Solana inhaled slowly as she stepped apprehensively on the digital scale in her bedroom. It seemed like several hours passed as she waited for the number to pop up on the screen. When the number finally displayed, Solana grimaced.
"Damn it," she cursed as she stepped off the scale. She still was not where she needed to be. All her hard work seemed to be making little improvement. "I must be doing something wrong. Or not doing enough," she muttered as she walked over to her dresser. She put on her black and gray Bombshell thigh-high heather sock leggings and her mesh black sports bra. She then sat down on her bed and started lacing her light gray cloudfoam sneakers.
There was a knock on her bedroom door, and after being granted permission from Solana, Lunick entered, putting on his fingerless work gloves.
"Alright, Solana. I got our protein shakes and breakfast sandwiches ready to…"
Lunick trailed off as he saw Solana putting on her workout gear instead of her uniform and sneaker boots.
"Are you about to work out?"
"Just a quick run around the town." She said, standing up and affixing her fitness watch to her wrist.
Lunick's face was a mask of confusion. "Solana, I only prepared us enough time to eat breakfast and head straight to work. We don't have time for a run."
"Not we, me," she said putting her Bluetooth earpieces in her ears and synching it with her styler's music player. "I'll meet you at the base in hour."
"But Solana –"
"I promise I'll make it in time for our briefing," she said quickly, giving him a quick peck on the lips before heading out her bedroom door.
Lunick followed behind her. "At least take the shake and breakfast sandwich."
"I really gotta start this run, Lunick." She said hastily opening the front door.
"Solana," he said sternly. When she turned around to face him, Lunick walked into the kitchen and came out with the freshly made breakfast sandwich wrapped in foil and a BlenderBottle. He outstretched his hands to her.
Tentatively, Solana took both items.
"Please do not push yourself too hard. We still have missions to complete."
"I know, Lunick," she said turning around. "Plusle, let's go."
Plusle and Minun ran out of the kitchen together. Plusle exited the house with Solana. When the front door shut, Solana started running.
Lunick watched her go until she was out of his sight. Solana was getting more and more reckless. Everything in him screamed that something was going on but he didn't want to press her too much about it. Rather than risk her pulling away from him he tried his best to give her the freedom to do what she felt she needed to. He did have a tendency to be overprotective of her. Maybe it wasn't as serious as he was thinking. Maybe this was her way of dealing with some of her stress and anxiety. There wasn't necessarily anything wrong with her frequent exercising, as long as it wasn't excessive. And besides, she would most definitely tell him if something was wrong. Right?
His styler started alarming on its holder. Reaching down, Lunick picked it up and answered, finally tearing his eyes away from the path Solana took.
"Lunick here."
"Lunick-sama! I need you! Please!"
"What's the problem, Iyori?"
"There are strange noises coming from the basement in Hastings-hakase's lab. I am too frightened to go inside. Please, can you come by and investigate?"
"Iyori, remember when I said that I can't drop everything that I am doing for you anymore? This isn't an emergency and I need to head to the base for work."
"Please, Lunick-sama! Until it is resolved, I cannot get inside to begin my analysis. I am too frightened!"
"Professor Hastings will be there soon."
"No, he is at the docks checking over the shipment of supplies to Almia. He won't arrive back until at least another hour."
"It'll take me about an hour to get there anyway."
"Please, Lunick-sama! I cannot take this stress! It is too much to bare for my weak heart! I might…I might –"
"Okay, Iyori," Lunick sighed, knowing what she was alluding to what she might do, "I'm leaving now, okay? Just go somewhere calm and quiet until I arrive."
"Yes, Lunick-sama! Dōmo sumimasen, arigatōgozaimasu!" I'm sorry, thank you!
Disconnecting the call, Lunick sighed once more as he placed his styler back inside its holder.
"Let's go, Minun."
A distance away, Solana veered off the path she was running. Once she was out of sight from her house, she jogged over to a nearby dumpster, throwing the breakfast sandwich in and then unscrewing the cap on the bottle and pouring out the strawberry flavored liquid into the drain. All Plusle could do was watch as her human once again discarded perfectly good food. Screwing the cap back on, Solana put it in her bag and made her way back onto the path to continue her run.
Plusle somberly followed behind her.
Tapping his pen to his forehead, Murph mulled over the packet of new Union protocols for the tri-regional area for revision. He was seriously racking his brain over what was pertinent, what was necessary, what was mandatory, and what was more suited as guidelines. How Professor Hastings managed to review Union regulations, deliberate with the other Union heads, travel from region to region for inspections and shipment transport, while also working on new designs for their stylers, battle suits and equipment, do extensive research and monitor Fiore's bases was a mindboggling mystery. No wonder his lab was always in such disarray. That explained why he was always in such a rush. Because he had so much on his plate to do.
The double doors to the entrance of the base parted as someone entered the base. Murph glanced up to see that it was Aria.
"Aria?" he said quietly.
She walked up to the front desk where Spenser was seated.
"Yes, Aria?" he said, barely looking up from the case files he was reviewing.
"Leader said you may have some supplies that were supposed to be delivered to Fall City that were shipped here instead?"
"Of course. That's always the case isn't it with Joel," he muttered, standing up and resting the case files back on his desk. "Do you have the invoice or checklist?"
"Right here," she said handing him a sheet of lined yellow paper.
"I'll go take a look in the back," he said as he took the paper and walked to the storage room.
Murph got up from his seat, picking up a small black bag he had rested beside him and approached Aria.
"Hey, Aria," he said timidly.
Aria didn't even attempt to hide her scowl. "Yes, Murph?" she said with an exasperated sigh.
"I know we haven't spent time together in a little while but I thought maybe I could still show you some attention by making you a nice healthy lunch," he held out the black lunch bag to her. "It's a chicken salad wrap. I made it myself. It's got onion, salsa, avaca –"
"I'm having lunch with a friend," she said quickly.
Murph frowned deeply and crinkled his brow. "Again? That's the fourth time this week."
"They really help me to decompress between my shifts."
"Oh…Well, then maybe I can walk you home after –"
"I get off at ten tonight." She cut in again.
"I can wait until –"
"Murph," she sighed, holding up her hand to tell him to stop talking.
Murph's eyes lowered slightly before looking her back up in her eyes.
"Aria, I'm trying really hard to spend more time with you…To treat you out, to show you a good time. You're…you're not even giving me a chance –"
"I don't want to go out with you, Murph," she said as she crossed her arms. "All you do is disappoint me. You want to impress me? Do something about yourself. Change your attitude, your habits. Clean yourself up and then maybe, we can get back to talking about us."
All Murph could do was stare at Aria sorrowfully.
Spenser returned with a small package and handed it to Aria. "Here you go, Aria."
"Thank you."
"Tell Joel to reroute his orders. We don't want to keep getting your mail and taking time away from rescues to deliver them." He said, walking back to his desk.
Aria opened her bag to put the package inside, noticing Murph dispirited expression.
"Ack. Stop looking at me that way. You look pitiful. Grow a pair, will you?"
About-facing, Aria exited the base.
Shaking his head, Murph walked back over to his work desk, resuming his evaluation on the Union protocols.
Not too long afterwards did Leilani enter the base. She walked up to front desk.
"Leader Spenser, I found the missing parts of the capture disks and styler that shattered in the Olive Jungle yesterday."
"Oh, thank goodness. I wouldn't hear the last of it from Hastings if I lost one of his prized protoypes." He said, standing up and taking the bag which contained the broken pieces from Leilani. "Maybe he can figure out what went wrong so we don't have any more exploding capture devices. I'll go call it in." He went to the storage room again.
Leilani took out her styler and placed it on the charging dock on the right corner of the front desk. As she walked behind the desk to refill her capture disks, she noticed Murph sitting at one of the work desks in the lobby.
A small smile spread across her lips.
"Hey, Murphy," she greeted cheerily as she skipped over to him.
He looked up, smiling weakly back at her. "Hi, Leilani. How's your side? Has the wound healed any better?"
"The bruise is still there but it doesn't hurt like hell anymore, so I'd say that is an improvement."
"That's great. I'm really glad to hear that. It was really concerning when I first saw it."
Leilani arched her eyebrow slightly. "What's got you down, Murph? It isn't like you to be so sullen during the day?" she asked, resting her hands on his desk.
"Is it really that obvious?"
"Boy, I could tell the moment I saw your face that something wasn't right. If our Murphy ain't smiling, it's a bad day indeed."
That made Murph chuckle slightly. "I'll get over it. Don't worry. Just trying to mend a sore heart."
Leilani rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, the succubus put you down?"
"Don't call her that, Leilani."
"Murph, it's about time you stop dealing with her nonsense. She does not treat you right."
"We're fine, Leilani."
"No, you're clearly not," she said, sitting down on top of his desk. "She's hurting you. And she's not trying to hide her contempt either, is she?"
"She has a right to be frustrated with me, Leilani. I haven't been taking her out like I used to. I'm just so busy –"
"And she should understand that, Murphy," Leilani cut in. "And even if she doesn't, she should at the very least treat you with the respect you deserve or talk to you like a normal human being."
Murph rested his pen down on the desk. There was no way he was going to finish his review today.
"We're both under a lot of stress. She's dealing with it the best way she knows how. She just needs some time and space, I know."
"And what about you?"
Murph fumbled with his fingers. "I need to grow up. And do better."
Leilani swung her legs around to face him, "See, why do you have to be the one to change? Why is it not her or the both of you? She's ruling you, Murph. Don't let her get away with that BS. You don't deserve her asswhipping every time you see each other. If there's anyone who deserves kindness and respect in your relationship it's you, Murph. You work way too hard to be disparaged and treated so unfairly."
Murph looked back up to Leilani. Her big brown eyes were laced with a combination of concern, frustration and a ting of anguish. She always fretted over him for as long as he could remember. No matter what the situation, she always defended him and supported him, advocating for himself more than he ever could.
"Do you have any missions going on right now, Leilani?"
"Aside from the one I just did I'd say I have about thirty minutes before I have to report back to Summerland for my next one. Why?"
"Would you like to have lunch with me?"
Leilani smiled slightly. "Really?"
Murph rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I prepared this meal for me and Aria, but she didn't want any of it. It's just a chicken salad wrap but I'd rather it not go to waste if possible."
Leilani tried her hardest to hide the grimace that wished so desperately to present itself. Aria was such a cruel person, especially to Murph.
"Sure, Murphy. I'd love to."
Mew giggled gleefully as she soared through the skies of Guyana. It had been so long since she had been to Faraway Island, she was worried she would not remember how to get there. She inhaled deeply, filling her nostrils with the jungle's ambrosial scent.
She looked below at the billowing green expanse of jungle broken only by the sinuous line of a river and a low range of hills. There was no sign of humanity: no smoke pillars, no clearings, no masts or buildings, not even a jet trail across the sky. Aside from the decrepit ruins, there was no evidence that any man set food on the tropical island. Instead, there was a formation of nine red-and-green Archeops, cackling as they go, and in the nearby fig tree the flitterings of tiny, jewel-like bird pokémon such as Chatot, Fletchling and Taillow in splendid livery.
She flew further down, admiring the luscious greenery – the undulating mass of wide-trunked trees, the vibrant exotic fauna, the unbranched evergreen with crowns of long feathered and fan-shaped leaves, the fragrant tropical berries and fruit, the sweet high rainfall, the red granite boulders and rocky paths scattered throughout the tail end of the jungle – she took it all in.
She floated down to the fallen structure encompassed by overgrowth and vines. There was a crude carving of what looked like Mew etched into the wall. Mew remembered seeing this carving when she was small, wondering if maybe the few humans that lived there in ancient times worshipped her kind to build a shrine and chisel inscriptions and drawings. Whatever their intentions, there was no humans around now to give her the answer.
Another reason Mew loved visiting her birthplace was because it gave her the chance to see her brother again. It has been hundreds of moons since she last saw him. He absolutely detested humankind the last time they encountered each other, and he had every right to be. His existence was based solely in being used as a weapon of mass destruction, created to be the ultimate pokémon. After years of horrific gene splicing and DNA engineering experiments based on Mew herself, he was finally free. Her brother had the most savage heart among all pokémon, lacking compassion for humans and striking fear into his enemies with his cold, glowing eyes. All he could think about was defeating his enemies, possibly because that was what he was engineered to do as a weapon. Mew did not share his vicious characteristics, even though she had every right to be as vengeful and bloodless as him. But Mew couldn't be. She'd seen the pureness and goodness in humans. Even if there were a few or even several ill-intentioned humans out there, that didn't mean the whole race were and deserved to be taken out. And even if her clone hated mankind, he was very caring, protective and even altruistic of pokémon and his own pokéclones.
His aversion to contact with others was evident and understood but at least he was much less belligerent than he had been in times past. He conserved energy by remaining motionless for long periods of time so that he could unleash his full power in battle. He occasionally retreated to Faraway Island to meditate, far away from human civilization. Since it was the season for them to return to their homeland to pay their respects, she hoped to see him at some point during her stay.
The rustling of ferns nearby alerted Mew and took her from her voyage through her memories.
She looked around her. Usually she could sense the aura and presence of another pokémon when they were near. But she was not detecting or picking up on anything. There's no way it was a human – no man would venture all the way there? And even if they did, she would be able to see their aura.
Perhaps she was just experiencing desynchronosis from her long journey back to her homeland. She reasoned once she found a suitable place to set up her nest, she would contact Celebi to inform him that she had arrived safely.
"You didn't, Leilani?"
"I sure enough did. I completely hurled all over Brawly after I dominated him in Mantine Surfing. One of the most famed surfers in all the Pokéworld. I mean, he's just a few numbers short of Seafoam Island's surfing legend Victor and even the extremely revered Jan. No one else had ever ridden Humungadunga, much less planted their flag afterwards, but Brawly's pro-surfing skills are next level, coming so close to their legendary title…And I beat him in Mantine Surfing."
"And you threw up on a Gym Leader." Murph chuckled.
"Yes, I threw up all over an esteemed Gym Leader. I own it, I own it."
Murph laughed lightly. He was really enjoying listening to her many wild tales. She always had a way of being able to lift his spirits no matter how downcast he was feeling. She was just so carefree and confident. Murph wished he had even a sliver of Leilani's mental outlook and temperament. Just in the time spent on their lunchbreak, Leilani was able to get Murph not only to laugh, but to actually forget about Aria's rejection of him earlier. She was so vivacious and effervescent in everything she did, even just talking about one of her most shameful moments, here she was making a joke about it. Didn't matter how overcast the skies were, Leilani always found a way to bring the sunshine out. Guess that's why she resides in Summerland.
Leilani slapped her thighs. "Truly one of the most embarrassing things I've ever experienced, by far, but I don't regret any of it. At the very least Brawly will never forget who showed him up at his favorite pastime."
Again, Murph chuckled.
Leilani took one final bite of her wrap and popped it in her mouth.
"Oh, Murphy. This chicken salad wrap is slammin'!"
"You really like it?"
"Oh, it's so good." She said swallowing what was in her mouth and taking a gulp from her water bottle.
"It took me a little while to make but the fact that you enjoy it makes it all worth it."
Leilani screwed the cap back on her water bottle. "Well, you can make my lunches any day. About time Solana isn't the only one with chefmade meals everyday"
"Oh, Leilani, I'm nowhere near Lunick's level."
"Doubt anybody is. That boy's got some majorly culinary skills," she crossed her. "What about you, Murph? What's your favorite memory?"
Murph leaned back slightly, looking up at the cirrus clouds in the sky.
"I guess I'd have to say Prom Night 2011."
"Really? Prom was a complete disaster that year, Murphy. The brawl between Solana and Aria, completely wrecking the Motor Lodge's ballroom, and the interviews from the Area Leaders about the whole ordeal."
Murph chuckled lightly. "Yeah, all that was pretty chaotic, but it was also the first time anyone has ever shown me how much they cared for me or appreciated me."
"What are you talking about, Murph? We all care about and appreciate you."
"Logically, I know that. But there's something about actually seeing that truth expressed that helps settle the insecurities that well up inside us, if only temporary. Remember when we were out on the balcony?"
"When you were crying," Leilani said sadly.
Murph nodded. "I was so sad and ashamed of myself. I felt so disgusting. My weight and my size have always been a major struggle for me. And most days, yeah I can try to focus on something else and be cheery and live knowing that I'm doing some real good…But when I get back home, or even when I'm having a snack, self-doubt returns and my confidence in myself plummets…All the hurtful teasing and name calling that I had gotten over the years swarm my mind, and I start to really loathe myself."
"Murph," Leilani breathed placing her left hand on his right thigh.
"But that night, you helped me to see, if only for that night, that I can still be accepted and more importantly seen, for me, for my personality, for myself, and not just for my weight. That I was more than just a fat blob of nothingness. That I wasn't worthless. That I'm not just the lazy blubbering fool I always berated myself for being. You reminded me that I was a person, who was endearing to someone awfully close to me. I still have a lot of self-worth issues, I still struggle with my insecurities and doubts, but anytime I get overwhelmed, I just think back to that night, to those few minutes on the roof, where one of my absolute best friends, and one of the most important persons in my life showed me that I was so much more than I perceived myself to be."
He turned to look at Leilani and noticed the tears welling in her eyes.
He frowned. "Oh no. I'm sorry. Did I upset you somehow?"
"What? No, Murphy, no," she chuckled lightly as she wiped her eyes. "I just was never aware that what I said impacted you so deeply or that you felt that I was that important to you."
"Of course you're important to me, Leilani. You've always been important to me. I value everything you say. You are passionate, compassionate, and a true comrade. But more importantly, you helped me to cope with something I've been struggling with for years and continue to struggle with. You were the first person and only as far as I can recall to call me endearing. Even though I'm disgusted and appalled with myself, you never seem to see me that way. And as much as I care for Aria…She doesn't…I mean…She always notices my weight and my size…I try so hard to please her but…" Murph sighed. "All I'm trying to say is, your confidence and appreciation in me is very slowly, very gradually but most assuredly starting to plant the tiniest of seeds in me to restore the confidence and appreciation I should have for myself. Prom night will always be dear to me because it was the beginning of Murph learning to have some self-love again."
"Murphy," Leilani whispered, her voice cracking as she started to cry again. Never had she felt so valued before. She was so used to hearing how her sassiness and nosiness was always unwarranted, but to actually hear some positive qualities about herself so sincerely and genuinely from Murph just about melted her.
Seeing that she was getting overwhelmed from his words, Murph scooted closer to Leilani and wrapped his arms around her. He held her close to his chest as he rubbed her back, trying to console her. Leilani gave into the hug, resting her head on his right shoulder and hugging him back as well. They stayed that way for several seconds, just holding each other. When they pulled back and separated, they gazed into each other's eyes. Leilani could see a few tears had managed to squeeze their way out from Murph's eyes as well. She could feel old feelings resurfacing within her while Murph started to feel sensations and emotions he hadn't experienced before.
"Leilani," he said quietly.
"Murphy," she uttered.
Another pause of silence passed between them. They barely started to lean forward when…
Riiing! Riiing! Riiing! Riiing!
They both flinched from the sudden ringing of Leilani's styler. Leilani quickly took it off its holder on her hip and fumbled with it before answering.
"H-Hello? L-Leilani here."
"Leilani, where are you? Leader will be back any minute with our next mission. You should have been back by now."
"Sorry, Percy. I got caught up in something. I'm on my way now."
She disconnected the call and put the styler back on its holder. She put her hand to her chest, holding her heart as she looked back at Murph. He wore a weak smile on his face.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to keep you back from work," he said cheerily.
"Oh no, you didn't. I should have been paying more attention to the time," she replied as they both stood up.
"It's just as well. I have a conference call with the Union in about ten minutes, so I really need to prepare."
Leilani nodded. "I'll see you later, okay, Murph?"
He nodded as well with a wide smile. "Yeah, of course."
Leilani started to walk to the base's double doors but stopped abruptly and turned around to face him.
"I really am glad I was able to help you see yourself in a more positive light. It's time you realize just how great a person you are and know what you deserve, Murph."
Murph smiled sheepishly. "You're an incredibly beautiful person, Leilani. Inside and out, all the way."
Leilani blushed faintly as she turned around and made her way inside to take the Dragonite Bus to Summerland.
Murph watched her go. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled loudly before making his way inside the base as well.
The moon shone dimly in the sky as twilight began to set in across the region. Barely visible stars freckled the transitioning sky as Solana and Lunick walked along the sandy travertine path back to their houses. The evening sounds echoed all around them from the various nocturnal pokémon awakening from their slumber. The town was always quietest during the late evening and night, which the rangers always enjoyed.
"I wish we had the time to stay out here and really take in the beauty and sereneness of the nature that surrounds us," Solana sighed as she walked with her head rested on Lunick's arm. "These moments are so few and far between for us even though we're working in this environment every day."
"We can still plan that camping trip to Sekra we were talking about a couple months ago," Lunick replied.
"With our caseload it'll be months before that'll happen."
"Well, that's what happens with most trips. You gotta plan them in advance."
Solana straightened up again, albeit reluctantly. "Don't your parents have a vacation home in Johto?"
"Yeah, but no way we'd be able to use it without stopping by Grammy Kat and our holiest of aunts and great aunts. Aunt Esther is a nightmare."
"Lunick, don't talk that way about your family."
Lunick shook his head. "No, 'Lana. There's a reason I haven't seen my extended family in like twelve years. They absolutely detest my father."
"They do? Sweet Lou?"
"Oh yeah," he nodded vigorously. "I don't think they even approved of their marriage. I have my faith but the family elders are just overly religious, and the kind of folks who use the Bible to demonize anyone who thinks even the slightest bit differently than them."
"That sounds awful," Solana said, looking back in front of her.
Lunick shrugged. "I love my family. Grammy Kat is awesome. I call her every month to check-in. But Aunt Esther and the rest of them…All they do is criticize my dad and berate my mother for marrying and procreating with him."
Solana looked back up at him. "They don't…They don't ostracize you too, do they?"
"Me? Nah. They are of the viewpoint that children are innocent of the sins of their parents. My memory is pretty vague of our trip there last time, it's been over a decade. But I remember my dad looking so dejected on the way back home."
Solana looked down to the stone path underneath them, not really knowing what else to say.
Realizing he kind of dampened the mood a bit, Lunick wrapped his right arm around her shoulder and pulled her close as they approached his house.
"Tell you what, Solana. If it really means that much to you, I can talk to my parents about maybe scheduling a flight to Johto."
"Lunick, I don't want to start any further confusion with your family."
"There's no way you can add to our boiling pot of family drama, Solana. Besides, I'm sure Grammy Kat would love to meet you. I wanted to see her again anyway. Her sweet dumplings are heaven! You so gotta try them. Speaking of traveling," Lunick trailed off as he stopped walking. He held Solana's hands in his and glided his thumbs over the top of her hands. "I've got some news, Solana. It could be something really great in my career and really help propel me further into my dream of becoming Area Leader someday."
"That's great, Lunick." She replied sweetly.
"Isn't it awesome?" he said excitedly. "But I wanted to talk about it with you first before making my final decision."
"Oh, you don't need my input to make a decision, Lunick. I mean, not unless it's a like a major serious change or anything."
"Well, that's the thing, Solana. It's not necessarily lifechanging but it may affect our relationship."
"Why would it affect our relationship?"
"Because we won't be able to spend as much time together if I take Mr. Lamont up on his proposal."
"Proposal?" Solana questioned. "Is this what you were trying to tell me the other day at the base?"
Lunick nodded. "Before I tell you what it is, I want to emphasize that this is an amazing opportunity for me that can majorly advance my career."
"I know, you said that already, Lunick. You're kind of making me nervous about what exactly this is," Solana said anxiously.
Lunick exhaled. "I'm a little nervous about what you'll say."
"Why?"
"Because I really want your approval."
Solana stared deeply into his eyes, analyzing his face. Lunick was serious about this. Not only was he serious but he was pumped up. Whatever Mr. Lamont told him, it had him so excited. She should be happy for whatever it was he had been offered, but she couldn't help but feel nervous. Why did he need her approval for his decision?
Lunick lifted her hands and kissed them both.
"I love you, Solana. You know that, right?"
"Yes?" she answered tentatively.
"I would do anything for you, no questions asked."
"I know."
"And I'm hoping with your blessing that I can really be on the fast track to creating the foundation for the rest of our lives with this."
"Lunick, please just tell me what it is."
Lunick nodded. As he opened his mouth to speak he could see something bounding towards them in the corner of his eyes and looked up above Solana. His wide smile quickly changed into a confused frown as his brow crinkled.
"Iyori?" he muttered.
"Iyori?" Solana repeated back. Before she could completely turn around she felt herself thrusted to the side as Iyori nearly tackled Lunick to the ground, pushing him back further a few and causing Solana and Lunick to lose their grip on each other. She burrowed her head in his chest, crying profusely.
Holding his hands up, Lunick looked back in the direction she came running. Murph was standing further up the path, holding the baby Miltank Iyori was caring for.
Solana felt anger rising within her. Again, this girl interrupted a particularly important moment between her and Lunick to focus on her. Now Lunick was going to be focused on calming her for the rest of the evening and probably the next couple of days.
And sure enough, Solana watched Lunick slowly lower his hands to rub Iyori's back.
"What's wrong, Iyori?" he asked gently.
"I cannot stay at the base anymore, Lunick-sama! I cannot!" she cried loudly. "There are far too many unfamiliar sounds. Too many things that remind me of the pain and the anguish and the birth of my suffering. Too many things that remind me of him, of how he can find me! Please do not make me go back!"
Lunick tried to stifle his agitated sigh but was unsuccessful. He turned his head to look at Solana, who was just firmly shaking her head with tightly pressed lips and crossed arms.
"Solana," he began.
"No. I don't wanna hear it," she cut him off. "Go take care of her like you always do. We'll finish this conversation another time. Let's go, Plusle."
"Solana," he called out again. "Solana, wait. Please."
But she didn't listen as she walked away with Plusle following behind her.
Lunick wanted to keep calling out to her, but the words wouldn't form. He had no idea what to say. Iyori was right there crying in his arms again, needing to be rescued. What could he even begin to say to calm her down or bring her back?
He glanced down at Minun, and his Partner Pokémon shrugged, also being at a loss. He looked back up to where Solana was but she was already gone out of his sight.
"Damn it, man!" he shouted, startling Iyori and causing her to shriek out loud. He quickly started rubbing her back again. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Gomen'nasai. Let's go in the house, okay? Try to figure this out." I'm sorry.
A/N: I'm really gonna start delving into each character's individual arcs and struggles from this point on, so the next several chapters will be pretty heavy (as if the previous ones weren't). As usual, I will let you know if anything intense comes in before the start of the chapter but I just wanted to let you know the 'mature' rating is much warranted for events that are soon to transpire for our rangers.
Also, this story takes place three years after the events of Inevitable Love, so the reason Murph gave the year 2011, is because the prequel to this took place in 2011, making this story's timeline 2014, when I first started writing this story. I'm hoping to eventually do another sequel as well so I still have a long ways to go before completing this series, haha. Just wanted to clarify for anyone who was confused about the year.
Stay safe everyone!
Please don't forget to review!
Always Do Everything with Love,
XyKPfan
