Chapter 13: Alternative
As for the rest of the day, it went by peacefully, with nothing unusual happening. Tamao didn't see any legendary pokemon, Umbreon didn't make a second appearance, and Eusine and Crystal were fighting as always, even while they were exiting Mt. Mortar. Tamao didn't tell them about Silvers phone number. She didn't know how they'd react, and did not wish to find out at all.
She didn't wonder why Silver had left his phone number. He probably just wanted to call her or something. Why he did it in such a strange way, well, it just seemed to be just like him. Not that Tamao knew, she had only known him for a few hours, though a lot of that had been used in a life threatening danger. Even so, she didn't worry about it.
The day went by, and it wasn't very interesting. Upon arriving to Mahogany town, the three headed to the Lake of Rage. There had been rumours of a strange pokemon there, after all. They spent the day there, putting up traps. However, no strange pokemon appeared. When it started to get dark, Crystal decided it was time for them to return to the town. Eusine didn't go quietly, but eventually he gave up. He was probably tired too.
An old lady kept a shop in Mahogany town. She had a huge basement, and agreed to let the three sleep there for the night. Upon thanking her several times, Crystal lead Tamao and Eusine down the stairs. The basement was indeed amazing, almost like a hideout. Crystal walked there with confident steps, leading both Eusine and Tamao to small rooms, before heading for a third one. Tamao couldn't help but to wonder how she knew the place so well. Had she been there before?
There were no beds in the room. Instead, there were little computers. They were horribly outdates though, and looked like no-one would have used them for years. Which probably was the case.
Tamao put her bag to the floor and sat down by it. She was happy she had been left alone – it had been pretty hard for her to be social for the whole day. After all, she hadn't really had time to clear anything up in her head.
For a while, Tamao just sat there, letting all kinds of thoughts fly through her head. However, her body and mind both felt numb; it was like nothing could move her now. What was this feeling? It was almost like she was frozen before a horrible destiny, like she was expecting the final blow in a battle…
Tamao felt her throat become dry. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry too. She didn't want to cough; she had coughed enough for one day, when she was in the cave. Instead, she made a big yawn. It was probably past midnight, so she should sleep.
The girl put her head on her bag, ignoring the hard items pressuring her head, and stared at the roof. It was white, too white. Like the roof of a laboratory. Tamao yawned again, and closed her eyes. She wasn't tired anymore, now that she finally could sleep. Why did it always end up like that?
Tamao tried to shut everything out of her mind, and fall asleep. Nothing happened. She felt the items on her head, the floor under her hands and feet. She didn't fall into any kind of dreams.
She sighed harshly, and opened her eyes. However, she didn't see the white roof. She was a green glow dwelling around above her.
Her hand hit the ground harshly, as she sat up sharply. Her heart was pounding fast, faster than it had for ages. She looked around. The whole room was dwelling in the same green glow; she could hardly make out anything of the room from under it. The gentle, green light was simply flooding around the room. However, the light did not touch her; it was like she was inside a bubble, keeping her away from that glow.
" Am I dreaming…?" Tamao thought as she looked around. She was calm, but her heart was all but. The violent beating was starting to spread anxiety to her mind.
Before she even managed to finish her thoughts, a silent, friendly voice echoed in her ears.
" Yes, this is a dream. However, it is not one you'd see without our, um… help." The voice giggled in a gentle way. Even so, this gentle voice didn't make Tamao let her guard down. There was something in it that made goosebumps appear to her hand.
Tamao knew she should ask who the person talking was, but there was something else that had caught her attention.
" Our?" she asked, silently. Even though this seemed to be a dream, she still felt like Eusine and Crystal might hear.
" Oh? Don't worry. We do not mean to harm you. You aren't surrounded. There are only two of us", the voice answered calmly. The green glow shone brighter, but still gently enough not to hurt Tamao's eyes.
" Well then. I'm sorry if I sound rude, but could the two of you show yourselves? This is pretty intimidating, you know", Tamao said angrily, and tried to cover her eyes. Even though the light didn't hurt, it bothered her. The whole situation bothered her – why wouldn't these two, whoever they were, just let her sleep? The last thing she needed was more trouble, and this certainly was troubling!
" Oh, pardon me. We didn't want to do any sudden movements, but it seems you are already ready to hear our words. I should have guessed. You have gone through a lot in a short time, after all."
The green light started pounding, slower than Tamao's heart. In a harmony. The effect was calming, but it wouldn't reach Tamao's mind. She still felt uneasy.
A green whirlpool started spinning ahead of Tamao's eyes, in the air. She watched calmly as the circle turned into a small, fairy-like being. Tamao knew what it was –s she had never thought she'd actually see it, but she knew. However, she didn't feel as impressed as she probably should have been.
Celebi had appeared to Tamao. Tamao had thought this most likely was doing of a legendary pokemon, so she didn't feel surprised.
The small legend raised its big head, and looked Tamao into the eyes. Then, it turned its face to its side. Another green whirlpool, significantly bigger though, had appeared. Tamao watched silently as it slowly formed a big, dragon-like pokemon. Mostly white, with a little blue too. Tamao knew this being too.
Lugia. As she viewed the being from the legends she had heard of since a kid, she realized that it wasn't her first time seeing this magnificent pokemon. She wondered why she hadn't recognized it before, when she had found it flying away from her house. Obviously, the pokemon behind her window had been Lugia. How come she had not realized it?
Tamao watched he two legendaries, especially Lugia. Once her eyes met the big eyes of this being, yet another deep, magnificent voice filled her head, echoing in her mind.
" I see you have recognized me", the astonishing voice of Lugia said calmly.
" Yes." There wasn't much Tamao could say.
" I understand that you may be questioning your own skills right now. I assure you; the fact that my identity was hidden for you up till now has nothing to do with your abilities. It is just that I wished that you wouldn't know. We wanted to avoid any kind of conflict, including Hp-oh and his beasts."
Tamao blinked, and suddenly felt both insulted and threatened.
" You've been messing with my mind?" she asked, perhaps a bit too moodily.
" That is a rather ugly way to put it. But it is true; we have indeed guided your thoughts into our direction. This is not the first time we contact you. Your dreams were spent with us last night too." Lugias voice was deep and sorrowful, but sort of cold. It lacked some much emotion it scared Tamao slightly.
Tamao gulped.
" Last night… what did you do to me last night?!" she was starting to get really uneasy.
" Fear not. We merely showed you your near future."
" My near futu-?" Tamao started, but suddenly gasped.
The reason for her fearlessness in Mt. Mortar had just been revealed. Tamao felt her heart pound like crazy, and every breath she took was a sharp one. She had known there was something wrong with that; people didn't just know the future. She had known what would happen, she had felt secure, because she had seen what would happen in the dream she couldn't remember. Like flashbacks, that dream had reminded her of it's existence, and granted her a fearless state.
Tamao felt her heart gripping in her chest, as if it would fear that it might be ripped out any minute. It was like her heart would have stopped to think for a moment. If these legendary pokemon could show her this future, did it mean it was her destiny? But Morty always said destiny was only a guidance, which people followed quite freely. How did they know exactly what would happen?
" How'd you…? Why did you…?" Tamao muttered quietly, not understanding enough to even ask.
" Please, fear not." This time, the gentle voice of Celebi spoke.
" We do not wish to hurt you, nor do we want to confuse you. Back in that dark cave, it was important for you not to fear. Your fear might have changed everything; it might have turned everything to a course we don't want it to turn to. That is why we showed you what would happen; so you wouldn't have a reason not fear", Celebi continued softly, looking at Tamao with its large eyes.
" Destiny… A course you don't want it to turn to?" Tamao asked, baffled, but calmer than a while ago. She had to calm down; she had to listen now.
It was Lugia who answered.
" Destiny is very fragile right now. For long now, the hold destiny has on our world had been loosening. Before, changing destiny was next to impossible. However, recently, destiny has changed its course several times. Even the smallest thoughts can completely change the world's future."
Celebi continued again, with eyes full of sadness;
" I have the ability to travel in time. However, I can only go to the future that the current destiny leads to. The future we saw before us recently was not something we wish to let come true. That is why we had to contact you earlier than we were originally going to. Only erasing your fear could save us, for now."
" Contact me? So you were going to contact me anyway? What do you want from me anyway?" Tamao whispered, gripping her teeth together.
Celebi's eyes were still sad.
" You do not trust us. Well, I can understand how you feel. But we really just want your best. Our goal is the one most favourable for you too, believe me. If you continue the way you have for now, you will have a sad ending ahead of you. If you continue to fulfil the prophesy Ho-oh wants to create, then you will certainly be doomed to a pain more sinister than the one you feel now."
Tamao's eyes widened. She felt like time would have completely stopped, as she listened to Celebis words. She stared into thin air, and felt her hands go cold. She could almost see how all colour escaped from her body, along with all the warmth she had just felt.
" W-what?" she asked too stunned to even talk well.
" You heard what she said. You might have thought that Ho-oh only tried to help you, but that is not the case. He only works for his selfish goals and wishes. His beats, those three, only do what he tells them to do, so they aren't any better. Your life doesn't mean anything to any of them; you're just a tool for gaining the future they want", the cold voice of Lugia spoke, ignoring Tamao's astonished stare.
" But… That can't… be…" Tamao stumbled with her words. Her thoughts would not flow. Her mind was still like a mountain in a storm.
What was going on? Why did Lugia and Celebi contact her? And what they said… Ho-oh and selfish goals… What was that all about? Tamao couldn't make anything out of it.
Celebi floated gently in the air, with the small wings moving at a speed so high Tamao couldn't even see them well. Her eyes were almost teary as she gazed at Tamao sitting on the floor. While Tamao didn't utter any word, she started talking with the gentle voice again.
" I'm sorry about telling this to you like this. I understand that it is painful; you trusted them, didn't you? They came to you at the time you were most lost, they guided you to a long road with their amazing powers and light. It must be hard for you to comprehend that road is only taking you to your doom…"
" Stop it", Tamao interrupted suddenly. Her tone was a mess; it sounded angry, stunned, sad and even calm at the same time.
Celebi became silent, and looked at her in surprise. Tamao gripped her hands together, and stared at the two legendary pokemon ahead of her. Her eyes were full of emotions she tried so hard to hide, but it was useless. It seemed like everything, every feeling she felt, every word that was born in her heart, desperately wanted to come out. While she tried to hide it, she wanted to tell it to the whole world.
" Just stop it. You tell me I've been tricked, that I've been misguided. You're basically saying that I'm being deceived by Ho-oh, that I shouldn't trust him. However, you yourself don't seem any trustworthier to me now. What do you even want from me? I doubt you want my good any more than he does. And I'm fine with that, you know. I currently don't care about myself; my priority is to rescue Umbreon. So as long as I've got the means to do so…" Tamao spoke quickly, so that the emotions in her speech would remain unnoticed by the two bizarre beings ahead of her.
However, it seemed that the two noticed, since it was Lugia's turn to interrupt her.
" Those means you speak of… what good are they to you? Either you have to choose to let your dear friend die, or then you have to make him forget all and everything, and give him a new beginning. It seems that you're aiming for the latter. However, do you understand what you're doing?" the deep voice spoke calmly, but sternly. Like a grandfather to a granddaughter trying to run away from her parents,
Tamao gulped, and tried to keep the moodiness she had awakened a while ago.
" What's that supposed to mean? Of course I understand! I understand that if Umbreon survives, I'll never be able to see him again. But that doesn't matter. If he can live on happily, so can I- " she nearly hissed, but stopped intact when Celebi looked down, and blinked her eyes sadly. The small fairy-like pokemon turned her eyes to Lugia. Tamao stared, and couldn't do anything when the giant pokemon started talking with that deep voice again.
" Live on, you say. But let me ask you this; what is life without memories? What makes you what you are, if they aren't you memories? The words you say are caused by pain. That pain is caused by your memories, isn't it? If you were to forget this all… what kind of words would you say? Or… would it even be you who'd say those words?" Lugia's eyes were serious as it said these words aloud.
Tamao felt her hands go numb, and released her grip. Her heart had stopped pounding like crazy. It was now beating slowly, so slowly it felt like there was an eternity between every heartbeat. Tamao felt her mind getting dizzier and dizzier all of the time. And this was not caused by Lugias and Celebis powers. It was caused by their words, Tamao's thoughts.
" Do you see now? If you erase his memories, it's the same as letting your friend die. A new being, similar to what he was, yet different, will live on. You friend will be worse than dead; he will be lost forever with his memories."
Tamao stared quietly, and met Celebi's eyes. Her heartbeat was slow, but she felt like something was struggling in her chest. Was it her heart, or was it simply the pain she held inside her? Tamao didn't know. But right now, she was losing the battle to it.
" But… The memories are… all painful ones… he'd be better off not - " Tamao stumbled, as she spoke quietly. She felt like she was being cornered by these to mighty beings.
" You're wrong", Celebi spoke again with her soothing voice.
" I believe you understand Lugia's words, you just don't want to believe in them. I understand; you don't want to lose hope. You have not had hope for a long time, but you've finally had at least a small branch of hope to grab on. And here we are, trying to break that branch. But please, fear not; when that branch breaks, you will not fall. We will not let you. Right now it might not seem like it, but we do care about you", she spoke sadly, as her huge eyes were shining the green light surrounding them. Tamao stared at her, unable to say or think anything.
" You want what's best for him, don't you? What you're doing now is not what's best for him. And it's the worst option for you too; if you continue this way, you'll meet your doom sooner than you can even imagine. But, child, I tell you this; the road you're taking isn't just divided in two. The two options Ho-oh gave you are not the only ones", Celebi's voice was determined and sure. For a while, Tamao felt like she should just go ahead and believe everything told to her. However, something made her remain silent.
Celebi flew a little closer to her.
" Don't worry. We don't want to confuse you by making you do anything now. All that you need to now is listen to what we tell you… Since once you know the truth, you'll understand that you really should come with us… And not help Ho-oh destroy your precious friend and you", she said calmly. Tamao didn't answer, she didn't say anything.
Lugia looked straight at Tamao, with a stern but wise face. As Tamao looked at it, she remembered the story Ho-oh had told her in the Tin Tower. Lugia and Ho-oh had been friends, the only legendary pokemon who had decided to search for happiness with humans. Then why did Lugia now call him selfish, and say he wanted to destroy Tamao? Why was he on the different side, calling his friend evil? What exactly was going on?
Lugia turned its eyes up, and the deep voice once again filled Tamao's head.
" In the beginning, when life was born, the world was different. It was big and empty, with so little options, yet it was huge enough to drown all the life in it. The souls of that time were all lost, wandering spirits. So, a gentle force was born, guiding them to a road they could take. So that they all had a future. Along time, this gentle force was given the name destiny. Nobody knows where this force was born from, or why it wanted so deeply to assure a future to these souls, but it happened. And because of that, the souls could keep on living. They learned to feel feeling other than despair and fear, and learned to give birth to new souls. All life would calmly follow the road destiny had made for them, and live in the wide world without getting lost. And so, the roads destiny had made brought them forward, even to this day.
When a soul is born, destiny gives that soul a unique road, a future only they can have. We are all free to follow that road however we want, even leave it for a while, but in the end, we all come to the end of that one road. Before, it was impossible for that road to change. However, once, it happened. A soul came to the end of a different road than destiny had originally meant. Then it happened again. It became a rare event that no-one could see. No-one but us what they call 'legendary pokemon', and the humans who are called seers.
Because destiny only wants what is best for us, we legendary pokemon understood that the change of ones destiny as a bad omen. Of it isn't changed back, the road they will end will be more painful than the one they started. However, since changing destiny was hard, changing it back was next to impossible. Only a few times did we manage to fix these terrible accidents. The souls who we couldn't rescue… They live don with a destiny much more sinister than they deserved.
At first we thought that a change of ones destiny was always caused by themselves. The souls would leave the road they were given for a time too long, and not find back anymore. However, as time passed, we learned that we had been wrong. Sometimes, souls who were faithfully following their roads, would all of a sudden be pushed away from them by a force unseen by us."
Tamao flinched as she heard what Lugia said last. The image of Crystal's bothered face came to her mind, and she shivered slightly. This was what Morty had talked about; someone's destiny changed, even though they did everything right. Crystal had been the victim of this unseen force. But why did it happen? Tamao couldn't make herself ask. She feared the answer might shock her so much she could bare it.
Lugia continued. It had been silent as Tamao thought. Was it still playing games with her mind?
" This became a huge source of worry for us legendary pokemon. Well… most of us. Back then, Ho-oh and myself were young for legendary pokemon. We couldn't quite comprehend destiny, or the severity of its changes. We just wanted to happily live our lives; no matter what roads we were taking. We wanted to escape all the worry and sorrow along with us with power, so we decided to go to humans to find our happiness. It was just like it had meant to happen.
However, something went differently than it was supposed to. It was a small thing, but since it affected us, two legendary pokemon, it started a chain of more severe events. It happened on a day three new legendary pokemon were destined to be born. Ho-oh and I were waiting for a sign that they would finally be born. However, nothing happened. We understood that something had changed their destiny; these tree legendary pokemon would not be born. Of course, this caused chaos between all of us legendary pokemon. It opened the eyes of us two; finally we saw, we understood the terribly truth we had escaped from. I felt shocked, but Ho-oh was so terrified he didn't even seem to be able to think well.
Then, the fire of the tower took place. And when Ho-oh found the three pokemon in the fire, and decided to rescue them, a dangerous idea came to his mind. He decided to correct destiny. So, not only did he rescue them, but he turned those three pokemon into the three legendary beats, three new legendary pokemon. And so, destiny had been fulfilled; three new legendary pokemon had been born that day. Everything was all right. I too saw it that way. But what followed was so terrible it was even beyond our understanding.
Certainly, Ho-oh had made it so that the legendary pokemon had been born. However, he had changed the destiny of the three pokemon he saved. And because their destiny had change din such a severe way, it started a chain of events. It slightly changed the destiny of those who were supposed to meet the three pokemon, but didn't. They changed the destiny of those who were supposed to see them together. All just slightly, but the changes were still occurring. We all saw those tiny changed, but a very few of us worried about them. A bigger disaster had been avoided, after all.
However, as time went by, those small changes started becoming a problem. Because so many small changes had occurred, the result was that some people got a destiny entirely different from the one meant for them. All we could do was watch with horror, as the small fix turned into several people completely losing their way before even starting to walk them.
Ho-oh felt guilty about this. After all, it was all caused by his attempt of fixing destiny. His method had been wrong, and now everything was becoming more and more twisted. Even though no-one blamed him, it was all becoming so severe it was unbearable for Ho-oh. I tried to talk to him, to calm him down, but he wouldn't. It was then he came up with his dangerous idea; he decided to fix his mistakes. Once again, he wanted to attempt fixing destiny.
Some of us legendary pokemon side him. Several believe that since he could turn it all to this, he can also fix it. However, Celebi, a few others and myself only believe it will turn things for the worse. In fact, Celebi knows it for sure. The more Ho-oh does, the darker the future she travels to becomes. However, we could not stop Ho-oh from trying to fix the destinies of those who had got them wrong.
And so… Five years ago, all we had feared broke loose. Ho-oh decided to fix the destiny of a pokemon who had been destined to be born with powers greater than her species possessed. However, she had lost those powers in the change of destiny before even gaining them. Ho-oh changed it; he gave her those powers. And this was the beginning of a horrible chain of events.
Not only did this greatly affect the pokemon given those powers, it even continued to others too. A human boy was affected by this change, on the time he once met this pokemon. Even though the change in him was slight, it too passed on as he lived. On. And then, the worst we could imagine happened; he met someone who had a mighty destiny. The small change in him turned into a void that swallowed the destiny glimmering ahead of this person, giving her an empty destiny. She was free to take whatever road she wanted to again, since her road was lost forever. She became what we all were in the beginning; a soul lost in the wide world."
Tamao wanted to stop listening. She knew exactly whom Lugia was talking about. What she heard now was what Morty could not have told her; she heard the reason Crystal's destiny had changed. And the reason, it was because of some small change. A small change resulted from an attempt to fix the world Tamao had not known was wrong. Because of one careless action years ago, that was fixed in a stupid way, Crystal was now going through the misery that could sometimes be seen from her eyes.
Tamao could feel her anger rising, but then she suddenly clamed herself down. How could she know this all was true? Ho-oh had given her a completely different story. Even though this one made sense, how could she know these two legendary pokemon were not lying to her? They had appeared out of nowhere, played games with her mind, and now this… But it did sound so real…
Tamao felt her mind become messier. She couldn't help but to listen to Lugia, as it started speaking once again.
" This girl was supposed to become the legend of her time. Now, she had gotten lost. We were all afraid of what would happen next; since her destiny had disappeared, surely it would have some awful results in the world. However, Ho-oh was certain he could fix this too. He decided to search for a girl who could take her place; a girl who could become the legend instead. He said he wouldn't repeat his mistakes anymore, and most of us trusted him. Celebi and I, we had our doubts. And, I'm sad to say, we were right.
After Ho-oh made the changes to her destiny, it turned out that this was the worst thing he had done yet. While the girl herself did not cause any drastic changes to anyone else, Ho-oh's way of working did. He tried to create a new legendary pokemon. A new legendary pokemon that would guide the girl to the road Ho-oh had decided to pass on to her. However, the pokemon gained a horrific life and destiny, and caused a lot of pain and sadness to appear to the roads of others around him. In one moment, that pokemon changed the destinies of others by simply existing. The girl herself… she too gained a faith so sad it'd bring many people to tears.
And now, Ho-oh has decided to fix this all. He has decided to fix the problem with the girl, the pokemon, and everything that has gone wrong in this world. Still, many of us help him, but several of us also see that his actions are wrong. Celebi, others and I understand. By now, the times Ho-oh has tried to fix something have only made things worse. The first time was a mistake made by a young spirit. It is understandable, and it can't be changed. However, he must open his eyes soon. He must stop fixing things. Even though his actions cannot cause a major damage to destiny, it still makes the future of several individuals darker. He should accept his mistakes, embrace them, and live on. Everything isn't that bad of, after all, and it can still change for the better. But as long as he keeps on trying to fix everything, it will become worse", Lugia finished his story.
A silence took over the room that was dwelling in the green shine. Celebi looked sad, and Lugia seemed to be frustrated. Tamao… she didn't know. All she could do was stare. She could not even think well. However, she still just managed to talk. One thing she had heard in the story was something she could understand, yet hoped would no be true.
" That girl… supposed to become a legend… the legendary pokemon… Umbreon and me?" she mumbled softly, in a silent, silent voice. She knew the pokemon would hear. They probably even heard her thoughts, the big mess in her heart.
" Yes. Your destiny was something Ho-oh thought was safe to change. However, it turned out that your future was not as insignificant as he had thought; it affected your friend a lot more greatly than he ever imagined."
" Umbreon… Was supposed to become someone… very important, then?" Tamao wasn't sure what to think. She didn't even quite comprehend what she was saying.
" He had a future ahead of him, one a lot different from this one. Both of you have already felt a lot more pain than you were ever supposed to", this time, it was the gentle voice of Celebi that answered after being silent so long.
Tamao felt sick, depressed, confused and most of all lost. Who was she to trust? Ho-oh, or these two? What would be the best for Umbreon? What was she to do?
Tamao looked down. Her eyes were struggling; they wanted to get filled with tears. She was against it. There was no way she was going to start crying now. Not in front of these two!
" Why do you tell me this? What do you want from me?" Tamao asked, as she stared at the floor that reflected the green light around her.
" We just want you to survive. Your destiny has changed enough already. If you keep on following Ho-oh's instructions, it'll change even more. It'll become even more painful, for both you and your friend. Ho-oh's plan to correct anything… For you, it means a certain death", the ever so deep voice said ever so coolly.
Tamao's heart was beating so slowly, she felt like it was about to stop.
" Ho-oh isn't evil. He just wants to fix everything. However, if his plans come true, some individuals will suffer. We want to avoid any suffering, including yours. We do not want to correct thing by sacrificing innocent people. We have come to you, because your death would be in vain; even if you were to do what Ho-oh wants, and die in the end, nothing would become better. It'd just cause more suffering, and the world around you would become darker", Celebi spoke calmly.
Tamao felt annoyed.
" What -?! So now you want me to save the world from a horrendous future, then?!" she hissed, but kept her eyes down.
" No…" Celebi started, but Lugia interrupted her.
" The world is not in danger because of this. It might eventually be, but you have no effect in that. The world we speak about does not mean the one we walk upon. The world is seen differently by each individual, and whether it is light or dark depends on how numerous people see it. If Ho-oh keeps on doing this, you and several people around you will start seeing it in a very sad way. It will become dark in their eyes… And thus dark in our eyes."
"All we ask you to save is yourself, your friend, and those who you care about… who care about you." Celebi's voice echoed in Tamao's mind, so gently it seemed almost false.
Tamao felt like whining, like moaning and screaming. This was too much. Just too much. Just a while ago, she had been bravely walking the road that would end in her rescuing Umbreon. And now she was being deceived? Now she suddenly had to start believing in others, and not believe in the only thing she had thought wouldn't lie to her?
What if these two were lying? What if they wanted something selfish from her? What would legendary pokemon want from her?
Crystal… Had she been chosen to replace Crystal? Why hadn't Ho-oh given the destiny back to Crystal? Why, what, who, what if…?
With her head spinning like crazy, Tamao couldn't even find the green light soothing anymore. What could she do? What would she say?
Suddenly, she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. She raised her head, and saw Celebi in front of her. She had placed her small hand on Tamao's shoulder.
" I understand this is all shocking. We do not want you to answer now that you are still confusing. Think after for a while, search your heart. We will appear again, once it is time for you to answer", she said, and looked Tamao into the eyes. She was glowing in a soothing light, but Tamao didn't feel calm.
As Celebi flew further away from her, the room started getting dimmer.
" Wait! I still-!" Tamao shouted, and reached her hand towards the two pokemon slowly dissolving with the light.
Suddenly, she lost her balance. Even though she was still sitting, her body suddenly started falling down as if was forced by a harsh pressure.
" Unnnngh!" she moaned, as she started falling towards the floor, where she could see the green light disappearing.
Tamao fell, and it felt like an eternity had passed before she finally hit the floor. She closed her eyes in pain, and made a small, squeaking whine. When she opened her eyes, the green light was gone. The room was perfectly normal, just like it had been before the two legendary pokemon had appeared.
Tamao put her hands to the ground, and pushed herself up. She looked around, and realized that her body was aching all over. Her bag had been kicked a bit further away from her, and some of her items were scattered on the ground. A restless dreamer had raged in the room.
" Oh… That's right… It was a dream…" Tamao thought sadly. However, she didn't question the reality of what had happened. She knew it had not been a regular dream; it had indeed been caused by Celebi and Lugia.
Tiredly, Tamao started picking up her items. Once she took up her old PokeGear, she saw that it was 4.32, early in the morning. For some reason, Tamao froze up, and stared at the gear for a while, without thinking or saying anything. It was like time would have stopped.
When the 4.32 turned into 4.33, Tamao uttered a long and depressed sigh. She buried her face to her knees, and sighed again.
" Why does it have to be this complicated?" she whined aloud.
For a while, Tamao just stared into the darkness, with her eyes closed. In her head, endless thoughts and fears were running around. She had a major problem, and she couldn't escape it.
" We will appear again, once you have you answer", Celebi had said… But when would that be? Right now it felt like Tamao would never be able to decide. How could she? She had no idea who to trust or what to do. This was just utterly ridiculous.
As Tamao was lost in her dark thoughts, her PokeGear suddenly uttered a loud beep. Tamao flinched, and turned to look at the device, with a stunned look.
The phone was ringing. At first, Tamao was angry at her sisters for calling her that early in the morning, but that was when she noticed who was calling. Silver.
Tamao didn't hesitate for a moment. She wasn't even annoyed anymore; somehow, it seemed just like Silver to call early in the morning. Tamao took a deep breath before pushing the small button and brining the device to her ear, though.
" Hello?" Tamao answered unsurely. It had been a long while since she had used the gear, after all.