Here's another chapter! In this one, things get a little stormy, and complex feelings begin to rise. Review!
Aakareo Kokokuhikari: Eventually. Remember, he's got four years here. They'll evolve when they're ready to evolve, no Pikachus here.
Pokemonking0924: He was involved in… other avenues at the time, and he probably didn't want things to turn into a full-on brawl like they would if Cory was involved.
KedharS: Sadly… that would probably be a little too much trouble considering the size of the cast. The best I can suggest is checking the old reviews, a lot of character profiles are posted there
Just a Bad Writer for Fun: In Sango's defense, rangers don't often get new pokemon.
Hellraiserphoenix: Thankfully, the tsundere x yandere combo is relegated to pokemon. For the time being, anyway. Kate notwithstanding.
JoshGamerV: Yup, Dakota and Akira's relationship is a complicated (and annoying) one.
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 138
"So, this is my new pokemon," Blake said, showing Cynthia the new pokemon he had captured. The two were walking back from a late dinner, where everyone else had been unable to come for various reasons. It had just been the two of them.
"Mareanie!" The adorable starfish smiled up at Cynthia.
"Awe! She's so cute!" Cynthia gushed. "What's her name?"
"I'm calling her 'Maria'," Blake said. "She's a Mareanie."
"Aw, hello Maria! Your name is as cute as you are!" Cynthai cooed. "Lucky you, Blake, getting to catch such a cute pokemon! I want one!"
She knelt down and turned back to look hopefully up at Blake.
"Can I pet her? Huh? Can I?" Cynthia asked eagerly.
"Uh…" Blake looked up at Maria's smile, and then at Cynthia's hopeful smile. "Sure, go for it!" He decided, giving her a big, shit-eating grin.
Cynthia's screams echoed across campus.
"You piece of shit," she growled, staring daggers at Blake. One of the nurses was wrapping up her hand.
"Why did you think it was a good idea to pet a poison type pokemon in the first place?!" The nurse demanded, Cynthia flinching at that question.
"S-she was cute…" She admitted.
"Well, I've already administered the anti-venom, so you just let that heal up on its own," she sighed.
Cynthia glanced at Blake's hand, which was also bandaged.
"So I'm guessing that's what happened to you?"
Blake nodded. Cynthia let out a sigh, shaking her head.
"Well, we might as well head back, eh?" Cynthia suggested, rising to her feet. Blake stood up as well and the two left the examination room. "So are you prepared for midterms next week? You better pass, the freshman field trip is right after! And they won't let us go if we don't get passing grades!"
"Look who's talking," Blake replied dryly. "You're the one who never studies and sleeps in class."
"Ehehe…" Cynthia laughed, bopping herself on the head. "Don't worry! I'll do my best!"
The freshman field trip was the next hot thing Cynthia and Sango had been getting excited about, for different regions. For Cynthia, she was excited because the freshman class would be traveling to Hoenn, her home region, in fact, very close to her hometown of Lavaridge. Sango was also excited, because for the field trip they would be going on a hike up Mt. Chimney, which she was greatly anticipating. They'd talked about it all through dinner.
"Well, let's hit those books!" Cynthia cheered. Blake nodded in agreement, and the two headed toward the infirmary exit. Suddenyl, Blake felt a gust of wind hit him in the face.
"Hey, Cynthia, did you feel that?" Blake asked, blinking.
"No, what?" Cynthia's hand was frozen on the door handle, about to open it.
"You didn't feel the wind just now?"
"How could I?" Cynthia asked, glancing back at him, confused. "The door's still closed, and there aren't any windows open, right?"
As if on cue, the door began shaking, as though a powerful force was pushing against it from outside. The windows rattled, and Blake realized a second early what was about to happen. He leapt forward and wrapped his arms around Cynthia as the door slammed open and the windows shattered, glass flying through the air. The shards danced around them, the sky like a field of razors as a force akin to a miniature tornado ripped through the waiting room. To protect her, Blake pinned Cynthia to the ground, holding onto her tightly.
'W-wait, Blake…" Cynthia gasped, her face flustered. "T-too fast! You're going too fast! Ple-please…"
Tears began welling up in her eyes as she leaned back, surrendering herself to him as she held him tightly against her.
"A-at least… please be gentle… it… it's my first time!"
As she shouted, the wind died down and the remains of the windows rained down on the ground and shattering to pieces. When the last sounds of glass breaking died down, Blake sat up, helping Cynthia up into a seated position as well.
"Are you alright?!" Blake demanded, patting her over and scanning her body with his eyes. "Any cuts? Other injuries?!"
"N-no… I'm fine…" Cynthia said, shaking her head.
"Good. Get outside, where it's safe," Blake said, glancing at the glass littering the floor.
"What about you?!"
"I… I need to go see someone," Blake answered. He let go of Cynthia and leapt to his feet, running to the door, broken glass crackling underfoot.
Cynthia watched him run off, her face bright red.
"…Well, I misread that, that's for sure," she sighed. "Way to get a girl's juices flowing and then just cut and run, you damn tease."
Blake ran through the halls, his thoughts on one thing in particular. That wind… there was only one thing that came to mind when it struck.
Elaina!
Blake headed for Elaina's room as fast as he could against the headwind that seemed to be pushing against him for some reason. Whatever was going on… whatever the cause of this wind was… it felt of Elaina, it was like she was washing over him. He reached her door and pried it open, a blast of wind erupting from inside of the room and knocking him off of his feet, slamming him against the far wall. He felt a surge of pain shoot up his arm and his shoulder throbbed. He rose to his feet, holding his arm, the wind dying down as he stepped forwards, entering the room.
"Elaina!" Blake called out.
Elaina stared at a large door that had appeared in front of her, rising up from the grass in the field. A projection, an illusion of the Blake she knew stood behind her, his hand around hers. In her other hand, she held the mask of her doppelganger.
"Elaina!" Like a hollow sound from below the sea, Blake's voice echoed in her head. Elaina's eyes widened, and she stepped forwards, shaking free of Blake's grasp, taking hold of the door handle. Blake… the real Blake, not this simulacrum, was calling for her. When she'd been on the edge of making her decision… when she'd all but decided to go… his voice had called out to her, confirming that she had made the correct decision after all. But even when she pulled on it, the door would not open.
"You aren't sure," the other Blake said from behind her. "You can't face him as you are. Your heart is still in turmoil."
"I know…" Elaine said, staring down at the mask in her hands. "I'm afraid… I still can't… show him my face."
"Then just stay here," the other Blake pleaded with her, reaching out to her. She moved away from him.
"A part of me would love to treasure this dream…" Elaina admitted, sliding the mask over her face. The porcelain was like a freezing kiss against her skin, sending a chill down her spine. "But I'm going."
She turned the handle and threw the door open, stepping through it.
Elaina's room shook with wind and power as a storm raged outside, water pelting the windows to the extent they were throbbing. Lightning flashed overhead, the curtains around Elaina's bed glowing, illuminating the silhouette of Elaina sitting up for the briefest instant.
"Elaina…" Blake whispered, his voice drowned out by the crash of thunder overhead.
Elaina blinked, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She wrapped her fingers around the mask at her side, turning it over in her hands.
"Blake…" she called out, her voice choked. "Are you… there?"
"Yeah," Blake said, flipping on the lights and walking closer to her bed. "I'm here."
"What… what happened? I was fighting… and last thing I remember, I… I won, but…"
"You…" Blake swallowed his tears. "You were in a coma. For more than three weeks…"
"Weeks… the match?! With Kanone?! What happened, I…" Elaina tried to rise out of bed, but she felt lightheaded, slipping back down onto the mattress with a clatter.
"Hey, don't get up!" Blake shouted, running over to her. He reached out to grab the curtain, Elaina's eyes shooting towards it.
"Stop!" Elaina ordered, Blake's hand dropping. She reached up and slipped her mask into place. She slid the curtain aside herself.
"Elaina… are you…?"
"I'm fine… no, I'm not fine, but… I'm alive…" she murmured. "My head, it's killing me… I…"
"I'll get the nurse, let them know you're-"
"No, not… not yet." Elaina said, shaking her head. "Just… can we just… talk for a little, first? While I clear my head?"
She gestured for Blake to sit down. He walked over to her beside and sat down in the seat, as she turned to face him. The two sat in silence for a while.
"Are you… okay?" Blake asked.
"I'm feeling… better," Elaina admitted. "Surprisingly rested… or unsurprisingly, maybe…"
"When you were asleep… what was it like?" Blake asked, not wanting to touch on the windstorm that had nearly torn apart the infirmary waiting room just minutes earlier.
"I… had a dream…" Elaina murmured.
"Was it… a scary dream?" Blake pressed. Elaina shook her head.
"No… it was warm… and peaceful… and also, so very, very sad…" She turned away from Blake and stared out the window, the storm having all but died down. "It was just… a lie that won't come true, that's all… and I enjoyed the lie far too much to wake up until now."
"I see," Blake said, nodding. Elaina didn't say anymore, and Blake didn't know what else to say. Her lack of response made it clear she did not want to discuss her dream any further, and the two resumed their conversation of silence.
"Blake…" After a long, pregnant pause, Elaina whispered "is Gerard… okay?"
"He's fine, from what I hear," Blake said, his voice quiet and even. "But he fought Kanone and he lost."
"He lost?!" Elaina exclaimed, her brown hair flaring out as a strong breeze blew Blake in the face. She panted, regaining her composure.
"Yeah, he lost," Blake confirmed. "And his position is weakening."
"What you're saying… is that I have no more time to spend sitting in this bed." Her voice became cold with resolve. Elaina tried to stand up, but Blake pushed her back down into a seated position.
"What are you doing?!" Blake demanded, shaking her. "You've been in a coma! You're being fed through an HP IV drip! You can't just go now!"
"It's my fault…" Elaina muttered, pulling the IV out of her arm, trembling. "If I hadn't fallen, then I could have…"
"Just stop it!" Blake shouted, Elaina flinching.
"Elaina, please… don't. If you keep going like this… you'll break down again, I'm serious." Elaina appreciated the concern she saw in Blake's eyes, but even still…
"My mother…" Blake continued, his eyes smoldering, "she overused her powers. She fell into a coma, just like you. I… I was terrified… that just like her, you would never wake up again. And yet… here you are. Please… don't go through that again."
"I… fine. I'll wait," Elaina agreed, laying back down, staring up at the ceiling. "Call the doctor. Call whoever. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. I need to go to Gerard."
Elaina… Blake winced, staring sadly at her. Even now, she still… she was still thinking only about him.
"Elaina… in the time you've been asleep, a friend of mine… she developed her harmonia."
"The small one… with the white hair…" Elaina said, her voice distant. "I remember… from the moment I saw her…"
"Kitty, yeah… she was having trouble with it, but… I found someone. A… a teacher, another girl, someone who mastered those powers. She's helping Kitty get a hang of them now. If you wanted, I could introduce you to her, and she could-"
"No," Elaina said. "I… I will get control of this. Gerard… Gerard is waiting for me, he…"
"You would even turn down someone who could help you, really help you, all for him?!" Blake cried.
"Gerard found me… when I was nothing…" Elaina said, her tears hidden behind her mask. "And now… he's the one alone… the one with nothing… I can't… I can't let him be alone! Isolated… I need to be there for him! Even I know… that my abilities will take time to be mastered. Time I do not have. I can get control of this myself, I-"
Blake grit his teeth, and rose from his seat.
"Elaina, please… don't do this. Don't put him ahead of you."
"Just go," Elaina said quietly. "Go get the doctors now. I need to leave as soon as possible."
Blake clenched his hand into a fist, and nodded. The reluctance in his eyes was truly touching, bringing a smile to Elaina's face that would sadly go unseen by Blake. He turned and walked out the door, which brought a tinge of pain to Elaina's heart.
Unable to stare at it any longer, Elaina turned her head from the door. It hurt too much to look. She glanced at the night stand, where her pokeballs sat, and let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the storm had abated, and she was able to relax slightly. Even though it was late, she did not feel any need to go to sleep, and even though she was lacking energy, she didn't feel fatigued at all. It made sense, of course, considering the circumstances. She'd had more than enough sleep as it was, so there wasn't much of a need to get anymore. She'd just wait here in silence until the doctors came.
Blake was here to greet me when I woke up… Elaina's cheeks turned red, and her smile widened. No… he was the one who woke me… I need to get myself under control as soon as I can… for Gerard… for Blake… and for myself.
She thought long and hard on Blake's offer, to have someone he knew teach her to control her powers. What she'd always wanted… but could she keep being with Gerard… if she were to have this other woman show her what to do? She didn't know…
Maybe I should have agreed to at least meet her after all… Elaina thought, shaking her head. No, it's too late for that now…
Blake's frustration was palpable. Why was Elaina being such a…
"Hey!" Blake turned his head, to see Ayame jogging up to him.
"What's up?" Ayame asked, slowing down to a walk.
"Various things," Blake smirked suggestively, Ayame rolling her eyes in response. "What about you? Going out for a late jog?"
"You know it," Ayame said, nodding. "I'm training for an upcoming Pokeathlon Contest! Can't go for speed, need the stamina for running beside my pokemon, you know?"
Blake really didn't know, so he answered her with just a shrug.
Ayame frowned.
"No, seriously, what's up?" She asked, her tone no longer fitting the playful banter they flirted at each other with.
"It's… a girl," Blake sighed. Ayame raised her eyebrow.
"Is she cute?"
"Honestly, I have no idea," Blake said.
"So just seducing me wasn't enough for you, eh?" Ayame chuckled. "But something tells me this is about a little more than your dating life."
"Yeah, no, it's nothing like that," Blake said, shaking his head. "She… she's a friend. But she's dating this guy, see, and he's no good for her." Let her think I'm talking about a relationship like that… going into detail would just complicate things…
"No good for her?" Ayame questioned, frowning. "How do you mean?"
"He's just using her, and even though she kind of knows that, she's too tied up in the relationship to actually break things off. It's like… she's just focusing on the good things he did for her in the past, and because of that she's dismissing how he's treating her now. But if she keeps going like this…"
"You're worried about her," Ayame said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I can see by your face that this is really causing you some serious stress."
Blake nodded.
"Well, if you want my advice, and I know you didn't ask for it, you shouldn't just leave her alone. But you can't make her do what you want her to, either. She has to realize for herself that this guy is a piece of garbage. What about getting all her friends together for an intervention or something?"
Blake shook his head.
"No, see, the guy is such a controlling ass that he's basically isolated her from everyone else in her life. I'm practically the only friend she has."
Ayame paused, biting the nail of her thumb.
"Mm… that really is trouble…" She shrugged. "Well, I guess in that case, the only thing you can do is beat the crap out of the guy."
"Tried that already," Blake said. "Got a good punch in on him, but it wasn't enough."
"Wheew~" Ayame whistled, raising her eyebrows. "I didn't know you were so physical. This girl must be pretty special to you."
"I'm worried about her," Blake said. "She's in a bad way… and I want to do whatever I can to help."
"Yup, yup," Ayame nodded, patting him on the shoulder. "That's what makes you such a great guy."
She stepped in front of him and turned so they were face to face. Blake noted that they were standing in front of her dorm hall.
"If you want, want to come in and… clear your mind?" Ayame suggested, cracking a suggestive smirk.
"…I'm good," Blake said, grinning back at her. He held up his bandaged hand. "I'll have to take a raincheck due to injury. Maybe next time."
"I'll hold you to that!" Ayame called, turning around and walking inside, flipping him off as she went.
"You can try," Blake called back, "but I'm not such a cheap date, you know that!"
Blake's spirits were raised slightly, and he walked back to his dorm with a smile on his face. But even though his mood had improved, the turmoil in his mind was still raging, wondering what he could do to help Elaina now that things had reached this state.
So, Elaina is finally awake! Will she be entering the fight for Blake's heart? Or will her other interests take precedence? Either way, things are certainly to get more dramatic around campus now that the old player has returned to the field.