Chapter 13

"So you're the Light, huh?" Grandma chuckled at her own words. "I never would've thought that my own granddaughter would be someone so important." I followed her into the cave but instead of walking right back into the town, we took a detour down a dark path that would've been completely hidden if she hadn't walked into it.

I power walked after her. She must've had night vision because I was holding my hands out in front of me in pitch black darkness. I nearly screamed when I felt her hand grab mine. "No, no! Not that way." She tugged me to the right. "Ah, there you go. Hold on tight, dear!" We continued through the tunnel. Surprisingly, my feet didn't catch on anything as we continued. I was afraid they were without being able to see them, but it turned out we were just walking on smooth stone.

The cave finally opened up the the outside. Wow, I'd never seen such a beautiful waterfall before. It was almost too misty to see at the bottom, but straight up, you could see it fall gracefully over the side of a wide cliff. Pokemon were perched on the ledges like vaporeon and psyduck and a few marill to try and reach the source at the top. At the bottom, a lake was sprawled out in front of us. Masquerain and surskits were on the surface was stantler sipped on the beaches. Under the clear surface you could see jellicent, huntail, and shellder.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Grandma's words took me by surprise. "You'll have to keep things like this in mind whenever you feel like you're trapped. It might make quite the difference."

"Why should I keep this in mind?" I asked.

"You're the Light, dear. You need a good reason to keep going, even when it seems all hope is lost." She poked the surface of the water with her cane, startling a group of tympoles. "The Light is the only human in this region, maybe even planet, who can calm even the nastiest pokemon. Ho-oh is much the same, but her powers work more on humans. She can purify Shadows, yes, but only you can get the really bad pokemon."

"What really bad pokemon are out there?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, sweetheart." Grandma's smiled faded. "But if Celebi thought it was the right time for you to shine, then there must be some pretty powerful ones to face."

"Why did Snagem take Serenity?" Beluh sighed through her nose.

"I don't know that, either, I'm afraid. I'm sure there's a reason behind taking a poke from a girl that lives so awfully far away, but that reason escapes me. They still have no clue you are the Light either, so that can't be why." I turned the golden feather over in my hands. "Are you liking the feel of that blade?"

"Yeah," I replied. "It's light and comfortable in my hands. You said if I let go of it, it turns back to just an ordinary feather?" She nodded. To test it, I dropped the blade on the grass. She was right. Before it even hit the ground it was back to normal. I picked it back up, igniting the golden aura that still clung to it.

"There was a Light like you once," Grandma remembered. "A young man with great ambitions."

"Another one?"

"Yes, but he was not quite as powerful as you. As time went on, he wanted more and more power. But he couldn't get it through his own power. So he set out to find more. As time wore on, he became accustomed to darkness. He was no longer the Light, but the Shadow."

"Where's he now?"

"Hidden, dear. Hidden within the ranks of Team Cipher, I'd bet." She looked to the side. "He was once such a great young boy. What a tragedy."

"So all I have to do is purify pokemon, right?"

"Yes, sweetheart. Wes catches them, you purify them, then you set them free." She paused. "Where did you get that blade, Rui?"

"Wes gave it to me."

"He did? That easily?"

"What do you mean?" She walked over and examined the blade. Her old eyes worked hard from behind her tiny glasses. She stopped, surprised. "What? Is there something wrong with it?"

"No," she said. "Wes' initials are here. Wes Ashen Ledge. He had this blade for himself at one point." She looked closer. "My, he's never let anyone touch this, let alone use it before. You must be pretty important to him to bring this out of the box."

"What would he need a blade for? He's got two strong pokemon."

"Wes thought it was only fair that pokemon be protected by humans just as much as they protect us. Very few people think the same way here in Orre. They always rely on pokemon for protection." I turned it over in my hands.

"Why was this so important to him?"

"I believe there was a skarmory that he owned back in the day. A pet that he was raised with. When the bird grew too big and had to be released, she left him two feathers. One of them was stolen when he started working for Team Snagem. The other he decided to always keep on his person. It's the last memory he has of his first pokemon."

"The other was stolen, huh." I held mine up to the air. "Well, I'm not losing this one."

"Good. Wes wouldn't want it with anyone besides his girlfriend."

"Um, I'm not actually his-"

"Oh, not yet then." She laughed. "You two are so cute! Hopefully I'll live long enough to get some great grandkids." She started towards the exit, giggling into her hand. I was so surprised by what she said I didn't think to follow until she disappeared into the darkness. Then I snapped to and followed after her, face still red.

When we returned to the house, Wes and Grandpa had still not come back from the Celebi's altar. I told Grandma that we wouldn't be staying long enough to have a cup of tea but she waved me off and started up the pot anyways. The smell of pomegranate and earl grey filled the air. Oh, how I loved Grandma's tea. It'd probably been a year since I'd last had it.

"They'll be back soon, dear!" Grandma called from the kitchen. "Why don't you get some spare clothes from upstairs? I'm sure they'll still fit, you haven't changed a bit since you've been gone!"

"Oh, sure." I doubted the clothes I'd left here from a long time ago still fit. But if she's sure, then it must be true. Grandma Beluh was almost never wrong about anything. "Can you help me take off this cast?"

"You won't need me for that," she assured again. "Just throw those old clothes on the bed, I'll try and fix them up!" Well, if she was sure…

I started up the stairs and into their room. It was clean and pristine, just as always. They had a walk in closet, but the bottom bar was filled with my clothes rather than theirs. I pulled out a cute outfit and came to the realization that Beluh was right: these clothes would fit me just fine. It had been so long since I'd had a selection to choose from for an outfit. It'd take me a while to pick one, so I'd better take off the bandages first.

It started out as a pain. It was too hard to reach the end of my cast. So I grabbed scissors from Grandma's sewing desk and started cutting off the front. Yuck, only one day on and it already smelt like sweat and dried blood. With a little bit of cutting and even more jiggling around the blade, it was off.

What. The wound was completely gone. And by gone, I mean, like it had never existed. There was no scar, no blood, just new, spotless flesh. No wonder she'd said that I wouldn't need her help. Purifying all those pokemon and becoming the Light must've done this. She knew more about this than she'd like to admit.

After it had been removed and the rest of my clothes thrown on the bed, I heard Wes and Grandpa enter from downstairs.

"Ah, that's what I love to smell when I get home!" Eagun boomed. "The smell of tea and a fresh batch of brownies!" Was she making brownies, too? Wow, we were really lucky to be here. From his spot at the front door, Wes glanced around the room. Eagun clapped him on the back and leaned in close. "Don't worry, lad. Your girl is probably getting all freshened up in our room." Then, inhaling the air like a drug, the old man took a seat on an armchair next to the couch. "Take a seat. No use in standing there like an idiot."

"Right…" Wes mumbled. When he took a seat next to the old man, Grandma came out with fresh tea and brownies. She set it on the coffee table, slapping Eagun's hand when he reached for them.

"Hot!" she scolded. "Touch anything and you'll burn yourself." Then she too sat down in the armchair to Eagun's left. She was just about to make conversation when my head poked down from upstairs. "Come on down, sweetie. There's nothing to be afraid of." Yes there was: embarrassment. I hadn't worn these clothes since my girly phase. There was a high chance Wes would think I looked like a loser. "C'mon now, your food is getting cold!"

"Fine." I started down the stairs. When I was at the bottom I blushed and turned to the left. My hair had been done up with ribbons to support my messy pigtails. Those pigtails were attached to each other, the ribbon tied in a bow on the top of my head. My jacket was black with pink, feathery fuzz around the sleeves and rims. I left the jacket open to show an old shirt with the picture of all starter pokemon steam pressed on, my name drawn in curly letters in the corner. Where there had once been elastic on my skirt there was now a pink plaid belt that had a few pokemon keychains jingling off the side. The skirt itself was a slightly darker pink than the rest of the outfit, but it was just as cute. I had some flat shoes on with red fish net tights underneath.

I turned to Grandma and Grandpa, ready to tell them that I looked stupid, but Wes changed my mind. For the first time ever, he was looking at me with rosy red cheeks. He was trying desperately to cover it up, but a smile was breaking through as well.

He really liked what I was wearing. I thought it was going to sit there like an idiot, but he actually got up and walked over to me. He was standing so close that I had to crane my neck to meet his eyes. Then, without warning, he leaned forward and hugged me. I couldn't help it, I hugged him back.

Eagun set his hand on top of Beluh's. They exchanged a loving glance. Is this what they were like when they were younger? Red and shaky whenever they held each other? Because that's what I felt now. But Wes was warm, so very warm. I wondered if I felt the same to him. I wondered if he wanted to stay there forever, just as much as I wanted to.
"Now, now you two." I had been in his arms for long I didn't even realize how much time had passed. Grandma and Grandpa were eating the brownies and sipping their tea. "Come get some food before bed."

"Bed?" I pulled away. It was already night outside. It wasn't any surprise. Wes and I hadn't gotten here until late in the day, and the majority of it was me purifying pokemon and dealing with Team Cipher.

"Yes, bed." Grandma had already pulled out a plate and set some brownies on it. She handed them to Wes and gave me two mugs of steaming tea. "In fact, why don't you eat those in the guest bedroom? That way you can get right to sleep as soon as you fall asleep." She ushered us towards the stairs. "Go, go! Sleep! I'll wake you when it's time to leave in the morning."

"Oh, ok." I smiled. "Thanks Grandma. Thanks Grandpa."

"Feh," Grandpa muttered. Apparently, he still wasn't too happy with the idea that I wasn't grounded anymore. Beluh just smiled at him

"Goodnight." We climbed the stairs and opened the room that was across from theirs. As soon as the door closed behind us, Eagun gave Beluh and angry look.

"You knew she was the light all along," he started. "How do you know everything? I've been around you fifty years and I still have no idea how you do it."

"It's not something you learn, Eagun," she started. "You get it from someone else. Like how Rui inherited her powers from Mewy."

"Whatever." He took a sip from his cup of tea. "I still think she shouldn't be allowed to leave… but I suppose with Wes, she'll be in good hands."

When Wes and I first entered the room, it was nice and comfortable. There was a window and a dozen gorgeous paintings on the wall of flowers and plants that Grandpa must've sketched in his free time. We had our own bathroom and a bed, but just one bed.

One that we had to share.

Like always, Wes was emotionless about it. He set the brownies down on the trunk near the feet and sat onto it, where he took off his gloves and Snag Sleeve and set them on the nightstand. He fell backwards on it and closed his eyes. I wasn't sure if he was enjoying it or just too tired to sit up anymore. Maybe it was both, I couldn't tell.

The brownies smelled really good, I didn't want to miss a chance at getting a few of those. I walked over and picked up a piece. Grandma was an amazing cook, this was bound to be wonderful. When the first bite was in my mouth, it melted. Oh, sweet ecstasy. There were peanut chunks in them! And she even put a bowl of whipped cream on the plate. Right when I dipped it in for another bite, Wes tugged my sleeve.

"Hm?" I asked. Instead of replying, he opened his mouth making that noise whenever the doctor tells you to open wide. I blinked at him. "Um, what are you doing?" He let go of my sleeve and pointed at his mouth, smiling slightly. I blushed. "Oh, um, ok." I got a better grip on the brownie and put the end of it in his mouth, which he bit down on. He took a few bites, happiness spread clearly on his face.

"So good…" he sighed. He sat up and held out his hand. I gave him the rest of the brownie. How rude, taking a piece from me when he very clearly had an entire plate of them next to him. What a- "Aaaaah." I blinked at him.

"Um, what?"

"Aaaah," he said with more emphasis, pointing to my mouth. I blushed. Did… did he want to feed me the piece I had just given him? I was so embarrassed that he prepared himself to do it again. That's when I opened my mouth and he gave me to remainder of the piece. It was weird. The brownie tasted even better when he fed it to me. He looked so cute while doing it, too; smile wide and everything. I didn't know this side of Wes existed.

It was no surprise when we both picked up our own piece of brownie, paused, then fed each other again. When the both of us had bitten off our piece, we waited for each other to chew then fed them the rest of the piece. It was so cute and cool that I found myself laughing mid-bite. Wes missed and smeared some of the brownie on my cheek by accident. The smile faded from his lips. It was like he thought he'd punched me upside the head.

"I'm-" he started, but I stopped him by smearing his brownie the same way he did to me.

There was a pause.

Then the both of us broke out laughing. It was so loud that Grandma and Grandpa could hear it from upstairs. Espeon and Umbreon broke free from their balls to jump on the bed with us. We hadn't stopped to wipe the chocolate from our faces so the two of them naturally started to take care of it themselves. It was so cute! There was no way I was going to stop them.

Wes had to get up, however. "I have to take a shower. You should probably change into some pajamas," he suggested. Aw, did I get dressed for nothing? "Don't look so disappointed. You'll be able to wear it tomorrow." Then, nodding at me, he grabbed a pair of identical clothes off a hook that hung from the bathroom door and closed it behind him.

I put my hands on my cheeks and smiled so wide that I thought my face would burst. He was so cute! I didn't think he could ever be this cute! Feeding him, then him feeding me, oh just the thought that it actually happened made my heart leap! Thank God I had followed him when we first met, we might actually be dating soon! I couldn't have been any more excited!

Espeon and Umbreon were smell the plate of brownies now, so I offered them each a piece. They took it and trotted up to the foot of the bed, where they slept curled into each other like a yin yang symbol. They were asleep almost instantly. Watching them be all cuddly and whatnot made me just as tired.

I leaned against my pillow. I'd get changed in just a sec. Just a quick nap before bed….

Wes was running a towel through his hair when he walked out back into the room. Regardless of telling her that she should've gotten something better to sleep in, Rui had fallen asleep so soundly that even when Wes sat down on the bed she didn't stir.

The shower had tired him. Now that he was in his sleep clothes, he wasn't willing to wait for her to get up and get dressed before he could fall asleep. So he pulled the covers over him as well as throwing half of them Rui's way. Umbreon and Espeon shifted at the foot of the bed to better fit him. He sighed. Finally, some rest.

The pokemon trainer was just about to fall asleep when two warm arms wrapped around him. He froze, thinking that she was just playing with him. She wasn't. Rui was instinctively hugging him in her sleep. He knew what was happening, he just didn't know what to do. Move and risk waking me? Or sit there and take it? He paused. Then, as slowly as he could, he turned around.

And pulled her close to him.

He was still trembling with joy when he finally fell asleep.

Rui Received The Golden Blade!

Rui Used Encore!

Wes Is Excited!

Rui Used Sleep Move!

It's Super Effective!

Saving Game…

Game Saved!