o-o-o- Chapter 5: The Voice –o-o-o

Now, I'll tell you about when my sullen attitude became… extreme.

The three of us were inside the kitchen of my tree, with numerous old books and maps scattered on the table before us. The two of them had found the books in an abandoned library, and decided to bring them here. We later found out that the books, along with the maps, contained information on the past, and how the horrible paralysis of our planet began.

Grovyle and Leonna were discussing fervently about what could've happened if the Time Gears were brought to the Temporal Tower, and such. I felt left out, and so I retreated to my bedroom, which was actually just beside the kitchen.

I sat down on the small cot, my back to the entrance and thought, If Grovyle…falls for… for her… What would happen to me?

You'll be all alone. Again. A deep voice rang in my head, and the words frightened me.

No, I thought, Grovyle… Grovyle won't leave me. He'll… he'll still be my friend..

How sure are you? The voice taunted, You never know when that girl could take him away.

Tears started welling at the corner of my eyes and I winced as I tried to think positive, N-No! Grovyle.. he won't let that happen! He promised me that… that we'll change this world…together!

Yes, but what if he was merely playing you?

He wasn't! Grovyle's not like that! I thought angrily, and at this point, I was already weeping. "Grovyle's…not…like that…" I whispered to myself.

"I'm not like what?" Grovyle asked from behind me, and I turn in surprise. His face morphed into an expression of surprise, confusion and worry. That's when I remembered that I was crying. I winced again and turned away from him, my tears coming on stronger.

"C-Celebi, what-"

"N-Nothing, just leave me alone." I said, and my own words surprised me. Alone, alone, alone. The word kept ringing in my head that I covered my ears to make it stop. I started to shiver violently and I heard Grovyle say my name, "C-Celebi-"

he said, but I cut him off.

"SHUT UP!" I exclaimed, although not at him, but at the voice in my head. Grovyle was stunned into silence as I sobbed, "M-make it stop…" I shook my head and muttered, "I don't want to b-be a-alone… N-not again…"

You will be, and you know it. Especially if you don't straighten things with that human.

"L-Leonna…no!" I said to myself, "I won't hurt her! She…she's my friend!" Grovyle turned me around to face him and tried to figure out what was going on with me. My eyes were shut and tears just came flowing down like a waterfall. "Celebi!" I heard him say, "Celebi! What're you talking about? !"

I slowly opened my eyes, and although it was blurry from crying, I could see Grovyle's pained and confused face. See, he even thinks you're crazy.

My eyes widened in fear and I screamed. Grovyle flinched while I hurried past him and flew down the hall. "Celebi!" he called after me, running out of the room.

"What's going on?" I heard Leonna ask worriedly, "I-I heard a scream. Was that Celebi?"

Grovyle nodded grimly and they both began to follow me.

I told you, the voice said in my head, they're against you. You're just a liability to both of them.

"I-I…" I said, my face horror-stricken, "I'm not!"

Ask Grovyle yourself, or even the girl. I paused in mid-air, while Grovyle and Leonna took a minute to catch their breaths behind me.

"Grovyle…" I muttered, but he heard me. "What's wrong, Celebi? !" he asked, seriously worried.

Go on, ask him, whether he was lying when he promised you about changing this world.

"Were you…" I began, "W-were you…lying when you…promised…?"

"Huh? Promised wh-!" He started to ask, but then realized what I was talking about. "Of course not, Celebi! I would never lie to you!"

I woke me up. "Y-You…" Oh, but he would never care more for you than for the girl.

Just then, I saw realization hit Leonna as she whispered something to Grovyle. At first, he seemed confused, and if I wasn't mistaken, embarrassed. See, even the girl is just playing you—

"Celebi!" Grovyle called my attention, "I-I don't know what's going on with you, but, I do know this: You're my friend, Celebi, and I would do anything to make you happy!"

Happy, I thought. Happy…that's what we are, together…All of us…

No! Don't you see? He—

Shut up, I thought, you're lying. "Grovyle…and Leonna…are my…my friends…" I said.

My horrified face relaxed into one of relief, but then darkness soon swallowed up my vision.

Later, I woke up in very sturdy green arms, and the first thing I saw was Grovyle's worried face. I realized that we were in my bedroom. "Celebi…" he whispered.

I managed a small smile, "S-sorry…for.. making you…both…worry…"

He shook his head, "No, Celebi." He said, "I should be sorry."

"F-for what?" I frowned at him, weakly.

"For not realizing your problem sooner, and doing something about it."

I giggled softly, and I heard the shuffle of feet. Leonna, I thought.

"What happened anyway?" he asked, but before I could answer, I heard Leonna reprimand him, "Grovyle! Can't you see she's still tired? Let her rest first!" Grovyle put me down on the bed, and sat beside me.

"It's fine," I said, and tried, but failed, to sit up. "Ugh, I hate myself."

"Don't, Celebi." They both say simultaneously and I giggled again. Leonna smiled and said, "Celebi, don't worry. What you probably heard was not yourself."

I raised one of my eyebrows, "How did you know what happened?"

She shrugged and handed me a Sitrus berry, which I happily accepted, "I experienced it myself."

I was surprised at her answer and asked, "Really?"

"Hang on, what are you girls talking about? !" Grovyle asked.

Leonna and I look at each other and I said lowering my head, "I heard a voice that made me doubt you two."

"That voice she heard was actually what nearly all Pokemon and humans on this planet hear and is what causes their minds to be… a bit warped." Leonna explained, "The voice in your head makes you start doubting the most important person in your life, or even your life itself. And once you believe it, you're a goner."

Grovyle frowned, not fully comprehending, while I nodded, thankful that I was able to get a hold of myself. Although I hoped he never realized that I doubted him, and thus making him my most important person. "You, Grovyle," Leonna pointed, "have yet to experience it."

"And you're lucky you haven't…" I murmured, and took a bite out of the Sitrus berry, and instantly felt better. Grovyle just nodded and Charlene announced, "Well, we're all tired aren't we? Let's get some rest." Grovyle and I nodded.

"Grovyle," she smirked slyly, "Do you want to sleep there or let Celebi have some peace?"

Grovyle coughed awkwardly, and stood up, leaving me on the cot.

I blushed a little and I could've sworn I saw Leonna grin in amusement. "Well, sweet dreams, you two." She said before leaving us alone.

I closed my eyes and heard Grovyle whisper, "Sweet dreams, Celebi."

"Sweet dreams to you, too, Grovyle…" I murmured, and he chuckled softly.

About two hours later, I woke up and decided to check on Grovyle and Leonna. I slowly left the room, careful not to make any noise in the hall when I suddenly heard Leonna whisper from behind me, "Celebi… where are you going?"

"I..uh…" I tried to think of an excuse, but when I saw her face I could tell she wouldn't believe me, so I decided to tell the truth, "I just wanted to check up on Grovyle…and you."

The girl smiled, " Can I talk to you? Outside, I mean."

I raised one of my eyebrows, "Um… sure…"

When we were outside my tree, Leonna turned to face me and grinned slyly, "You like Grovyle, don't you?"

"Eehh? ! Wh-what m-made you t-think that? !" I blushed furiously while she just giggled, "Aww, how adorable!"

"S-stop it. I don't have any special feelings for G-Grovyle, alright?"

"…" she stared at me, unbelieving, "You're not very good at lying, are you?"

I sighed and gave up trying to convince her. "Okay, okay. I like that stupid, green wood gecko. Happy?"

"Very," Leonna grinned while I decided to ask, "How'd you know?"

"Meh…" she shrugged, "I heard you two back there. I was able to hear you say something about not wanting to be alone again, and then the bit about me, and when you asked Grovyle about his promise, I pretty much got it figured it out."

"Wow," I said, amazed, "You can tell by just that?"

"Actually, I also saw a vision of you."

"Oh." She just laughed heartily, "Yeah."

"Well," I began, "I suppose I owe you an apology then."

"Hm?"

"You know…about me being…"

"Oh, you mean when you didn't like me and stayed away the first time we met?"

I fiddled with my hands and nodded meekly, "As well as today…"

Again, Leonna just laughed, "It's alright, Celebi. We all have had our share of jealousy. I'm sure Grovyle got jealous of someone over you, too, Celebi."

My face felt hotter than normal when she said, "…Or will, anyway."

"Y-you mean…?"

She just winked at me and put one finger over her lips.

"But, Celebi…"

"Yes?"

Leonna took my tiny hands in hers and looked at me in the eye, "Celebi, you know that Grovyle and I are leaving for the past, right? To change this bleak future."

I slowly looked down at the ground, but nodded, nonetheless. Grovyle had told me some time earlier about it. When I told him that if he did that, we would be erased from existence, he merely shrugged and told me it was better for the future. I knew he was right, but…

"Celebi," Leonna said, unusually serious, "I know you want to spend more time with Grovyle…alone-"

I coughed awkwardly.

"-but I'm telling you, he's doing this for you, Celebi."

"W-what do you mean?"

"He promised you, right?" She smiled, "Grovyle promised he would change this world for you."

"Well, yes, but I thought he said we would do it…together…"

Leonna smiled at me ruefully, "Don't you see? Grovyle…he wants to protect you by leaving you here."

"I-I…." I had no words to describe what I was feeling.

"I know it feels kind of painful and lonely…but just think! Grovyle…is doing his very best, and is even pushing me to my limit, just for you!"

I sniffled and nodded. "Y-you're right. I…have to be strong. For Grovyle's sake!"

"That's the spirit!" She grinned at me and let go of my hands. "But, I do feel as if I owe you something…"

"Nonsense!" I said, "You owe me nothing. Besides, I was the one-"

"Who had to suffer emotional pain and heartbreak because of my sudden appearance, no?"

I was honestly speechless.

"Don't worry, Celebi." Leonna smiled, "Tell me, what would you like? From the past, I mean."

"I-I don't know…" I muttered, but then I remembered Grovyle telling me what this world really needed. "A sunrise," he said, I remember.

"How about a sunrise?" I said.

"Really?" she beamed at me, "You have good taste, Celebi! I once saw a vision with a sunrise. I'm telling you, it's the most beautiful thing you'll ever see!"

I smiled, "That's great then!"

"What's going on here?" Grovyle asked from behind us, still groggy from his sleep.

"Grovyle!" I exclaimed in surprise, wondering how much he heard. Leonna, on the other hand, looked somewhat annoyed. "Grovyle! This is the second time you interrupt a private session! Be thankful that it wasn't as serious as the first!"

"Huh?" He frowned, "What're you talking about? And what first time?"

The girl rolled her eyes, though I could see her faint smile. "I meant when you suddenly went up to Celebi earlier!"

"What? I don't get you. What are you two doing up, anyway?"

"Oh nothing, my dear Grovyle." I piped up, hoping to avoid another argument. Honestly, these two argue over the silliest matters. "Since we're all awake, I suppose I need to fix us all a meal, yes?"

"Sure! I'm getting pretty hungry," Leonna said, and as if to prove her point, her stomach growled, rather loudly.

On the other hand, Grovyle seemed…worried. "Celebi…"

I just smiled at him as I flew in circles above them. "Come on, my dear, I'll make some Pecha stew."

"Yay!" Leonna exclaimed, jumping in joy. I don't know why, but she sure loved anything Pecha. And Oran. And Rawst. And… never mind, I might name every berry there is. And one more thing, that was the day before they left for the past.

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And, that's all I've got. For now. I don't know how long it will take for another update but… I'll try my best to do it before June. No promises, though Perhaps, you could leave a review? That might motivate me to continue :) 'Til next time!