NEVERMORE
~Part One Of Forever Trilogy~
Chapter 16
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
The next day, we all dressed for cold weather. Because, over night, the temperature dropped big time. Though it hadn't started snowing yet, it was freezing out. Winter was definitely here. Great. That would make life so much easier. So the people of Celestic Town provided us with warmer clothing.
I got a tank top, a long sleeved red t-shirt, leggings, black jeans, wool socks, and boots. I got a thick, red winter coat. I decided to start wearing my hair down to help keep warm. I also received a ski cap. And, yes, it helped. Someone made a wool sweater for Raiden; it fit him perfectly. But he didn't look happy wearing it.
All of my friends were dressed warmly. Plato warned Diamonda that it wasn't smart to wear a short skirt during winter. She countered that she would wear leggings. Viola even ditched her usual cropped shirt to wear a regular one. Everyone was all wrapped up in warm clothing.
We said good bye to our dear friends in Celestic Town, and then headed north. It was sad that we'd never get to see Unova (Isshu). Unova was south of Sinnoh; we didn't have to cross it to get to Mount Silver. Someday, maybe, when trainers were accepted again, I would go there.
We walked for a couple days. When we got out of the cave of Mount Coronet, it still hadn't started snowing. The route that we started traveling had once been plagued by an endless blizzard, never letting up. Trainers and pokemon often died trying to reach Snowpoint City. That was what I had been told. I was glad it wasn't snowing.
But, when I woke up the next morning, small snowflakes had just began to fall from the cloud covered sky. Well, it was cold enough. I shivered, pulling my coat tighter around me. Raiden stirred. Chase, Viola, Plato, Rubin, Jade, Am, Sapphire, and Jason were all fast asleep. Viper was curled around his trainer. Veno was a giant puff ball. Tempo was sprawled on his back, mouth wide open. Diamonda was nowhere to be seen.
I frowned, and looked around. No sign of her. I looked down at Raiden; the orange Pikachu nodded. I stood up quietly, trying not to wake the others. Raiden leaped onto my shoulder, and I quietly left the camp site. We had to find Diamonda. Who know what trouble she had gotten into.
Raiden's ears twitched. "Pika pi," he said. I hear voices! Sounds like Diamonda and some guy.
I frowned. What was somebody doing out here? Another trainer, hopefully. But, when I got there, the guy was definitely not a trainer. Raiden and I hid behind a rock. Diamonda looked extremely pissed off, holding an injured Pokemon I recognized as Eevee in her arms. The guy was dressed in all black, and had a knife in his hand.
"What kind of monster are you?" she shrieked, clutching the poor Eevee to her chest.
"I'm not a monster," said the man. "I just want to play, sweetie."
Bile came up and I almost upchucked. Raiden growled, cheeks crackling.
"This Eevee protected me and you stabbed it!" she shrieked. "Get the hell away from me!"
The man made a grab for her, and got her arm. Diamonda squealed, accidentally dropping the Eevee. That was it. He was going to rape her, probably! I didn't even have to say a word to Raiden. He leaped from behind the rock. I jumped up, too.
"Raiden, use Thunderbolt!" I ordered.
The man cackled. "Might not want to use that, dearie. You'd electrocute your friend, too."
"Don't call me that," I snapped. "Raiden, use Volt Tackle, instead!"
Diamonda struggled against the guy as Raiden bolted forward, surrounded by electricity. But the man jerked the crying girl in front of him, putting the knife against her neck. Raiden jerked to a halt. If he used Volt Tackle now, he'd hit Diamonda. He didn't want to hurt her.
I cursed silently. The man laughed some more, pressing the blade harder on her neck. I could see blood starting to ooze out. My stomach churned. I couldn't do anything without hurting Diamonda. If only that Old Amber was an Aerodactyl now! This guy would be toast!
He suddenly pushed her down, ripping off her coat. She screamed. The wind was whipping harder around us; everyone back at camp probably couldn't hear what was going on. I gritted my teeth.
"Now, Raiden!" I yelled. "Use Iron Tail!"
Tail glowing silver, the orange Pikachu hit the man across the back. He almost fell on top of Diamonda, but stopped himself, instead slashing the knife at Raiden. It must have hit the electric mouse, for he was thrown back, landing next to the downed Eevee.
"Raiden!" I cried. He didn't get up. The snow on the ground began to turn red.
No no no no no! No! Not Raiden, too! Not him! No!
"Jukain, we need to help them," came a masculine voice. "Use Energy Ball!"
A green Pokemon that I saw was a Sceptile suddenly came into view. A green sphere of energy appear before him, and blasted forward. It hit the man right on the head, knocking him out cold. I whirled around to see who our rescuer was.
It was a man, in his early twenties. He had brown hair that went to middle of his neck, and brown eyes. He had on a thick coat, loose beige pants, and dark brown boots. Jukain, the Sceptile, moved back to his side.
I scrambled over to where Raiden and the Eevee lay. Diamonda pushed the attacker off of her, and accepted the hand of our rescuer. He helped her up. Raiden indeed had been cut by the knife. The bleeding had stopped somewhat. Something told me to try to heal him. I had learned a lot about the Viridian Forest abilities. I could heal Pokemon.
Closing my eyes, I focused. I didn't know what to focus on or what to do. I just thought of healing Raiden, saving him. I opened my eyes and touched him. I felt a drain of energy. The wound disappeared. I felt a little dizzy, but the feeling went away. I couldn't believe that worked!
"Are you alright?"
I looked up to see the guy who helped us. I nodded. "Yeah. Thank you for helping us!"
"Frosty!" Diamonda suddenly shrieked. She rushed over, jacket back on, and scooped up the Eevee. "Topaz, do what you did to Raiden!"
I did exactly that. And the Eevee was healed, too.
"How do you do that?" asked the guy. "Oh, I'm Eiji."
"It's a long story," I sighed. "I'm Topaz, and this is Diamonda."
"Hello," said Diamonda. "Thank you for saving us."
I just stared at her. We were in the presence of a hot guy and she wasn't flirting with him at all. Was she well? Had what hat just happened changed her? How did she find Frosty? Eevee aren't native to Sinnoh.
Eiji waved her off. "It was nothing. Are you sure you're okay?"
I nodded, standing. Raiden leaped onto my shoulder. Diamonda kept Frosty in her arms. We told Eiji we were traveling with a group of trainers trying to get to Mount Silver. He said he would go with us. He had been to Mount Silver. Arceus, would be meet anyone who hadn't been there?
Well, we had to find the rest of the group now.
Yes, Diamonda will have a change in character after this.
Topaz King ~ 15 years ~ descendant of Red and Yellow? ~ Raiden (Pikachu), piece of Old Amber
Chase Black ~ 15 years ~ descendant of ? ~ Viper (Jalorda), Squirrel (Pachirisu), rest unknown
Viola ? ~ 15 years ~ descendant of ? ~ Veno (Venonat)
Rubin ? ~ 15 years ~ descendant of Ruby and Sapphire ~ none
Plato Bertliz ~ 15 years ~ descendant of ? and Platina ~ Tempo (Buizel)
Jade ? ~ 14 years ~ descendant of Silver and Green ~ none
Diamonda Bertliz ~ 16 years ~ descendant of ? and Platina ~ Frosty (Eevee)
Amethyst ? ~ 17 years ~ descendant of ? ~ Twitch (Snorunt), Hindsight (Xatu), Hearth (Magmar), rest unknown