar snapped out of it," Essentia demands, but Mega Gengar wasn't listening before the Mega ghost pokemon using what looks like ice punch at random location.
This made everyone else dodging the incoming ice coming from the ground.
"Gengar, I command you to obey me!" she repeated her command. But even her voice won't be working on a pokemon who is in confusion state.
It seems that even if Gengar who was forced to become its Mega evolved form and obey without hesitated, it seems that there are some part of Pokemon cannot change.
"Overheat now!" Michael said.
Ninetales's body glowing red before releases a white fire with a red-orange flame spiraling from her mouth. The attack melts down the ice around Mega Gengar before heading for Mega Gengar itself.
The attack struck and caused Mega Gengar falls straight into an unconsciousness before reversal back to its original form.
Essentia returns Gengar back to its pokeball before she glares at Michael. She didn't anticipate something like this would end up happening and there was no information that he has a really powerful Ninetales.
"I know you've had other pokemon in your dispose of," Michael stated coldly while Ninetale keeps her guard up.
"…" Essentia just stares at Michael before she turns around and leaves before disappeared into the shadow.
"Nine…?" Ninetales asked, curious if Michael wants to continue pursuing Essentia.
"No… I got a feeling that we'll see her again." Michael said as if he knows what she was going to ask him. Not to mention the problem with Essentia is that she can change her appearance. But the question is why she after Stouland, did something happened?
They soon turn around and saw Litten and Mizuki as the two tried to help Stouland up. Michael let out a sighed before he went there and offering his assistance.
(Next day)
Litten was having a dream about Stouland before he noticed that his mentor wasn't there. He soon calling out to him but didn't hear his response at all.
"Lit…" The fire cat pokemon starts looking through the entire town and the streets. But nowhere has he gone, there is no sight of Stouland anywhere.
He soon goes to one last place where he hopes that Stouland would be there and his eyes glee with hope.
There on the old couch was none other than his mentor Stouland sleeping as usual.
"Litt! Litten! Litten!" Litten said happily to his old mentor.
"…"
But to his shock, Stouland didn't respond to him at all.
Litten trying hard to get Stouland to awake, but whatever he does… Stouland won't move from the broken couch.
It wasn't long until it starts to rain, but it didn't bother a fire type like Litten who is concerned about who his mentor won't wake up.
But it wasn't until the answer come from someone else.
"He passed on." A voice said as Litten turns around and seen Michael, Espeon Professor Kukui, Mizuki, and RotomDex. Michael, Mizuki, and Professor Kukui all have umbrellas.
"Litten!? Litten!" Litten shouts, denying of what Michael was saying. There is no way what human says is true!
Espeon giving Michael a translation to shows that Litten refused to believed that Stouland was gone.
Neither of Professor Kukui or Mizuki would say anything as both of them are feeling uncomfortable about saying anything to Litten. But Mizuki never imagined that this is her first time of seeing a Pokemon die in front of her as she been sheltered the whole time.
But Michael was different from both of them, he continued when it comes to talking to Litten. He doesn't want Litten continued letting himself be in denial of reality after his mentor passed away. After all, this death is more ease compared to other death he witnesses in the past.
"You should be aware that wasn't his illness taking him… but his time come to an end." Michael stated calmly while Litten continued growling angrily at him.
(Don't take us for fools. Even you're aware that he will pass away, but you still hold on lingering of hope in your eyes that he will stay with you a bit longer.) Espeon explains.
It wasn't long until Litten starting to have water in his eyes and letting out a cry.
Professor Kukui didn't say anything but he bowed his head in respect for the old Stouland.
"Litten…" Mizuki whispered sadly.
This is certainly truly an unfortunate day for Litten.
In the living room of the mansion, Michael and Lillie are sitting together on the couch while it was still raining outside.
"That is really sad," Lillie said after Michael told her about what happens to Litten and the death of Stouland.
"Though why did you have to say it…? Something like that will be too difficult of speaking." Lillie asked confused to the redhead. It not like she knows what seen someone who she knows dying before her.
"Because someone has to do it or Litten will have difficult to accept on his own," Michael said calmly.
"I see…" Lillie said quietly. "Michael… with Litten no longer have any place to go, do you think about catching him?" she asked.
"Litten… no, he is much of a loner and won't fit my battle style." Michael explains.
(It's unfortunate that Stouland and Litten were in the wrong place at a wrong time when they crossed against her…) Espeon said to Michael silently agree.
Before Stouland passed away, Michael has Espeon sneak into Stouland's mind to find out what exactly did Essentia want. It turns out that they ran into an unknown pokemon that Essentia been hunting and Stouland retaliated when Litten almost got hurt.
Unfortunately, Espeon didn't get a clear vision from Stouland due to him being close to dying, but they know the pokemon is really small. Even Litten himself wasn't certain of what they saw. But this made Michael curious about what they did see? And why Essentia would be interested in the pokemon?
But they can figure out her later. There is another matter that he needs to deal with and that confronts with Lillie about the poison within her. They've learned something about the pokemon who attacked her.
Whoever the pokemon or not, their poison level is higher than any poison pokemon out there.
Michael can imagine that Lillie will freak out to find out that she was poisoned. But he also doesn't want others to find out about it yet since it will put them in unnecessary danger if someone from Aether Foundation finds out.
(Fighting another Guardian deity will be difficult since we never finished the fight with Tapu Koko. I recommend that we hold back the information until we're ready to face Tapu Fini. We don't want to go unprepared since we aren't at full strength.) Espeon suggested.
Michael silently watches Lillie playing with Shiron.
Lillie should at least enjoying her normal days a bit more until the time Michael deemed that he and his pokemons are strong enough to go against Tapu Fini. Then he will tell her about what he learned from Nurse Joy. The journey to find the guardian of Poni Island may be difficult and possibly dangerous. He didn't need to worry about looking for a boat when the day comes for Robo Kyogre make presence known to the sea.
No matter how powerful Tapu Fini was, he is going to win in order for Lillie being cured of her curse life.
(a few days later)
Mizuki let out a sighed before she walking out of the house while RotomDex flying behind her. She still had not get over Stouland's death and the small funeral that Professor Kukui prepared for the decreased pokemon. Though one day didn't change everything as life continued moving onward.
I can't believe that he is really gone… Mizuki thought with sadness in her grey colored eyes as she continued walking and carried a tray of pokemon food. She knows that that time isn't everlasting for almost everyone, but felt unfair for what happened with Litten.
Litten was still standing across the gravesite for Stouland made by Professor Kukui himself. Not to mention that the tombstone happens to be cover in the same design of the couch Stouland was resting on. Litten hadn't moved an inch from where he was for few days.
"…" Litten didn't seem to reach much with the present of Mizuki and RotomDex.
"Here, Litten," Mizuki said before placing the plate in front of Litten.
But Litten didn't seem to react much to the presence of her food.
"You need to eat, Litten. Stouland won't want you to be like this forever." Mizuki said.
When she thought that her voice failed to make Litten listen… Litten sets the food on fire with his Ember and growls at her.
"Litten…"
Something about his expression shows that he can't take the pity after being here for a few days.
"Hey, Litten… would you come with me and we can become stronger together?" Mizuki asked as Litten looks a bit surprised at her. "I don't know how Fire Fang works exactly, but I want to help you work on it." Though she also wants to get back at the one who hurts Stouland and Litten, she felt that bringing her up will make Litten feel disheartened and sad about Stouland's death again.
Litten answered by firing an Ember close to her face and this made the young girl moved back so she won't get burned again. But she knows what this means.
"Rockruff, I need you!" Mizuki shouts as the rock puppy emerge from the house and joining her side.
"Ruff!" Rockruff soon snuggled against her leg after he shows up.
As for why Mizuki choose Rockruff to fight against Litten due to rock have a great advantage against fire. Though she also has Porygon2, she felt that the fight won't be considered fair battle.
When the rock puppy stared at Litten, the pokemon felt serious from the way Litten was staring back at him. He can sense it no doubt that Litten wants to fight as Litten stretching his back and released an Ember.
But Rockruff jumps back to avoid the fireball.
"Rockruff, used Rock Throw!" Mizuki shouts as Rockruff jumps into the air and firing incoming rocks at Litten.
But Litten jumps out of the way and released Ember at Rockruff. Rockruff got hit by the attack, but it didn't do much of damage toward Rockruff.
However, this seems to agitate Rockruff and charging at Litten. Litten didn't react upon seeing Rockruff's strange behavior before he moved out of the way and firing multiple Ember at the rock puppy.
And Rockruff responds with aggressive Rock Throws at the fireballs.
This result quite a small explosion when their attacks collided with each other.
"Rockruff, Bite now!" Mizuki shouts as Rockruff charging at Litten with his mouth opened.
Litten jumps out of the way after Rockruff gets close and smacks his tail on his back as Rockruff was sending rolling across the ground. Then Litten did something that impossible… he arched his back and fire gathering around his teeth.
"Litten…" Mizuki muttered in surprised. Even RotomDex is surprised by the unexpected development from Litten's action.
But Rockruff didn't give him time when firing the biggest rock that he can be mustered at Litten. Litten charged forward and snapped the large rock into pieces, but the explosion sends both pokemon skidding backward from each other.
"Rock Throw!" Mizuki shouts as Rockruff mustered up enough energy to gathering around his tail.
Meanwhile, Litten gathering energy into his back and fire starts to gathering in his jaw as both pokemon hold their attack back until…
"Fire, now!" Mizuki shouts serious.
Both pokemon released their attacks on each other and result in another explosion.
Though both pokemon are standing, both of them seem to be smirking at each other that neither of them falls straight to the ground.
Mizuki soon let out a smile. "Now you see how strong we are? Would you joined us, Litten?" she asked.
Litten thought about a moment before dropping a rare smile and nodded to her.
"Thank you, Litten." Mizuki said before she tossed the pokeball into the air.
Litten then jumps into the air and tab his tail against the center of the pokeball before he was absorbed into the pokeball. The pokeball lands on the ground and wobbling three times before giving a successful ding.
Mizuki smile before she approached the pokeball and released Litten from it.
"Litten…" Litten looking back at her with a warm smile.
"Welcome to the family, Litten." Mizuki said as other pokemon from her team come and warming welcomed the fire cat.
To be continued…
AN: That is the end of the chapter, I made Stouland's death sadder with him not actually disappeared like in the episode and Litten thought he was sleeping before realized that he is dead.
The tale about the Floette that Professor Kukui told was based on the Pokemon Generation: episode 18- Redemption. With how most would guess… there will an upcoming struggle involved with the pokemon who is considered both cursed and bless that wasn't part of the anime.
Anyway, be sure to review or message me for any questions, comments, or concern. And don't be afraid to look at my other stories.