Alright guys, did you like the plot in the previous chapter and did it surprise you? I hope I didn't exaggerate. Write in the comments what you think will happen next, and now back to the story.
A few days had passed since the incident in the canyon, and Zoe and the others were recovering at an impressive speed. Luna along with Raichu and the twins went to the tribe every day in the morning, and the first thing she would do was check on Zoe and her two friends, and then she would visit Rio, Mio, Luka and the others. Since they were forbidden to go out until the rest of the tribe recovered or was sure it was safe, Luna would read them stories from a book she bought at the store, which the little riolus liked so much that they forgot about sneaking out of the tribe. Except for Rio of course who tried to sneak out at least ten times in all kinds of ways, but Luna would catch him every time. In the evening, she would visit her "patients" again, and then she would return to their camp with Raichu and the others. During the day, Raichu would go scouting with the rest of the tribe, most often with Slash. Somehow, after the incident, the two started to get along well, but not well enough. Because when Raichu heard from Elder Shin how she rushed off all by herself to fight a vespiquen and then a member of Team Rocket, she was very lucky that she wasn't seriously injured and that's why Raichu kept her under constant surveillance. If he wasn't by her side, one of the elders would be with her or she would be with the riolus who would keep her busy for hours. The twins were also most of the time with the patients in case one of them opened the wound again and broke the stiches or there were signs of infection and they would immediately notify Luna, or they would be with Luna and Riolus. But since it had been quiet for the last few days, the elders decided to let Riolus continue training, and therefore Luna with them.
The challenge was the same as last time, but almost half of the riolus decided to go with Luna, while the other half went with Elder Shin. This way, if they were to encounter a team of rockets again, Riolus would be safer. When they found suitable meat to sit on, some began to meditate, some analyzed the auras around them until some, like Luna, had no idea what they were doing. It must have been a few hours since they started training and some like Rio, it was driving them crazy. - My head is going to explode, we've been trying to sense Elder Fang for hours, and we have no idea how.- Rio exhaled and began to complain. Luka warned him - Come on Rio. No one has managed to master this in one day as far as I know. Just don't give up. - Luka advised Rio, who was still annoyed but still decided to continue with his attempts. But Flora decided to take a short break and ask Luna something that made her curious. - Luna, when Vespiquen attacked us, you were the only one who felt that it was an enemy among all the other pokemons around us and you wasn't focus on that.- The others were also interested in the same thing, so they all stopped training for a while and waited for Luna's the answer. "You know when you have a bad or a good feeling about someone, that's how I feel it. That's the feeling I get every time someone from team rockets or their pokemons nearby. I simply feel a cold and uncomfortable dark presence. In the end, I started to do it instinctively." Mio understood from the moment what she was trying to say, she commented.
- To me, it sounds more like you learned to distinguish their aura from everyone else. - The others started to slowly agree with Mio conclusion, but Luna still didn't understand, how come she couldn't when she was completely focused on finding something other than team rockets. But then it dawned on her, What If that's the problem? What if I focus too much on what might not be important and I ignore what she would instinctively and naturaly do.' At that moment, Luna suddenly stood up and shouted, "I have an idea." The others jumped to their feet and gathered closer around Luna, to hear what she was up to. ,, What if we focus too much on distinguishing something in some way, instead of doing it instinctively. And the Elder said that everyone perceives and differentiates auras differently." The other riolus thought about it for a bit and except for Mio and Luka, they seemed a bit skeptical, because it sounded like what they were doing at the beginning. - I think I understand. We don't need to think too much, but we shouldn't chase alternating auras around hoping we'll get lucky. Let our instincts and the way we perceive auras guide us.- Luka explained a little better to the others so they all saw what Luna was trying to say. Luna is she tried to remember everything she could feel about Elder Fang, a warm pleasant feeling full of wisdom and warmth, it reminded her a bit of Professor Oak, except she felt a little more comfortable around Elder Fang. And then she felt the aura signal emitting the same such a feeling, a bright warm aura that radiated experience and wisdom. Luna then opened her eyes and looked at her little friends, waiting to see if anyone else had managed to sense the same signal or not. About ten minutes later Flora, Luka and Flash are excited they looked at the moon and asked. - You also managed to feel that, I think it him.- Luna nodded, while the others looked at the three of them, some annoyed like Rio and some disappointed like Mio.
Luna didn't want the others to feel bad, so she decided to address them. ,, Maybe we are and maybe we are wrong and maybe it is not Elder Fang, but even if it is it does not mean that you should be depressed and disappointed in yourself. You just have to keep going and try again, and I'll try to help you as much as I can." The other riolus cheered up and appreciated Luna's desire to help, but they also knew that they had to do this on their own and that they shouldn't let one failure get them down discouraged. Luna, Luka and Flash led the others to where the signal was coming from what they believed to be Elder Fang's question. Since they were not in a hurry but walking slowly it took them about twenty minutes to get to where the signal was coming from. When they arrived , they found themselves on a nearby cliff and couldn't see Elder Fang anywhere. When they were about to give up Luna stopped them and asked them to wait for her. When she got to the edge of the cliff she could see Elder Fang looking up straight at her and the speaker - Congratulations, you found me.- And then he climbed back to the top of the cliff in two jumps.
Luka and Flash were jumping for joy while the others were a little depressed, but they still approached and addressed Elder Fang.- Sorry, Elder Fang do we have time for one more attempt before the training ends? - Mio asked kindly, followed by Rio. - Yes, maybe this time we can succeed.- the whole group asked Fang to try one more time before the end of the training, which surprised him very pleasantly because they are usually depressed or annoyed. This kind of change and persistence was admirable, and Fang knew why the riolus were finally starting to show more perseverance and determination than before. And he could thank Luna for that. Fang agreed to give them another try today and went to hide again while the others waited a few minutes and then started looking for the Fang aura signal. It took them about an hour for Mio to manage to locate Elder Fang, and since no one else could, they sent Mio to lead the way to Fang, and indeed she managed to find him. The others did not despair this time, but with their heads held high, they all returned to the clearing together, since it was time for the training to end and it was time for lunch.
When they reached the clearing, another group of riolus with Elder Shin was already waiting for them. Elder fang announced that Luca, Mio, Flash and Luna had managed to pass their little test, which made the other group a little disappointed in themselves, but Rio immediately intervened. - Come on guys, I didn't make it today, but that doesn't mean I won't be able to make it tomorrow, we just have to try and do our best.- Elder Shin was pleased that Rio had acted so maturely.- Those are very wise words Rio.- Rio answered Shin immediately. - Those are not my words. Luna is the one who said that we should keep trying and that's the only way we'll succeed. - Elder Shin looked at Luna who was nervously rubbing the back of her neck, acting a little shy but also proud of Rio's honest answer. Shin then complimented Luna as well and then they all headed to the tribe. At the entrance to the tribe, they met Slash, Leon, Raichu and Elder Kira who were coming back from the patrol, and decided to report to them. When Raichu and the others saw them they stopped and waited for them to join them. - How did the training go today.- Asked Leon ,Mio who had a big smile on her face. - Great. Luka, Luna, Flash and I managed to find the Elder Fang today.- Mio said proudly as Leon stroked her head, praising her for a job well done. Raichu also complimented Luna and then turned to Elder Fang and glared at him. - There were no trouble today at training.- To which Fang shook his head, reassuring Raichu who was tense throughout the patrol.
Luna decided that before she left for lunch, she would check on the patients to make sure that everyone was okay and that there were no complications. "I'm going to check on Zoe and the others, and then I'll check on Professor Oak." Luna told Raichu and the others, but before she could walk towards the patients Rio stopped her with a shout. -But, you said you would tell us stories today too!- This surprised Slash and Leon who then looked at Elder Fang and Raichu.- Luna had been telling them stories for the past few days so that they wouldn't get bored and wouldn't sneak out to look for problems.- The others felt more clearly, why the curious riolus didn't make a fuss.- Except Rio, he tried to sneak out of the monkey ten times and each time Luna caught him with no problem.- Flora commented as we all laughed and Rio pouted. -At least while Luna in the tribe, I don't have to worry of you disappearing if I take my eyes off you. - Slash commented jokingly, while Luna moved in the direction of Zoe and the others.
It didn't take long for Luna to check on her patients, and nothing had changed since her morning check, which she was really glad about. When she finished checking Ian's burn, she began to slowly pack her things and get ready to go, but Zoe stopped her with a question. - Can we talk for a second? - Which surprised Luna very much. Ever since Zoe met Luna, she tried to avoid talking to her as much as possible. No matter how much Luna tries to help Zoe and befriend her. Zoe would always be cold and dismissive of Luna, until now. ,, Of course. Is something bothering you?" Luna asked politely as she walked over to her, not wanting to let this opportunity to smooth things over with Zoe go to waste. Zoe sighed, and with that the cold aura and sting she held towards Luna lessened a little. -You know I hated you from the beginning?- Zoe asked Luna, who just nodded her head in response.-- People have done us a lot of harm since they came here. We have lost several of our loved ones and our home is no longer safe as is the rest of the world if they succeed in what they want. And that's why I can't forgive people and I hate them.- Luna assumed that they had lost their tribe members. Not just them, a large number of other pokemons on Mount Coronet and that that's why they avoid her. And if it somehow hurt Luna to be afraid of, even if it wasn't because of her alone but what the rocket team did, that's why she showed understanding and that's why she didn't want to give up this time either. She was just patient and she didn't demand to become friends with them, but only that much close enough to make it known that in will not hurt but will help. Zoe stared at a pensive Luna, who smiled softly after a second and commented.
,, I understand. Although it sees to me that you and me are a lot more alike than I expected." This response threw Zoe out of her tact making her totally lost and confused as she had just told Luna that she hated her and what all her tribe had been through for them and Luna was she smiled. - What?!- Zoe yelled, making Ian and Storm start laughing out loud at the comment. -Finally someone managed to get you out of tact and take off your mask. If only you could see yourself.- he commented Storm blushing not to move too much because of her abdominal wound. Luna didn't pay attention to Ian and Storm's comment but answered Zoe's question. ,, I'm still a little scared to be around people too, after everything that happened. And I lost a lot because of them." Zoe glared at her and answered. - But you are also a human being.- This caused Luna to laugh ironically with the answer,, That's right, isn't that sad. Fearing people and being one of them at some time. " All three lucarios were dumbfounded and looked at Luna confused, not knowing what to say. ,, The day you came to my camp, I didn't really tell you everything. I left out a few things that I didn't really like to share with the others." Zoe felt mixed emotions inside her, pride that she might be right about Luna, fear that she might be worse than Team Rocket and guilt for what if she was wrong. Ian and Storm felt that nothing good would come of this.
,, When people in my town saw my powers the day I saved my friend Maya, everything went wrong. Some people avoided me because they were afraid of me, some tried to tame me in all kinds of ways to prove that I was a monster and that I would lose control. Sometimes it would only be verbal, but sometimes it would turn into physical attacks on me and the twins, which would turn into a fight and then our running away from them. No matter how much I begged them to stop or leave me alone, it didn't work, and worst of all, my friends would suffer because of it. The same people I grew up with for ten winters back then, the same people I talked to almost every day about anything and everything, stabbed me in the back." Zoe felt an incredibly great guilt eating at her inside, even if there was no way to know about what happened to Luna. Ian and Storm tried to find words to comfort Luna who had a slightly sad look in her eyes but still smiled and continued. ,, But not everyone judged me you know. Maya, Matt and Professor Oak and if they knew about my powers they treated me like any other normal person. And during my journey along with the rocket team and other human vermin, I also met good people. And that's why I decided to forgive the people of my town and if they never apologized." Zoe couldn't believe what she was hearing. - Wait a minute. Those people tortured you and made you run away for seven seasonal cycles and you just forgave them. Why don't you go make friends with Team Rocket when you've already started..- Zoe started yelling at Luna until Ian cut her off. - Enough Zoe..- But he didn't manage to finish because Luna continued with her story. ,, I will never stop fighting Team Rocket and people like them, you should know that much. The reason I forgave them was not because they might apologize and realize they were wrong one day. Because I want to have peace. So that won't stop me from helping someone just because people have hurt me in the past. That's why I won't ask you or anyone to be friends and accept me completely. But please give me a chance to help you and your tribe, and defeat our common enemy."
Luna asked Zoe holding out her hand, hoping that even a little of this tension between them would ease and they could cooperate as much as Zoe was surprised. Luna's request as well as the rest of her words. Even when she started yelling at her she didn't let Ian and Storm take her side but stood up for herself not hiding behind anyone or waiting for someone to help her. Zoe at least respected that. - You have one chance, use it wisely.- Luna's sadness and anxiety completely disappeared from her eyes after Zoe said those words. "Thank you so much. You won't regret it."
Evening slowly began to fall as Luna sat in her tent trying to see if there was any news from Professor Oak for the umpteenth time. Star was in the camp with Luna, because as usual when Raichu says don't leave her unattended, he really does. - Luna, you worry too much. They've probably caught them by now and are trying to get some information out of them, and it will take them a while. - Luna knew that Star was right, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was happening. "You're right Star, I'm probably tense because of everything that happened in such a short time." Saying that, Lina took Star into her lap and started scratching the back of his head, while he was enjoying the attention that Luna was giving him. - You know what even more pleasant. The lullaby you sang to us when we were home during the storms.- Star suggested to Luna, which surprised her because he hadn't asked to hear it in years. "Where did that come from now." Luna asked him, number one: she's known him for years and knows not to ask anything out of pure peace, number two: nothing must have upset him. - Ever since we came here, this has been happening, we found out what your powers are, the new base of Team Rocket and that they are trying to destroy the world without knowing it, we discovered that there is a mole in this research laboratory as well and it is none other than the head professor, the attack on riouls, the fight in the canyon where several of our friends almost died... - Luna could no longer listen to Star stating everything negative that had happened to them since they arrived here and what he could see through her. "Okay, I got it, I'm overwhelmed." then she sighed deeply, trying to relax a little. - Please, for me. - Luna knew there was no way out of this so she said to herself, Why not?'
~You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
'Cause they fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare~
Luna started quietly a little unsure of her voice, as she hadn't sung in years.
~I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread (thread, thread)~
Star began to slowly join Luna.
~I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
Leave my door open just a crack
Please take me away from here
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
Please take me away from here
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
Please take me away from here
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said, "Farewell" (they said farewell)
But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar (jar, jar, jar)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)~
Luna and Star are slowly bringing the song to an end, completely relaxed and with smiles on their faces.-That sounded nice-
Ok, I know this song isn't a lullaby, but it's just right for the atmosphere in the story. By the way, who do you think the unexpected guest is? write in the comments and we'll see you next time. Cao Cao 3