Rita watched, horrified by what she saw, never thinking she would ever see something so awful.
Hearing one of her best friends crying out in pain, a brother sobbing out of terror, believing he almost lost his sister. It was becoming too much, tears soaking her face, falling to her knees.
Everyone was fighting so hard, getting seriously wounded, some unconscious, others barely moving, the healing spells that could be done having little effect.
And here she is, completely useless, hiding behind a shield, unable to help heal the injured or join the fight outside.
What use is she?
What kind of Element is she?
Why did she have to have something so useless?
Prowess?
What kind of power is that?
How is it even considered an element?
All thought stopped, realizing what she was thinking, realizing these must be the very same thoughts that went through Eevee's former master. The traitorous king…
He must have felt the same, felt useless, having little to do other than pick fights or do farm work.
He couldn't save people from droughts, the king and queen of Rime and Aqueous can easily take care of that.
He can't stop natural disasters, those would be handled by the respective Elements, whether alone or working together.
He can't talk to the dead nor guarantee someone will live or know when one is due to die.
All he has is his strength, nothing more, nothing less. He had nothing to protect himself against other elements, while many others did.
It was those thoughts that led him to hate not only his power, but the others too, that led him to betraying everyone.
He forgot what being an Element was all about…
He forgot there was more to it than just his element alone.
He made himself alone, pushing people away, pushing his own partner away with lies and fake smiles.
If he had someone to care for him, to show him what he was truly worth, maybe he wouldn't have betrayed everyone?
If he honestly loved what he did, loved his power, his friends' powers, loved his guardian and partner, none of this would be happening.
She knew she had to stop this, there was no way the others could stop Eevee, he was just too strong.
If only she could use her Element, to have it have an effect against him, to restrain him and show him he matters.
"Yoshiyuki-kun…" she cried in her thoughts, realizing if they fail here, Eevee would kill him and all her friends and family.
But losing him, it hurt the most, the man she loved so much, the same man who wishes to propose to her when she graduates high school.
She can't lose him, she wants to live with him to the end of their days, to freely hug and kiss him.
She hated being so much younger than him, as much as he must hate being so much older. Both knew what they have is real, but also knew its wrong, knowing how the rest of the world would curse them, the man especially.
But they honestly love each other, it wasn't a silly school girl crush nor was it some perverted lust, it was true love.
Yoshiyuki went out of his way, nearly spent half his savings on such a gorgeous ring in hopes of proposing to her, turning it into a wedding ring.
He loves her so much to the point he's willing to be strict to push her to do well in school, to make sure she graduates.
He wants her to have an education, to have goals and dreams, willing to wait as long as necessary if she's still not ready for marriage by the time she graduates.
If that isn't love, then she wouldn't know want to know what their definition is!
She would rather live with what she feels, let her and Yoshiyuki live that kind of life if it means making them happy, making them feel complete.
She can still remember the day they met. She had to take extra classes to catch up during the summer, him just transferring to the school as a teacher.
She was nervous of him at first, especially by how shy he'd get around her, yet he still treated her the same as he would everyone else.
He didn't purposely give her answers, let her skate by nor give an excuse to be with her as any other could have in his position.
Then they began to spend time out of those classes, her helping with bake sales, convincing him to join so he could better acquaint himself with others.
He was so cute when he said yes, trying so hard not to look eager to spend time with her. It was like dealing with a cat, only instead of aloof, he was trying to remain professional, but the joy remained with subtle blushing and the sparkle in his eyes.
What more, he actually did like cats, having often found him feeding strays when walking home from other tutors or getting groceries. But he definitely didn't like dogs, even showing fear when they start barking, chasing away any cats he was feeding.
It was because of her she stopped a dog from actually attacking the man who was too scared to defend himself or run. She went as far as throwing, of all things, a loaf of bread at the canine, enough to distract it and take off with it.
He was so grateful to her rescue he kissed her, both freezing, seeing how scared he was, knowing she could start screaming out of fear. She could even tell her parents over what he did, whether it was out of joy or disgust, they wouldn't care, they'd have police called on him.
But she did neither, she felt his love, the joy he feels for her. She could somehow even tell she was his first kiss as it was for her being her first kiss.
At that, they grew closer, hiding their feelings like well-trained actors, but it got harder when he presented that ring.
Yet, while for most, such a situation would strain them, it did the opposite, making them all the more determined to be together.
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest, enough to make her hug herself, coughing, fighting back tears as she tried not to scream.
Resting her hand on the ground, unknowingly grabbing a rock, she squeezed it as another went through her.
Instantly, it crumbled from her grip, eyes snapping open when feeling it break apart into dust.
"L-love…love is my element's activation?" she whispered, staring at her hand, tears flowing once more, but in relief.
Her element's activated itself, she can help fight, maybe more if she can find Eevee's sphere to harmonize with it as the others had with theirs.
But where could it be?
She should have asked Suicune or the others about it, if they put it someplace or if Eevee had taken it.
A gasp escaped her when seeing said Pokémon appear behind Meilin, completely unaware of his presence. She was trying to put out some flames before it reached a wounded Raikou, his leg trapped under a tree.
"Meilin-chan!" she called out, running without thinking, using everything in her power to reach her.
Her speed increased, muscles lunging her forward, surprising the Pokémon by tackling him to the ground.
"Rita-chan!" the raven haired girl gasped, not expect, but stared when seeing the small crater formed from the impact she made.
"Her element activated!" Raikou called out, those conscious staring in shock.
"Rita-chan's element activated?" Sakura repeated, leaning against her brother for support, eyes wide.
"Unhand me this instant!" Eevee snarled, digging his fangs into her arm, the girl crying out, yet never released him.
She opened her eyes, seeing past the misty veil he wore, seeing what he really looked like, a surge of fear of the horrific being he became.
And yet, the fear was squashed, seeing the pain in his eyes, the mist hiding it like a mask, making her hold him closer, refusing to let go.
There has to be a way to undo this, to heal him of all his pain.
He doesn't deserve to suffer, but death isn't the answer, she was sure of it.
He continued shouting, biting her arms, shoulders, even kicking her with his powerful legs, yet she never let go, ignoring the pain.
"I won't let go," she whispered, risking herself by resting her head against his.
"I said unhand me!"
"And I said I won't! I won't ever let go, not as long as you're in pain!" she cried, tears falling, dripping onto his discolored fur.
"W-what?" the Pokémon stuttered, eyes wide.
"What your king did was horrible, hurting you like this. He had no right… He had no right to hurt you, to call you his friend," she sobbed, shoulders shaking as she hugged him tighter, somehow not hurting him. "He hurt you so much, in so many ways and all you wanted was someone to love you, to treat you right. Treat you the way the others were treated, are treated."
"What is wrong with her?" he wondered, having never felt like this, feeling the emotions pouring from her. "Why won't she attack me as the others have? Why does she merely hold me?"
"Eevee, please let us in, let us help you. You deserve that much, deserve more than death, deserve more than being alone. I know you did things, bad things, but I'm willing to forgive you."
"F-forgive? She's willing; this child's willingto forgive me?" Eevee gasped, feeling something stinging his eyes, realizing he was crying.
He hadn't cried in so long, for so many years, he thought he forgot to cry, not since his betrayal.
That's when he felt it, her element beating within her chest, within her heart, overflowing his battered form.
It didn't heal him, but it gave him a strange comfort, realizing this strange child, of all means of activating her element, it had to be the most cliché of emotions.
"Love…" he whispered softly, "you're willing to love a monster, a murderer such as me?"
"Of course, no matter what, you're still my guardian. I'm willing to be your friend, a real friend you deserve, you need," she smiled through her tears.
Immediately his body was engulfed in a strange light, the others staring in mixed wonder and horror.
"What's going on?" Li asked, shielding his eyes as were many others, even the Pokémon attempting to do so.
"It looks like an evolution, but that's impossible!" Entei answered, shielding his charge from the light.
"Rita-chan!" Sakura cried out, realizing she was there still.
If this was indeed this evolution, that Eevee is getting stronger, she could get hurt, possibly die being that close.
When the light died down, all were surprised not to see some grotesque monstrosity or misty veil enveloping a small body.
Instead, it was a small fluffy body, brown fur with a creamy mane, patches of fur though torn and missing, signs of injury.
"E-Eevee?" Suicune stuttered, eyes wide.
"What is that?" Ruby asked, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks on her.
"That's Eevee's true form, his original form before he was forcefully evolved!" Entei stated in bewilderment. "But it should have been impossible to reverse it. Evolution of this sort is meant to be permanent. Then how did he revert back to his original form?"
"Eevee?" Rita whispered gently, seeing the creature in her arms, the Pokémon looking so tired.
With a small groan, the Pokémon opened his eyes, revealing silver eyes, bits of tears clinging to his lashes and edge of his fur around the eyes.
"What happened?" he asked, looking down at his paw, finding it brown than something else.
"I don't know, you just started glowing, then turned to this," she answered, the Pokémon partly understanding as he recalled his old form from years ago.
"I…I reverted back? But that's impossible, evolution's permanent. It shouldn't have been possible for it to undo itself just like that."
"Maybe because that wasn't a real evolution? You were not only forced to evolve, but to evolve into all the known forms. Maybe it was unstable and needed something to trigger and undo it all?"
"That is possible…" he answered, finding some logic with what she said.
"Rita-chan!" voices called out, running towards her, stopping when seeing the Pokémon was conscious.
"Are you okay?" Li asked, still tense, unsure if they were still in danger or not.
"I'll be okay, might need some bandages, but that's about it I think," she reassured, getting to her feet, not letting the Pokémon down.
"Eevee, what happened? How did you revert back?" Entei asked, standing near his charge, yet his curiosity overwhelmed him.
"I'm not certain…" he answered, looking away in shame. "Entei, Suicune, Raikou… Gomen'nasai… For everything I've done. All those people I killed, destroying our island, driving our kings and queen literally fighting to their deaths to stop me. Then endangering these children, endangering even morelives… What was I thinking?"
"You weren't sane, that corrupt power, that horrible evolution was destroying your mind. But I can't fathom how you regained your senses, after all these years," the water type spoke, not believing her eyes.
Unable to suppress a chuckle, realizing they didn't hear their conversation and obviously wouldn't be able to read his thoughts.
"Of all things, it was love. This child, my master, she did the one thing I needed most, not afraid to get hurt to give what I needed."
"Seriously? Love? What sort of joke is this?" Raikou snarled before snarling more when smacked by Entei.
"You honestly haven't changed, have you, Raikou?" Eevee teased before gritting his teeth in pain.
"Eevee-kun?" Rita gasped, seeing he was hurt.
"Gomen…" he panted, "appears that whatever caused me to revert back, it has taken a lot of my…"
At that, his vision blacked out, hearing the girl's voice crying out to him, crying out his name.
He awoke later, surprised to see the girl sleeping by his side, finding themselves in some sort of building.
On shaky legs, he stood, slowly walking over to her sleeping face, staring sadly at her, seeing signs she had cried.
She cried for him, a monster like him…
Who would have thought such a person existed?
Now that he thinks about it, that Aqueous girl had a similar look too, pitying him, but in a way he didn't feel insulted. She pitied him because she believed there was no way to save him, that he couldn't be saved as much as she wanted too.
Even those other kids had the same look, even the girl's brother and that angel and his host shared that look.
He wasn't sure if he was blessed or not to encounter them, to encounter this girl of all people, to have her as his master, possibly a friend.
And to think he nearly drove her insane, attempting to warp and twist her to his own desires?
How could he be so stupid? So selfish?
He doesn't deserve to be this girl's guardian.
He doesn't deserve to carry the title as the Guardian of Prowess.
Insane or not, he knew in the end, he was weak, he couldn't find the heart or strength to challenge his king, that traitor.
He knew what he did was wrong, betraying his friends, going against all he learned, practically spitting on the graves of all previous guardians.
If he only he…
A small groan snapped him out of his thoughts, seeing the girl was waking up, brown eyes blinking before realizing he was awake.
"Eevee-kun, are you okay?" she asked sitting up, reaching a hand out gingerly.
He could tell she did it not out of fear of him, but fear of her own newfound strength, knowing she will need training to control that power.
"I think I'll be fine," he answered after a pause, tentatively leaning into her touch. "How long have I been unconscious?"
"About a week, you really scared us when you fainted."
"That reverse evolution must've drained most of my strength to do that, that may explain why Pokémon are incapable of doing it normally."
"What do you mean?"
"Pokémon, however the reason, they need energy to evolve, a lot of energy, sometimes enough to tire them, especially while in combat."
"Oh, so you think by undoing it, it used even more energy?"
"I believe so," he spoke, sitting down with a paw touching his chin as he pondered over it.
"At least you're okay now," Rita stated with a smile, "are you hungry? I'm sure we can find some soup or something you like."
"Not sure how soup would go, no thumbs," he half joked as he gestured to his paws, the girl laughing when realizing her mistake.
He let out a silent gasp when she picked him up, hugging him close, her face buried into his soft fur, ignoring some of the bandages that covered his body.
"No matter what, I won't hurt you, I won't ever betray you," she promised the Pokémon relaxing into her grip.
"Rita-san…" he sighed, feeling so relaxed, never thinking he'd ever feel like this again after all these years. "And I won't let anything or anyone hurt you either, not as long as I continue to breathe," he silently vowed, resting his head into her shoulder.
Note:
And that my friends is the end, I hope you've enjoyed. Not as long as some may expected, especially compared to a few of my other fics in progress and completed, but I never intended it to go on forever either. However, just because this tale has ended doesn't mean the adventures have.
On a side note, I was originally going to have Eevee keep his species' eye color, but thought to change it. Basically have it as something he gains from his old life when he grew mad, but at the same time something new to identify himself with.
Also, I was going to originally have him be engulfed in flames from the gang and do a phoenix like revival due to Rita, but that was back in elementary school. Could have done that, but couldn't remember exactly how I had it planned out, so changed it up.
Yeah, that long ago I got this idea and finally complete it.
Speaking of how he changes back, I sort of the idea from the Mega Evolution and evolution in general from various games, the anime, some manga I read/heard about, and Nuzlockes. So figured, if a Pokémon can Mega Evolve and change back, then maybe, albeit possibly dangerous, they might be able to reverse their normal evolution.
I left it somewhat vague as obviously it's never happened before, but theories are made and highly welcomed. Who knows, if there's a good theory, it might get used for a sequel I've been brooding on for years.
What do you think? Eevee got off to easy? Or does he deserve this second chance?
Please read and review