Chapter 37: Love and War

Roku's P.O.V.

Olivine City

We decided to stay the night in Olivine one last time before we started our trek back to Ecruteak City. As I gazed up at the moon from the window in my room, the thought of how far we'd come stuck in my brain once again. Six Badges. That's what we had so far. And our next destination was Mahogany Town, a small, almost ancient town that was nestled just outside the woods that surrounded the famous Lake of Rage. I remember watching programs about it on TV; how the lake was mostly populated by Magikarp and Gyarados, and how there were rumors of a blood-red Gyarados that made its home in the deepest part of the lake. That part excited me almost as much as the thought of facing the second strongest Gym Leader in the Johto region. Yeah…Mahogany Town held a lot of promise.

I looked down at my P*DA. Almost 10:00. I should be going.

I looked at Luna's sleeping form and smiled to myself before standing up and putting my jacket back on. As I walked out the door, my eyes darted towards Reia, who was sleeping in a weird yet adorable position and snoring softly. A light chuckle escaped my throat, but then, a pit almost seemed to form in my stomach. Reia had lost her partners before coming here, and she was fighting tooth and nail right alongside me to get back to a point where she could be happy with herself again. But…was she really happy? I realized I never took the time to actually talk to her and ask her how she felt. Ask her what demons she was trying to conquer by doing this. I always thought her original motive was to recruit me into the Legend Keepers, but she'd already succeeded in that quest.

So why was she still fighting with me? I mean, sure, Pokémon Trainers have to have a certain level of determination and drive to get as far as we have. My gut told me that she was just as determined to fight through the Gym Challenge as I was. I mean, she did say she was starting out on a conquest of the Johto League the first time we met. Maybe she enjoyed the company. I know I do.

I let out a sigh and left the room, being careful not to wake anyone. I made my way downstairs, stopping to chat up the nurse a little and thank her for her hard work before leaving the center. I felt the cool breeze on my face and smiled. I always loved nighttime, especially since New Bark Town was also located near the ocean. And that just reminded me of home. How long has it been since I actually saw my mother's face besides through a screen? And what the hell was Tyson up to? Knowing him, he probably would have started out on a journey of his own by now. I hadn't even spoken to him since I left. He'd probably say something like, "Yo, what the hell, man? Forget about your best buddy while you were searching for your girlfriend?", or something to that effect. Probably oughta keep him away from Reia just in case. As much as I would love to see her slap the life out of him, it wouldn't be very nice of me to just let it happen.

Another sigh left my lips. Too many distractions tonight. I needed to get to the beach so I could find out just what Jasmine wanted to say to me. At this point, it could be anything.

After about a ten minute walk, I finally laid eyes on the beach, and I saw Jasmine standing there looking out across the ocean, wearing the same dress she wore during our fight, except that it was sparkly clean and with no signs of battle damage. Reia would kill for a fabric like that.

"Jasmine!"

She heard me call out to her and she waved, a soft smile on her face. I jogged up to her and gave her a smile of my own.

"I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?" I asked her.

"No, you're fine," she replied, smiling more. "I'm just glad that you actually came. Most people get scared off by Rusty during our battles…"

I laughed a little. "Yeah, I can see how a 30-foot long iron snake would be a bit of a mood killer."

Jasmine huffed and pouted. "Rusty is NOT scary! She's just misunderstood!"

That caused me to burst out with laughter, and soon enough, Jasmine joined me in that laughter, the sound echoing out across the waves. It was probably the first time I felt at peace the entire time I've been in Olivine. I mean, we came here to help out Amphy, and right after we did that, we fought in our most intense Gym Battle yet. It felt good to just sit back and laugh a little.

After we calmed down and tears were wiped away, I looked at Jasmine and nodded.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, hoping to get straight to the point.

"Well, I…" she started, looking down and away as a blush creeped across her cheeks. "I wanted t-to ask you something…"

Uh oh, I thought. She can't be…?

"D-Do you…think I'm…?"

So much for relaxing. I've never had to go through anything like this before, save for maybe Latias, but I was, like, 15. And she's a Pokémon. THIS, however, was an actual human girl, one who was about to ask me an extremely personal question that I would have to give an answer to. Needless to say, my palms were starting to sweat. This was a battle I was NOT prepared for.

"D-Do you think I'm pretty?!" she almost shouted, saying it quickly enough that it took me a minute to register what she had actually said.

Crap! What do I tell her?! my left brain screamed. I mean, yeah, she's gorgeous, don't get me wrong. And freaking tough, to boot. She's everything I love in a woman. But…I don't want to get in a relationship yet! Not while Team Prime's out there trying to take over the world like that old cartoon with the two Rattata!

*SLAP!* Get a hold of yourself! my right brain screamed. Just tell her the truth! And whatever you say, say it with confidence!

I nodded internally and took a deep breath.

"Of course I think you're pretty," I said with a smile.

YOU DUMBASS, YOU'VE DOOMED US ALL!

"R-Really…?" Jasmine said quietly, looking up at me.

"I'm not gonna lie to you, even when we were trying to purify Amphy, I always thought you were cute," I continued, causing her to turn even more red. "But I gotta ask, what brought this on?"

"W-Well, you mentioned a relationship yesterday before our battle…" she said, stuttering a little. "And after seeing how you saved Amphy and how well you fought alongside your partners…it made me feel…attracted to you."

*sigh* OK, Roku…time to let her down easy, big guy, said Left Brain. Make sure you use your words wisely.

"Look, Jasmine…" I said, laying a hand on her shoulder and taking a deep breath. "You're a strong, compassionate person who would do anything for her friends and the people of Olivine. You command your Pokémon with that same passion and drive, so much that it's almost a complete 180 from the shy wallflower that you make yourself out to be. You're really beautiful and pretty tough for a girl your size, which is pretty much everything I like in a girl."

Jasmine looked up at me with shimmering eyes. This was about to get a lot tougher.

"But…I don't think I have that level of attraction towards you," I continued, feeling my heart drop as I watched the glimmer of hope in Jasmine's eyes shatter like glass. "It's not you…Arceus, it's never gonna be you. It's me…I'm just not ready for something like this. Especially with a Gym Leader who is needed by her people."

Jasmine looked down, tears streaming down her eyes. I knew that this was gonna happen, and I tried my best to ease the pain a little, but it appeared that even the Steel-Clad Defense Girl had her weaknesses.

Acting quickly without hesitation, I laid a kiss on Jasmine's forehead, hearing her gasp lightly. When I pulled away, I lightly placed my hand on her cheek and made her look up at me.

"Jasmine, you could certainly do better than me," I said. "I'm nothing special…just a guy trying to make the world a better place. And besides…"

I stole a glance back to the Pokémon Center, smiling a little.

"Something tells me that Luna won't approve of me having 'another girlfriend'," I said with a chuckle, making air quotes with my fingers.

That last part at least got Jasmine to giggle. She sniffled a little and wiped the tears from her face before speaking again.

"Luna is your Umbreon, right?" she said softly. "I never got to know Luna…but she seems like the perfect partner for you, just like Rusty is for me."

"Heh…she's a bit of a handful, but…I couldn't imagine this journey without her," I replied, looking up at the moon. "Luna isn't just a partner…she's my best friend, one who I'd gladly give my life for. She and I have been through a lot together, and we almost lost each other a couple times…but even after all that we've gone through, we're still together, fighting side by side."

"Yeah…I know how that feels," Jasmine replied, also looking up at the moon. I heard a sigh escape her lips.

"Your friend…your human friend," she started. "Reia, was it?"

"Yeah…we crossed paths just after I left on my quest," I explained. "She's the reason I've been able to get this far in the Gym Challenge, not to mention the girl who introduced me to the Legend Keepers. You could call her a really close friend too."

"You've made a lot of good friends in your journey…" Jasmine mused. "I envy you…there aren't very many opportunities to make friends when you're in my position…"

"I didn't take you as the outgoing type," I said with a raised eyebrow. "You always seem so shy."

"It's…hard for me to talk to people," she said, shifting a little. "Most of my time is spent taking care of the Gym or taking care of Amphy. The Trainers who battle under me are the closest thing I have to friends, but I can't help but feel that it's different because it's work related…"

"Nah, I think they feel the same way about you," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving her a soft smile. "I could feel it when I traded blows with Tessa. She really trusts you and would probably give her life for you. And the others…they fought to defend you when Amphy was going berserk, right? That's gotta count for something."

"Yeah…I guess you're right," Jasmine said, nodding slowly. "Thank you, Roku…"

"For what?" I asked curiously. Jasmine looked at me with those shimmering eyes again.

"For being one of the only people I feel comfortable enough around to open up to," she said with that same warm smile.

"W-Well, I mean…" I said, looking away and blushing a little. "It wouldn't be very nice of me to come out here and not listen to what you have to say."

"Heh, I understand…" she said, looking down at my wrist. She then grabbed it and started fiddling around on my P*DA.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm giving you my phone number so we can talk to each other," she replied. The device beeped in confirmation once she was done, and she smiled at me again. "Make sure you send me a message so I can have your number too."

I chuckled and nodded. "Of course. Thanks for letting me have your number. I'll be sure to call you if I need anything."

"Well…you could also call even if you don't need anything," Jasmine said, her face turning red again.

I stifled a laugh and nodded. "Yeah, sure…Arceus knows we could both use more friends."

Jasmine and I shared another laugh as the good feelings returned. I took a look at my wrist again and realized it had been almost been 45 minutes since I left the center.

"I should be getting back to sleep," I said after letting out a breath. "We're gonna try to set out for Ecruteak as soon as possible tomorrow."

"OK…sorry for pulling you out this late," she said, bowing her head slightly. "Will I see you before you leave?"

I smiled and nodded. "I'd be a little hurt if you didn't at least see us off."

Jasmine smiled brightly and nodded. "OK! See you tomorrow, then."

I nodded and waved goodbye, making my way back to the Pokémon Center. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I walked away from the beach. It looked like I'd made yet another friend. I remember when the only friends I actually had back in New Bark were Tyson, Latias and Professor Elm. Now I have two great Trainers from Kalos, a Gym Leader and a Kimono Girl that was a big help during our journey.

"Huh…now that I think about it, I haven't seen Zuki in a while," I said to myself. "Maybe she can teach me a few things about raising an Umbreon."

I knew Cedric would want an update on the mission he sprung on us at the last second, so it would be within my best interest to make a stop at the Legend Keepers HQ anyway. Zuki's Umbreon was crazy strong anyway, so it would be great to get some training from her for the battles ahead.

I finally reached the Pokémon Center and sighed deeply. Despite having woken up at 11:00 this morning, I was really exhausted. I made my way back up to my room, once again making sure not to wake anyone up, and I curled up next to Luna on my bed next to the window, quickly drifting off.


Unknown P.O.V.

"Is the formula ready?"

"Yes sir, our agent will be setting up shop in Mahogany Town very soon."

"Good. Proceed with the operation as soon as possible."


Reia's P.O.V.

Olivine City Pokémon Center

I woke from a restless sleep, rising up to look at my sleeping friend, who was still fully-clothed after he got back from his little midnight rendezvous with the Gym Leader. My heart sank when I remembered what had happened last night…I was there to witness it all. The laughing, the crying, the soft smiles and shoulder touches…well, maybe not that part, but I imagine that's what was going on. And to think…a couple nights ago, I was about to share a kiss with him. Damn you, Cedric, for interrupting the moment. Damn you, Jasmine, for stealing him away.

Wait, hold up…what was this feeling welling up in my chest? Did…did I actually like Roku? Like…LIKE like him? The question repeated itself in my mind over and over, mixing with the feelings of jealousy and love. Yeah…maybe it was love. I mean, Roku was my first real friend I made coming to the Johto region for the first time. And sure, Calem's a nice guy and all…but Roku treated me differently. Like I really meant something to him.

So why would he throw all of that away?

Would he throw all of that away?

I was confused. I had no idea what to think. It was like I didn't know what was right or wrong anymore. It felt like I was being ripped in two. Do I love him? Does he love me too? Do I really have the time to be thinking about these things? What would he think if I told him how I felt? Even more questions bounced around in my head, and it started to hurt. I closed my eyes and tried to clear my thoughts, but the questions just seemed to get louder.

But then…I felt something touch my forehead, and all of that melted away into a vision. It was Roku and Jasmine. I saw them begin talking, and before long, I heard her ask him if he thought she was pretty, and I felt my heart drop into my stomach when I heard his reply. But then a feeling of pride forced it back up into my chest when I heard him reject her. Sweet, sweet tears. From the events that happened next, it looked like Roku was trying to let her down easy. Guy always had a way with words.

The vision withdrew and my own vision returned, and I was left staring at Latias, who was smiling.

"I witnessed everything…" she said. "And I knew you were nervous. So I figured I would help ease your mind a little."

"Thanks, but…why help me?" I said with a confused look. "Don't you love him too?"

That last remark made Latias flinch a little, and I knew that I'd hit home with that question. She nodded and gave me a sad smile, which made me feel a little guilty.

"I do…but it's not right for a Pokémon to love a human the way I do…" she replied. "And…I saw what happened that night. The way you look at him…I don't think he sees it yet, but…give him some time. He's a little dense."

I did my best to hold back laughter, but I couldn't help but giggle a little. I'm just glad that we were finally able to patch things up.

I heard a yawn from Roku's area and I shot a glance at him. He was always so cute in the mornings. He sat up and looked around for a bit before looking at us.

"Uh…good morning?" he said groggily.

I noticed that he had been cuddling Luna all night. Both me and Latias saw this as a prime opportunity. We looked at each other and snickered a little before we turned back to Roku.

"Morning, Roku. I see you've made your decision on which one of us is your 'partner'," Latias said calmly with a smile on her face.

Roku cocked an eyebrow before looking down at the still sleeping Umbreon, then he let out a chuckle of his own.

"What, are you jealous that I'm cuddling with an adorable fox rather than you?" he shot back with a mischievous grin.

Latias looked at him with an open mouth, her face turning red. I couldn't help but laugh with Roku as she came under the realization that her plan had totally backfired. Eventually, we were all laughing, which in turn woke up Luna, who had no clue as to what was going on. Which just made it even funnier.

For once…things weren't so tense between all of us.


Roku's P.O.V.

Ecruteak City

After our little laugh session this morning, all of us had made our way to the gates to Route 39. Jasmine and Tessa were waiting for us, and after Tessa apologized more about destroying Reia's clothes, we were on our way back to Ecruteak City. Reia was now wearing a blue short sleeved hoodie that cut off at the midriff and an orange undershirt that left her waist exposed, with blue skinny jeans and running shoes. She had a blue hat similar to the white one she wore, but this one had a silver star pin attached to the ribbon. She said something about blue being her color back before she found her favorite dress, and I could believe it. Her fashion sense was much better than mine.

It took us about a day and a half to travel back to Ecruteak. Calem and I had decided to engage ourselves in a little training session to help keep ourselves frosty just in case something else came up. It was extremely close, but Calem was able to take Luna out with his Greninja. I had to hand it to him, he was really good.

I had to take a really deep breath as soon as we crossed the gate to Ecruteak City. A part of me just really missed the air and the overall mystical aura that the ancient city gave off. Ecruteak had its own special charm…it felt like something special could happen at any moment. For now, though, it was time to head towards the Dance Theater, where our comrades and our friends awaited our return.

The moment we walked into the theater, I saw Zuki and two of her sisters doing a routine together while everyone watched, captivated by the grace and poise of the Kimono Girls. I knew that it had been quite literally only a few days, but it was nice to see her again. The routine went on for only another minute before Zuki laid eyes on me and smiled.

"Back so soon, Roku?" she said with a wink. "I knew you couldn't stay away."

"If I didn't actually need you for something, I'd say you were wrong," I replied as I walked up and gave her a hug. "But first, I need to get backstage. I have a pass."

Zuki watched all of us flash our badges, and she nodded. "Follow me, then. My sisters and I will be happy to meet with you."

That was the phrase we needed in order to reach the elevator to the HQ. After all, we didn't need the people of Ecruteak knowing that there was a massive underground sanctuary that housed several extremely powerful Pokémon. Imagine how many people would be dumb enough to try and waltz down there to sneak a peek. Cedric might have some fun with that one.

Once we actually got down to the HQ, we made a beeline straight for Cedric's office. The older trainer was looking out across the sanctuary from his window, per the usual. I cleared my throat to get his attention.

"I'm back to report on the assignment you gave us," I spoke up.

"Ah, good," Cedric said with a smile. "I take it you cured the Ampharos?"

"Yes sir," I replied. "It turns out that Amphy was infused with a Shadow essence. We had to use the sword to purify her."

"I see…so it was Team Prime after all," Cedric said, his face turning serious.

"It looks like they're trying to perfect the Shadow Project that Cipher was working on," Reia chimed in. "I assume that's the reason they wanted Lugia…so they could bring back the XD001."

"Yeah, but once again…why target the Olivine Lighthouse?" I said, mulling it over in my head. "Wouldn't they be trying to keep their tests under the radar until it was finished so they didn't draw too much attention?"

"I wouldn't put it past them to use Ampharos as an excuse to trip you up," Cedric replied. "I'm sure Zareis knows who you are by now, considering what happened to his agents and how the attack on our facility was a failure because of you."

"I'd be a little hurt if he didn't know who I was, considering the hurt I've been dishing out to his operatives," I said with a chuckle.

"This isn't a game, Roku," Cedric said sternly. "You might have triumphed over them on numerous occasions, but Team Prime is still a very real threat. It would behoove you not to underestimate them."

"Yeah, I know," I replied with a nod. "That's why I'm gonna ask Zuki for some training. She knows more about raising an Umbreon than I do, so it would help Luna and I out a lot if she were to help us find our rhythm."

Luna hopped up on my back and smiled. "Her Umbreon may be tough, but we know what we're doing! I don't need help."

"I know, but it still wouldn't hurt to see how we stack up against someone who's been at this longer than we have," I said, rubbing her ears. "Besides, you want to get stronger too, don't you?"

Luna purred and smiled, earning a few chuckles from the room.

"Very well, I'll let you get to it, then," Cedric said, sitting down at his desk. "I'm going to make some calls and see if we can't dig up more info on our current targets. If we can complete the Core Covenant before Team Prime gets their hands on the last Pokémon, we'll have the advantage."

The Core Covenant. I'd nearly forgotten about the mission Celestrix had given me. As of right now, we had Xerneas and Celebi. Rayquaza was currently being dealt with, according to Cedric, but we still had no leads on the most important one: Arceus. Many myths and stories surrounded the extremely powerful deity, but nothing that gave us a legitimate location to search. Everything I found mentioned a higher plane of existence that the world-maker resided in, but how would one go there?

Too much thinking. For now, I had to go find Zuki. It was time for Luna and I to grow even stronger.


Author's Note: Next time: Roku and Luna reach an even higher bond as trainer and Pokémon. And we also finally delve further into the Core Covenant. Will they ever find the last Pokémon they need to defeat Team Prime once and for all? You'll have to stay tuned to find out.

That being said, thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy the chapter. And as always, please read and review!

Strato Abyss signing out.