(October 31st 2017)
Five days have now passed since the siege and takeover of Lumiose city and the full scale of the onslaught is still being recognized. The kalos elite 4 have called for an emergency meeting between themselves and two of the most powerful trainers from other regions. Diantha is seen heading into the pokemon league building and into a large meeting room where Wikstrom, Siebold, Malva, and Drasna are waiting. However, one can quickly see that she hasn't been sleeping well these past few nights.
"Diantha, you've made it, my goodness its great to see you re doing well." Drasna greets enthusiastically.
"Heh, well after all that's happened as of late, I'm glad to see you all as well." Diantha replies, weariness evident in her tone.
"Well then, let us get this meeting started. Cynthia and Steven shall join us shortly." Wikstrom states as he turns on a large video screen. Showcasing footage of the attack that was retrieved from security cameras and a local news station.
"First things first, Lumiose has been thoroughly besieged by this new team infinity. However, we have also discovered that at the same time as the Lumiose siege, they launched a series of vicious raids upon other locations". The screen changes to the smoldering remains of dendemile town, its buildings blasted and buried by snow, a few dead abomasnow and sneasel can be seen scattered amongst the wreckage.
Dendemile was leveled immediately by the attack, the few trainers there tried to make a stand but were beaten down and wiped out. It appears that team infinity has constructed some sort of facility inside the frost cavern to the north." Siebold explains grimly.
"Anistar was also hammered down and taken over by the wave of troops and pokemon. Thankfully, everyone managed to escape to safety with only a few minor injuries." Drasna states as Cynthia and Steven enter the room.
"Greetings everyone, it's a shame that we have to meet under such dark circumstances." Steven greets.
"Diantha, its been awhile my friend! I'm so glad to see you re alright." Cynthia exclaims joyfully.
"Same here Cynthia, same here." Diantha replies to the blonde Sinnoh champion. The meeting proceeds on for another hour before Wikstrom concludes the meeting with one final statement.
"Currently we are developing a strategy to take back our region from the clutches of these destructive fiends. I suggest you all train as much as possible and I shall keep you updated on the situation and alert you when we are ready to move out." The steel elite four-member states. As the members depart the room, Wikstrom approaches diantha, having noticed the exhausted look on her face.
"Diantha, could I speak with you for a moment?"
"Hmm. What is it Wikstrom?" Diantha replies.
"You seem rather, should I say, sluggish. Is something the matter?" Wikstrom asks concerned for his fellow trainer.
"Well… to tell the truth, I've been dealing with a rather serious situation. Jarod was badly injured by the leader of team infinity when he tried to defend the city. 3 of his team members were also injured severely. I found him by the river in the pokemon village where he almost slipped away in my arms." Diantha explains, choking up a bit at the memory of nearly losing the trainer she had come to cherish.
"Ah, I see, please go on if you can." Wikstrom pleads
"At that moment, xerneas appeared and pulled him from the brink of death. I then made her a promise that we would fight to stop this so-called team infinity and rescue palkia from their grasp. Oblivion later explained the he called out to xerneas as he sensed that Jarod was about to die and since he is her counterpart, she responded to his cry for help and came to our aid. I've been watching over him ever since but he hasn't shown any signs of waking up." Diantha finishes bitterly.
"I understand, I won't keep you any longer. Go to him and alert me if anything changes." Wikstrom says sincerely.
"Thank you so much." Diantha replies before hastily exiting the building and boarding yveltal who is waiting for her. The two reach the house and diantha settles in next to the injured trainer once again, as she has done for the past five days. However, her will to stay strong is crumbling fast.
"(so, the region is in even worse shape than I thought. It won't be long before they potentially take over the entirety of kalos. Yet Jarod is still unresponsive and we need him to even stand a chance against them. Furthermore…. If he were to still perish…. my heart could not handle such grief)."
"Jarod…. I know you still can't hear me…but please… please wake up… Diantha whispers softly, tears starting to brew in her eyes as she lies next to him. You mean more to me than you may understand…. I…I can't bear…. the thought of …. losing…you…." Diantha barely chokes out before she breaks down, sobbing hysterically to herself, while the pokemon of the two trainers watch sadly.
"This is awful.. I cant stand seeing our mistress like this." Whispers hawlucha.
"When I get my claws on the leader of this team infinity, ill tear him to pieces!"Growls tyrantrum.
"Tyrantrum, I understand your feelings but please keep calm. If you let your emotions cloud your judgement, especially in battle, you'll be decimated." Flare says.
"I know...its just tough, especially with the pain he has caused our trainer." Sighs the despot pokemon.
Diantha continues to cry, unable to even contain herself…. Until she suddenly feels a hand lightly brush away a few teardrops.
"Diantha…Hey…. what's the matter?" Jarod asks in great concern, finally opening his eyes and sitting up after being unconscious for the past week. Through her teary azure hues, she recognizes his hazel eyes looking at her.
"jj… jarod!" diantha cries out before embracing him tenderly. Somewhat bewildered, Jarod gently rubs her back, trying to calm her down.
"I'm alright now Diantha, please don't cry, I hate seeing you like this." Jarod says in a comforting tone as she struggles to calm down.
"I... I…am so…thankful…that you re awake. I thought… I had lost you." Diantha whimpers.
"I honestly thought I was a goner as well. When you found me, I felt myself struggling to stay within my body. Just as I was about to slip away. Something happened and pulled me back in." Jarod explains
"That was xerneas, she appeared just as I felt you slip away. Apparently, Oblivion sensed what was happening and called out to her." Diantha explains, having regained her composure after wiping her eyes.
"I see. So the legendary pokemon of life is the one that saved me." Jarod replies.
"Indeed." Diantha says, a slight smile returning to her face. As the two trainers lock eyes again, something seems to prevent them from turning away.
(Everlasting by Kenny G begins to play)
"You know, even while I was unconscious, I could sense you close to me. I could hear you speak to me and I could feel the pain in your voice."
"You could?" Diantha says shyly, a slight blush appearing on her face.
Yes I could, and I also felt your hand in mine each night as I slept." Jarod states.
"Well… I admit that I fell asleep next to you as I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. I wanted to be there in case you woke up." Diantha says, her blush increasing as her heart begins to race.
"Diantha…. Is there something else bothering you?" Jarod asks
"Hmmm…. I'm not sure, with all that's happened, I… my heart is beating so fast for some reason…" Diantha says softly, unable to break her gaze from Jarod's hazel eyes
"(I could see something in her eyes as she looked into mine. An emotional mix of fear and caring I could sense it as I felt the same about her but I wasn't quite sure. She seemed deeply afraid of losing me, working herself to exhaustion to take care of me)."
"J…j…jarod?" Diantha says softly, her cheeks flushed red, her hands slowly linking with his.
"Yes Diantha, what is it?" Jarod replies, slowly blushing as well as their hands link.
"Could you... come a little closer?" Diantha asks shyly
"Um… sure thing…" jarod says as he moves closer to her. Their faces are mere inches from each other. The two of them stare into each other's eyes, their hearts beating rapidly.
"Jarod…" Diantha says, her voice barely audible.
"Diantha…." Jarod says in a similar manner before she closes the gap between them, pressing her lips to his in a soft yet passionate kiss. Initially stunned, Jarod returns it with the same amount of emotion as her, understanding that she had come to love him after he had saved her life. She places her hand between his shoulder blades as he gently cups her face with his right hand. after about three or four seconds the two separate.
"Diantha…. Does this mean that you….?" Jarod begins to ask but is quickly cut off.
"Yes…. Jarod. I have fallen in love with you. I can't exactly remember when I started feeling this way, but after you saved the region from team flare and especially after you rescued me from the blizzard, I couldn't help but become attached to you. When you were injured, I came to terms with how I was feeling, but I feared that I wouldn't get the chance to tell you." Diantha declares.
"Ahh, I see. I feel the same way you do Diantha. I had fallen for you when we first met, but I felt unworthy and brushed the feeling off. However, when I found you buried in the snow, hanging on by a thread, I realized just how much you actually meant to me, but I was afraid to say anything." Jarod reveals.
"After all that you have done for the region, and for me, I couldn't think of anyone else that I'd want to be with, but do you feel the same?" Diantha asks, slightly nervous.
"… Yes… yes diantha I love you as well, and no matter what comes our way, we will face it together and I won't let anything bring harm to you. That's a promise!" Jarod declares, looking into her azure eyes once again.
"Oh jarod.." Diantha cries out softly before drawing him in for another kiss, this time being fully aware of each other's feelings. The two settle down next to each other, embracing each other tenderly as exhaustion catches up to the two trainers.
"Good night... my love." Diantha murmurs before drifting off to sleep.
"Sweet dreams… my angel." Jarod replies before sleep takes him as well,with Diantha snuggling against him. A peaceful smile adorning her face.