Chapter 96
"So, what happened, Astral?" Quickstep asked the mystic human Bronzong.
"And you are asking me about this…why, exactly?" he peered at Quickstep.
"Because you know everything," Quickstep explained, "you always know everything."
"I do not know everything."
"Close enough, if you ask me."
"I am sorry to disappoint you, Quickstep. However, I am not as omniscient as you say."
"Bless you."
"I did not-!"
"Whatever. You're clearly useless," he waved Astral away, who now had a sour expression on his face, "what about you, Katana? This was your idea, after all."
"You would've done the same," she shrugged as she examined the curved, Weavile-like claws on the end of her hand as though she were admiring her latest manicure.
"Let that demonic crap run through a pretty, little blond?!" Quickstep gasped, "I think not!"
Katana sighed and flexed her hand back to a normal human one. She took a step closer to the human Mienshao. "And when she looked at you with those big, soft, brown eyes, begging you for help?" She put her chin in her hands, puckered her lips and made her eyes go wide.
"You know, you're actually kinda cute, when you want to be…" Quickstep teased.
"Go to hell," Katana dropped the act and turned away.
"All in favor of making Quickstep wait outside?" Briar raised her hand and looked around to see if anyone seconded the motion.
"Oh, shut up, Briar!" Quickstep groaned more than he yelled, "you're just pissed that you weren't the first to know!"
"She's a young girl using the Red State and has only been human for two weeks," Briar explained, "I don't need to see the future, like Astral, to see something like this coming."
"I cannot actually-"
"Fine, fine," Quickstep interrupted the human Bronzong, "I guess we all kinda suspected, really."
"It could've been worse," Katana pointed out, back to examining her claws.
"Again with the excuses, Katana!" Quickstep threw up his hands.
"Asshole!" the young Weavile-woman took a step forward and transformed her other arm. Her claws shone brightly, even beneath the dull lights of the Pokémon Center, "you want to go right here, right now?!"
"Bring it, bitch!" Quickstep grinned and took a wide stance, "I will Hi Jump Kick you into the semi-finals!"
"Both of you, stop it!" Flurry stepped forward between them and put up her hands, "no one's blaming Katana."
"I am," Quickstep made a motion as though he were trying to get a waiter's attention in a crowded restaurant.
"That's because you don't like taking responsibility," Flurry accused.
"Whoa-ho! Easy there, Flurry!" Quickstep held up his hands, beneath his sleeves, "this is a rough time for all of us, remember?"
"And yet you're just as annoying and careless as always," Flurry whirled on the human Mienshao.
"I'm used to it. I don't go to pieces every time the fit hits the shan," he shrugged, "frankly, I'm surprised Tempest didn't leave sooner. But, hey, at least she finally realized that Sky's gonna keep sitting up there, wasting away until-"
Flurry slapped him.
"Thank you," Katana sighed.
Despite the praise, Flurry shook as she fought to keep tears back. She stormed away from the group and collapsed into a chair, beside Ian. The normally energetic young boy had been silent since Tempest had left PureBlueSky. No one knew how to help the broken-spirited champion. Most didn't care.
Kim had heard every word of the conversation, but she understood little of it. Astral and Briar were strangers to her, but Katana, Flurry and Quickstep weren't much better.
They must have been talking about Maple and maybe why she hadn't listened to Mark during the match. Beyond that, it was hard to piece the details together.
Volt sat next to her with his crescent-shaped ears perked up to catch the details of what the other human Pokémon were talking about. Used to being the center of attention, Sprinkle took a more proactive approach and hung around the edge of the circle. With Flurry's departure, she seemed to be debating if it was alright for her to fill the hole left behind.
"See what you did?!" Katana accused Quickstep.
"It's the truth, isn't it?" Quickstep shrugged, dropping all humor from his voice.
"Be that as it may," Briar attempted to move on, "we still need to decide what to do."
"I suppose I can teach her a few relaxation techniques," Katana offered, "they're not a sure thing, but they'll help."
"You ever lose control like that?" Quickstep asked.
"Not since the first time," Katana shook her head, "I never had a boyfriend, either," Quickstep opened his mouth to respond. "That wasn't an offer," Katana cut him off.
"Fair enough," Quickstep shrugged, "but you know where to find me."
"Umm…excuse me…" Sprinkle edged into Flurry's old spot, between Briar and Astral.
"Forget what I said, Katana," Quickstep's eyes widened as he looked at the curvy Vaporeon-girl, "what can I do for you, sweetheart?"
"I hate you," Katana mumbled.
"Uhh…I was just wondering…" Sprinkle did the thing where she hugged her chest, "you're talking about Maple…right?"
"That we are, honey," Quickstep nodded, "are you two friends?" after a second he added, "Astral, out of my head."
"As if I would-"
"Quiet," Quickstep cut him off, "pretty girl talking."
"Well, I was just wondering…" Sprinkle looked down at the floor, then lifted her eyes just enough to bat her eyelashes at Quickstep, "is there…something wrong with her?"
"Wellll…" Quickstep drew out his response, "not wrong, per se…she's just…uh…how do I put this?"
"Stressed," Katana stepped in.
"What do you mean?" Sprinkle turned to Katana.
"There's a…secret technique that some human Pokémon have access to," Katana explained, "we-"
"You," Quickstep interrupted.
"…Fine," Katana sighed, "I, taught her how to use it. But, unfortunately, it's…difficult to control under high stress."
"Is it dangerous?" Sprinkle asked. Without the need to speak to Quickstep, she no longer hugged her chest or batted her eyelashes.
"Not to her, no," Katana shook her head, "but…she could be a danger to others, if she can't maintain control."
"Like during the match…" Sprinkle reflected.
"Right," Katana nodded.
"What's your name, sweetie?" Quickstep asked.
"Sprinkle," she answered quickly, then turned back to Katana, "will they let her compete?"
"Oh, sure," Katana explained, "hardly anyone knows about it…and, strictly speaking, killing your opponent isn't necessarily illegal. Accidents happen."
"Oh…" Sprinkle hung her head, unsure of how to react to that sentiment.
"Not to be rude," Briar interrupted, "but should we really be telling her this?"
"It's fine," Katana explained, "she's friends with Maple. I've seen her before."
"I don't really remember you…" Sprinkle said. She searched her memory for an earlier time that she had met Katana.
"It is safe," Astral opened his eyes. Sprinkle hadn't noticed, but he must have been deep in thought. "She's trustworthy," he turned to face Sprinkle directly, "and my sympathies to you and your trainer."
"Did you just…?"
"See?!" Quickstep accused Astral, "people don't like being mind-probed!"
"It was necessary," Astral explained to Sprinkle, "also, Quickstep," he turned to the human Mienshao, "you're wasting your time."
"How much did you see?" Sprinkle backed away.
"Enough to know who you are," Astral admitted, "nothing more."
"Then you know…" Sprinkle glanced over at Kim.
"Yes," Astral nodded, "do not be afraid. Your secret is safe with me. If it is any comfort, many human Pokémon evolve for similar reasons. Not all scars heal as easily as our battle wounds."
"Uh…yes," Sprinkle nodded.
"Secrets?" Briar snapped to attention at the scent of gossip in the air, "what secrets? What did you see?"
"No, Briar," Astral sighed as though he were talking to a toddler, "this is too personal."
"Umm…I'm gonna go," Sprinkle backed away farther.
"I don't blame you for a moment," Katana called after her.
"And…there she goes…" Quickstep hung his head for a brief moment, "dammit, Astral, why do you always have to scare away the pretty ones?"
"Never mind that," Astral held up a hand, "Mark and Maple are coming."
Mark led Maple out to the lobby. He kept his arm around her shoulders as she tried to sniff back her tears. He had given her a few tissues from his pack, which she used to occasionally wipe her eyes. Cherry followed close behind. The small Charmeleon-girl was bewildered into silence.
Mark only recognized half of the four human Pokémon that were waiting for them. He knew Katana and had crossed paths with Quickstep, but the human Bronzong and Roserade were both strangers. Whatever was going on, it was big. But he hardly cared.
"Where's Aurum?" he asked them all.
The four of them exchanged glances, but no one answered.
"I said," Mark began, with more force, "where's Aurum?"
"Here," the old trainer grunted as he rose to his feet. He walked around the lobby chairs, standing separate from the group of human Pokémon.
"Tell me everything," Mark demanded.
"You know everything," Aurum shook his head, "I've told you everything we know."
"Then you don't know enough!" Mark snapped.
"Hey," Quickstep stepped forward, "easy, kid. We're here to help."
"Because you've been such a great help, so far?" Mark accused him. He knew that he should be calm if he wanted to solve this. But it felt impossible. Maple was losing control without knowing why. Someone had to pay for that.
"You people did this to her!" he went on, "we didn't ask for this!"
"You asked for help," Aurum said sternly, "we gave you help."
"This isn't helping!" Mark shot back.
"Shut up, both of you!" Katana cut in, "it doesn't matter whether we taught you or not. It's in her. It would've come out, eventually."
"Mine hasn't," Quickstep added, a little too cheerfully.
Katana turned and glared at him.
"What?" he gave a sly grin back, "I could use it. But I'd rather not, thank you very much."
"Alright," Katana nodded, "but you feel it in there, right?" she walked closer until she was inches away from his face, "you can feel it clawing at you from the inside. It wants to get out and run loose and it hardly cares what you want. It whispers to you. It tells you that it's right and that's how it should be. Every time you hit a sweet spot or beat a tougher opponent, it's there, eager to be set loose."
Quickstep had to look away as Katana went on. In the end, he lowered his head and muttered one word, "…yes."
All eyes were on Katana when she turned back.
"Tempest and I didn't get a choice," she told Mark, "we didn't know what it was when it took us over. If anything, we spared you from having to face it alone," she turned to the group of human Pokémon around her, "and you all remember what happened when it first took over Tempest."
The others nodded together. Sky still had the scars from that day.
"So it can't be cured or even prevented," Mark shrugged.
"No," Katana told him, "but it can be controlled. Channeled, you could say."
"Then you do know something else," Mark shrugged. He knew it.
"We didn't believe it was necessary," the human-Bronzong told him, "but circumstances have changed."
"Yeah," Quickstep rolled his eyes, "apparently we all forgot what it was like being a teenager."
"Some of us skipped it," the Roserade-woman said in a not-quite-bragging tone.
"Who are you two?" Mark asked the Bronzong and Roserade.
"I apologize," the human Bronzong stepped forward, "my name is Astral. This is the first we've met." He extended his hand, and Mark shook it. Astral's steel-gray robes, staff, and manner of speech reminded Mark of a magician. Not a street performer, but the kind of magician one read about in fantasy books.
"You're the one that reads minds," Mark remembered.
"Yes," Astral nodded his confirmation, "I hope that you do not find it to be too…intrusive. But it is necessary."
"I have nothing to hide," Mark said it easily enough, but he wasn't sure if he believed it. He realized that Astral would know that. It would take some time for him to adjust to being in the presence of a real live mind-reader.
"Call me Briar, dear," the Roserade-woman extended her right hand. It was covered in a red glove, while the left was hidden beneath a blue glove.
"I don't think I've heard of you…" Mark searched his memory.
"Really? A pity…" despite her words, Briar was unsurprised, "I met your sweet Maple a few days ago. She's the talk of the Four, you know."
"Maple?" Mark glanced at the Leafeon-girl at his side. She was no longer sniffing back tears, but she kept her head down and had been quiet ever since Mark had found her. He had no idea what had happened, but it must have involved Lily and Silver. He knew it was a bad idea to get involved.
"Don't be too hard on her," Briar advised, "She's still very young. You both are."
"Why are you so interested in her?" Mark pressed.
"Isn't it obvious?" Briar turned her head and the middle-aged woman gave him a sly, half-smile.
"Uhh…not…really…" Mark stumbled. There were plenty of Leafeon and plenty of human Pokémon in the world. So, why Maple?
"Oh, dear…" Briar shook her head, "that won't do at all…"
"Oh, for the love of…" Quickstep groaned, "Don't toy with him, woman! You said yourself that he's only a kid!"
"Exactly," Briar chuckled, "they're adorable!"
Mark took a step back from the Roserade-woman. A few minutes ago he had been furious with these people. Now he was just confused.
"I apologize about Briar," Astral sighed, "suffice to say, she thrives on gossip and drama. And she has found all of you to be very entertaining these past few days."
"Right…" Mark shook his head, "where are your trainers?" He hoped that talking to another human would be easier than talking to their half-crazy human Pokémon.
"Scattered, I regret to say," Astral shrugged, "Only Aurum is with us. PureBlueSky sits alone in his suite. RiverofTears is recapturing her lost youth and innocence with Teardrop. And, my own trainer, EdgeoftheEarth trains on the far side of Mount Dialga."
"Heh, he always was a rather rude, hyperactive boy," Aurum grumbled, "I see that time hasn't taught him anything."
"He wishes to believe that nothing has changed between us," Astral turned to the old man, "call it childish, if you want. However, if nothing else, it shows that he forgives easily."
"Heheh," Quickstep chuckled, "the ever faithful Astral."
"Unlike you," Astral pointed out.
"Look," Mark sighed, "I don't know what's going on between your trainers. But, right now, I don't care very much, either. Now, can any of you help Maple?"
"Yes," Katana stepped forward, "I don't know how much good I'll be, but I'll try."
"You said it can be channeled, right?"
"Partially," Katana admitted, "and, truthfully, I'm not the most adept at it, either."
"Who is?"
"That would be Tempest," Katana shrugged, "but, she's not here."
"Okay, let's go find her," Mark suggested.
"Uh…you don't understand," Katana held up her hand, "she's not even on the island. We…have no idea where she is."
"…What?" Mark asked, flatly.
"She had an argument with PureBlueSky yesterday," Astral stated what the others did not want to admit, "She left the island and I've been unable to find her."
"Does that have anything to do with the Red State?" Mark had to ask.
"Oh, my, no," Astral shook his head, "we've all been worried about Tempest and PureBlueSky for some time. However, it has nothing to do with the Red State. Tempest mastered it long ago."
"But no one else has," Mark drew the next conclusion.
"No one else needed to," Katana stepped back in, "I can teach Maple what I know. It should be enough."
"Alright," Mark nodded, "when do we start?"
AN: ah…sorry for the long delay on this one. Been a bit busy lately and I had a tough time finding the time to put the finishing touches on this one. It's been 1,000 words short most of the week, actually.
Anyways, this marks the first time that one of each of the Four's human Pokemon were all in the same room together. Epic. Kinda, anyway. They mostly just bicker with each other while their trainer's brood. Good times.
And, is it just me, or were there some sparks flying between Katana and Quickstep this time? I wasn't really going for that, but, hey, stranger things have happened…
Anyway, I'll cya next time!
Thanks for reading!