Running through the field has never felt so good, the cool breeze rushing against me and through my soft fur, the sun shining down on this wonderful day with nothing but blue skies.
Close behind me trying to keep up are my small little brothers Dash and Pulse. We're playing a fun game of tag while we rest from our journey for lunch and Mt. Moon far in the distance leaving that memory behind us.
"Get back here!" Pulse yells with a giggle in his voice as he bolts after Dash and me. Unfortunately for them, I seem to be faster, but to make it fair, I like to let them catch me, every now and again, that is.
"You have to be faster Pulse, come on," I smile back to him keeping up my speed, secretly training them as we played.
"You're faster than me!" he pouts, turning to Dash hoping to get him instead. Dash looks back curiously, noticing Pulse closing in on him. He starts to smirk as he starts to zigzag around, confusing his brother. "W-Wah?" Pulse slows down, trying to keep up to where Dash is, losing him in a blur of yellow fur.
I slow down and look over to them, watching Dash run around Pulse with him unable to keep up. "Now that's just mean" I chuckle walking over. Pulse looking sad and frustrated, not being able to keep up with his brother.
"What's the matter Pulse? Too fast for ya?" dashing and hopping around his brother, flattening the grass beneath him.
"Oh C-Come on Dash, play fair," he complains back, getting fed up. Watching from the sidelines I cross my arms to watch in curiosity, hoping that Pulse will find a way to keep up with Dash and finally catch him.
"This is fair, I'm just faster," Dash retorts keeping up his speed, now just taunting his brother, a high pitched giggle heard from his blurry fuzziness.
Pulse over his 'playing' twitches his ear as he stands up straight, bringing his paw to his lips, blowing out a kiss to the blurry mess that his Dash. I watch in shock as he uses Sweet Kiss on his brother. The move pops against Dash as he brushes past, almost stopping him in his tracks as he slides to a stop staring blankly at Pulse, "...Uh..."
Pulse giggles and giddily skips over to Dash and touches his nose, "There, you're it~"
Dash, still confused from the move slowly shakes his head, "..uh.. H-hey that's not fair…"
"This is fair, I just know a move you don't," he smirks. Making fun of Dash, he gets down on all fours and dashes off away from Dash. Dash himself, still trying to regain his senses and glares at Pulse. "C-Come back!" he runs off slowly after Pulse, angry with Pulse's giggle echoing in the field.
I laugh happily watching them go back to playing as I cross my arms. "Wow, I didn't know Pulse knew Sweet Kiss." Tom walked up behind me and stood by my side watching the two Plusle.
"Today is pretty perfect, don't you think?" he remarks staring up to the blue sky. I glance over to him and follow his gaze up smiling.
"Yeah," I softly say with a sigh, relaxed. Not since the start of this journey have I felt this relaxed and free. It almost makes me forget about all the problems I'm going to have to deal with down the line. However, as for right now, they're problems blown away with the wind. With those problems gone, I have another problem to deal with which I'm all too happy to deal with now. "Know what else would make this day better?"
Tom lowers his head and stares over to me curiously, "What?"
I start to smirk as I step back, looking him over, "Time to battle Tom, we need to get some practice in for the Gym!" To Tom's surprise he steps back, staring at me with wide eyes.
"W-What!?" he exclaims, "You gotta be kidding, you still really want to do that?"
"Of course! I'm not just going to give up now 'cause I've got some fur growing on me. Now pick your Pokémon!" I glance over to the playing Plusle and smile, "Dash! Pulse! Come on, it's time to battle!" I could see their ears twitch hearing me as they turn to face me and scurry over to me through the grass.
"Battle time!" Dash exclaims as he jumps into position in front of me.
Pulse hurries next to his brother and stands up, "I'm going to be the best~" He smirks to his brother as Dash playfully pushes him.
Tom, some ways away as he stares at all of us and sighs, "Alright, very well." He looks over to the picnic site, "Luna, you're up!" he calls out. Luna, relaxing with Claire as they talked and laugh. I don't know what they were talking about, probably girl stuff. Luna, hearing Tom, looked over and saw what was happening as she quickly got up to her paws and sprinted over to Tom.
"Sora wants to train, so we're having a battle. Ready?" Tom told her as he focuses on me.
"Sure!" She smiles happy turning to us ready for battle, "I won't go easy~"
"I knew you wouldn't!" I smile back to her excited for this upcoming fight, growing curious with my gaze focused on Tom, "It's a two on two battle Tom, who's your second?" I ask.
Tom pulls out a Poké Ball from his belt and throws it out, "Pidgey let's go!" Out of the ball comes a bright light as it releases Wing from it as it returns back to Tom.
Amused, I smile, "He's name is Wing by the way!"
"Oh.. uh, right. Wing, can you help me out?" He asks to the flapping bird in the sky.
Wing turns his head and stared down to him with a nod. "Sure," he says, returning his focus on us. Tabatha walking over with Clare as she smiles.
"Well, well, eager, aren't you, Sora? I'll be the referee for the battle if you don't mind." Standing nearby, she gets us ready for the battle. "This battle shall be a double battle. Each trainer may only use two Pokémon, and the battle is over when both Pokémon are knocked out. Are you guys ready?" She glances to both of us as we both nod, gearing up for the battle, "Alright, begin!"
The wind blows as the field remains quiet, even if it was for a split second. Tom, ready to go takes the first move. "Luna, Hidden Power! Wing, Quick Attack!" he throws his arm forward as they nod. Wing speeds off around the field picking his target as Luna stands there readying her attack as glowing green orbs appear around her.
"Dash, use Swift to intercept that Hidden Power! Pulse, Thunder Wave on Wing!" I command in a hurry.
"Got'cha!" Dash exclaims, jumping into the air and spinning around as golden stars start shooting out of him towards Luna just as she fires off her Hidden Power, beams of light impacting the stars as they start to create explosions. Pulse rubs his cheeks as electricity starts to spark from them. His body starts to spark as he fires off a Thunder Wave towards Wing.
Tom, covering his face from the explosions as he glances at Wing, "Wing, dodge and continue!"
With his command Wing spins and does a roll in the air avoiding Pulse's attack and slams into him with Quick Attack.
"Gahh!" Pulse yells in pain as he flies back and rolls in the grass as Wing soars up into the sky.
Dash lands and turns around, "Brother!"
Tom seeing an opening throws his arm forward, "Don't let up! Luna, Quick Attack!" The Evolution Pokémon starts dashing through the smoke and dust the explosions created and jumps through to the other side. Dash turns around to see her too late as she slams into his small body, sending him flying back and rolling in the grass ending up on top of Pulse, creating a pile.
"Pulse! Dash!" I called out worried seeing them struggling to get up, Dash rolling of Pulse.
"You sure you want to continue this, Sora? You're clearly not ready to fight." He stands there firmly, staring straight at me as Luna and Wing join his side.
I take my gaze away from Pulse and Dash to stare at him, "What are you talking about? Of course I am!"
"No, you're not. This whole battle the Gym idea is stupid!" He crosses his arms, "You're going to be a Pokémon, you shouldn't be worrying about gathering these stupid badges…" Listening to him my ears go back. I thought he understood what I wanted but hearing Tom now, I'm starting to question if he understands at all. "Then we have these bad people after us and all you think about is these stupid badges!" He huffs annoyed starting to glare at me, "Please brother, take my advice and give up on this idea. We have other things to worry about."
I stand there silent, my mind going other many options on what to say back. All I feel right now is hurt and betrayed. Does he really not understand?
Tom sighs as he lowers his arms, "If you really want to go through with this, Sora, then show me that you have the strength to follow this path and deal with the threats ahead of us." I stare up at him confused. He does understand, but as a brother he worries no matter what. I guess this is what you would call a test.
I clench my hand as I frown. "I guess you block my path then, Tom. If I have to defeat you to prove to you I can do this, then so be it… though I'm going to give it my all!" My rings glow a bright yellow light, heart beating fast as my blood pumps with excitement, "Call out Arron!" I glance to Dash and Pulse, who just got back on their feet, "You two get back here, I've got to show my brother what happens when you get in my way" I take a ball from my belt.
Dash and Pulse look at each other worried as they walk back and stand at my side.
"Arron…" Confused, he takes out the Ball, "A three on one battle? You really aren't thinking straight, Sora." He releases Arron as he appears in a bright light next to Luna.
"..Sora... " Luna mumbles under her breath worriedly.
"I am thinking straight! In fact, I don't think three Pokémon will be enough for us," I glare over to Tabatha.
Tabatha, shocked, shakes her head. "What happened to the friendly battle we were just having?" Clare, sitting next to her, watches in confusion.
"Tabatha, help Tom if you can. I'm ready to show what I can do," Tabatha worriedly looks over to Tom who also has a worried expression on his face. She sighs as she made her way to Tom's side.
"If that's what you want Sora. Though this is overkill," She takes out two Poké Balls and throws them out, "Solan! Steel!" The balls open and release a Larvesta and Durant as they stand among Tom's Pokémon.
Tom looking at all the Pokémon ready to fight Sora, "...Sora this is too much, come on."
Sora, "No it isn't, I vowed that I would never let you guys be hurt again, so I will show you what strength that gives me. Coal, let's go!" I throw the Ball into the air as it opens up with a flash of light and flames. Coal appears on the ground as he huffs with embers from his nose, "This is it, Coal. Time to show what we can do."
"About time a real fight," he remarks as he cracks his neck. I'm sure he heard everything as I was holding his Ball. He's ready to fight just like me.
"...Fine, then. Wing, Quick Attack! Arron, Iron Head! Luna, Hidden Power!" Tom commands as Wing shoots off into the sky and he barrels down towards Coal. Arron starts running straight for Coal, his head glowing and reflects the sun off it as Luna again charges up Hidden Power, glowing green orbs appearing around her.
"Steel, join Aron with your own Iron Head" Tabatha calmly asks as he nods and runs with Aron.
Watching the Pokémon make their move, glancing at them all I frown and thrust my arm into the air, "Coal!"
Coal just nods as he jumps into the air, mouth emitting smoke from it as he fires a Flamethrower at the two Steel types.
Steel cowers in pain and fear as he gets coated. Arron, standing there with his eyes closed takes the attack. Tom watches on and frowns, "...Wing, now!" he commands as Wing comes down from the sky towards Coal.
With my hand I thrust it forward and grab the air. Almost like a puppet Coal does the same, grabbing a hold of Wing, stopping his attack as he squeaks in fear. Glaring over to Luna she fires off her beams of light as he throws Wing towards it to intercept the attack.
Tom eyes widen. "Wing!"
Wing sees what's about to happen as he gets impacted by the beams as they explode. Coal lands back down on the ground, watching the smoke settle as Wing falls out the sky and lands on the ground hard and in pain. Luna gasps, sad she hit her partner.
"He hasn't really said anything.." Tabatha mentions as she recalls the fainted Steel.
Tom frowns and glares at me. "Sora? I know, he's just standing there looking cocky" He says as he returns Wing back to his ball. My ear twitches able to hear them. It's true I wasn't saying anything, however I feel like I don't need to. My heart is racing and I just feel attuned with Coal. we are one and I wasn't going to lose, I need to prove that I could handle anything.
"Okay, Coal!" I shout out as he jumps and spins, Embers flying off his tail and pitch black smoke leaving his mouth as he does a combo attack, covering the field in darkness and burning hot Embers.
Tom and Tabatha cough having trouble seeing. "O-Ow, that's hot!" Tabatha exclaims.
"Wing is down. I can't call on him for help," Tom says worryingly.
"Then I got this. Solan, Heat Wave, quick!" She orders. The Larvesta starts to emit heat and flames as he forcefully pushes the smoke and flames away. They look around curiously, "Where did Coal go?" She asks as Tom pulls on her clothing and points up to the sky, "Up there!" She looked up and gasped. Coal, while the smoke was around, had jumped up high into the air.
"This is it, Coal!" My rings glowing brightly, eyes lit up with excitement. Coal nods as his eyes too lit up with burning flames. The fire on his tail got bigger as he opened his mouth wide with glowing hot coloured flames overflowing out of his jaw.
Tom's eyes dilate upon seeing this. "It's Dragon Pulse!"
"What! He knows that!?" Tabatha yells, shocked as she watches helplessly.
Coal, with a loud roar, fires his intense power down towards them, colourful bright flames swirling around and impacting the ground between them all. The powerful attack explodes and gets thrown out around the field as they all get covered and hidden in dust and smoke. Within the smoke a pretty display of colours was dancing around lighting up the smoke. Coal's Dragon Pulse was always a sight to see, but now it's a weapon to prove my strength. Coal lands near me as we both watch the smoke clear, my heavy breathing from the action that's taking place.
The smoke slowly starts to clear showing the Lavesta fainted near Tabatha who was on the ground as she slowly sits up and rubs her head. Tom was still on his feet with his arms covering his face from the attack with Luna and Arron struggling to their paws next to him. A crater now in place of the grass and flowers where the attack struck.
"...Sora… I'm not done that easily!" He yells out to me as he lowers his arms, "Luna.. Arron, let's go. Luna, use Bite and Aron, use Rock Tomb!" Tom commands, clearly tired.
Once back on their feet, Luna and Arron follow their order. Luna rushes towards Coal as she leaps and sinks her fangs into his scales. Coal glares at her as he shakes his arm.
"Time to finish this!" I yell as I throw my arm forward. Coal does the same as he throws Luna off sending her flying back to Aron.
"Ahhh!" She yelps scared as she flies back getting her paws on the ground, stopping herself just before colliding Arron. Arron causes rocks to fly out the ground and fall ontop of Coal, encasing him in a tomb of rocks.
"There, stuck!" Tom smirks, finally seeing things go his way. Although his smirk quickly fades as the rocks start to crack with colourful lights emerging from the Tomb.
"The final attack!" I glare at them as the Tomb burst open with a Dragon Pulse heading straight for them. Its colourful flames dance around as they impact Luna and the others, creating a large explosion that shoots off in all directions. Embers fly by my head as I watch the final attack of the battle, "...Hmph".
The smoke clears and, to my amazement, standing there iss Luna. Her legs shaking, but she's still there and in this fight, while Arron is fainted near the kneeling Tom. "...Damn it…" he recalls Arron as he gets up while dusting himself off. "As I said Sora, It's not over yet. Luna, it's time to run!" he thrusts his arm out as Luna tiredly nods sprinting forward to Coal.
Coal is glaring as his mouth lights up with a Flamethrower. However, with Luna's speed, she jumps and dashes away from the attack. She kicks off the ground and as she leaps at Coal, her tail starts to shine like metal as she swings it into Coal. Iron Tail impacts him, sending him skirting across the ground. Coal digs his claws in and stops himself and flinches.
"She can't take another hit! It's over, Tom!" I glare at him as I ready myself for the attack even though Coal is the one fighting, "Now-" I feel a pulse through my body, my eyes dilate as cracked echoes of pain escape my mouth, "..Ah…" I fall to one knee. With how much immense pain is traveling through me, it could only be a change happening to me. Why now? The battle was mine, and I can't complete it because as my vision blurs, I can see the colours of Coal and Luna run to me and hear the sound of Tom calling out to me. I fall onto my back as my vision goes to black… At least the grass is soft.
Surrounded by darkness again, it's almost like it's become my new home, and oddly enough, that doesn't terrify me. The black abyss around me once felt cold and dead, but over the days, it has begun to grow more warm and inviting. Just floating here in the darkness doesn't seem like a bad idea.
"Don't start thinking like me now," Aeon's voice echoed in the darkness as I layed there.
"...I'm not," I told him in return.
"So, you want to tell me what that fight was all about?" he asked.
I sighed, "I needed to prove to him that I can handle the fights ahead, and that I can also fight Gyms just like anyone else. I… may have gone a bit overboard, I admit, but at least I'm sure my point got across."
"It was stupid. You got so into the fight and connected with Coal so that all you did was speed up your changes. Hence why you're here now." Aeon appears above me, his face almost touching mine as he looks down to me. "It was stupid and reckless."
"I don't need you to lecture me on what I did wrong. I know what I did and I don't regret it," I tilt my head a little so I'm not staring right at him. "It just shows how close I am to my Pokémon."
Aeon sighs as he floats down and lays on my chest. "Whatever, it doesn't matter now. What's done is done."
"Yeah, so now it's time to relax," I turn my head back and stare at him. His face is right there as he lays on me. "Do you have to be so close…?"
"If you want me off, I'll get off. However, you're the only person I can talk and interact with, so excuse me for wanting some company," he huffs, seemingly annoyed.
I sigh in apology, "Sorry, you can do what you want." I relax in the void as I stare up at him, "Hey, I might be out for awhile, mind if we just… rest and be quiet for awhile?" I ask him.
Aeon nods in agreement. "Sure." He floats on over and lays back on my chest finding me a comfy bed.
I put my hand and paw over him as I hold him there, "Time to think of the future, then." I close my eyes to rest, my main focus was of the Gym I'm to face in Cerulean City.
In my mind, Team Rocket and Team Horizon are not a threat, at least for the time being. The show that happened at Mt. Moon sure would have delayed them for awhile if their so-called "best" can't even deal with me. Perhaps my ego is growing large, but as long as I have everyone here, I'll have the spirit to fight on. Even if that spirit was used to prove myself, I hope they understand that I'm sorry.
Mental Note-
I need to remember to write this down into my journal after. I fought my friends today, I was trying to prove to them that we'll be safe from now on. Though after that, I think I might have scared them more that set their mind at ease. Although Coal wouldn't have fought like that if he didn't believe it was right, so… I guess I did good.
We're getting closer to Cerulean City. I'm sure we'll reach there any day now. More people to stare at me and another Gym for me to take on. I hear it's a Water Gym, so training is in order for Dash and Pulse before we get there.
Hopefully I can go a month without something happening… that would be great, as strong as I am, now I'm getting very tired… maybe I should just stay in this void forever… that's a thought…
~Sora