Book II: Impending Twilight
Chapter 101: Alone
Point of View Flare
It has been a little over a month since the Shalour city incident. Ever since, nothing has been the same. I find myself struggling to even pull myself out of bed every morning. I mean, what's the point? I don't have any friends left besides Alex and Hesh, but I couldn't tell Alex how I felt, and Hesh and I were never close to begin with, and if you must include Ebony she's a bit young for me to be hanging around as a usual friend.
It was now around noon and I still hadn't gotten out of bed. Whenever we were home I usually slept at the end of Alex's bed. The human started his day around three hours ago, but I still didn't have much willpower. For a while I stared at the white wall in Alex's room. At the moment, I was content with this. It took around thirty minutes for me to decide it was time to force myself up. Once up, I stared down at my paws that were on the bed. I still looked like the same unevolved fennekin, yet I don't feel anything like myself. I don't even know if I remember who I am anymore. I stared at my paws for around a minute before I brought my head back up. With a long grumble I jumped off the bed and headed down the stairs towards where everyone should be.
Once at the bottom of the stairs I could see the image of a memory so clearly. Kana would always be the first to greet me in the morning, she'd always brighten my morning with such a pleasant smile that would fill me with vigor. At the bottom of the stairs I stared at the vacant living room where Kana would usually be.
"Kana…" I whispered as I felt a void in my chest growing wider. After a moment I continued through the condo until I came into the small dining room. At the dinner table I saw Alex on his laptop. The human was still in his PJ's and wore a blank white shirt. Pushed off to the side of the human was a bowl of cereal that was hardly even touched. Alex continued to use his laptop without paying me any attention. Perhaps he noticed me and just didn't have the energy to respond, or maybe he was just lost in thought, either way I wasn't really in the mood to interact with anyone.
I decided to skip a meal, and went outside of our home and onto the streets of Lumiose. Once outside I was greeted by a cold bitter whip of air. Shivers ran through my body and straight into my core as I tried to ignore the bitter weather. I began walking through the streets around our condo complex. Once I was nearing the end of the condo complex I stopped to look up at a tall tree that casted a tower of shade over me. The once vegetated tree was now an old withering tree that only had a few leaves left for this season. Summer just recently came to and it may be early Autumn, but this year felt like it was going to be a cold one.
I took my eyes off the tree and continued to walk until I was in the heart of the city. Everyone around me was going about their normal day without a problem in the world. Oh, how envious I was of them. What I would give to be able to walk around these streets with Kana again. I let out a sigh as I maneuvered through the crowd of people. The tide of humans seemed to push against me as I wandered. It came to annoy me that some of the humans were laughing and enjoying life, none of them probably ever experienced what I'm going through. Why do I get the short end of the stick again, was it too much to ask for a decent life with my friends? A life where I can be on a journey with Kana, Gray, Black, Hesh, and Ebony without a problem in the world. It was painful knowing that most pokemon only had to worry about pleasing their trainers when my problems consisted of keeping myself together in the head, and somehow pretending that the whole world in my eyes wasn't falling apart with each step.
At times like this I really, really needed Kana. She was always the optimistic one. So optimistic, it rubbed off on me. Before this I was different, as some may know, and now that she's gone, I don't know what to do. Is it really possible for me to just wake up every morning and forget about the electric canine that always kept me happy, the one that truly cared for everyone? To be honest I know the answer. It's a simple no. I'm not ever moving on, all I can do is simply push her out of my head and pretend it never happened, just like Annie. But I also didn't want to forget this time. Kana and I shared a lot of memories together, good and bad.
I let out a melancholic whimper as I kept myself from breaking. I couldn't do it here, not in public, not even in front of those I have left. With my tail dragging pathetically against the ground, and my ears drooping low I pushed forward. Another gale of wind inhibited my slow stride It seemed as if Arceus was making my life terrible in every way possible. I bit down as my pace strengthened, and I fought against the powerful force, all while I thought of her.
Orange rays of light shined over the tops of the buildings in Lumiose. The sun was just beginning to make its cycle over Lumiose for the day. The jolteon, Kana, and I were both out enjoying this fine morning as we strolled along the sidewalks in search of entertainment, or I trying to play along at least. Not much has been said between us, things were still awkward in my life. She somehow convinced me to stay with that dumb human. I guess Alex was a nice person, but why be nice to a complete stranger? Regardless, getting used to my new life was a bit tough… Normal people are boring, and they all sit there and pretend to be nice to each other or act fake.
"It's pretty nice weather today, isn't it Flare?" Kana grabbed my attention as she wore a gleeful smile on her face, one that didn't seem fake to me.
"I guess," I responded as I pretended to be the tough little hardass I wasn't.
"Well I think it's beautiful out today, plus Winter is finally over, so everything is coming back to life again and I just love it!" The jolteon said with lively energy as she inhaled a deep breath as if she was taking in this nice atmosphere she was speaking of.
"It's just spring," I shrugged at her as I refrained from rolling my eyes or scowling in annoyance.
"Just Spring?" She repeated with surprise, "Spring is awesome, the plants are coming back to life, it's so warm outside, and I just feel like I always have more energy around this time of year," The jolteon defended excitedly, she was so serious about this that I could almost see a spark of fire in her eyes.
"I never really cared what season it was, never had time to enjoy the weather," I responded with some honesty. Truthfully I was always underground in a Team Flare base, so I rarely went outside when I wasn't on a petty mission.
"Well, take some time to slow down in life and enjoy yourself, Flare," Kana told me. "I mean what would be the point of life if we were all serious the whole time and never took time to enjoy ourselves?"
"I guess you have a point," I meekly answered as I tried to loosen up a tad.
"You know what, I know a ton of things we can do that'll make you understand what I mean, come on!" Kana yelled excitedly as her pace quickened. The jolteon practically took off like a bolt of lightning, leaving me to compete with her abnormal speed.
"Hey, I haven't agreed to anything!" I yelled as I chased after her.
"Kana… why did it have to be you?" I asked as I stopped in place and looked at the cracked concrete ground beneath my paws. "Why are you the one who had to die?" I remained silent as everyone in the busy streets walked around me.
"How is this fair?" I asked, "How is any of this fair?!" I yelled out loud and everyone in the streets paused to stare at me. All of their eyes peered at me. I felt an intense heat flare up from within my core and I felt the muscles in my paw tighten, "What are you looking at!?" I screamed as a small flare of flame escaped from my maw on accident. Everyone jumped back and ran in panic, I just sat in place as I placed my left paw over my mouth in an attempt to contain my emotions.
"I just want to be left alone," I quietly spoke as I allowed myself to calm down. With a hard breath I continued along the sidewalk to wherever I was going. I wandered around the city until I was near the outskirts. Many of the buildings around this area weren't as massive in size. In a way this was my favorite part of the city, it wasn't as rowdy as the other parts near the center of Lumiose. I slowly walked around this area until I was on the very edge of this city. From here I could see the whole countryside. Off in the distance I could see many great hills that went on for miles, but in the middle of all these hills was a massive lake that stretched out for about a mile. The rays of the sun reflected off the lake's surface, creating a mixture of fiery orange colors dancing along the water.
My ears flattened against my head as I sat down and took in the view. It really wasn't anything new for me, but it was just something different to look at, it kind of inspired me to be a bit lazy and take my mind off things if possible. The air was just as cold here as anywhere else, but I found a bit of comfort here for reasons. Perhaps it was the memories they brought back into my mind.
For a while I sat in silence, but I soon found myself growing weary. My eyes grew heavy and I allowed myself to lay down on a soft patch of grass. A tired yawn escaped my maw as I laid on my front side, which after the yawn I rested my chin on my crisscrossed paws. I continued to look out towards the countryside as many thoughts ran rampant through my head. Some were thoughts of anger, sadness, or even memories that led up to the sorry state I'm in now.
But in the end, I was still thinking of him.
"And what makes you assume I want friends?" An upset shiny umbreon growled at me with strange crimson eyes that belonged to a normal umbreon that wasn't shiny.
"Well… I didn't say that. I was just trying to make a point," I nervously stuttered back towards the umbreon as I fidgeted in place with an uneasy feeling in my gut. This guy kind of seemed like a jerk… Yet for some reason he reminded me of a younger fennekin. I don't know why, I just saw it in those odd crimson eyes of his, the eyes of someone who is lost and doesn't know what to do.
"Well, I'll make a point right now, I'm not looking for friends, nor do I need friends," The umbreon snapped and I gave a quick nod towards him and backed up a few steps. The umbreon took his red eyes off of me. I stood silently as thoughts ran through my head. Truthfully, this umbreon seemed a bit miserable, even if he tries to act tough, kind of how I was when I was first with Kana, Gray and Alex.
"There you are Flare! I've been looking all over for you!" The voice of Alex shouted from behind. My head spun back to see my trainer smiling at me, but his eyes quickly looked towards the bizarre shiny umbreon with red eyes.
I stared off into the distance towards the lake. This was the very place that Black and I first talked, the day our lives changed. I remembered this peaceful spot pretty well, Black and I ended up here one other time after we first encountered Crimson. That guy seemed to really like this spot, perhaps it was the only spot he could find in the city where he could think in peace. I had no idea what to think of that umbreon right now, I had more questions now than ever.
"Black, what're you doing right now, where are you? Are you even alive?" I asked as I kept my eyes on the lake.
It took me around ten more minutes to grow tired of this spot, and once I did, I got up on my feet and began to wander again. This time though I didn't head back into the city, I headed towards the lake off into the distance. It was a bit of a walk, but once at the shore of the lake I just gazed into the ice cold water. Looking back at me from the water was a young adult fennekin, one that didn't have much to lose in life. I rose my chin up a bit, revealing the hidden scar below my jaw in the reflection.
"Tff, I'm still a fennekin… I should have evolved years ago. I mean Annie evolved when she was thirteen, but she is a prodigy then again..." I lowered my chin back down and dipped my left paw in the water. Every piece of fur on my body stood up as I withdrew my drenched paw from the icy water. My paw trembled from the sensation, I hated cold water so much, I couldn't stand it.
"Annie… I really do miss you," I said as I pictured the braixen in my head. "Ughh, why the Hell didn't I ask Hunter when I saw him!?" I shouted as I had an epiphany. "Fuuuuck, I'm so stupid!" I shouted as I kicked up the dirt in front of me. I was about to kick the ground again, but I decided it was best to not feed my anger. Instead, I just decided to let myself cool down.
"Now what?" I asked aloud as I sat in front of the lake. "I don't have any purpose in life… Everyone I cared for is gone, I mean except Alex," I stated as I reflected on my two missing friends. "I wonder if Gray is doing alright right how…?"
Things between Gray and I got very awkward before he left… I mean really awkward, but none of this awkwardness compared to the news he told me of on his final night with us. I still remember every exact detail, the way my world came crumbling down in a mere moment… Just from a few devastating words.
In Shalour the sun had set many hours ago, but I still felt as if it was midday. Alex and I seemed to be the only ones still awake, excluding Gray who was out at the moment. The sky poured infinite rain as few few cracks of lightning could be seen from the distance, shortly followed by a roar of thunder. Alex paced back and forth in the kitchen as he talked on the phone anxiously.
"No Dad, I said I checked there already… The police pretty much told me she wasn't important with all that happened, I don't know what to do, it has been two weeks," Alex spoke with a shooken up voice to his father on the phone. I could hear the sound of his upset father saying something from the other line, but it wasn't anger towards him, just more towards the fact that this happened.
"I… I didn't tell you because I thought something would have come up by now… I don't know what to even do now, I mean I've been searching non stop with everyone, day and night." Alex's father said something from the other line.
"Yeah… I understand, I'll call you tomorrow then," Alex finished as he ended the call. The human grasped the phone tightly in his hand before he walked out the kitchen, cocked his arm back and threw it as hard as he could at a pillow on the couch. "I'm just so sick of all of this happening!" The human rose his voice.
"Does this shit always happen on these journeys?! Seriously, this can't happen to everyone on a regular basis!" Alex exploded, causing Ebony to jump awake from the edge of the bed. The espeon's eyes grew wide in fear as she watched Alex walk towards the door and yank it open and slammed it shut so hard on his way out that a picture fell off the wall just next to the door. Ebony and I both stared at the door before it opened back up with Alex's head peaking in.
"I swear, no one goes anywhere without consulting me," he spoke tensely before he slammed the door again. Ebony and I both watched the door as the only sound that could be heard was Hesh's obnoxious snoring from a corner in the room he chose to pass out in with a pillow as a mattress.
"What's going on?" Ebony shyly asked as she lightly trembled in fear.
I let out a sigh, it was to painful to see Alex like this. "Alex is just overwhelmed. Finding Kana and Black is really just getting to him," I answered the young espeon.
"Where do you think they are? Black just disappeared in the night… and no one has a clue what happened to Kana, she just disappeared."
"I don't know, but I'm still optimistic they'll show up…"
"Really? But when?"
"I… I can't tell you, but I'm sure they have reasons… I know they do…"
'Stop bullshitting yourself Flare, who're you trying to convince, you or Ebony?'
I was about to open my mouth to change the conversation, but then someone knocked on the door to our room. The two of us turned towards the door, but neither budged a muscle.
I tried to say something, but nothing came out, I cleared my throat before I tried to speak again, "W-Who is it?" I called out to whomever was there.
"My name is Ada, I'm with WPA, your friend Grayson is here as well," a female voice spoke from the other side.
"It's us Flare," Gray's voice added.
"May we talk?" Ada asked.
"Sure, I just have to get the do-" I began, before the knob glowed with a purple light and opened itself.
"I got it," a gardevoir smiled as she came into the room with Gray behind her.
"Gray, what's going on?" I questioned the absol.
"Flare… I have some things we need to discuss. There is something I need to tell you, but I've been too scared and skeptical to tell you…" Gray responded. "Can we take this somewhere private?"
"Yeah, sure," I agreed. Gray gave me a nod and I followed him out the door. Ebony followed behind as well, but the gardevoir blocked her off at the door frame.
"Sorry little one, but this is for the two of them," Ada said as she kneeled down to Ebony's level and patted her on the head. I took my eyes from the child and followed behind Gray.
The two of us headed up the hotel until we were on the roof. The night sky was black, and the only light came from a dim light above the door we came through. On top of that it was freezing and the rain that was pouring only made it worse.
"Gray, what is the meaning of this?" I asked the absol who held his head low and looked towards the ground. "Gray?" I called to him again.
"Flare… I'm sorry," Gray said with a long pause, "I know what happened to Kana and Black."
"Wait, what?!"
"I didn't want to tell you this because I couldn't believe it myself at first. Black told me the truth of what happened before he left us… I don't understand what he's doing, but he said something about finding answers."
"So he left us?"
"I'm afraid so," Gray nodded.
"And what about Kana, is she with him or something?"
Gray remained silent as his eyes averted from my own. "Gray, where is Kana, tell me that she's alright? I mean… she is right? Gray?" Gray only remained silent, and that was all I needed to know what was going on. "Arceus…" I whispered as I looked at the absol. "Gray… Tell me that Kana is alright, where is she?!" I desperately pleaded. Thunder boomed through the air, and the rain seem to intensify as I ran to the absol and forced him to look me in the eyes. Gray flinched back from the sudden movement and kept arm's length from me.
"Gray, Stop eluding my question, where is she?!"
"Flare…" Gray began as he looked up towards me, I could see his eyes trembling in what appeared to be melancholy. "Before Black left, he told me that Kana… He told me that Kana is gone," Gray spoke quietly, just barely loud enough for me to hear. "He… He didn't tell me how, but I could tell he was serious."
"Gone as in she left Shalour…" I asked the absol with a racing heart. Gray simply shook his head in response.
"You're lying," I snapped. "You're just saying that to get me to not chase after him! You've always had some prejudice against umbreons and you don't want me to chase after him! You've always wanted Black gone, from the very moment Alex caught him! You just want me to not go after him, I know Kana is with him right now!" I yelled at the absol and once I finished I breathed heavily to catch my breath.
"Flare… You know that's not the case. I will admit, I had problems, but I got past that. Black left and Kana is gone. I'm telling you what happened. I would never lie about Kana being dead, no matter how much I hated someone," Gray retorted in a much calmer state than myself.
"But… Kana…" I tried to say, but something was stuck in my throat, blocking any words that wanted to come out.
"Flare, I didn't tell you because I was afraid. I couldn't believe what happened, I needed proof or something, but I know Black wouldn't lie and Kana would never leave us for so long..."
"And what proof, where is her body, we can't even find anything!"
"I-I don't know, maybe one of the those groups took her. Kana would never wander off, ever. She would have come up by now, I know she would have."
"This can't be the truth though," I said as my eyes began to water up and my heart became heavy. "Kana… Kana can't be, why would this…" I tried to say, but I couldn't choke the words out.
"I'm so sorry I withheld this, I knew this was going to be hard on you. I didn't want to be the one to deliver this, but Black entrusted me with this message" Gray said as he turned towards the door that would lead us back inside. "I don't think it would be right for us to withhold this info from everyone else either. They need to know the truth, I brought Ada as a translator, but there is also one last thing I need to discuss."
I looked up at Gray with my teary vision, but I didn't speak a word towards him.
"Tonight is my last night with Alex's team. I was offered to join back up with the WPA, Zack offered me a pretty good deal. At first I declined, but learning about Kana changed things… I remembered all the pain I went through when I lost my friends, the way it can drive a living being mad with depression. I decided that I want to help stop tragedies like this from ever happening again, I want to rid this world of scum," Gray spoke with a spark of fire in his eyes as he stood tall.
"You're… leaving me too…?" I sobbed out as I wiped the tears away from my eyes.
"It was fun at times being on Alex's team, even if I pretended to not be happy. Truthfully, I needed all of you. I was in bad mental shape when I met all of you, I just wanted to be done with everything. Yet somehow I pulled out of my depression after so long. Now it's time for me to go back and prevent anyone else from suffering my fate, I'm stronger because of this now, I can feel it."
"You can't just leave though!"
"Flare, I'm sorry, but it has to be this way."
My head rose up as I came back to reality. I let out a scowl as I pushed myself up and faced back towards Lumiose city. "Gray…" I whispered. He may have been a prick at times, but I still missed him. He always had the group's best interest in mind, even if it was sometimes based on prejudice reasons.
With that little trip out of my system I headed back towards the city. At this point I was starved, yet I still didn't have an appetite. The trip home was a long one, but I managed. I snuck back into the condo through a window Alex left open, so no one really noticed that I was gone, they all would probably just think I was lying around somewhere miserable. Once inside I made my way to the living room. The TV was on and playing some trashy comedy show with Hesh behind the remote. The pikachu sat on a recliner half asleep with a bag of chips spilled all over himself.
I shook my head as I passed the pikachu and headed towards the kitchen. Inside the kitchen I found Alex still glued to his laptop, although he wasn't doing anything but staring at his boring background while holding his hand over the mouse as if he was expecting something to happen. Truthfully, he looked just as miserable as myself. He didn't even have the energy to find something to do on his computer.
My stomach rumbled and Alex flinched back to reality. The human turned back towards me, "Oh… I suppose you're hungry bud, sorry I kinda forgot… I've just been so exhausted lately," Alex apologized as he got up and opened the fridge.
"What do you want, I got poffins, fruit, maybe some leftover steak from the other night?"
"Anything works Alex," I bluntly answered. Alex closed the fridge door as he stared at me with a pitiful look, but I just couldn't tell whether he sensed my mood, or he felt pitiful himself.
"Flare, how are you doing? you've been very quiet since we've returned home," Alex questioned me.
"I don't know," I answered with little energy.
Alex walked up next to me and sat down on the floor. "I know we can't have a verbal conversation, but I'm happy to listen to you. I mean, I can see it in your eyes that you're still hung up on Kana. I'm not saying I'm not, I can't quite get her out of my head either. My point is, we can't just shut each other out and tiptoe around each other forever. We're a family, and we're going to pull through this as a family," Alex told me as he forced a smile and picked me off the ground and held me against his chest. He gripped me tightly as he clenched my fur between his fingers. I just allowed myself to fall into his arms, it may have not been much to many, but having someone like Alex to fall on made things seem better. This human was all I had left, and I had to make an effort not to shut him out.
"Thanks for everything Alex. For being here for me now, and being a good friend."
Point of View Gray
A gray blanket of clouds rolled in from above as a crack of thunder silenced all the wild pokemon in the swamp forest I was trudging through. My feet squelched in the thick pasty mud that was deep below the murky water I was in. There wasn't one thing I liked about walking through water so dirty I couldn't even see through in the slightest, although part of me knew I didn't want to see what was at the bottom of this swamp. Rain drizzled down from the sky, which a canopy of thick snaggy branches and leaves offered somewhat of an umbrella.
I panted lightly as I pulled my feet out of the mud that seemed to suck me back in with each step. This environment was brutal, and it didn't help that the area was flooding from the rainy weather. The area around Laverre has been pretty gloomy lately: nonstop rain and a few storms. Due to the minor flood, the water was almost up to my torso, which usually it'd be around me knees.
After around an hour of struggling through the swamp, the land elevated and for the first time in a while I was able to rest. My legs were quick to give out and I didn't resist. I flopped down on my side and panted in exhaustion. Standing wasn't even an option anymore, my legs were done, every single leg muscle felt like jello at this point.
It had been a little over a month now, and I'd been trying to stick to this lone wolf stuff. While I am back in the WPA, I decided that it was best if I worked alone. It wasn't out of fear, but for the sake of efficiency, or maybe a bit of both and I'm just not being honest with myself. I had a mission, and I was motivated to see it through. I couldn't help but feel that getting used to a new set of faces would slow me down.
It took me a few minutes to repose, but afterwards I managed to sit up. Wrapped securely around my person was a customized backpack for quadruped pokemon like myself. The main storage unit was just behind my left shoulder, just close enough for me to open up with my maw. A strap went around my chest, which then met up with the main strap that went around my waist. I bit down on a zipper and opened one of the two pouches I had. With my maw, I pulled out an apple, placed it on a rock, and rezipped the pouch. I only kept a few things in this bag: food, water, money and a map.
I snacked on the apple for a few minutes while I got drenched in the rain. Once there was nothing left but the core, I kicked it into the brownish water.
"If my source is correct, this should all be over very soon," I said to myself as I began to walk towards my objective.
"Gray, I'm glad you could make it. I won't waste your time, but there is work that needs to be done," Zack spoke to me as he sat on a rock in the middle of a forest that was just about a foot taller than me. The flareon was covered in bandages from his battle with Mandus, but it wasn't enough to stop him from doing his job.
I sat down on the dirt ground and looked up towards my leader. "Well, I gave my soul back to WPA, so let's hear this," I responded to the flareon.
"After the Shalour incident a lot of things need to be taken care of. I'm sure you're familiar with the pokemon known as Stark?"
"I'm familiar," I responded with a grumble. I still haven't forgotten him. The one thing everyone failed to realize is that I had ties with that bastard as well. Back in Shalour I somehow managed to keep my head cool and not go crazy on him, but I still lusted for his blood to spill. But only if it wouldn't put anyone else in danger. That is what stopped me earlier, I just couldn't risk my friends lives at the time, not again.
"After interrogating some pokemon, following a few leads, we managed to track him down. He and Naomi are hiding near Laverre."
"As in the swampy part of Kalos?" Zack nodded in response. "Hmm, I'm not surprised. A lot of criminals hide in that area, lots of good hiding spots," I commented.
"So, will you accept?" Zack inquired from me.
I remained silent as I sat in place. The images of him and that riolu flashed through my eyes, I still haven't forgotten what he's done to me and my team.
"Gray?"
My gaze went back up towards the flareon, "I'll accept, under my conditions though."
"Conditions?" Zack said as he stared at me with curiosity, "Okay, I'll listen."
I huffed a breath and stood up to help this come out right, "I'll track Stark down, but I have two conditions to be more precise. One: I'm going alone. This is personal to me, that umbreon was one of the pokemon responsible for killing my team."
"I know, that's why I'm asking you, you're one of the few that survived against him. But, I was going to send Tyson with you, he too fought that umbreon."
"That won't be necessary, I want to do this on my own."
"I'll allow that, but what is your second condition?"
"Naomi and the leafeon Dante. I don't want them in trouble for this, she isn't a criminal."
"Why are you trying so hard to protect her?"
"Because Naomi is an idiot who is blindly in love with this umbreon. As for her brother, he's just looking out for her."
"The leafeon isn't with her anymore," Zack commented.
"Wait what?"
"Naomi parted ways with him after the Shalour incident. We asked him why, but he didn't know. My guess is that Dante figured out that Stark was a killer and Naomi knew Dante wouldn't allow them to be together. So, she ran away with Stark where they can live happily ever after, or until you find them that is."
"I see," I said, not really knowing what else to add.
"And one more important detail, Gray." I looked back towards the flareon. "I know it's selfish, but I need you to get answers from him. That umbreon worked for Crimson or Genesis, both groups that are pursing my son. If you can interrogate him, I may have a better chance of figuring out where my son went," Zack asked me. There was a silence between the two of us as Zack looked me in the eyes with with desperation.
"I'll do what I can," I nodded.
I continued on my journey to find the umbreon responsible for the death of my friends. I was so close to confronting him, where this time we can talk this out, one on one. I needed to know everything about this umbreon, why Flare would say they had some things in common.
"Just what the Hell did you mean by that?" I scowled as I thought of the fennekin's confession that night, and even our conversation a few days after.
"Flare, we need to talk," I confronted the fennekin that was just getting ready for bed after a hard day of searching for Black and Kana.
"Wait, what is it?" The vulpine asked as he stood up off of the edge of the bed he was on.
"Just come with me, this is important," I spoke lowly. Hesh and Ebony both eyed me as I glared at the fennekin, but they didn't know shit about what was going through my mind right now.
"Alright," Flare agreed with no suspicion.
The two of us exited the room and went down into the lobby of the hotel. It was very late at night, so late that there wasn't even a desk keeper at this hour, it was just the two of us, I could be as loud and angry as I wanted.
"Gray… you look a bit-"
"What? upset? Pissed? Infuriated?" I asked him as the muscles in my paw tightened.
"Wait, what's this about?" The fennekin asked as he took a step back towards the wall.
"What's this about?" I repeated in a snarl, "I'll tell you exactly what this is about. Back in Cyllage, you knew that blaziken. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't be suspicious of you."
"wait… Gray it's not what you thin-"
"Then what the Hell should I think of this?!"
"He was just a combusken I knew back in my youth… I mean, he was a bit shady, but we hung out from time to time, but not too much," Flare stuttered out as he eluded eye contact and fidgeted in place nervously.
"I don't believe you, tell me the exact story, every detail," I demanded.
"It's kind of a long one… and it's getting-"
"Your stalling is only making me more suspicious, Flare."
"Um… okay, from the beginning you said?" I gave him a single nod in response. "Okay… Well, back when I was about eight or so… I lived in… Cyllage. Well uhhh, basically I was pretty lame with my fire type attacks, and one day Hunter found me attempting to get better."
"Anyhoo… Hunter felt bad or something and he kind of became a mentor for me. And while he taught me how to be better at fighting, we became good friends I guess… I mean, it just kinda happened."
"And someone who you just described as shady chose to help you out of the kindness of his heart?" I questioned the fox.
"Well… he was shady, but not a horrible pokemon," Flare answered.
"Okay, then continue, what exactly made it so you could have been a mercenary like him?"
"Ummm… We were close friends and after a while he opened up to me about his line of work…"
"And what about this supposed bad stuff you did?"
"I stole food to get by every day… sometimes it got a bit violent and stuff," Flare answered meekly.
"Okay, so where exactly were you living at this time, and for how long?"
"On the… with my old human… which- I lived with him until I was saved and Alex adopted me."
"Tell me more about this Hunter pokemon, what was your relationship with him?"
"As I said… we were good friends, he helped me get better and stuff, after that we became good friends."
"Interesting," I said as I looked him deep within his eyes. The fox attempted to make eye contact with me, but I could see the fear in him, I could tell he wanted to run away, he was struggling just to keep eye contact with me.
"What's interesting?"
"Your story starts off with him being someone you spend very little time with, yet you make it out that you were good friends. Care to explain?"
"Listen, I don't know what you want from me… I told you what I knew."
"Very well, that's all I wanted," I dismissed the fennekin.
"Okay… good night," Flare quietly spoke as he quickly walked back towards the room. I was sure to wait until the fox was gone before I did anything else. I released a hard breath as my palm slammed against the hard floor.
"He's lying, I know it," I growled.
"We'll talk about that more when I have time to visit, Flare," I stated as I walked along the muddy forest. My eyes gazed ahead towards a spot of land that was elevated and went on for quite some distance. Many trees grew out of the elevated ground and a small waterfall flowed down from a cliff and created a stream that went into the swamp. Just a small distance from the waterfall was a den. If my source was right and I followed my map correctly, this is where Naomi and Stark are hiding.
Chapter End
Author Note: Well I hope the one month break was worth the wait. And if you have to ask, no my one month break has nothing to do with the one month time skip in the story lol, just purely coincidental. On a side note I realize I screwed up on something big last arc... During the Stark and Naomi reunion I completely forgot about Gray's background and how Stark was there... Anyhoo, I will be making an effort to go back and fix that very soon, but please forgive me for the mistake, their was already 50 other things to take into account on that chapter lol. Anyways, I'm glad to be writing again, that break was just what I needed.
Question: Okay I have a fun question that I debated over with two friends XD Is eevee and the eeveelutions based off a dog, vulpine (fox), or cat. I say vulpine. Anyhoo just a fun question, I wanna see what others think.
Thanks genericgamer207 for getting this chapter down with your busy schedule!