I looked at Volatia in awe. This was the Pegasus of legend, Volatia, whose powers of ice were the greatest of all Pokemon, surpassing even Kyurem, legendary ice dragon of Unova. It lowered its head again, and the Moon Band slid off of it into my hand. The moon emblem on it now glowed light blue. Volatia dipped her head to me, then turned and took off running before jumping into the air and flying away. As I watched in wonder, I felt the air growing hot behind me, and I turned to see a man, with a smaller boy, riding a fiery bird Pokemon that looked like a Fire-type version of Articuno. Dakota jumped up and waved her hands, and Articuno raised her head.
"Jun!" Dakota jumped in the air.
"Calm down. I can hear and see you fine." Without warning, he slid off one side of Moltres and dropped some forty-ish feet to the ground, without making a sound. A sword dropped down and stuck into the ground parallel to him, and hi picked it up out of the ground. His red hair waved in the wind, as did his torn shirt. I hate to give it to Dakota, but I can see why she's into him. He picked up the sword, katana, Mayva had called it, and pointed it at me. "You. Boy. You're the reason Volatia, came, no?"
"Um… yes… I suppose I am..." I couldn't think with that katana pointed at me.
"Hey! Jun! Can you get Moltres to lower down a little bit?" I could hear a boy shouting from up on Moltres. I looked up and saw a boy, a couple years younger than me, wearing torn purple robes. "Oh, wait. Never mind." As I watched, he hopped off of Moltres and… floated down to the ground to stand beside Jun.
"You can float. How many times do you forget that?" Jun asked the boy, who looked up and grinned.
"Dakota. While we're here. Can we stop at your house?" Jun put his katana down by his waist and looked at her.
"Uhh… yeah, sure! No problem!" Dakota replied nervously before leaning over and whispering something to me. "Am I saying the right things?" I stood on my toes and replied.
"I don't know! I'm awful at this stuff!" I turned around and looked at Jun, and the boy, who were following Dakota back to her house. I ran after them. As Dakota opened the door, I saw her other standing there, tapping her foot.
"Dakota… we don't have any room for anyone else. Who did you bring with you- oh. Never mind." her mother broke off as the two boys walked in, and sat down at the table. As she spoke, I heard someone coming down the stairs, and saw Mayva, dress streaming out behind her. She skidded to a halt and tossed herself into a chair next to the boy in the purple robes. She gave him a high-five, and Dakota sat in the fourth, and final chair at the table. All four of them looked up at me, and Dakota's mother applauded. "I haven't seen you four together in the longest time! Are you going to do your special introductions again?"
"Sure. Why not?" Mayva said, then stood up. "I'm Mayva! I'm the first of the Elite Four, and I use Fairy-type Pokemon! I was born here, and love this town, and my favorite Pokemon, Sylveon!"As she sat down, the boy in the purple robes stood up.
"I'm Zekara. I'm the second of the Elite Four, and I use Ghost-type Pokemon. I was born in Necrozia City, and have become one with the spirits through countless hours of training." He crossed his arms, and started to float, before releasing his arms and dropping back down. As he sat down, Dakota stood up.
"I'm Dakota, as you know. I'm the third of the Elite Four, and I use Ice-type Pokemon. I was born in Arczoic Town, and I travel the region with my five partners, protecting them from Team Corona as best I can." Dakota sat down, and gestured to Jun.
"I'm Jun. I'm the last of the Elite Four, and I use Fire-type Pokemon. I was born of the volcano, in Volcrux Town, and I fight for the hope that one day, I will see my beloved again." Jun sat down and picked up his katana. As he did, I heard footsteps and turned to see Maylee walking down the stairs.
"Hello, good morning, everyone," she said, and sat down in a small chair next to me. Most of the people in the room smiled at her, and I saw Zekara grin. I looked around, and saw Jun was looking at her, his face ghostly white.
"Jun… are you all right?" I asked, as the room fell silent, and he stood up, looking at her.
"Those eyes… the way you carry yourself, the way you sit… you're just like her..." his face went ghostly white, and he sat down, shuddering.
"Dakota. What's up with him?" I asked, but she wasn't listening to me. She was fixed on Jun.
"Are you thinking about Nathia again?" Dakota looked at him, and he nodded his head slowly. "You may as well tell them… they'll figure out eventually. Put them at rest." Jun slowly stood up, and leaned against the wall, and started to speak.
"When I was born, in Volcrux Town, I was one of the last of an ancient race of samurai who had been born and trained in the volcano. There was one other with me… a girl, her name Nathia. If I was a human volcano, she was a human cherry blossom. Beautiful, carefree, gentle, and caring. I grew to love her with all my heart, until I found out she didn't love me back… her heart longed to be with one of he own gender. Much like you." Jun pointed his katana at Maylee.
"Wait… how did you know that?" Maylee asked, folding her arms defensively.
"Just by looking at you. I can tell a lot of people by barely knowing them. As I was saying… I loved her, but she didn't truly love me back. It didn't bother me, I still longed for her. Then, one day, five years ago… those creatures that call themselves Team Corona found out she was how she was. They took her from me… I couldn't do anything about it. I was powerless to watch as the one I love was taken from me. I vowed I would get her back, and that's the reason I'm part of the Elite Four. I want to get as strong as possible… so, one day, I'll see her again." Jun shook his head as he sat down. Dakota put a hand on his shoulder, and he sighed. He looked up at me, and smiled slightly. "Take your opportunity while you have it, Flight. She may be gone tomorrow, and it's only thanks to us four she's here."
"Huh? What do you four have to do with me?" I asked, dumbfounded. Maylee looked at me, and shrugged.
"We're the only reason every aspect of your lives isn't controlled by Team Corona, genius!" Zekara laughed. "The four of us are the only things standing between Team Corona and the region entirely enslaved." he grinned, and looked at Mayva, who did as well.
"It's true. We're the reason you're here," Dakota said, looking up at me. "Though I know I shouldn't keep you here. The next Pokemon Gym is in Coastcove City. You'll like it there, the city is beautiful. It's also Water-type. Be cautious, Flight." After an hour or so of eating and saying good-bye, me, Luca, Eve, Maylee, and Igneo were gathered outside, accompanied by Latios and Latias.
"Is everyone ready to go?" I asked, looking around the group, and saw everyone nodding their heads. I turned, and started walking the south trail out of Brinx Town, into the forest, but was stopped by someone calling my name.
"Flight! Hey, wait up!" I turned to see Zekara running after us. "I'm going with you. I haven't traveled the region yet, and I assume you're going to need someone to watch your backs that knows their way around a fight."
"Sure, Zekara, you can come. Now, let's be off." I turned, and started walking down the winding path to the forest. I started noticing the group of my mood change as the forest drew damp and darker, and by extension, a lot scarier-looking. I kept glancing over my shoulder, and suddenly I felt something touch my shoulder. "GAH!" I shrieked, and flew forward. I heard laughter behind me.
"Mother of Arceus, Flight, grow a pair already! There's nothing to be scared of!" I could hear Zekara laughing, and I got up and glared at him furiously.
"Hey! I'm not the one who isn't scared of anything!" I shook myself off, and glared at him again. Zekara looked down, and smiled.
"Actually… there is one thing that terrifies me beyond human comprehension. But let's keep walking." Zekara took the lead, and I was grateful as the forest lightened eventually cleared. As we walked out into the wide plains, Zekara threw his arms open. "Welcome to Coastcove City, everyone!" I looked in front of me.
"Zekara. There's nothing here." I pointed to the clearing in front of us, and the rest of the group nodded.
"Oh! Sorry. Follow me." Zekara started running to the shore. We followed him, and as he reached the shore, he turned and started running along it. As we followed, the ground started to dip down, and started to… open up…? I stared in awe as I watched a giant gap grow between the ground and the hill above it, and I saw… houses in between. A city. This must be Coastcove! I walked behind Zekara into the city, and as I looked at it from the outside, it was like I was looking at the inside of a burrito that had nothing in the top 2/3. The city was built underneath an overhand under a hill, and was a nice sight to see. We filed into the city, and the first thing I saw was someone running from a house to another, panicking and yelling. I couldn't make it out. Zekara put his hand out, and we stopped behind him. "Get your Pokeballs out. There might be trouble." Zekara's hand whipped down to his waist, and he grabbed a Pokeball. "Banette. Get out here." A flash of light, and Banette materialized. Each of us, in turn grabbed a Pokeball, and ran after Zekara into the city. The entire place was eerily quiet, and as we strained our ears, we could hear the voice of a single man speaking out.
"Zekara. What do we do?" I looked at Zekara, and he shushed me and waved us behind him.
"Single file. Behind me. Make a noise, I'll kill you where you stand." I could tell Zekara was being dead serious, so the rest of us formed a line behind him. "Here in Coastcove, Team Corona has been carrying out their executions by a court system and then drowning them in the sea with anchors tied to their ankles. This is one of them, and I'm wanted by them. Make a sound, I'll see you to your graves." he motioned for us to slowly advance behind him, and we did so, ever so slowly walking forward until Zekara bumped into someone, and hit the ground. "Who… Jun?!" I looked up, and saw the now-familiar samurai with his head fixed on the scene he was hiding from, looking on.
"Zekara. It's… her. Look." Jun flicked his katana towards the arena, and I could see a single girl, wearing tattered pink-and-green robes, tied to a stake. Jun's voice was unusually taut, and I couldn't figure out why he was so tense until I remembered what he told me this morning.
"Jun," I asked. "Is that Nathia…?" I looked at him, and he looked back, nodding slowly.
"Perceptive, Flight. Yes, that is Nathia. I could tell… the outfit she wears is unlike any other in this land. Only she bears the cherry-blossom robes of her homeland. Now, boy… listen to him speak." I leaned next to Jun and strained my ears, and I could hear the man speaking.
"This woman… a disgrace to her kind… not worth the air she breathes… she must be killed now… a fool for loving her own gender…" I had enough of the man's cruel speech, and I could tell Jun was fed up with it too. He slowly started to rise, and I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Jun. If you try to do something now… they'll kill her before you can reach her."
"They'll kill her anyways!"
"But… at least if we wait and try to get closer, we have more of a chance of getting her out alive."
"Fair point… lead the way, Flight."
"Oh, uh… all right..." I chose a path that led around the arena and almost to the clearing where Nathia was being held. I waved the group behind me, and I turned to Jun. "All right, here's the plan. We're going to-"
"Now! Let the creature die!" I turned my head and watched in horror as a light steel cannon, with light pulsing through its corners, burst out of the ground, and started gathering light. I could tell the blast it would deliver to her would be fatal. Without warning, Jun exploded out, running for the cannon.
"Nathia! No!" Seeing his lead, Zekara, with Banette at his side, commanded a Shadow Ball with deadly precision that took out a guard trying to wrestle Jun to the ground. He leaped up, and stuck his katana into another, sliding it out into yet another, but… it wouldn't prove enough. He gave another yell, and dove in front of the cannon, but everything went silent as I heard three words from above me.
"Reshiram. Fusion Flare." I looked up, and saw a pure-white dragon, who shot a sphere of flame at the cannon, demolishing the thing and dissipating the energy into the air. The majestic dragon dropped to the ground, making the earth shake, and a figure stepped off of it, and landed on the ground. He brushed his light green hair behind him, and re-aligned the cube necklace he had on his neck. He took off his black-and-gray hat, and looked directly at me. "Flight… Have we met before?"
"Who are you?" I asked, though not suspiciously, more like in wonder.
"Perhaps your friend can tell you my identity," he said, gesturing behind me, where Luca stepped out, looking at him.
"My… father? Is that you?" Luca looked up at the man, and the name came to me. N. This was the hero of Unova, who befriended the legendary Pokemon Reshiram and traveled the world, seeking something.
"Yes. It's me. I've been looking for you ever since I left you in the care of your older sister when you were five. But now… I've come for a different reason. Saving Nathia was only one reason. I need to find Zekrom, and Kyurem… and call forth Neoram. I'll need his power to stop whatever people are controlling this region."
"Team Corona?"
"Yes. Them. Now, can you introduce me to your friends?" N turned and looked at each of us, and gestured to Luca to begin the introductions.
"This is Flight," Luca said, gesturing to me. "He seems like, out of all of us, the 'chosen one'… the band on his wrist can call forth Volatia. The next one over is Eve. She's Flight's closest friend, and she possesses the band which can summon Torretia. This is Maylee. She's… lesbian, and was abused and beaten as a child for being different. She's also a bit cute. This is Igneo, a boy we met a couple weeks ago. He's the Mega Evolution successor."
"They all seem like nice people. Especially the cute girl." N pointed at Maylee, who was staring off into space. "She seems to have a big heart." Luca laughed a bit, and N continued to speak. "I assume you are on your way to get all the badges, and whatnot?" Luca nodded. "I'll be here in this region if you ever need anything. I'll be staying with Juliana for a while." I looked up from where I was standing to see Jun kneeling on the ground next to Nathia. She was looking up at him weakly.
"Jun… You did end up saving me, like you promised. I'm glad..." she closed her eyes, and laid her head back on the ground.
"No. Nathia. Don't leave me. Not yet. If you're going to go… before you do… marry me. Just… say it." I could see tears starting to well at Jun's eyes.
"Jun… you know how I am..." I could hear her voice growing weaker.
"I know. It doesn't matter to me. Just… don't leave this world without saying yes." Tears were starting to fall from his eyes, staining the ground around him.
"Ah… all right. I will. Before I… die… Jun… I agree to be your wife… in my death… I do love you, and even when… I'm gone… don't forget that… good-bye, Jun." Nathia coughed, weakly, then went limp in Jun's arms. He burst into tears, and I could feel the emotion coming off him in waves that threatened to carry me off my feet. Slowly, he laid Nathia on the ground, brushing her hair behind her head and standing up. As he turned around, I could see the Team Corona official who was in charge of the execution stand up and start to run. Zekara stuck out his foot and tripped him, sending him face-down into the dirt. Jun walked over to the man, and looked up at us.
"Look away. Now." The last thing I saw was Jun's katana being drawn from the wrap on his waist, and then the man's screeches, before going silent. "That's just a tiny percent of the repayment for taking my beloved from me. I will find every last one of you, and the day each of you see me… will be the last day you spend in this life." Jun turned back to me, and walked over to us.
"Jun… I'm so sorry you lost her..." I put a hand on his shoulder, and the rest of the group was silent and somber.
"That I lost her… I can't let the grief of not being able to save her overcome me. I will stand by you, to my death, and until the day I see her again… and make sure you, in your quest, do not fail. Let's keep on going."