Well, here's a chapter everyone has been waiting for, for quite some time now. Hopefully it answers some questions, and I do warn everyone that this is a VERY long chapter... So, don't feel like you have to read it all in one sitting, I know I couldn't. But, I won't stop you all from reading it in one go XD
Chapter 87: I don't deserve any of this
Point of View Aiden
Rain showered down from the sky as the ice cold raindrops pelted against my skin like ice cold needles piercing my flesh. My tail's flame flickered dimly in the somber reality I was stuck within this dark forest. I looked off into the distance where I could see a small opening in the clouds that revealed the sun's rays. I walked in the direction of the light, but soon the clouds blocked off the sun and left me in the bitter darkness of the storm. Despite my loss of guidance I continued to aimlessly wander through the forest as the rain continued to beat down on me. I trembled uncontrollably as I trudged through the muck and mud on the ground that wore me down as I fought against it and the horrible climate.
After wandering through the storm for a while, I found a large lake that bordered the forest. The lake stretched left and right for as far as the eye could see, but the opposite side seemed to be barren of trees. The open view showed a sight of the dark skies, occasionally lit up by lightning and its thunderous roar following shortly after. Next to the lake was an old worn down shed, one that appeared to have been long forgotten, and on the shore of the lake not to far from the shed was a pier. This spot appeared to be someones small little campsite.
I slowly walked onto a wooden pier as the rotten boards creaked from every small step I took. I cautiously made my way to the end of the pier and I held onto a wooden stud with my right hand to help me keep my balance from falling in. I gazed down into the water and I could see the many ripples the rain was creating, but I couldn't make out a reflection as I had hoped. My gaze shifted upward towards the black sea of clouds above me that had no glimpse of hope in them.
My eyes began to grow heavy as I felt a hollow emptiness in myself. My right hand slid off the wooden stump it held onto and it hanged limp by my side along with my other arm. My gaze slowly shifted back downward as I lost the will to even hold my head upright. I could only imagine how cold it would be if I actually fell in. But I was a charmander, so it'd only take a few seconds before I actually fell unconscious. It'd literally only be a few seconds that I'd have to feel the numbing sensation, I'd be dead within a minute, I wouldn't even die from drowning, just from my tail flame finally being doused out from the ice cold water.
I leaned forward a bit as my legs weakened and I willingly let myself fall towards the water. Every sense in my body was instantly numbed as I was paralyzed from the breathtaking ice cold water. For a brief moment I began to attempt to swim up, but I remembered that this is what I wanted, a quick and painless escape. Everything began to fade to black as I sank deeper into my grave, perhaps now I will have a chance of being happy again?
My eyes shot open and I took in a sharp breath as my head shot upward from the desk I fell asleep leaning against. A cold sensation ran through my body as I hugged myself and tried to warm up. My eyes shifted down towards my tail to see that my flame was dimly lit just like in the dream, but as I noticed this the flame went back up to its natural healthy size.
"Aiden, are you okay?" Juda questioned me as he approached me, "You look as if you saw a ghost."
"Yeah," I answered faintly as I tried to put that dream together, "I just had a weird dream, that's all."
"About?" Juda questioned me.
"It's nothing, when are we leaving for dinner?" I quickly asked to throw the bulbasaur off.
"Pretty soon actually," Judah answered.
"Then I'll have to get ready," I said as I jumped off the chair I was sitting on.
Point of View Flare
Our team was quick to settle down in an old worn down hotel in the middle of Geosenge town. I couldn't say many positives on this old worn down lodging, the wooden floor boards creaked with every step, the furniture smelled moldy, and there was about an inch of dust on everything. There was no television in our room, nor was there a couch for Gray to lie on all day, just old worn down wooden chairs that looked like they'd break if someone sat on them.
"So… This is where we are staying for the night?" Black said with astonishment. " It's a bit of a downgrade from that suite Alex's Dad bought us."
"It's only for a night, so it's not like it's that bad," Kana spoke optimistically.
Hesh turned his head from the comment, "Yeah well this night is going to drag out, I don't even think this place has heating, and it's a bit nippy at night around this area I bet," Hesh added.
"Ehh, the cold can't be that bad," Kana protested.
"Well I'm not Gray where I have a big coat of fluffy fur. I mean, look at that! It's like a winter jacket. How do you even survive in the summer, dude?" Hesh asked Gray, who, as usual, was distant from the group. Gray turned towards Hesh as he wore his usual dull expression.
"I deal with it, but you can only imagine how thick my winter coat of fur is, I'll shed quite a bit when spring comes, besides our coats are mostly made for mountainous places, not deserts and such," Gray answered Hesh.
"I see, but it's still a lot of fur," Hesh remarked.
"It does get hot on some summer days, I won't lie," Gray said.
"Hey guys!" Alex shouted to get everyone's attention, "Instead of sitting around this dusty dump all day, why don't we go check out the ruins and stuff. It'd beat sitting in this room all day," Alex suggested.
Almost everyone in our group gave Alex a nod, except Gray and myself.
"Flare, you don't want to go?" Kana said with surprise.
"Yeah what gives, aren't you the adventurous one?" Black added in.
I froze up for a moment from the sudden attention. Truthfully, I just wanted to hide in this hotel room all day. I just couldn't stand being in Geosenge anymore. So I mostly wanted to just sleep this day through.
"Well, I wasn't feeling well last night, so I couldn't sleep, so I'm a bit exhausted today," I said as I gave off a fake yawn that seemed pretty convincing to me.
"Oh, well how do you feel now?" Kana asked.
"I feel fine, I just want some sleep, maybe we can all do something later," I said, even though I had no plans to leave this hotel until we were leaving for Shalour.
"Well, if you feel sick again just tell me," Kana said.
After a bit everyone left without Gray and me. Alex was a bit shocked when he found out that I didn't want to go. I hated to disappoint them, but this is one day where I'm not feeling like myself, if the me they know is even real, or just some fake persona I brainwashed myself with.
"So, you're tired," Gray questioned me as I lied in a corner where the light didn't shine too brightly.
"Uh huh."
"If you say so," Gray said unconvinced as he rested his head on his arms that he used as a pillow.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I questioned Gray.
"Nothing, it just doesn't seem like you to stay behind, even if you are a bit tired," Gray told me.
"Yeah well, I'm about to pass out so…" I said as I jumped up on the rickety bed and curled up into a ball and closed my eyes.
I didn't like the fact that Gray was asking me those questions, even if they didn't seem that troublesome. He knows that something is up with me; he is good at figuring that stuff out. Whatever, as long as I stay here and keep quiet, he won't know a thing, as simple as that.
Time continued to pass by as I lied on the bed. I tossed and turned for what felt like hours, but in reality only about thirty minutes passed. No matter how much I tried to reposition myself, I could never get comfortable. This bed was already Mew awful, but this feeling in my chest was making things all the more worse.
Were the friends I had valid? I mean are they truly my friends? I've lied to them all so much. If they knew the truth, would they still consider me one of them, or would they outcast me like I truly deserve? I always wanted to tell them the truth, but I could never reveal something like that, I'm too terrified to see what they think. I mean am I any worse than Black? He's putting us all in danger by being around us, so would I be accepted over him? Would they choose to accept an ex-criminal?
Time continued to pass by at an unbearable rate. I began to feel myself overheating and becoming claustrophobic inside this cramped hotel room. The feeling of being trapped continued to build and build as paranoia kept eating away at my sanity, until I couldn't take it anymore and I sprang up onto my feet and quickly jumped off the bed and ran for the door.
"Where are you going?!" Gray shouted as he lifted his head up.
"Nowhere, I just need some fresh air, I'll be back in a moment!" I shouted at him as I quickly got the door open and ran out into the fresh air of Geosenge.
I inhaled as deep of a breath as I could manage before I attempted to exhale all of my built up rage and fears. Sadly, none of this alleviated the feeling that was tearing me asunder from the inside out. I desperately looked in every direction until I spotted an old stump on the ground. I quickly slammed my whole body into the stump and a shockwave of pain echoed throughout my whole body. The ribs in my body now felt as if they were shattered, but at the moment I was enjoying this distracting pain. I turn back towards the stump and began mauling the stump with my right paw. Soon I lost feeling in my paw and I decided to bite into the roots of the stump and I ferociously ripped the base of the stump out of the ground. The root disconnected from the base and I flew back onto my back and began panting.
As I panted in exhaustion pain became rife in my bones. My ribs felt as if they were broken from my tackle and I glanced down to my paw to see that is was bruised and had multiple splinters sticking out of it. My teeth ached as well, I could feel splinters of wood stuck between my teeth, I could even feel the gashes in my gums from trying so desperately to tear the stump to little pieces.
I looked over towards the stump, it was mocking me by still standing up. I sneered as I stood back up. I inhaled a deep breath and I exhaled a flamethrower at the stump. The rotten piece of wood was quick to burn, but pretending to inflict pain on inanimate objects wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped. The pain in my chest was still there, my inside was still being eaten away by self-disgust in myself for being who I am, an ex-Team Flare scum.
I watched as the stump was burned to ashes, and afterwards I began to walk aimlessly through the dirt streets of Geosenge. Not many of the humans paid much notice to me, they all just carried out their daily tasks of doing whatever they did.
"Nothing has changed over the years," I noted out loud as I walked along with my head hanging low. Everything was the same; this place didn't age a bit. Most houses were still old worn down cabins that were inhabited by the people that chose to live in an un-modernized country town.
After a while I wandered towards the outskirts of Geosenge where I sat atop of a hill. I looked over the town as I watched the few civilians here carry out their everyday lives. I could see why they'd live here, small crime rates, small community, isolated from the problems around the world. The only bad thing that happened to this innocent town is Team Flare.
I continued to stare off towards the town as a memory began to form in my mind.
I stared off into the distance in exhaustion as I kept a low profile. We Team Flare members weren't supposed to wander outside the underground facility without permission, but some of us did from time to time. It was another day of pointless training. Another day that I was reminded that I was living in the shadow of my sister, and that I'd never come close to matching someone like her. Whenever I thought I was making progress in my training, she was already twenty steps ahead of me, although that's what made her so amazing.
I banged my head on the ground in frustration as I tried to wade off the thoughts of my pointless training. Everyone usually laughed behind my back as they saw my failures, it was all the more funny when I was compared to my sister.
"Hey!" A voice called out from behind me. My head turned back to see a combusken approaching me from behind.
"Have I met you before?" I questioned the combusken who was now standing behind me.
"Not personally, but I usually train in the training ground around the same time as you," the combusken said.
"I see, are you here to bully me too?" I quickly jumped the gun.
"No-no, I just came up here to relax. I always sit in this spot to calm myself, you just happen to be here today," the combusken said as he nervously laughed, "Mind if I join you?"
"S-sure," I said in surprise and the combusken sat next to me.
"I'm Hunter by the way, and don't let those other A-holes get you down, you just need a bit of polishing and you'll get it right," the combusken said as he extended his hand out towards me. I was hesitant for a moment, no one has ever really tried to be my friend before, I was kind of the dud pokemon.
"I-I'm Flare," I nervously said as I shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you," Hunter said with a friendly smirk. "Anyways, what were you struggling with in the training area that is always attracting attention? I never really paid attention since I'm always focused on training," Hunter asked.
"Everything," I bluntly answered.
"Everything? Maybe a little more specific," Hunter said.
"Ember…" I answered with embarrassment.
"Just ember?" Hunter questioned again.
"Listen, I'm not very good, and I get enough from the others, so don't-"
"I'm not making fun of you, I'm just a bit surprised, that's all," Hunter said frantically in an attempt to clear up my confusion. "Do it, I wanna see if I can help you."
"I don't know…" I said nervously.
"Come on, I'm not going to make fun of you, I'm not like most of the jerks in Team Flare," Hunter reassured me. I guess I had nothing to lose, so I gave him a nod as I took a few steps back from him.
I inhaled as deep of a breath as I could and I began concentrating everything I had. I exhaled out a small puff of smoke as a baby ember floated to the ground at a gentle and almost harmless pace. I nearly died from the embarrassment of being so weak and pathetic, I was a lost cause.
"Whoa, you do need a bit of work," Hunter stated as he held in a chuckle.
"Thanks," I muttered as I began to walk away from him.
"Hey, get back here," Hunter called out to me, "I said you just need a bit of polishing, let me help a bit, I can mentor you," Hunter offered.
I was hesitant about trusting him for a moment, but I chose to trust him for now.
"Alright, so I can see some errors already," Hunter stated. "For one, posture is helpful," Hunter told me as he kicked my legs apart, "This'll help you take clearer breaths, but it's not about how big of a breath you take, It's about quality," Hunter told me. "Just do what your body does naturally, don't force it out, just concentrate your inner flames. I can't really describe how, you kind of got to get a feeling for it, but just release it, and keep practicing it and you'll get bigger and stronger flames as you keep working at it," Hunter told me.
"And how do I know you know what you are talking about?" I questioned Hunter.
A chuckle escaped him as he sat up and faced away from me. Hunter inhaled a small breath before he exhaled a stream of fire that had a bit of blue towards the base of the flame. The heat of the flame overwhelmed me just from being near it and I leapt back.
"How's that look?" Hunter questioned me.
"You're pretty good," I said in amazement. He wasn't as good as my sister, but he wasn't that far off from what she was when she was around his age.
"Now do what I told you," Hunter instructed.
I gave Hunter a nod as I got into the proper posture and inhaled a medium sized breath. I concentrated my inner flames and I exhaled. A small flutter of embers sprayed out of my mouth and went about a meter from my maw. I stared in surprise as I watched the embers die out in mid-air.
"See, huge improvement, but hardly near lethal," Hunter noted.
"Thanks, I actually didn't expect to see that much improvement," I said excitedly.
"Uh huh, just keep working at it, you can only get better after all. Just one question though?" Hunter asked me and I gave him my attention, "Your older sister is Annie, right?"
"Yeah," I answered.
"Why isn't she training you this stuff, she's one of the best fire type pokemon I have ever seen," Hunter questioned.
"Annie is a very busy person. When she isn't on missions she is reposing herself from the grueling hours Team Flare makes her work. Since she is above many, she also has a lot more expectations," I answered Hunter.
"I see, must be hard having her gone so much," Hunter said.
"I miss her all the time, but she tries her hardest to spend all her spare time with me, she just doesn't have the energy to train me usually."
As the thought of Annie rushed back into my mind, I quickly snapped out of my day dreaming. I jumped up onto all fours and made my way down the hill. Hunter seemed like such a lost dream, I could hardly believe he tried killing me a week ago. After I descended down the hill, I made my way back into town and headed towards the far back side.
After all the crap Team Flare put this town though, it still managed to run just the same. I would imagine this town would be more fearful around strangers, but no, these people were still as foolish as ever to trust outsiders.
As I reached the backside of town, I came along the remains of what used to be Team Flares big bad ultimate weapon. I remember the day this weapon was almost used to wipe out humanity, that was also the day my reality on everything changed. I was such an idiot back then, I was a puppet to those psychopaths.
I continued my way even further back until I came across a strange rock in the ground. There was a hidden door on this rock that was slightly ajar. Most of the door was barricaded off and covered with caution tape. Luckily I was a small pokemon, so I found a small opening in the barricade and I squeezed through just barely. Once inside I was instantly cut off from the rays of light from the outside. A tremor ran down my spine from the nostalgia of being here, even if this place was condemned for all eternity. Unless maybe one day this place becomes a museum so people can say 'Hey these were the shit bags that tried to drag down all of humanity.'
Before I travelled into the darkness I inhaled a deep breath and blew out a small little flare of light, which this move was known as flash. The small flame floated around me as I walked down the steel stairs in Team Flares main headquarters, and also my old home.
Once I reached the bottom of the stairs I ended up in an empty hallway that was very wide and had many doors leading to different parts of this massive facility. I wondered if this is what Genesis's base looked like. I began to walk down the hallway with a particular spot in mind, right now I was on memory lane and I was getting these dark thoughts off of my conscious.
About a quarter way down the hall, I came to a door. This was an automatic door that had a sensor, but for some reason it was stuck halfway open. I went through the slightly open door and entered the resting area in Team Flares base. This was a dome shaped room with many lights hanging from the ceiling, but most of them had collapsed from the damage done when our base was destroyed. Many plants used to be grown in this room and it was the only place to go to relax in our headquarters.
I could still remember the many times Annie and I came here to talk and bond. I usually hated hanging in this room, but I enjoyed being with Annie enough to put up with it. I almost forgot about her, I almost forgot about her while I was living my fake life.
My braixen sister and I both sat in a patch of grass in the gardens of our base. There was artificial lighting in this room that was made to replicate natural lights, but it didn't do too convincing of a job for me. Annie sat on the ground as she leaned against an artificial tree that was in this dome-like room. I on the other paw lied on the ground napping, or I was trying to. Most of the Team Flare members were obnoxious and cracked jokes breaking the silence within this room. I cringed as one of the members snorted as he laughed from a joke another member told him.
"Annie, can we go somewhere else?" I asked my older sister with frustration.
Annie flinched as I snapped her out of her nap and she gazed at me before she yawned and stretched out her arms out, "What'd you say, sorry I was somewhat asleep?"
"Would you like to go somewhere else, it's not really peaceful here like you think it is," I said to her.
"You've just got to block them out, when you can manage that you can relax almost anywhere," Annie said.
"But I'm not you," I argued.
"True, but where else would we go?"
"Outside," I suggested.
"Technically you're not allowed outside, you haven't ranked up enough for that privilege. I don't want you to get in trouble or anything, then you won't even be allowed in here at all, they'll probably just keep you in a pokeball all day until you're needed," Annie answered with some truth. She was right, sneaking outside was dangerous if you weren't allowed to.
"Annie, when will you be able to help me train and stuff, you said you'd find time now that you're finally off for a bit," I asked my sister as I looked up to her with hopeful eyes.
"Let's see about tomorrow, I just got off today, I promise I'll teach you though," Annie said with a small smile.
"Yes!" I said as I jumped up in excitement, "And when I learn some stuff from you, I'll be able to get stronger, and Hunter won't stand a chance, and soon I'll catch up to you!" I said as I excitedly frolicked around my sister.
"Alright-alright, calm down a bit Flare, I don't want to get you all hyped up," Annie said as she laughed at me.
"Right, sorry," I said with an embarrassed laugh.
"I'm only off for a week, so we'll see what I can teach you during the time I have."
"I know, but I'm sure learning from you will be much faster than learning from anyone else, since you're like, one of Team Flares strongest pokemon!" I exclaimed proudly.
"Heh, I wouldn't go that far," Annie said with a blush.
"But you are," I said as I stood up on my hind legs and used Annie as support with my forepaws as I looked her dead in the eyes, "I mean who can come close to beating you?"
Annie let out a chuckle as she wrapped one of her arms around me and moved me onto her lap as she hugged me against her chest, "Zylen can for starters," Annie told me.
I let out a stubborn scowl from her answer, "well Zylen is older and I've seen you beat him before, also I was talking about fire types," I argued with my sister.
"Don't look up to me too much Flare, I haven't exactly done the best job raising you without Mom," Annie responded to me as she hugged me tighter.
"That doesn't matter, I know you're trying your best without Mom," I said to Annie as I saw the pain this subject was going to bring up if it continued.
"I know, but it'd be a lot easier with her still around. I mean, I don't know what to do for you at times, I guess my best solution to fixing problems is just burning the problem to cinder, but I can't really burn you." Annie admitted with some exaggerated honesty. Annie was a smart pokemon; I would never consider her dumb for a minute, but most of her problems could usually be solved with the right sized flame.
"I know you're trying your hardest, besides I'm not a kid anymore," I argued with Annie.
"You're nine, I'm pretty sure you still qualify as a child," Annie responded as she set me back down on the ground and stood up. "Don't be in too big of a hurry to grow up, enjoy your younger years while you still have them, I wish I would have," Annie bestowed her words of wisdom upon me.
"Sure," I said with a nod. I don't care what she told me, I was excited to grow up and evolve into a braixen and then a delaphox. I was actually surprised Annie never evolved into a delaphox, she was skillful enough, but the third evolution is the hardest to achieve, not all pokemon are able to make that final step.
"Why don't we head towards the training ground Flare, actually I think I got some energy in me," Annie said and I practically jumped on her in excitement.
"Really!?" I exclaimed in excitement.
"Sure, but only a little bit for today," Annie said and I practically darted for the exit in pure childish hype.
I lied in the vacant room where Annie and I had that conversation that day. I missed her so much. It has been so long since I've heard her voice, had her lecture me with her wisdom and teach me things. I missed her so much that it felt unbearable, like there was a chunk missing out of me. Annie was more than a sister to me, she was like a mother. Annie refused to get into details, but she told me my mother died shortly after giving birth to me. It took a long time for me to get that answer out of Annie; she never wanted me to feel guilty that our mother died a maternal death after my birth. I did take the news hard, but I got over it eventually. Annie made sure I didn't feel responsible in any way, and I guess I never did after a while.
After I spent some time reflecting on the memories we had in this room, I decided it was time to move on. I exited the room and continued my way down the main hall until I came upon another door. This time the door was shut and there was no way for me to open it without force. I placed my paw in between the two sliding doors and I began to pry it open. After a moment a small gap opened and I then began pushing it open with my head until I could finally squeeze through.
I entered in the dark room as the small flare of light floating around me provided enough light for me to make out the area. The training ground looked the same as it always did, except half of it was now reduced to rubble. Much of the ceiling had collapsed and only half of the room was open now. This room was hardly recognizable after this base was destroyed; most of the training equipment was on the other side too.
I remembered a lot of stuff here in this training area. Annie and Hunter taught me so much. They helped me overcome my weakness and grow so much as a pokemon.
I sat on the sidelines of one of the arenas as I watched an ongoing battle. The battle was my sister versus Zylen. The two battled on an arena as flares of light ignited into the air from Annie. The zoroark on the other hand swiftly maneuvered around each of the attacks before a pink light engulfed his body and he shape shifted into a blastoise. The giant turtle shot out a stream of water that cancelled out Annie's waves of fire.
Zylen quickly morphed back into his original form as he dashed for Annie. He got in close to her and rakes his claws at her. Annie smoothly moved away from each swipe from his claws. Annie reached her hand back towards her tail and withdrew a wooden stick she had in her tail, a spark ignited the stick and it set ablaze as Annie smacked Zylen across the face with it. The zoroark jumped back as he grasped the burn that was on his face.
The two continued to fiercely battle for a long period of time. I just watched from the shadows as the battle reminded me of how behind I was from her. None of Annie's movements went to waste, her movements were smooth and her attacks were fatal.
"Nice try," Annie said with a sneer as Zylen attempted to punch my sister, but she jumped to the side and smashed the flaming stick into the back of his head. The zoroark smacked onto the ground with a burn on the back of his skull, but nothing serious. It took him a moment, but he eventually climbed back up to his feet.
"That was a good fight," Zylen said as he extended his hand out towards Annie.
"Agreed, let's do this again in the future," Annie said as she shook his hand and the two said their goodbyes.
After the two parted, I made my way onto the arena. "That was awesome," I commented my sister.
"It was a close one, it was tough to keep up with him," Annie said as she sat down with her legs crossed.
"But a victory is a victory," I told her.
"Just because you win a fight doesn't mean you won, there is always other things to take into account, but you'll understand that more in the future," Annie said.
"So, you said you'd train me after your spar, are you ready?" I said excitedly.
"A promise is a promise," Annie said as she stood up, "Why don't you start by showing me how your flamethrower is coming along," Annie suggested.
"Sure," I said with a nod as I inhaled a breath and blew out a medium sized flamethrower. The flames lacked any blue at the base, and the flames didn't get the length they should have.
"It's improving, you'll just have to keep doing the exercises I taught you and it'll reach the level of power you desire," Annie said.
"So you're just going to make me do more dumb training exercises again?" I pouted in disappointment.
"It can't be helped, it's just how you get stronger."
"But you're leaving again tomorrow, can't you teach me something new to practice while you're gone. That way I can practice two things at once?"
"I suppose, but I expect you to work extra hard if I do teach you something new," Annie said as she took a few steps back from me.
"Sweet! What're you gonna teach me then?" I asked excitedly.
"Flame charge," Annie said as her body became engulfed in flames. "This attack is going to require a lot of mind control, it's very tricky, but it's almost the ultimate shield, or so some think. This fire shields you from almost all physical harm, but this armor can also be your downfall."
"How could something like that be my downfall?" I asked as my head cocked to the side and I tried to fathom how such an awesome attack could fail.
"Simple, you get cocky," Annie answered as the flame died down, "It's a flaw a lot of fire types have. They think they're invincible with that enigma, and they let their guard down and get taken down by a projectile or something else."
"I see," I said with a nod, "But doesn't it burn slightly to light your body on fire like that?" I questioned. We may be fire types, but we weren't one-hundred percent immune to our own element
"It gets a bit hot, but that's why you'll need a lot of concentration, so you can keep the flames from burning you and so you can keep the shape of the flame," Annie answered.
"Oh, gotcha," I understandingly said.
"This attack also has one other drawback, which this one can't be helped," Annie began to say and I gave her my full attention. "This attack saps away a lot of energy fast, and it requires a lot of control. It is easy for this attack to be broken," Annie said.
"Got it, I'll only use this one when I need to," I replied to Annie. "So when can we start?"
I remember those days. The days Annie helped me learn most of the attacks I know today, Ember, Flame charge, Flame thrower. It was too bad I never got to evolve and have her teach me some of her psychic moves. She was truly remarkable with her psychic attacks as well. But sadly it is rare for fennekin's to unlock their psychic abilities until they at least evolve to a braixen. If only it was possible for me to still evolve.
After a bit of time in the training hall I left that room and set out for the next area I had memories in. Soon I ended up in the cafeteria. About ninety percent of the cafeteria was caved in, it was unrecognizable. I couldn't say I really cared; I didn't really have a lot of fond memories here. I never got to eat with Annie much, and I didn't like socializing with others. For a matter of fact, I only had one friend, and that was Hunter, and I guess my sister if you qualify family members as friends.
It didn't take long for me to head back out in the hall. I navigated through the ruins of the Team Flare base until I ended up in the mission briefing room. This room mostly contained supplies, pokeballs and everything else someone would need before starting a mission.
This was where I would be before I did my horrible deeds. It took a while until Team Flare actually let me go on jobs, and I probably only went on about twelve jobs before Team Flare was disbanded. Most jobs were heists, Team Flare needed funding, so the grunts would pick some pokemon and go on jobs to steal money.
On these jobs I saw a lot of dark things. I've done a lot of dark things as well. It's sad when you grow up thinking that bad things are acceptable. Back then I thought being who I was, was alright. I injured a lot of innocent pokemon, inflicted permanent damage on some, helped abduct pokemon from trainers, some jobs even ended with death.
"How could I be like that," I said in disgust as I reflected on all the horrible things Team Flare brainwashed me into doing. "I destroyed lives, I'm a piece of garbage and I don't get why I live such a good life now. Why would someone like me deserve another chance, I enjoyed being who I was, I saw no error, I was content back then." I thought outloud.
"Team Flare just kept feeding us the 'It's for a better world,' bull crap. And I believed them! I thought that me terrorizing people and getting Team Flare money and subjects would help make a perfect world. I was such a sick twisted individual," I continued to contemplate.
"I don't deserve any of this," I said as I fell to the ground with heavy eyes, "Why am I still even alive?" I asked myself. "I should have been executed for my crimes; it was all because of a small mix up that I got away when Team Flare was taken down. Most of the pokemon around me were killed, all human members were put in prison or put on death row. Why out of all those pokemon and human was I one of the few who got away? Not only did I get away, I was given a good life. I don't deserve any of this."
A siren blared through the Team Flare base. Everything was falling apart fast. Many members were fleeing, many were arming themselves with weapons for a final stand. Team Flare has been compromised. I didn't know the specifics, but as Team Flare got closer to using the ultimate weapon, all of us pokemon were confined in cages or pokeballs.
All of us pokemon were set up by Team Flare. They led us on and on to believe that we were making a perfect world for each other. But no, in the end they only intended to make a paradise for themselves. Lysandre, the leader of Team Flare only gave us a vague reason. He told us that a perfect world wasn't possible with both pokemon and humans, and that it had to be this way.
The fucking piece of shit led us on! I spent my whole life with Team Flare, I tried my hardest to earn a place here, and now they're just going to throw us away like garbage. About twelve pokemon were contained in this confined room with me. Our cells were electrified and barbed, so it was impossible for us to escape. Most of the pokemon that weren't confined in pokeballs were the ones that didn't have access to themt or didn't have time to get.
I waited in my cell as my inevitable doom came closer with every second. How would they do it was my question? Perhaps a lethal injection, no that'd take too long, they'd probably just kill us with guns or poisonous gas. It's kind of funny though if you ask me. When Team Flare betrays us, it's also the time they needed us the most. Upon them making their final preps with their doomsday weapon, the authorities found out somehow and now it'd only be a matter of time before the Team Flare headquarters was flooded with police. Now all of Kalos is putting everything towards stopping them I bet. I guess it's only a matter of time before all life above ground ends or Team Flare falls. Either way I'll end up dead.
Suddenly the door to my room bursted open with a strong heat wave. I jumped up on all fours as a cloud of smoke surrounded the door. My eyes widened as I saw Annie emerge from the smoke. The braixen limped her way towards me, she appeared to have wounds on her left side, but she was still managing.
"Annie, what are you doing here?!" I shouted with awe.
"Getting you out of here," She responded as she moved closer. Following behind Annie was Zylen. The zoroark's claws were covered in blood, and he appeared to be bleeding from a few wounds as well.
"How did you even escape?"
"It's all thanks to Zylen, he was able to trick the guards into releasing him with his illusionary abilities," Annie explained as she pulled out the stick she kept secured in her tail. "Stand back and cover your face," Annie warned me. I did as she said as she extended the stick towards the cell. A loud explosion set off and the front end of my cell was shattered to pieces.
"Let's go," Annie said as she pulled me out of my cage.
"Hey Braixen you gotta get me out of here!" a Meditite begged Annie. A few other pokemon that were locked in their cages began to beg Annie for freedom as well.
"Annie?" I said as I saw the reluctance on her face.
"They're not my problem, I don't have time for this," Annie spoke as she grabbed me by the ear and forced me to follow her. I didn't argue with her though. I couldn't really care less about anyone else at the moment, because survival was everything, and if Annie thinks this would ensure our survival then I would listen to her. Annie led me out into the hall, while Zylen led us to wherever he was taking us.
"Stick close Annie, and keep your eyes open," Zylen said as he began running. Annie and I both followed his lead.
"Over here, we got some pokemon!" A Team Flare member shouted as we turned the corner. The human began to hold up a firearm, but Zylen quickly grabbed his arm and slashed his throat with his other set of claws. The Human was quick to fall, and he didn't move a muscle once he hit the ground.
Seeing the death of the human didn't really bother me. As far as I was concerned these humans had it coming for betraying us like that. Death was something I wasn't new to. I've seen it a few times, and I was just raised not to be affected by that stuff. We continued to navigate through the base, and here and there a human would have to die.
"In here," Annie told us as she opened a door. We entered a vacant room that was full of monitors. After a moment of thought, I realized that this was the security room. Every monitor showed a different part of the facility, but why was this room vacant?
"Annie, why is no one here?" I asked.
"Because, most of our former team is regrouping on the opposite side of this facility to help with final preparations with the ultimate weapon," Annie answered.
"Annie, look at this," Zylen said as he pointed his finger towards a monitor.
Annie and I both looked at the monitor to see some form of advanced police breaching the base. These police were also accompanied by pokemon of all kinds.
"We need to move, they'll kill us if they get the chance," Zylen said.
"Flare stay behind us at all times, and don't wander off. You got it?" Annie ordered me.
"I got it," I answered.
Zylen and Annie both led the way through the maze like facility. At no point did we slow down and we kept as quiet as possible at all times.
"Do you hear that," Zylen whispered and I heard a door from around the corner get barged down.
"In here," Annie said as she opened a door and we all made our way into the room.
Zylen closed the door quietly behind us, "Those are the police breaching the rooms to look for us. I say we take them down when they enter the room," Zylen suggested.
"We don't have a choice," Annie said as she looked at me, "Flare, hide behind one of those desks and don't come out no matter what. Even if something happens stay hidden no matter what," Annie ordered me with a stern voice.
"I can help though," I argued.
"No, this is more serious than anything you have ever done, so do as you're told," Annie strictly ordered.
"Fine," I said as I made my way into a hiding spot behind a desk. The room that we were in was full of computer equipment, but it was vacant from any other humans and pokemon. Annie and Zylen both hid behind the same desk I did, but they weren't hiding as much as waiting to ambush the police. A few silent seconds passed by before the door to the room we were in was barged down, and two police officers and a sneasel entered the room.
"I'll take the police officer on the left, you get right, then we both go for the sneasel," Zylen said to Annie, and she almost instantly responded with a nod.
The two sprang up from their cover and assaulted the police. Annie extended out her stick and a torrent of flames went for the police officer. The police officer managed to spray off a few rounds from his rifle before he was on the ground screaming as he was burned alive. I peeked my head out to see the gruesome scene. I could feel my stomach knotting from how gruesome it was, but to an extent I was use to this stuff.
Zylen on the other hand was now finishing off his police officer. He pulled his claws out of the police officers chest cavity as he turned for the sneasel that was already fighting Annie. The sneasel swiftly dodged each of Annie's flame attacks and when he got close enough he swiped Annie with his claws.
Zylen came in from behind and raked his massive claws downwards, but the sneasel managed to dodge the attack without even looking. Annie shot off another torrent of flames towards the fast sneasel, but he still managed to dodge the attacks with ease. Zylen continued to swipe his claws as the sneasel, but the sneasel found his opening and stabbed his claws in Zylen's leg. The zoroark howled in pain as he fell to his knees and the sneasel aggressively ripped his claws out of Zylen's legs. The zoroark then let out a pained howl as he fell over onto the ground with a chunk of his flesh gashed open.
"Zylen!" Annie shouted towards him as she charged up another fire attack.
"You criminals make me sick," The sneasel said with disgust, "You had this coming!" the sneasel shouted as he ducked below the wave of flames Annie sent towards him. With full speed the sneasel rammed his claw into Annie's stomach. The braixen froze in place as she looked down towards the claws impaled into her stomach.
"Annie!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I jumped out of cover and shot an ember towards the sneasel. The sneasel didn't bother dodging my attack and he took the minor burns as he glared at me with a surprised look.
"A kid?" the sneasel said in shock. "I didn't want to harm a child, but if he's Team Flare then I won't have a choice."
"You can't just kill a kid, it's not his fault!" Zylen shouted as he tried to force himself to stand.
"Orders are orders, I'll make it painless for him, I promise," the sneasel said as I watched in terror as blood oozed from my sisters wound.
"No you won't!" Annie screamed as she wrapped her arms around the sneasel and pulled him into a tight hug. Annie's body combusted into flames as the sneasel let out a pained scream that barely lasted for seconds. After a moment the flames died down and the sneasel fell down and his claws left Annie's stomach. The sneasel's face was frozen in mid scream as his body steamed with hot smoke and his fur was mostly burnt off.
I quickly darted towards my sister as she fell to her knees. "No-no-no-no-no-no!" I cried desperately as I saw all the blood pouring down from her stomach.
"I-I'm… fine," Annie managed to say before she coughed up some of her own blood and fell to the ground on her side.
"Annie, no!" I yelled in fear as I stood next to her and helplessly watched as a pool of blood began to form around her, " I… I don't know what to do!" I said in a panic as I watched my sister slowly die.
"Flare," Zylen called out as he managed to limp towards us. "Cauterize her wound," Zylen commanded.
"Wha-I can't do that, she'll die!"
"She'll die if you do nothing, now do it!" Zylen yelled at me.
"Don't make me do this!" I screamed as I backed away from my sister.
"Flare, you're killing her by wasting time," Zylen argued.
"I can't do that!" I screamed as I clenched my eyes shut and tried to escape this reality, but I soon felt a hand slap against my face.
"Do it!" Zylen screamed as he forcefully pulled me closer to my dying sister.
"I can't do this, please! Don't make me do this to her!" I begged as tears streamed down my eyes.
"Flare," Annie's weak voice called out to me. I looked up with my teary eyes to see my barely conscious sister, "It's okay, you can do it, just be strong," Annie said in a ragged voice as she reached her hand out towards my face and guided my stare towards her.
"Annie, I can't," I argued as I trembled.
"Zylen," Annie interrupted me as she inhaled and exhaled with a ragged breathing pattern, "If Flare manages to cauterize my wound, I probably won't be awake to tell you this so now's my chance. No matter what happens, get him out of here, I don't care if I die to make it happen," Annie said in a weak voice.
"You have my word, Annie," Zylen said as he let go of me. "Flare, help your sister, now."
"Annie, this is going to hurt a lot, and I'm so sorry," I told Annie as tears ran down my face. "I'm sorry you have to go through this, I'm sorry I wasn't helping when I should have," I said before I inhaled a deep breath. It was going to take a lot of heat to actually cauterize her wound since she was a fire type. I wasn't even sure if I was strong enough to produce a flame that would cauterize her wound. Annie clenched both of her fists and clenched her teeth before I began.
"Do it!" Annie yelled fearfully.
I blew out a controlled flamethrower onto Annie's stomach and she screamed at the top of her lungs as I burned her wound shut. Annie only managed to scream for a few seconds before she fell into shock. Once I was sure her bleeding stopped I stopped and I moved back. I felt so weak. My legs were barely holding me up and I could feel myself coming close to vomiting. It only took me inhaling the scent of her burnt flesh to make me lose it and throw up all over the floor.
"I didn't just do that to my own sister," I said in disbelief as I felt myself beginning to panic again.
Zylen crouched down next to her body and felt her pulse, "She has a pulse, but it's faint," he stated.
"Now what," I said as I tried to get myself under control. I was trembling uncontrollably and I felt so fatigued.
"I'm getting you two out of here," Zylen said as he carefully picked Annie up and cradled her in his arms. "You did good Flare, I know it was hard to do something like that to your sister, but she'll live, I promise," Zylen said as he headed towards the door. "I need you to take point though, I'm not able to fight with your sister in my arms, so it's up to you," Zylen said.
"I can do that," I said as I walked past Zylen, but he extended his leg out and stopped me from passing him. I looked up at him to see a serious look in his eyes.
"No matter what, you don't hesitate to kill. They won't think twice about it, so neither should you."
"I know, I'm not new to this you know," I replied as I exited the room and Zylen followed behind me.
I meticulously looked in every direction was we made our way towards the exit of the facility. Every noise set my nerves on edge and made me get into a defensive position. For a while everything remained silent until I heard a scream from down the hall, which was then followed by a few gunshots. I ran towards the turn that was up ahead and I peeped around the corner.
"Hunter?!" I said in surprise as I ran around the corner.
"Flare?" Hunter said as he turned towards me. "I'm glad to see you're alright. This place is full of police. Looks like Team Flare is in serious trouble now," Hunter said with a grin. "Serves those bastards right for betraying us like that. They have no right to automatically assume we can't all coexist in the new world. If we all stood together we may have been able to fight off the police, but instead they're doomed."
"That's right, I almost forgot about the weapon!" I said as I felt dumbfounded from myself.
"Yeah," Hunter said with a long sigh.
"Should we even leave this facility then, I mean it is a bunker to protect us from the weapon as well," I questioned.
"Yes I think it'd be safe," Zylen added in, "The only reason Team Flare survived so long was because they remained hidden from the world. It is impossible for them to fight the whole world. This will all end soon, this could even be the last day Team Flare stands," Zylen spoke.
"But how did we get caught? I mean something had to happen, because everyone was pretty tight lipped about this stuff," Hunter asked.
"That's not important right now. What matters now is getting out of here alive," Zylen said.
"Really quick though, what happened to Annie, why is her stomach all burnt up?" Hunter said as he tried to get a better look at her wounds.
"We'll talk later, just know that she was hurt in battle," Zylen said, "Now, lead the way you two, I can't fight with her in my arms."
"Right, I'll-," Hunter began to say before we all froze at the sight of two pokemon before us. A blue bipedal water type and a quadruped pokemon with thick white fur stood in our way.
"Well, looks like we found some Team Flare stragglers to clean up, eh Dawn?" a croagunk said as he elbowed the absol right beside him.
"Don't get cocky," the absol known as Dawn stated in her calm voice as she rolled her eyes, "You should take all of this seriously. Team Flare has raised some formidable pokemon, I would know that," she said as she made her way closer to us and I saw all the jagged scars that covered her entire body. Scars that showed she had a lot of battle experience. All of the scars appeared to be older and her fur did a good job at concealing them, but some were noticeable.
"Who are you two?" Hunter questioned, "You don't look like police?"
"A very keen eye you have," the absol said as she stopped a few meters from us, "My name is Dawn, one of the higher up at the WPA. Of course WPA and Flare hate each other, so I don't think any introductions are necessary."
"Hold on, WPA is here… and the police?!" Hunter snapped at her.
"WPA and the police work together at times. The world just wants Team Flare gone, so it made sense for us all to band together to eradicate you pieces of trash," the croagunk said as he stood a few steps behind the absol and looked at us with a cocky sneer and eyes that were intimidating.
"Listen, I know you hate us, but we're ex-Flare now. They've manipulated us pokemon, so why don't you just let us go. We have injured and two children right here, or is WPA full of child killers?" Zylen asked.
"How old are you two?" the absol asked Hunter and me.
"I'm twelve," I answered.
"Fourteen," Hunter answered as he remained in a defensive position.
"No, I don't want to harm children around your age, it's against my morals," Dawn said as she eyed Hunter and I with a remorseful look. Her red eyes peered into us as she examined us.
"So then, you don't have to spare me, I'm only looking out for them, I will take full responsibility, you have my word," Zylen said.
"The code of us Absol's is to bring judgment upon the wicked and to protect the weak from danger," Dawn said. "Do you truly seek absolution children?"
"You can bite my ass, bitch," Hunter snapped at her.
"Hunter, shut up and listen to her for just a minute! She's being far more than reasonable, she could have killed you two by now if she wanted!" Zylen yelled at Hunter.
"And what makes you assume she's so powerful?" the croagunk asked with a laugh.
"I've seen and heard the rumors about this absol before. An absol covered in the scars from years of Hell. An absol who can kill her foes before they even see it coming. The White Reaper," Zylen said lowly.
"Ahh, I see my reputation has made it to those who are with Team Flare," Dawn said with a small smirk. "Although I was never too fond on that nickname I got."
"So, children. I will ask one last time, will you come with me peacefully so I don't have to become a child killer? I really don't want to lose sleep for years to come over this," Dawn said as she stared at us.
"And what about my sister?" I questioned as I looked at Annie who was still in Zylen's arms.
Dawn glanced at Annie before she looked back at me, "How was your sister injured?"
"That's not important," I argued as I realized what she was getting at.
"I'd be willing to bet she acquired those wounds in a recent battle. So, how many did she kill before her wound was cauterized like that?" Dawn asked.
"Two…" Zylen answered, "One police and one sneasel. Both were killed in self-defense," Zylen answered. "She ended up like this trying to protect her brother though."
"I see, murder is murder," Dawn said, "The sneasel was probably with the police. In the end they were both just doing their jobs, they both had families to get home to, they probably never wanted to be here to begin with," Dawn said calmly, "I can't let someone like her get off free, but the children will be spared if you and the braixen give in without a fight and tell me what you know about Team Flare's ultimate weapon, you have my word," Dawn said.
"Absolutely not!" I snapped back at the absol. "I'm not leaving my sister to die!"
"And if you think I'll give into a bunch of World peace assholes you're poorly mistaken," Hunter said with a sneer.
"I see, they have made their choices," Dawn said as she closed her eyes. "Sorry zoroark, but I can't help you any further," Dawn then opened her eyes and a powerful energy took shape around her horn to form a blade with a white aura.
"Flare, accept the offer right now!" Zylen yelled at me, "Your sister would happily die for you right here!"
"I can'-" I began to argue before Zylen dropped my sister and quickly wrapped his arm around my neck and began choking me. His move was a quick blur and I hardly saw it coming.
"No, I made a promise to your sister! Shut the Hell up and do what you are told," he spoke in my ear as I began to black out from the pressure that was cutting off my air. I tried to fight him but I found that I was over powered. My body soon fell limp as everything faded to black.
I stood silently in the mission briefing room. Everything was dead silent and the flare that I made to provide light died long ago. I just stood consumed by darkness in this room. This place was my true home; this place should have been my grave as well.
I had no clue what happened after I blacked out that day. I never saw Annie or Zylen again, and I didn't see Hunter until recently. I could only imagine what went down after that. I just remember waking up in a hospital and I was immediately put into some adoption program for unfortunate pokemon. That's when Alex adopted me. That's when my life changed day by day and everything about me became different.
Alex had no idea who I was. He never knew I was an ex-Flare member. I guess I somehow got a fake backstory to go with my life. Apparently I was housed in a home with an abusive trainer or something like that. All Alex knew besides that was that I was named Flare. When I was given my new life they took everything from me, except the one thing I hated, my name. It took a while for me to get lost in my new life, but I eventually came to love it.
I guess me becoming the pokemon I was, was thanks to Kana. She spent a lot of time with me to actually get me to talk. I couldn't have asked for a better home honestly, Kana saved me from drowning in despair and possibly going back to the life I lived.
Chapter End
Author Note: Well, congrats on making it to the end of my 10k word chapter XD. Sorry for a very very long chapter, I just wanted to get most of this out of the way in one chapter, but it'll have to be broken up into two. Anyhoo, hopefully everyone enjoyed the background info on Flare.
Anyways, I'd like to give out some quick thanks to some of the people who helped me on a question I struggled with. A few weeks back, maybe a month or two ago, I struggled with the problem of aging for pokemon. I wasn't quite sure how long pokemon live for and the game nor anime gives a clear answer, and I didn't really want to give a character like Black a 13-20 year life span like a canine would (I feel an umbreon is closest to a canine of some kind). So, I asked some of my followers and I'd like to thank 97, The Pokemon Melody, The Heck, and lastly my beta reader who I asked at one point but I forget when.
Anyhoo, the way I decided to do pokemon aging in this story is just by human years. Why? Because it makes things a lot simpler for me. Yes it may not make 100% sense, but just remember in the pokemon world tears bring people back to life... So, I think my aging method will work fine. I mostly mention this because I mentioned Flare's age back then was 12 and obviously quite a bit of time has passed since then, so I believe that'd make him 18-19 years old. Sorry for dragging that out a bit XD
Thanks genricgamer207 for spending three days editing this.