POKÉMON: INFINITE LEGACIES
THE CIPRYS REGION
CHAPTER 28
HAS ORIOTA EVER DONE THIS BEFORE?
Selina raced after Flame. "Has Oriota ever done this before?" she gasped between deep breaths. She had released her Rowlet to follow Oriota, but Flame had shaken his head firmly, wanting to keep up himself so they were having to run. Flame's stamina had improved courtesy of the Academy's rigorous fitness regime, but Selina, while not unfit, was starting to lag behind.
"No. Never," murmured Flame. Oriota concerned him more than the burning in his legs. Anxiety had coiled round his pounding heart before squeezing tight. What in Ciprys would make Oriota fly off like that?
Thunder rumbled.
Closer than the last. Rain had already started to fall and was slipping into his eyes, but Flame was determined to keep his gaze on the darkening sky. Luckily Oriota was small and hadn't the strength in his wings, especially the one he'd broken not long ago, to fly quickly for long. His yellow feathers meant he was visible against the dark grey clouds that had emerged and blocked the sun.
Flame didn't say anything more to Selina. His mind was engulfed in turmoil. He couldn't understand what Oriota was doing as they tracked his movements from below. They had quickly left Route 3, but at least Oriota hadn't strayed too far from the dirt path they were sticking to as best they could. Rowlet kept a safe distance overhead. Rowlet was too quiet and Oriota too preoccupied to notice.
But one thing was for sure: Oriota didn't seem confident of where he was going. He slowed, only to pick up speed numerous times mid-flight. Flame and Selina were in between running, jogging, and walking. One time a waiting trainer tried to catch Flame's eyes—called Flame, "TV trash!" and said something about how his match against Alyssa was an insult to trainers everywhere—but a breathless Selina told him to buzz off.
Flame saw grassland. There were less and less trees ahead. Exertion seared his leg muscles, but he picked up speed. I can't lose . . . he took a breath, sight of Oriota. Just. I can't.
Selina shouted something.
Then Whistltree Forest ended. The dirt path sloped down. It wasn't a drastic change, but Flame hadn't seen the slope coming and was running so fast that gravity grabbed hold. He tripped over himself, the air pushed out of him as he slammed against the ground. His vision whirled. He ended up rolling down, bark and small stones scraping against his bare skin.
"I did shout for you to slow down!" Selina called. She had slowed and was moving down the slope more carefully.
Flame didn't care. He pulled himself to his feet and wiped himself down, teeth gritted. His arms stung, but the grazes and cuts weren't enough to distract him. He stared at the sky. It was still raining and for a moment, he thought his heart was going to stop. He couldn't see Oriota . . . until he noticed a yellow shape descending and appearing to scan the ground below.
Flame cupped his hands in front of his mouth and yelled, "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!" until his lungs were empty.
Oriota glanced back.
Hope flared in Flame's eyes.
It was only for a moment, though; Oriota veered away again.
Flame's hope reverted to worry. He and Selina had no choice but to leave the dirt path. Bushes and shrubs slowed them down, but there were less trees to block their sight.
"Try to keep calm," Selina recommended. "Let's see where Oriota takes us first."
"That's easy for you to say!" Flame blurted. "It's not one of your Pokémon flying away, is it?!" Then he realised how harsh he must have sounded. He took a deep breath, but it didn't chase away his anxiety. His voice still trembled as he said, "I'm sorry . . . I didn't mean to snap at you."
"I know, but there must be a good reason for why Oriota flew off like he did."
"I hope so . . ." he whispered. But doubt infiltrated his mind. Could it be my fault . . .? a part of him wondered. Am I to blame?
But then Rowlet flew back down to Selina, trilled, and pointed ahead with his wing. Mount Origin and the Ciprys Ridge were clearly visible in the distance, great, towering mounds of earth, but Oriota didn't care. The thundercloud Pokémon had found what he was looking for. He swooped groundwards—but not towards his trainer.
Shock surged through Flame. He couldn't believe what he was seeing: a flock of Oriota and their evolved forms were gathered around a pond, drinking from the water and chirping away to one another. He realised his Oriota must have heard them all the way from the forest.
"He's found them! He's really . . . found them . . ." murmured Flame, unsure how he should be feeling. He struggled to look at Oriota rejoining his flock and mixing among them, chirping happily to his friends. One with the multitude of yellow-, black- and white-feathered Pokémon.
A shadow fell across Flame's face. He had to look away. And I know what this means . . .
"Flame . . . " managed Selina, but her voice trailed off. She couldn't think of anything to say that would help.
Eyes darkened, Flame delved into his pockets and produced two Poké Balls. He enlarged them. "They'll . . ." Emotion twisted his throat. He struggled to get the words out. "They'll want to . . . say goodbye too."
He could feel himself trembling as he released Litten and Eevee. Only one Poké Ball remained: Oriota's . . . But for how much longer? Torn between happiness and sadness, Flame rubbed his eyes.
Selina stood beside him, too sad to say anything—unsure how anything could relieve Flame's suffering. Litten's and Eevee's faces told the same story.
Only now did Oriota look back at Flame, at Selina, at Litten and Eevee. Oriota's eyes met his trainer's for a moment. But his friends were chirping away and the sounds pulled him back in. His gaze lingered on his fellow Oriota as he thought about Flame and his other friends and everything that had happened since he'd first gotten separated from his flock.
When Oriota returned his gaze to Flame, Flame could look no longer. He turned away. His heart could have been clenched in his fist, it hurt so much. Tears were threatening to burst from his eyes. Then Oriota started to chatter away to his friends, his family. Again.
And Flame knew it was over. Oriota had been the first Pokémon he'd caught—and now he would be the first to go. I've not been with Oriota long. Not really. Only a few weeks, he told himself, but he was going to miss the small, plucky Flying-type terribly. He remembered Oriota's spirit against Declan—Oriota's disappointment at not being involved initially, that final Thunder Shock and Oriota's upset win, and how excited Oriota had been at the end of the battle. The joy he had felt when Selina had announced he and Oriota had won.
That they had done it.
He and his team.
Together.
But, despite all that . . .
However much he wanted Oriota to stay, he had promised Oriota:
When we find your family, your flock, you're free to go.
And he couldn't break a promise, let alone one like that.
Flame could hold back his tears no longer. "Come on," he forced the words out, past the lump in his throat. "It's for . . . the best. Let's . . . go."
Selina's hand slipped into his. "Flame . . ." she murmured, her voice as strained as his.
He wavered at the sound of her voice.
". . . you can't go without saying goodbye."
Flame nodded, slowly. He sniffed, swiped the streaks of rain and tears from his cheeks, and turned around. Oriota was hopping towards them.
"Eevee . . ." Eevee murmured, head lowered.
Litten pretended not to be looking at Oriota, but he was, out of the corner of his eyes. A complex series of emotions played out on his face, then he hissed and turned his back on Oriota dramatically.
Oriota paused, halfway between his trainer and his flock. He flicked his head back to gaze at his species, then turned back again. He looked up at his trainer, searching blaze-orange eyes.
Flame had to keep glancing away and at his Pokémon—former Pokémon, he realised with a twinge of regret. He was going to miss Oriota. He really was. "Litten," he managed to say. No matter what he didn't want any of them to leave on bad terms. "It's for the best. Oriota's going back to his family, his friends . . . I promised him, Litten, and promises shouldn't be broken."
Litten turned back around tentatively, his tail trailing along the grass behind him. He gazed sadly at Oriota. "Litten . . ." he murmured. "Litten."
Flame held out Oriota's Poké Ball. He stared at it. There were a few scratches and smudges visible, so he wiped it with his sleeve and the rain took care of any marks that remained. He felt like he was losing a piece of himself as he placed it on the ground, between him and Oriota.
Selina, Rowlet, Eevee, and Litten watched on in silence.
Flame sniffed. "You're . . . free to go," he breathed, tears and rain streaming down his face once more. "Bye-bye Oriota . . ."
Oriota approached the Poké Ball. Before Flame could turn away, he laid a talon on it, then stared back at Flame.
Flame's eyes widened, his tears stopped, and he was powerless to stop a smile from curving onto his face.
Because energy encircled Oriota's form.
Because the small, yellow-feathered Pokémon was glowing with the most mesmerising light he had ever seen.
Because he was beginning to grow, his form changing to double his previous size.
Yellow sparks flashed across the bright light. When all the energy had dispersed, Oriota was Oriota no more. His black beak had extended, an increased number of black feathers highlighted his body, and a small mohawk of yellow and black feathers stuck up from atop his head.
Despite the storm of emotions that he faced, Flame couldn't stop smiling.
"Oriolt!" Oriolt said his new name proudly, wings spread wide.
"You evolved!" Flame marvelled. "I'm glad. I really am. Now you can show your flock how strong you've grown . . ." His smile melted.
Oriolt tilted his head slightly, staring curiously at Flame. Then, in one quick movement, he raised his left talons and placed them on the Poké Ball. He rolled it back.
Flame watched Oriolt's ball revolving back towards him. His hand left Selina's without him realising it had ever been there. He stepped forwards and picked it up. His fingers tightened around it. He looked back at Oriolt, wondering . . .
Oriolt chirped happily.
"You . . . you want to . . ." Flame had to wipe away his tears again.
"Oriolt wants to stay," Selina finished for him, smiling brightly, running a hand across her own face.
Rowlet trilled and Eevee and Litten yowled out their happiness too.
Oriolt nodded. The newly evolved thundercloud Pokémon then took off to say one last goodbye to his flock. He chattered away to them for quite some time, but Flame didn't mind the wait. Oriolt was staying. And the rain had stopped. The storm had passed—in more ways than one.
Although doubt remained. They sounded happy, really happy, and for a while, Flame feared his Pokémon was having second thoughts about coming along with him. Oriolt lingered there, but when the time came, he flapped his wings and returned to Flame and Selina and their Pokémon.
Oriolt gazed steadily at his flock as the young trainers and their Pokémon watched them take flight in a great display of yellow, black, and white feathers. They disappeared into the sky, which was a lighter shade of blue than before, up towards the clouds high above and towards the distant rumbling of thunder—and quite possibly out of Oriolt's sight forever.
Oriolt transferred his gaze to Flame. He dipped his head and flapped his wings, showing off the extent of his new wingspan, as sparks rippled across his new form.
"You're the best, Oriota!"
"Oriolt!" reminded Oriolt.
"Yeah, true! I better remember it's Oriolt now," Flame said. He smiled and laughed a little.
His storm of emotions had faded, his sadness was gone, and only joy had hung around. He held out Oriolt's Poké Ball once more and pressed the button—never had he been happier to do it. The red light extended from the opening Poké Ball and reabsorbed Oriolt, returning him to where his heart was happiest: with his trainer, Flame.
Flame's smile endured as he stared into the horizon. In the end, he had kept his promise to Oriolt. Even if it had been Oriolt who had found his flock again, not him. He had given Oriolt the choice, and Oriolt had made his decision: to stay. Flame knew Oriolt wanted to win more battles, earn more gym badges, and to see more of Ciprys—just like he did.
I promise never to let you down, Oriolt. You, me, Eevee, and Litten, and any other Pokémon we meet, we're all going to get stronger together. And I know we'll go all the way to the top.
Flame returned Eevee and Litten. He and Selina headed back towards the dirt path and back towards Route 3. Flame glanced behind them after they climbed up the slope, damp mud sticking to his trainers. He stared skywards, but he could see no trace of Oriolt's old flock. Either they'd flown too high, or too far away, or the evening was darkening the sky too much.
Flame turned around, re-entering the shade of the trees. "I can't believe how late it is."
"Today has been an action-packed day."
"Time to find a Pokémon Centre?"
Selina nodded her approval. "I think we passed one on the way." Then, after a pause, she smiled at him and said, "That was a wonderful thing you did for Oriolt, Flame. It's what being a trainer is all about."
"Oriolt's my friend. I only want him to be happy, and now . . . I know he is."
"Pokémon know the hearts of humans, and the closer we get to them, the more we can too," said Selina happily. "And it's obvious: Oriolt wants no other trainer but you. You've bonded with Oriolt ever since he joined you; if you weren't you, Oriolt might have just returned to his flock. He knows you're special."
Something made Flame's cheeks redden and his face feel hot. "You're too kind." He laughed slightly.
"Oh, and it's rare, but you realise what this means, don't you?"
"What?"
"The trainer catches the Pokémon normally, right?"
"Right."
"But this time," Selina smiled, "Oriolt chose you."
Author's Notes:
"Has Oriota ever done this before?" says Selina.
Little did she know Oriota would evolve towards the end of the chapter!
I am extremely satisfied with this chapter (just as pleased as Flame was that Oriolt stayed!). I think from the moment of introducing Oriota, because of the subplot of his missing flock, I had the idea to do a chapter involving Oriota possibly-possibly not rejoining his flock. Cue the 'Bye Bye Butterfree' reference! I originally planned for this episode to come later, but I think this timing, shortly after the high of winning their first gym badge, worked better. Things fell into place! I was tempted to be cruel and have Oriota rejoin his flock, but Oriolt evolving really signified the strength of their bond—it was an easy choice in the end to make.
Also, please note, I've recently started a Creative Writing MA—and I'm going to try to work on some original, non-FanFic stuff—so, while I am 100% going to try to keep this going, if I go more than a month without updating, that will be your reason why! :)
Reviews:
KokoroEcho (Chapter 26): 'Also, if you do a bye bye Oriota chapter, I'll block you. (Not really, but I'm watching you)'—You might have to block me now, haha. I smiled a little when I read this. Because of that Butterfree episode, the working title for these last two chapters was Bye Bye Oriota, and I got that reference in Flame's dialogue in there too. ;P
CrescentApple: 'The teamwork was good. Attack from both sides to confuse the opponent. Flame is getting a lot better. Why Orioto flew away so suddenly.. maybe his species are attracted to lighting storms? Or he possibly hears the sounds of other Oriotas... curious'—100% Flame is getting stronger (and smarter) and definitely has more confidence after beating Declan.
KokokroEcho: 'What an absolute plug from Flame. Haha I've considered doing something like that before: "Oh, I've met a boy named Cyan before. I hear that he's currently-" Logan looks at the camera "-Overcoming the Orange Islands." So many things happening in this chapter. The pacing was very comedic, which is nice, seeing as how the past few chapters have had a certain air of drama to them. Looking forward to reading Frost's chapter next. Also, are we finally going to get Oriota evolving?!'—I like that you found the chapter more comedic, that's what I was going for! I actually cannot remember how the plug idea came into my mind, but it did. And I found it funny so I wanted to put it in. ;P I honestly think it's something that Flame would say anyway. He's just perfectly suited to be the one who breaks the fourth wall. And you were spot-on about Oriota!