Chapter 22

The afternoon began to drag for Katana. The progress that Maple had made had ground to a halt. She had gone Red dozens of times and each time ended in failure. Lengthening the time didn't help either. Ten minutes here, eight minutes there, fifteen minutes there, but no matter how long she was in it she just couldn't take control of it. Katana was getting tired of being chased around by a monster that wanted nothing more than to rip her throat out.

It was Billow's turn, now. Her Drifblim abilities as a ghost/flying type helped a considerable amount against Maple's exclusive use of Leaf Blade. Despite her small size, Billow could take quite a good deal of punishment, which was a necessary feature since she couldn't dodge the way Katana could. Katana was quick and agile, but she couldn't take much damage. Billow was practically the opposite. It made them a good team, whether they chose to admit it or not.

"Just end it," Katana sighed, shaking her head. Maple had been Red for twenty minutes, the longest time span yet, and it hadn't made a bit of difference. She was furiously slashing at Billow as she floated in the air, just out of her reach.

Billow nodded, before closing her eyes. She held her hands about six-inches apart, in front of her chest. Concentrating, streams of black light flowed down her arms and through her hands. A sphere of dark energy began to form between her hands, as if a shadow had suddenly decided to gather into a three dimensional object.

Curling her hands around the back of the Shadow Ball, Billow pushed forward, launching it at Maple. It slammed into her chest, knocking her off of her feet. Not for the first time that day, Maple tasted blood in her mouth as the rush of the Red state faded and the world came back into proper focus.

"This isn't working," Katana walked forward, "you're not getting anywhere." She offered another Hyper Potion to Maple, who drank it without hesitation. She had had so many potions that day that the bitter taste was barely noticeable, anymore.

"What am I doing wrong?" Maple asked, staring at the ground.

"Oddly, nothing," Katana admitted, "it's just something that has to come to you. Nobody can really tell you how to do it."

"Oh…" Maple sighed and began staring at the ground. She had lost two hours of the day. They were simply gone like a puff of smoke. She couldn't remember anything, no matter how hard she tried. How could she control something that dominated her like that?

"You need your trainer," Aurum materialized behind them.

"I do?" Maple didn't know whether that was good or bad. Controlling the Red state might be easier if she knew that Mark was there to support her. But, if she could control it without him, then she could go back to him without worrying about it. He would never have to see what she turned into.

"Yes," Aurum answered, "that's what your trainer is for, after all. Support, if nothing else. Katana and Billow are both stronger when I'm looking after them. A strong trainer can guide even the weakest Pokémon to victory. It's a matter of strength of will combining with your bond between each other that grants Pokémon, human Pokémon and their trainers greater strength."

Maple smiled. Once again, he had told her exactly what she wanted and needed to hear. The normally bitter old man had a soft spot that showed what made him into the Golden Trainer.

"So, what do we do?" Katana asked.

"Keep trying," Aurum shrugged, "if the bond between trainer and human Pokémon is as strong as it needs to be, he'll find us here."

Maple stared at Aurum with hope welling up in her eyes. She hadn't realized how much she wanted it to be true until he had said it.

Mark would come back. He would come looking for them. He would come looking for Maple. Without question, she knew it to be true. He had to…

Mark stood at the border between the forest and the city, in almost the exact same location that Maple had lied down to cry, just a few hours earlier.

It had taken longer than expected to ditch Lionel. The blond boy refused to leave Mark's side, which puzzled him more than anything. Finally, Lionel had left for the restroom and Mark seized the opportunity to disappear. No matter what Lionel said about the forest, he had to try. He wouldn't give up until he had seen it himself.

The forest looked normal enough. The thick trees were evenly spaced and the underbrush filled in any areas that weren't well traveled. Small animals and Pokémon alike scuttled through the area from time to time, searching for food. It looked normal, but that didn't help.

Mark had tried half a dozen times to navigate the strange forest. But, it was just as Lionel had said. No matter where he turned or even if he kept going straight, the forest just directed him back to the entrance again. How could it possibly do that?

Still, Mark wasn't going to give up. Aurum had said that they would train here. That meant that the old man had come here many times before. There had to be a trick to it. What was missing?

"Eclipse," Mark called out his Umbreon and Maple's older brother. Eclipse appeared on the ground before him, sitting back, his red eyes alert and ready. "See if you can pick up Maple's scent."

It occurred to Mark that Maple's scent could be different than what Eclipse could remember, but it didn't seem to matter, because the Umbreon easily picked up her trail and started off through the woods. Mark followed closely after him, watching the path. Eclipse took his time, sweeping the ground and occasionally backtracking to be sure that something hadn't gone wrong. Even still…

"Dammit," Mark swore, recognizing the same set of trees that he had passed by seven times, now. Even Eclipse's diligent tracking of his sister's scent didn't make a difference.

Mark recalled Eclipse and closed his eyes to think. It was a forest that could make people lost. But it did it in order to protect what was inside. He couldn't find Maple because he was specifically searching for her. That would explain why Aurum came here and even how he could stay. The old man wanted a place out of the way where no one could disturb him. The forest delivered without hesitation.

Was it refusing Mark because he was going to disrupt that isolation? At this point, anything seemed possible. Mark did not have bad intentions; at least he didn't think so. Whatever was going on, it was very unforgiving.

Exhausted, Mark sat on the ground, trying to will the forest into divulging its secrets. The wind blew through the trees, rustling the leaves. All around him, the forest squeaked and chattered. Birds chirped in the distance, reminding him of Maple's sweet, musical voice.

It had been a long time since he had sat down and enjoyed the outdoors. Even as he sat there, his mind rattled away with worry over Maple. Was she safe? Would she still be angry at him? What could he say to apologize?

He lied back and stared upward, through the canopy above his head. Warm sunlight filtered through, even as the sun was already well into its descent. It would be evening in just another hour or two. There was so little time. He didn't know why, but he felt like he had to find Maple before the sun set. It was strange, but it was a feeling he couldn't shake.

Suddenly, a strange blue light began to mingle with the sunlight. Mark sat up and looked behind him and his mouth dropped open in shock. Facing him from just a few meters away, its body radiating with that strange light, stood a Suicune.

The majestic creature stayed where it was, cautiously eyeing Mark. It was waiting to see what he would do. Slowly, Mark eased himself up off of the ground. He didn't know why, but he was suddenly convinced that this Pokémon watched over Palkia's Woods.

But, Suicune? Here? That couldn't possibly be right. Suicune was one-of-a-kind. Every trainer who had ever seen it, which were rare to begin with, had only seen it running around either Johto or Kanto. It was one of the three that were the eyes and ears of Ho-oh. For it to be so far away from home…what did that mean?

Unsure of what to do next, he watched the Suicune. It was a magnificent experience just to be able to see the creature. Mark had only ever seen pictures; the real thing was much more impressive.

If Mark were another trainer, he would've tried to catch it. Once, he had been. But every thought that he ever had about catching it left his mind for good once he had seen the real thing. Something like this didn't belong in a Pokéball.

As if it were reading his mind, Suicune decided that the trainer before it had passed the test. It started to pad towards him. As it did so, something strange started to happen.

Suicune's body began to glow white. As it stepped forward, it reared back to stand up on its hind legs to reach an impressive height. But it was only like that for a moment, as its body began to shrink in height. Its shoulders broadened slightly and its forearms swung to its side and began to change. Its paws were replaced with hands and long, delicate fingers. Its face flattened and became human shaped. At the end of the transformation, Mark was looking at the human form of Suicune.

Mark had a hard time deciding whether or not it was a woman or a man. The features were vaguely feminine, but that didn't feel quite right. The person in front of him was several inches taller than him and was thin and pale. The billowing cloud that had been on its back had become a stream of purple hair that blew gently, even though there was no breeze. The light-blue, hexagon-shaped crest remained on the figure's forehead like a headpiece. The figure was clothed in a light-blue gown that could've been a dress or a cloak, it was hard to tell.

"Mark Diamond?" the figure spoke, its voice was also largely feminine, but Mark remained unconvinced that it was a woman.

"Y-yes," Mark nodded. He thought he had just witnessed Suicune's evolution into a human Pokémon, but if that were true it shouldn't be able to talk yet. Was this something that Suicune could do on its own? Mark had never heard anything like that before.

"You're looking for Maple?" Suicune strode forward, its feet were bare and it took long, careful strides.

"Yes," Mark nodded, again, more collected this time.

"I commend you for not attempting to capture me," Suicune smiled as it complimented Mark, "you may come and go out of Palkia's Woods as you please, now."

"Oh," Mark's eyes went wide. Was that it? Was it really that easy?

"I know that you have questions," Suicune's voice had a naturally calming quality to it, Mark wouldn't be able to fight it even if he wanted to anymore, "if you will kindly follow me, I will provide you with some of the answers you seek. But, be warned, not all questions have an answer that you are ready to hear."

"I understand," Mark nodded, "…are you going to take me to Maple?"

"Yes," Suicune confirmed, "she misses you and your bond is strong. Ho-oh honors that."

"Ho-oh?"

"Yes," Suicune smiled again, "come. There is much we need to discuss." With that, Suicune turned and began walking deeper into Palkia's Woods. Mark followed after her, or him, or whatever it was.

He was too stunned by the rapid developments to ask anything for the first few minutes. It was Suicune that urged him to begin.

"What is it you would ask of me, Mark Diamond?"

"Umm…" Mark's mind whirled. What didn't he want to ask? He decided to start small, "you can turn into a human?"

"Yes," Suicune answered, "but it is not the permanent transformation that you know of. I am still wholly, what you call, a Pokémon. I chose this form to ease our own ability to communicate. It is a power granted to me by Ho-oh. I cannot perform the task under my own power."

"So, that means the legends are true," Mark deduced, "you're a servant of Ho-oh."

"You speak the truth," Suicune confirmed, "Along with my siblings, I was created by Ho-oh to observe mankind's progress and watch its development. In particular, we are to watch mankind's relationship with Pokémon."

"I see…"

"That is why I am on this island. Human Pokémon are of a great deal of interest to Ho-oh. There has always been a line that separated Pokémon from mankind, as well as other animals. Human Pokémon defy that characterization and sit directly in the center of that line. In a way, Ho-oh is more interested in human Pokémon than in most normal humans."

"So, you must know how human Pokémon came to be," Mark chose his questions carefully. He wasn't sure how much Suicune would answer. It was offering to explain a lot, but it had already warned him about asking the wrong questions. What did it know that it didn't want to tell him?

"Yes, I do," Suicune paused, as if considering what the consequences would be in revealing this piece of information, "I am aware that you have already heard one version of the truth. Allow me to enlighten you."

One version of the truth? It must have been talking about the legend that Jeremiah had told him. It would be no surprise if there was more than one legend, but what did it mean by more than one truth? The truth meant just one answer, right?

"The legend that you know of speaks of a falling star," Suicune began to explain and Mark had no more time to wonder, "I hear that it is a common theme in many human tales. This is how the original truth began to change. What your legend refers to as a fallen star was, in fact, the Pokémon Jirachi."

"Jirachi?"

"Yes," Suicune continued, "Jirachi is…young. It is very young and very powerful. Its age reflects that of the universe. Thus, despite its incredible age, it is no more mature than a toddler. As such, Jirachi is…prone to make rash, childish decisions. Anyone who wishes upon Jirachi will have their wish granted, to the best of Jirachi's unlimited potential."

It was a long time before Mark could speak.

"That's…incredible," Mark shook his head, "I've heard of Jirachi, but…it created human Pokémon? I didn't know it had that kind of power."

"It does," Suicune confirmed, "and more. "Jirachi is equal parts chaos and innocence. It both can and will do anything it wants. It didn't transform just one Pokémon. It opened a door to allow all Pokémon, should they truly desire it, the chance to become human."

"Wow…" Mark whispered, "But…wait, I thought the Pikachu in the legend wanted to be a full girl. If Jirachi is so powerful, why didn't it finish the job?"

"Because that is not what the girl truly desired," Suicune shook its head, "you've seen it yourself. Human Pokémon don't wish to fully abandon what they are. As a result, they become stuck in the middle; caught at a meaningless way station, unable to go forward or backward. They are outcasts to both sides."

"It sounds like you don't like Jirachi or human Pokémon…" Mark observed.

"As an emissary of Ho-oh," Suicune spoke as if reciting a pact that it had foresworn long ago, "I support and follow what Ho-oh believes. Ho-oh remains neutral and observes Jirachi and all human Pokémon with equality and fairness."

Mark very seriously doubted how neutral Ho-oh was. If Ho-oh truly was neutral, then why did Suicune interfere at all? What was it doing telling Mark all of these strange, wild things? Should he even believe it? What did it have to gain by telling him all of this?

But they were out of time.

"We have arrived," Suicune announced when the trees began to thin. Mark could hear the sounds of fighting. Maple was training with Aurum just beyond those last few trees.

"Why did you tell me all of this?" Mark asked his final and most important question.

"I told you before," Suicune shook its head and brushed aside the question, "there are some answers that you're not yet ready to hear."

Once again, Mark very seriously doubted that that was the truth.

"Farewell, Mark Diamond," Suicune turned and began to transform back into its four-legged form, "we will meet again." Its transformation finished, the Pokémon bounded away through Palkia's Woods, leaving Mark alone to consider what it had said.

AN: didn't really explain Palkia's Woods very much, but revealed a lot of other stuff. I wasn't sure if this was where I wanted to do it, but otherwise Suicune's appearance is random and pointless.

I think it's better than what was here originally, at least

Anyway, thanks for reading!