PokeStones of the Dead – Chapter Seventeen
The minutes ticked on, and Temperance was still out cold, his brain shutting off all external stimuli in exchange for maximum rest. Neither him nor Lillette in peaceful slumber in the bed next to him saw Giovanni's Persian jump onto Tyranitar's head outside and tear out its eyes. Nor did they see Giovanni himself diving away at full stretch to avoid a Stomp by the enraged Tyranitar. Nor a Rocket's Sudowoodo managing to take a Meteor Mash from Metagross without being knocked out, then Countering its blow, sending it flying back into its Dead with a thump. The cool air-conditioning and the fluffy pillows added to the bliss they were enjoying, simply through pure and unadulterated sleep.
Then something broke into the blank mind of Temperance, a vision very clear and yet not so. Rather it would be said that the vision was very vivid, transfixing itself in Temperance's mind. There was no doubt that it would happen, or had already happened – a real vision. However what he was seeing was fragmented. It did not present itself to Temperance in a chronological order, or even a connected order at all. It instead came in the form of many short flashes – each very real, but the job of piecing the vision together would have to be done.
And vision after vision flashed inside Temperance's mind, disturbing his calm sleep and making him toss and thrash around on its bed. The purity and innocence of downy sleep broken, all Temperance could see was the terrifying visions: Brock turning his back on the Gym Leaders and walking off into darkness; Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno unleashing a combined blast on Lance; huge lightning bolts striking the earth; and a mysterious net, seemingly made out of light. There were many more, but most flashed by too fast for Temperance to fix them in the inner recesses of his mind. Just as Temperance was getting dizzy from all the images, a final one entered his vision, and this one was the clearest of all – Lillette lying down in a pool of blood, with Temperance – himself – sobbing over her body.
Temperance woke with a start. He was shivering, and the cosy room he had used to remove his weariness now seemed oddly sinister. His face was covered in sweat, and Temperance knew they were mixed with tears. Opening the ward door, Temperance still heard the unmistakable sounds of a battle going on outside, but he closed the door again. What was going on outside was now the least of his worries. The scene – the final scene he had viewed – of Lillette's body lying spread-eagled on the ground. Was it a hallucination, just a product of his own innate fears? No. It had been far too real – all of the visions had been as if he had been part of the scene itself. And the last one had been exceptionally vivid – not just passing through his subconscious like some of the others had done.
Was their mission doomed to end in despair?
Naturally, Temperance's attention then fell on the girl still sleeping at the other end of the room. For the first time in a very long time, he had a chance to observe her without any more pressing or urgent things on his mind. As he gazed upon her sleeping form, memories that had been banished to the back of his mind, three days – was it only three days? - of memories already forgotten with everything that was happening, came back to him. All the scoldings she had given him, the emotions she had transferred, how their different backgrounds had combined wonderfully. It was very hard to think rationally, but a previously unused part of Temperance's brain was now kicking in, had been kicking in since the kiss at Seafoam. And in his mind, there was no doubt that he loved her.
Previously, he would have scoffed at the thought – one did not simply "feel" things without rationalisation and logic. But now, perhaps, he was starting to believe that unknown attraction and feeling could be far more powerful than the logical thinking he had always subscribed to. But was it all to end? Were his newfound emotions to be lost once more, locked in a hidden room, the key thrown away with Lillette's death? Would be become what he was before – powerful and great trainer, but lacking in every other department? Could he stand going back to that life?
And as Temperance pondered over these complex thoughts, as Metagross outside finally fell to Giovanni's Dugtrio's Earthquake attack, as Salamence, instrumental in the early success of the defenders, fell to two consecutive Ice Beam attacks, as Lillette opened her eyes to find Temperance bending over her, his eyes dry, but full of anguish, there was activity going on at the other end of Kanto as well.
Fingers out, Lance randomly targeted an object on the horizon, thought of the attack he was going to perform, and concentrated. Lightning splayed from his fingers, setting fire to the tree he was aiming at. Satisfied, Lance turned to another tree, focused again, and this time it was water that poured from his hands, striking the tree with such force that it toppled over in a second. He smiled to himself. He was now the ultimate being ever to grace the earth. And what were the three birds now – even if they escaped his binding?
"Temperance? Are you alright?"
The simple question caused all of Temperance's emotions to rush out, escaping the bonds that had kept them in check. The tears now started to flow, dripping onto Lillette's back as he embraced her tightly, the cold future he had seen partially displaced by the warmth of her body. Lillette had only the slightest of hesitations before returning the gesture, feeling his body shiver and shake with the anguish of his sobs. Temperance tried to speak, to tell her what he had seen, to tell her what had provoked this sudden change in behaviour, but he simply could not find the words. Every time he started to talk, the vision of him holding Lillette's body in his arms, shouting as if his words could bring her back to life, came back to him. And every time he saw the vision, his mind would go blank.
It took a long time for Temperance to calm down. Not that it mattered. For the two, there was only the present. Although the future was right behind, uncertain, fraught with danger and despair, Temperance allowed himself to simply forget, leaving himself in the arms of the person he loved. And with the forgetting of the visions, came the gradual loss of his fear.
The embrace was finally broken. With it came the stopping of the tears by Temperance. And conversation could finally begin.
"Temperance, your vision you saw, you are positive it is real? Does it really confirm my death? From what you have described, it just shows me severely injured…"
But Lillette herself knew that the imagery and description Temperance had shown erased any doubt that it was a vague hallucination. And surely her soldier's training had imparted the knowledge long before this – an injury of this magnitude could not be survived, unless medical attention was at hand. The vision Temperance had was far from any Pokemon Centre, and for all the Max Potions that Temperance carried, they would only prolong the agony before death.
The two fell back into silence. Seeing into the future was no doubt a burden, especially when it affected those closest to the heart. Lillette knew that as a soldier, when she applied to join the Kanto defence, she had to be prepared to die as part of her duty to the country. And in all her previous missions, she had taken the necessary risks needed to complete her tasks. Why then was she fumbling now? Was it because her death was now virtually a certainty? So, should she carry out the standard actions in the field, or simply rush headlong into the midst of battle, knowing that she would die even if she tried to avoid it? Finally, she came to a decision.
"Ignore it, Temperance."
Temperance still remained motionless, his head down facing the covers. If there was any reaction to her words, it was the subtle tightening of his fists. Before the words of protest and horror could manifest themselves in speech, Lillette went on again.
"I know I have represented your vital instrument in breaking free from the cold life you have led for all this while. And after leading you so close to accessing all of the emotions locked up in the ice of your heart, it is… selfish… for me to suddenly depart now. But, I believe I have done what I needed to do. The kiss at Seafoam – that did not only awaken you to the power of love, it also was one of the best moments in my entire imperfect life. If there are regrets over loss, I will join your club. And yet – no matter how many seconds I have left to live – no matter how few memories I have the time to permanently leave with you as a token – no matter how long I have to wait in the desolateness of the afterlife before you will join me – there is always my love. Remember that, Temperance. I love you, and I will always love you, whether I live or die. So live your life to the fullest! If you escape out of this ordeal, continue to release your emotions. I will be watching, and I will be proud."
Temperance looked into Lillette's deep brown eyes for a long time. Both sets of eyes were dry. The grief was now beyond tears. Finally, Temperance leaned forwards and kissed Lillette full on the lips. The passion of the searing kiss was beyond Temperance's wildest imaginations. In the kiss, Temperance conveyed all his feelings for her, but in a much lesser period of time – time that had been expected to be several decades long. Their lips continued to interlock, the war forgotten. Until the shaking of the Pokemon Centre snapped them back out of their trance.
"Back to the battle then, Temperance. Remember, no matter what happens, there is always my love."
Temperance nodded. Words again failed him – what words could describe the magnitude of his feelings? Linking hands again, Temperance and Lillette pushed the ward door back open and ran out of the Pokemon Centre, to see Tyranitar, enraged, alone, sweep three Rockets aside with a sweep of its great tail, and slash an attacking Fearow so it fell back to the ground, its wings flapping no more. Even without sight, the Dead captain was a formidable opponent. Then Giovanni ran up its back, raised a dagger, and plunged it into Tyranitar's head.
He was instantly slammed into the Pokemon Centre wall by the monstrous Tyranitar, the dagger still sticking out from its grisly head. Blood was leaking out, and Tyranitar was struggling to maintain its balance, but the time it had left would be more than sufficient to impale Giovanni upon his own city building and hold Kanto bereft of another Gym Leader.
Until two Drill Pecks cut off Tyranitar's hand holding Giovanni by the throat. Xatu and Dodrio sliced and diced the weakened Tyranitar, cutting off limb after limb. Finally, Flygon appeared and gave the Tyranitar a Hyper Beam in the torso. Tyranitar flew somewhere in the direction of Viridian Forest, defeated just in time by Temperance and Lillette. A quick survey by Lillette showed that Giovanni was virtually unhurt, save for some bruises and cuts that was to be expected when engaging in battle. The nurse hastened to bind his wounds, much like she had done earlier for Temperance and Lillette.
Temperance, however, was not really interested in the aftermath of the battle. He vaguely saw bodies of the Rockets – previously committing petty crime for riches and power, getting foiled time and again – now making the ultimate sacrifice to save Kanto from Lance and his army of Dead. Bonded by trauma? An alliance of humans and Pokemon alike, against a common enemy?
Then the scene he had been waiting for presented itself. The cries of the birds were audible from even a great distance, and as ever, the very sound of Zapdos, Moltres and Articuno appearing to fight on their side was a huge morale booster. Temperance looked up, and for the first time in a day, smiled. Zapdos, entire body crackling with electricity, landed on the ground, along with the flaming Moltres and icy Articuno. They had succeeded in freeing the three legendary birds from Lance's grasp. Now, according to legend, Lance could be bound anew, freed from the possession of the evil that was exacting its revenge on the country that had bound it thousands of years ago.
If it worked. And if Temperance could keep enough cool – something that would be taken for granted a few weeks ago – to prevent himself from throwing his life away to follow Lillette, doomed for an early death, death that would arise when fighting Lance. But he knew what he had to do, knew his duty that he had to perform in order to restore peace – and a new system of government – to Kanto. He would not be afraid. Lillette's spirit would be with him when he walked down the road for the final battle – a single combat with Lance himself.
For that was his destiny. When the three birds were free, and the Gym Leaders combined their powers to bind Lance temporarily, Temperance could absorb some of the power Lance had taken for himself. Turning himself into a virtual Pokemon – albeit one that was not limited by the form his attacks could take. It had been used for evil by Lance. He had to use some of the same power to combat the evil.
There is always my love.