This chapter is written by lupyne, and is reproduced here with permission.
"It's not over yet…" Gardevoir mumbles again, and I gently push myself away from her tight embrace so as to look her in the face. Admittedly, I'm not too sure what she's talking about, but the fear she is emanating coupled with the tone of her voice is enough to send chills down my spine.
"What do you mean, Gardevoir?" I ask, failing to keep my voice from trembling slightly. She doesn't reply; instead, a distant look crosses her features as she wraps me into an embrace again. I can sense that something is terribly wrong, and I refuse to be ignored. "What did you see? Come on, tell me!"
At this, she releases me from her grip and straightens up, wiping away the tears leaking from her eyes. "Tell me," I urge again.
Finally, she relents. "I had a vision…"
"Yeah, I figured as much. What exactly did you see? What do you mean when you said that it's not over yet?"
She gazes around for a moment, apparently checking if anyone is eavesdropping. "Th–the murderer," she begins amidst her sobs.
"What about the murderer?" I ask, becoming increasingly perplexed by the second. "You know who killed our Trainer?" I say, taking a step backwards from her and looking around frantically as well to check our surroundings – but of course, we are alone. I've already made sure of that before I approached her. I must say that Gardevoir's paranoia is very infectious; I'm feeling extremely jittery as well. I turn back to face her. "But I asked you earlier if you saw the killer – and you shook your head."
"No… G–Gallade… he…"
"Gallade's the murderer?" I ask, completely baffled. Though I never liked the guy, it's hard to imagine him as the culprit behind our Trainer's killing. However, she shakes her head again, a little irritably this time, and I think I can sense a little bit of indignation coming from her. No doubt because I had thought, even for a second, that perfect little Gallade was the murderer. "What then? Speak properly, please – I cannot understand you like this!"
"The murderer is going after Gallade next!" she yells suddenly, causing me to startle.
She quickly dissolves into tears again, and I pause, stunned by the revelation. So the murderer is going after Gallade next? I'm not too sure what to think of this – frankly speaking, my mind is in a whirl right now. "Gardevoir, calm down and tell me exactly what it was that you saw, please…"
She wipes away her tears and takes a deep breath, studying me intently. The way Gardevoir is scrutinising me makes me feel as though she's deciding if she should divulge her information. After a while, I ask, "What, you don't trust me?"
"It's not that," she says, managing a faint smile. "I just… don't know what to think anymore… I don't want Gallade to die…"
"Don't worry… you never know, your vision might not come to pass," I say reassuringly. Well, it is true that Gardevoir's premonitions were not always accurate, but deep down I know that they were right more often than not. Judging by the sceptical look on her face, I can tell that she does not place much faith in my words either. "Just tell me your vision, and we will think of something, okay?"
At last, she nods and begins to talk. "I saw Gallade running through the trees frantically… I – I think he was being chased by someone. There were a couple of times when he yelled out my name," she says chokingly.
"He called out for you?" I ask, pondering this statement. "But… this would mean that you were somewhere around the area too, wouldn't it?"
"I don't know. Gallade was the only one I saw in the vision."
"I see. What happened next?"
"Well… he ran for quite some time, and his pursuer never did catch up. But then he reached a clearing… there was a cliff…" she says, a distant look appearing in her eyes as she apparently replays the scene in her mind. "He then ran forward to the edge, and… and…"
"Go on," I urge, noticing that she seems to be on the verge of breaking down again. "What happened next?"
"He jumped off…" she says, her voice coming out in a small whisper. "He jumped to his own death…"
She begins to sob, and I pat her arm, not being tall enough to reach her shoulder. Though I know I should try to console her somehow, my mind is still lingering on her revelation. It is vague, and there are several parts which just make no sense.
"Gardevoir… why would Gallade jump off a cliff?" I try to reason. "Since the murderer didn't appear in your vision, Gallade must have outrun whoever it was – thus, he was already safe!"
"It's not like I was able to see the entire scene clearly…" she argues back. "My field of vision is quite limited, and the murderer could very well be in close proximity."
"Well, okay, but if the murderer was really after him, he would fight back, wouldn't he? Gallade's not one to run away – or give up and hurl himself off the cliff. In fact… are you even sure that he's being chased?" It strikes me a little bit odd that she would assume there was a murderer, seeing as Gallade had been the only one in the vision. "You don't think he would have… you know… committed suicide?"
"Gallade would never do that! The murderer is involved, I'm sure! Maybe he knew it was hopeless – maybe the murderer had a gun or something – I don't know!" she yells, causing me to recoil in fear. Noticing this, her expression softens, and she buries her face in her hands. "I'm sorry, Riolu, but I'm just so worried… It's bad enough that we lost our Trainer… I don't want anything to happen to Gallade…"
I walk a little closer, though still maintaining a small distance lest she snaps again. "Hey, don't fret yourself over it, all right? It's just a vision… there's still a chance that it might not come true. Besides, all you got to do now is keep Gallade away from the cliffs, and he'll be fine!"
At this, she lowers her hands and stares at me with a hopeful look in her eyes. "That's true… I just have to keep a close eye on him; be with him at all times…"
"Exactly! I'll help if you want me to – uh… just the 'keeping an eye on him' part, mind you. I don't think he'll like it much if I hang around all the time."
She laughs a little, rubbing the top of my head. "Thank you. Do you think I should tell Gallade so that he can be on his guard?"
I pause, unsure how to answer the question. I don't want Gardevoir to hold me accountable should Gallade end up dying… "It might be better to warn him," I begin slowly. "But… now, don't take this the wrong way, but he'll probably laugh it off and even go against your words just to prove you wrong. Gallade can be a little stubborn… remember all those times when he would defy the Trainer's wishes, insisting on battling Pokémon who had a type advantage against him so that he can try to overcome his weaknesses?"
"But the Trainer himself wants Gallade to conquer his limitations," Gardevoir argues; I've a feeling she just didn't like me badmouthing her lover. "In fact, most of Gallade's training sessions involved building up his resistance to Ghost- and Flying-type attacks, as well as improving his evasion. And all that training does pay off."
"Yes," I say, feeling slightly exasperated. "But whenever our Trainer is battling another human, his first choice would usually be Magneton if the opponent is a Ghost- or Flying-type, since higher stakes such as cash or badges are involved. However, Gallade would push his way to the battlefield, and it has cost us a number of battles, in case you forgot."
Her expression changes to one of annoyance. "Maybe he has lost sometimes, but you still hold the record for most losses in the team."
I gape at her, stunned and hurt. My patience wearing thin, I fold my arms and turn around in a huff. "I was only trying to help, but fine, I see that I am not appreciated."
Waves of guilt begin to pour out of the Psychic-type behind my back, and I turn my head slightly so that I can watch her from the corner of my eye. To my surprise, she is walking up to me, and before I know it, I'm being picked up by her arms. "Hey – what are you doing? Put me down!"
She spins me around to face her. "Riolu, I'm so sorry… I didn't mean that, of course…"
"Well… all right… I understand that you're upset and all after that vision… Must be nice having a lover who would defend you no matter what," I grumble to myself, not bothering to lower my voice. I then realise that I'm still hanging a few feet off the ground. "Can you put me down now?"
As she places me back on the ground, I ask, "What were we talking about again?"
"We were talking about whether or not to let Gallade know about my vision. And I know that you think he is stubborn, but I disagree. This is a matter of life and death; I'm sure he'll take my warning seriously."
"If you say so. You're his girlfriend after all – you know him best."
"Exactly. I'm his girlfriend, and therefore, he will listen to me." She gives a forced smile as she adds, with a tone of finality, "After all this talk about his flaws, you're forgetting one thing: I am his biggest weakness."
It's quite apparent that she is only trying to lighten the mood – perhaps to placate me after that insult – but I can't help grinning along. "I guess you're right about that. Fine then – warn him, and make sure he doesn't go and do anything foolish."
Gardevoir stares at me for a second, seemingly aware about how I'm still hinting that suicide is a possible explanation behind her vision. I quickly add in, "Anyway, when did your vision take place?"
"I'm not sure when exactly, but I believe it's the near future… I fear that it may be one of these days…"
"No, that's not what I meant – I was asking if it took place in the night or day?"
"Oh." She closes her eyes as she seemingly tries her hardest to recall. "I… I don't know…"
My eyes narrow slightly at her words. "Couldn't you see if it was dark or light in your vision?"
"You've never had these visions – you wouldn't understand," she says. There is a slight edge to her voice, and I know I'm treading on thin ice again. She is extremely touchy today – understandably so, perhaps, but I wish she wouldn't bite my head off over every single remark I make.
I nod, deciding not to pursue the subject. However, there's another dreadful thought which has been lingering in the back of my mind for some time now. "You know… if the murderer is going after Gallade… do you think he or she will aim for the rest of us next?"
"Well… let's hope not. The police are already investigating the Trainer's death. They'll catch the perpetrator soon." The confident look on Gardevoir's face does not match the nervousness she is emanating. "All the same, maybe we should warn the others to be on the lookout as well."
"You think that's a good idea?" I ask doubtfully. "Gardevoir… what if the murderer is someone from our team?"
She falls silent at my statement. Judging by her expression, it seems that the same thought has crossed her mind before. The fear must have shown on my face, for she places her arms around me in a hug once more. "Don't worry," she whispers as I return the embrace. "We'll pull through, just you watch."
She lets go, staring at me in the eyes with her paws still on my shoulders. "In the meantime… let's just keep this between the three of us: Gallade, you, and I."
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Chapter Two: Step into the Sky
"From where I stand, everything dissolves to white."
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After the conversation with Gardevoir, we walk back to the Inn – we aren't allowed inside, of course, seeing as the workers have resumed their construction, and we pesky Pokémon will only get in the way. As though any of us would want to interfere anyway – well, Magneton might… he seems to be expressing an interest at all the work going on, floating outside the gates while gazing wistfully at the iron beams and construction tools placed at the side. I suppose I can relate though. A little.
Gallade is with Magneton, though he seems to be looking around for something else – a certain someone who is currently walking besides me. Upon catching sight of his beloved, he runs forward, with Gardevoir doing the same. They meet halfway, locking their paws and strolling off like a pair of overgrown magnets stuck together.
And now I have the whole day to myself again! Freedom is so sweet. Let's see… what would a Riolu like me want to do? I guess I could've followed the lovers, but there really is no point in that anymore. For one, I don't think I can stomach all the saccharine nonsense spewing out from their mouths anymore. Secondly, Gallade wouldn't be too happy if I intrude in on their 'together' time. I know I promised Gardevoir that I'll keep watch on him, but she's with Gallade now. He may be a big baby, but one babysitter is enough, I figure.
And thirdly, I've got what I was looking for. I knew Gardevoir would have a vision, which is the reason why I kept a close eye on her the past day. It turned out different from what I expected though – instead of seeing who murdered our Trainer, she saw Gallade leaping to his death…
Though I have suggested it earlier, I find myself agreeing with Gardevoir after all: Gallade is not one to commit suicide. But it's still so strange… she had been so sure that he was being chased by somebody, and yet, Gallade was the only one she saw. She did mention that Gallade had yelled her name a few times though…
And what does that signify? Perhaps Gardevoir was the chaser, though I see no reason why she would do so… unless Gallade is cheating on her, heh. Or maybe Gallade was pursuing her instead – that would make so much more sense. But why? I suppose it's possible that the murderer was after her, and that Gallade was only trying to save his girlfriend. What if Gardevoir then fell off the cliff, and like an ending out of a tragic romance story, Gallade decided to join her, unified in death?
A different thought then occurs to me. What if Gallade is the one who wanted to kill Gardevoir for some reason?
I look into the distance, trying to find signs of the couple, but they are no longer in the vicinity. Perhaps leaving them alone isn't such a good idea after all.
Ah well… I can only hope that they know how to take care of themselves. After all, today's pretty much a holiday and I don't intend to spend all of it worrying about the duo. I want to have fun!
"I wonder if they would mind me moving a little closer to watch," a monotonous voice says, breaking the silence and causing me to startle. I've quite forgotten that Magneton is still here.
I sidle a little closer, gripping the metallic fence with my paws as I follow the electric-type's gaze to the construction workers, who are now carrying some iron rods into the incomplete section of the building.
"I'm sure they wouldn't care as long as you don't disturb them."
"Really?" he asks, radiating the slightest bit of happiness. "That is great. I will go on over then."
"Hey, wait –"
But Magneton has already floated over the lower section of the gate and into the Inn's compound with ease – though being able to perform Magnet Rise probably helped. He then moves swiftly towards the construction area. He lowers himself slightly, hovering above a worker who is bending down to pick up some of the tools scattered around. The man soon straightens up, his hardhat making a dull clunk as he bumps into the Pokémon.
Spinning around in surprise, he finds himself staring eye-to-eye with Magneton before yelling in shock and rage. I cover my eyes as the man begins to swing his hammer around at the Electric-type, but an angry buzzing alerts me to the fact that Magneton is now hovering over to me quickly, bits of electricity crackling around his body. "Riolu…!"
Whoops, that's my cue.
I turn tail and run as fast as I can – Magneton is not hot-tempered or ruthless like Gallade or Hitmonlee, but hey, better to play it safe, right?
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When the gates open again for lunch, I run into the inn after confirming that Hitmonlee and Magneton are not around. In fact, not a single one of the team is there – though I did spot Navy-Blue, the officer in charge of our Trainer's murder case, talking with the innkeeper. He nods briefly when he sees me. Well, at least he has the decency to acknowledge my presence.
I didn't linger for long, quickly grabbing as much food as I can before running out again, not wanting to stumble into any of the rest.
And now, I am wandering around town aimlessly. I find myself walking along the row of shops near the outskirts of the town. I remember seeing them as I shadowed Gardevoir and Gallade the day before. The only difference is that I'm no longer in a hurry, so I can actually take the time to check out what sort of stuff they are selling here.
Of course, I have no money, so the most I can do is stare longingly at an item until someone buys it for me out of pity.
… Yeah, I can dream.
One of the shops that catches my eye is the little corner store selling Technical Machines. I've been to one before, in Veilstone City. To be more precise, it was just a small section at the department store, but it was pretty impressive nonetheless. The Trainer had brought us all to see if there were any useful TMs which would aid us in battles.
Staring at the window display, I find myself reminiscing of that time so long ago…
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I look up at all the cases on display at the rack, each and every one of them promising a new ability within its fanciful packaging. This is all so exciting – I wonder what sort of TM the Trainer would buy for me today… Of course, that would depend on what moves he purchases for the others as well, since we have to integrate as a team and cover all aspects of Pokémon battling.
Standing besides me, Pichu is going wild with excitement – getting a new move is a big deal for him, because he only has one attack which actually deals damage, and that is ThunderShock. His other moves involve status infliction, such as the paralysing Thunder Wave. As a result, he's never used much in battles. Poor guy.
At the corner, the Trainer is currently pulling out some boxes from the rack and showing them to Gallade. Of course, of course, Gallade would be the first to get his new abilities. Great – that'll only boost his ego more. Meanwhile, Gardevoir is standing closely, listening in on their conversation. She's been hanging around Gallade quite often lately… hm…
"All right, it's decided then!" the Trainer exclaims after a while, holding up two boxes. "You'll be getting Psychic and Focus Punch." He pulls out a paper from his pocket and skims it briefly. "Together with your old moves, Leaf Blade and Night Slash, this makes you the perfect Pokémon to go against Ground-, Psychic-, Fighting- and Poison-types."
With Gallade done, the Trainer moves over to Hitmonlee, who is apparently furious because Gallade had went first. Well, it's none of my concern. Hm, maybe I should start picking out some of the TMs that I want now. If only they didn't place all these boxes up so high… how do they expect their customers to reach the products?
"For you, Hitmonlee, I'll get Stone Edge and… uh," the Trainer flips one of the boxes he is holding over and reads the description printed on the back. "Yeah, I'll get you Poison Jab as well. They will go well with your Blaze Kick and Close Combat. This means that you'll be the one who handles Fire, Bug, Steel, Grass and Ice, okay?"
I watch in amusement as Hitmonlee begins counting on his fingers the number of types which the Trainer said he would go against in battles. Apparently realising that his total is higher than Gallade's, he begins to laugh, throwing a triumphant look at the Blade Pokémon. He'll probably be lording it over Gallade for days.
"All right, Magneton, your turn…" The Trainer peers down at his paper again as Magneton floats over to him lazily, looking uninterested. "Actually, come to think of it, your Zap Cannon and Magnet Bomb are enough – you are great against Water- and Flying-types, and resistant to so many elements as well… yeah, you're perfect the way you are."
Magneton does not seem upset at all that he's not getting a new move. Instead, he hovers towards the neighbouring section, where all sorts of electronics are being sold. The television on display begins to show static as he approaches, and the staff in charge runs forward to chase Magneton away.
Gardevoir is next – Gallade seems to be pointing out TMs which would suit her, but the Trainer ignores all his suggestions. In the end, a Shadow Ball is chosen for her, in the hopes that it will help her hold her ground against Ghost-types.
With that, it's finally down to me and Pichu. The Trainer walks over to me, and I realise that I've yet to choose a single TM. Before I know it, I find myself being picked off the ground and into the Trainer's arms.
"And what shall I get for you today?" He scans through the boxes on the rack, and I look up at his face, wondering what is on his mind. "I have actually planned out your move-set, but most of the moves you'll only be able to learn after you evolve…"
He puts me back on the floor as he studies his paper once more. Pichu comes to me, apparently curious as to what is going on, and I shrug. Finally, the Trainer slips the paper back into his pocket and kneels down so that our eyes are at the same level. "Well, Riolu, I think it is best if we wait a little before buying a TM for you. As you have yet to evolve, you can't learn them anyway…" He ruffled the fur on my head a little. "You understand, don't you?"
I nod, smiling a little. Of course, I'm a little disappointed, but I don't have a choice if he has it all planned out. All I got to do is wait until I evolve. I watch as he attends to Pichu next. The Electric-type looks offended when the Trainer begins to talk about his current "pathetic move-set", but gets all excited again when the Trainer decides to get an Iron Tail for him.
Pichu and I, we are quite similar. Until we evolve, we are nobodies.
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My move-set is rather plain, actually, and not really useful in battles. I'm able to do Force Palm and Reversal, but if it was a Fighting-type the Trainer wanted, he would always pick Hitmonlee over me, what with him being more experienced and powerful. Copycat is another move in my arsenal, but I usually get knocked out before I can even use it. I'm also capable of performing a Quick Attack, but it barely does damage…
The Trainer has already told me about his long-term plans. If there is one thing our team desperately needs, it's a Pokémon who can handle Dragon, Ghost and Electric enemies. I am proud to say that this Pokémon is me…
Or at least, it would be, if only I evolve. Yes, that was what he told me. As a Riolu, I'm unable to learn Dragon Pulse, Dark Pulse, and goodness knows what other type of pulses there are – I wasn't really paying attention to him anyway. "You'll be a strong Pokémon someday." Those were the only words that really stuck to me, but sometimes, I find myself wondering.
Ah… it's not like me to get so sentimental.
Snapping out of my reverie, I notice that there is a little machine which emits a chime whenever someone walks into the store – but the sensor must have been placed pretty high up, because it does not make a sound as I enter. Perhaps I am being overly sensitive, but I can't help feeling a little offended by that.
Pushing my way through the legs of the much-taller people lingering around the entrance, I gaze up at the high shelves in which the Technical Machines are placed. A poster is pasted next to each of the TMs, with photos of Pokémon using the moves as well as a description and type-effectiveness chart.
Though it does seem as though the store offers quite a variety of TMs, there's one problem – a majority of the goods are placed quite high. It seems that this is a problem persisting in stores everywhere. Someone really should complain. Refusing to let my short stature get in my way, I drag a small crate from the corner and push it against the shelf.
Had the storekeeper been watching, I'm sure I would be reprimanded. As it is, the man is busy typing into a computer at the counter, which is situated at the other end of the store and behind several shelves that hide me from view. So yes, I'm quite safe. I'm sure none of the customers would notify him that a harmless little Riolu is shifting a crate around anyway.
I climb up onto the makeshift platform and rest my paws on one of the shelf's ledges, marvelling at the various boxes on display there.
Oh, how I would love to get my paws on one of these – the posters on this particular section show a Pikachu launching a Thunder attack on a wooden dummy, a Blaziken reducing another one to splinters with Brick Break, a rock wall collapsing due to Earthquake, a Dugtrio burrowing into the ground, and –
"Heya, Riolu!"
The voice causes me to almost fall off the crate. I spin around to find myself looking at Pichu, who is now attempting to climb atop my platform to join me. "No, wait – I'm not sure if this will support us both." I hop down onto the floor and stare at him, wondering when he came into the store. I guess the sensor at the entrance must have missed him as well. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugs, glancing around the store lazily. "I dunno – probably the same reason you're here."
"What, you're here to apply for a job as well?"
Pichu's eyes widen as he gapes at me. "You're planning to work here?"
It is now official: Pichu believes just about anything. "Yeah. I mean, now that the Trainer's dead, I've to start planning for my future." I place my paws on his shoulders like a father would to a son. "Take my advice, Pichu, and do the same."
"But – but aren't we all going back with his family after the funeral?"
"And then what? They aren't breeders or trainers; they have full-time jobs. None of them would bother about us – I expect we'd even get released eventually. Or at least, most of us."
"Released?" His eyes expand to the size of saucers. "I–into the wild?"
"Yeah. Come to think of it, it's not so bad – I used to be wild myself, you know." All of a sudden, I gasp dramatically, slapping one paw into the other as though I have just realised something. "Oh no – it could turn out a lot worse than that…"
"What? What?" The poor guy is actually trembling now.
"What if they decide to sell us to other people instead? We could actually end up going to horrible humans who would force us to battle all day long, for instance… or worse." I smile, patting the shivering Pichu on the back consolingly. "Food for thought, my friend. Think about it before it's too late."
"Noooo," he whines, tears starting to form at the corners of his eyes. "I don't want that to happen!"
Oops. Perhaps I've gone overboard. Gardevoir would kill me if she ever finds out. "No – no, Pichu, I'm only joshing. Don't take it too seriously."
"But it's true! Our Trainer keeps us around because, well, he's a trainer. But we're the two weakest Pokémon in the team, and now that he's dead, we'll stay that way – and his family wouldn't want us!"
"Okay, look here." I grab Pichu and spin him around to face the shelf. I point upwards at the poster I saw earlier, the one depicting a Pikachu. "See that? See how powerful that Thunder attack is? The Trainer keeps us around because he knows we'll attain that level of strength someday. We have potential – we might even end up being stronger than Gallade and Hitmonlee combined!"
I give a toothy grin. "And just because the Trainer isn't around anymore, it doesn't mean that you can't train yourself to become stronger. That Pikachu works hard to learn the move and reach that stage of power. He didn't do it by becoming a quitter."
"Big deal. He probably cheated by using a TM."
"You're not getting my point," I say through gritted teeth. "And anyway, I'm pretty sure Pikachu is able to learn Thunder without the aid of a TM, so you should hurry up and evolve. Work hard, work smart."
"Ah, but I can learn it now if I just use the TM, right?" Pichu scampers towards the crate and hoists himself up. He grabs one of the boxes containing Thunder and stares at it longingly. "I was hoping he would buy this for me that time in Veilstone. I guess it is as you said – I could learn this naturally if I evolve, so he just wanted to save money. Hmm… I wonder why these TMs are shaped like CDs…"
My ears perk up, sensing another opportunity to have some fun. Really, Pichu makes it all too easy. I walk forward and rest both my arms on the crate Pichu is standing on, trying to look casual. "But don't you know?"
With the box still in his paws, Pichu turns around slowly to face me, looking a little frightened. "Know what?"
"Let me ask you, Pichu. What do you use a CD with?"
"We put it in a computer, or some other sort of machine, if that's what you mean," he answers uncertainly, his head slightly tilting to a side.
"Exactly."
I grin, perhaps a little too deviously, as I stare at the look of shock slowly creeping across his tiny little features. I must have blown his mind – right now, he is probably questioning his entire existence. Like I said, it's all too –
"Gardevoir told me not to take your words too seriously."
Wonderful. Thanks a lot, Gardevoir.
Pichu turns back to the shelf and stares upwards at one of the higher ledges. "I wonder what other TMs they have here." He begins to stand on the tips of his feet, trying to reach for some of the boxes displayed above.
"Whoa, careful –"
And as I expected, Pichu loses his balance and flails his arms around as he tumbles forward, knocking some of the boxes down. He manages to break his fall, but the commotion has roused the shopkeeper. The man lumbers over, and upon catching sight of his products strewn across the floor, yells and shakes his fist at us.
Pichu and I dash for the exit as fast as our legs can carry us. After placing as much distance between us and the shop as we can, I plop down onto the snowy ground and pant, glaring at the little troublemaker.
Pichu hangs his head. "I'm sorry, Riolu… that man will never want to hire you now, would he?"
In spite of myself, I begin to laugh. "Gardevoir was right, you know. Sometimes, you just can't take my words seriously."
He looks up in surprise. "So… you weren't thinking of working there then?"
"Nope."
"But… what about your future? Didn't you say that the Trainer's family would want to get rid of us eventually?"
"Ah, who knows?" I stand up, brushing the snow off my fur. "Maybe they'll keep us around in memory of the Trainer or something. Come on, let's go."
I begin to walk along the pavement, looking around at all the other buildings while Pichu follows closely behind, shoulders slumped. I can sense waves of sadness and worry pouring out from him, and before I can ask about it, he raises a question. "Riolu, what would you do if they released you?"
I give him a faint smile. "I've told you, haven't I? I used to be a wild Pokémon. I guess I would just go back and live in the forest. What about you?"
"I really don't know," he says, which probably explains why he seems so upset. "I wonder what the rest would do though."
"Gallade and Gardevoir would probably go off somewhere and start a family," I say, pointing out the obvious. "Hitmonlee… well, you know how he likes to fight, fight, fight. I expect he would search around for a strong trainer and join his or her team." I chuckle as I add, "That trainer will never have a moment of peace again."
Pichu laughs lightly, looking slightly happier now. "And what about Magneton?"
"Oh, that's a tough one. I can never guess what's going through his mind. Maybe he would linger around a construction site or something."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
"Oh, okay." He stares downwards, ears drooping. "But… this means that we'll never get to see each other again, right? Everyone will go their separate ways?"
I pause, looking at Pichu. He has usually been the most cheerful member of the team, and it is unlike him to be so down. "Maybe… but can you honestly say that you would mind not seeing someone like Hitmonlee ever again?"
"Maybe not him, but… we've been together for so long… it's so hard to think that our lives could change all of a sudden." He sighs. "Things would remain the same if only the Trainer did not get killed."
"Yeah… I guess so…"
"I wonder who did it."
I hesitate again, pondering if I should ask the same question that I've brought up to Gardevoir earlier today. I guess it will not hurt if I get his opinion… "Pichu, do you think the murderer is one of us?"
He stares at me in fright, recoiling a little. "This is another one of your jokes, isn't it?"
I stop walking and shake my head solemnly. "Not at all – I'm being serious here. Don't you think that it's highly likely? For starters, look around – not a single one of the team, with the possible exception of Gardevoir, seems to be upset about the murder."
"I'm not the murderer!"
"I know," I say, exasperated and yet amused at the same time. "If I thought it was you, I wouldn't have asked. The thing is that, even with the Trainer gone, Gallade and Gardevoir are always out together on an endless romantic date. Magneton… well, he usually shows no sign of emotion anyway. And Hitmonlee, he goes around training by himself and tormenting us as usual. It's as though nothing has happened!"
After contemplating my words, he says, "That doesn't mean anything."
"It shows that none of us care too much about the Trainer. In fact… you can even say that, with the Trainer dead, everyone seems to be calmer and relaxed."
Pichu shakes his head and folds his arms, looking slightly confused. "I don't see any of us killing the Trainer though…"
"Really?" I then look around the surrounding area; there are only a few people walking about, with the occasional Pokémon or two. No one I recognise. Better to play safe though – my Aura Filters begin to rise slightly as I close my eyes and conduct a brief scan of the vicinity.
Being only a Riolu, my abilities are not up to scratch yet. However, I believe that my Aura skills have improved lately… or so I like to think anyway. In any case, there doesn't seem to be anyone from the team nearby. Satisfied, I lean closer to Pichu. "Not even Hitmonlee or Gallade?"
Pichu squirms a little, clearly uncomfortable at the direction in which the conversation is heading. "I know they can get violent at times, but murder? That's… that's going too far… and what motive would they have anyway?"
"All right, I admit I haven't thought about that yet. Maybe Gallade thinks all the training is cutting into the time he could have spent with Gardevoir – or maybe Hitmonlee is jealous of how the Trainer seems to favour Gallade… I dunno. And what about Magneton, huh? They say it's the quiet types you got to look out for."
"I still don't know… it all seems a little far-fetched to me…"
"Yeah, I suppose so. Let's hope that officer in the navy-blue suit nabs the culprit soon."
"Oh, him?" Pichu says with a small laugh, and I can tell that he has not gotten over being tossed about by the man either. "He didn't seem too keen on the investigation, did he? He'll probably leave the case unsolved."
"Ah." I laugh along; it is rare for Pichu to be so critical of someone. I guess there's always a different side to everyone that they don't show often. "Too bad there's nothing we can do about it."
Pichu pauses mid-laugh and stares at me, eyes shining. "But there is!"
Bewildered, I gaze back at him quizzically. "What?"
"We can take the investigation into our own paws! I think that's a great idea!"
"Great idea indeed." My voice is dripping with sarcasm, though knowing Pichu, he wouldn't have detected it anyway. "The murder scene is probably closed to the general public. There's no way they'll let us sniff around and gather clues."
Surprisingly, Pichu's smile does not dim. "But assuming that you're correct and one of us is the murderer, all we got to do is question the others."
"Yeah, I can see that happening." I raise my paw dramatically forward to an invisible being, as though I'm interviewing someone. "Oh hi, Hitmonlee," I say, making my voice come out unnaturally bright and bubbly. "I am investigating the murder of our Trainer – so tell me, was it you, in the room, with the knife?"
That did the trick; Pichu's excitement die away as he slowly nods. "Yeah, I guess it won't be that easy."
I stare at him, greatly amused. "You're not really interested in the investigation – you just want to have fun, am I right?"
"Not true," he says indignantly. "I think I can be a great detective."
I just nod, not knowing whether to take him seriously or not. He will probably flip out if I tell him what Gardevoir had seen in her visions… But Gardevoir is right – I should keep that to myself. I know I said that Pichu couldn't be the murderer, but still…
My thoughts stray to her vision once again. So Gallade would fall off a cliff… I remember there is a mountain nearby. I suppose there is a chance that the scene in her premonition will take place somewhere in that area. It might be a good idea to check out the location now…
"Hey Pichu. Remember that forest we talked about yesterday?"
His lips curve into a small frown as his head turns towards the mountain overlooking Snowpoint City, around which the forest is located. I glance upwards as well at the peak of the mountain. Coupled with the falling snow and cloudy sky, I must admit that it is like a magical backdrop, so melancholic and serene.
"Yes…" Pichu says uncertainly. "What about it?"
"Wanna go explore?"
"No way!" he exclaims in a hurry, looking appalled that I even brought it up. "What for? And I distinctly remember you saying that you would never go in there alone!"
"Yeah, but I won't be alone if you go with me," I explain slowly with an air of forced patience. "Come on, nothing will happen."
"You won't know that for sure! We might bump into some sort of terrifying Pokémon, or – or –"
"If that happens, we fight – that's what the Trainer would want: for us to continue our training even when he's dead. You wouldn't want him to be disappointed, would you?"
Pichu shakes his head furiously. "And if we do stumble upon a ferocious enemy, we will be dead too! I may like the Trainer, but I don't want to go wherever it is that he has gone to yet!" He then throws a suspicious look at me, one that I rarely see coming from him. "Why the interest in battling all of a sudden? I always thought you hated our training sessions."
I am somewhat offended by his last statement. With an irritable flick of my tail, I fold my arms. "If you are trying to suggest that I'm lazy, you're wrong. I put a lot of effort into my training, perhaps more so than anyone else in the team."
"Sure," he says, giggling. "Like that time when you fell asleep while we were all throwing sticks and stones at Gallade to help him with his evasion problems."
"That – that – I –" Indignation is rendering me speechless; I did not expect Pichu to bring that embarrassing memory up out of nowhere. There are so many things I want to say in my defence that I'm not sure where to start. "That does not count! I was exhausted – in case you forgot, the Trainer had placed me through a particularly rigorous training session beforehand. Oh, but of course you wouldn't know – you were all having a picnic elsewhere, weren't you?"
"Riolu…"
Pichu shrinks back a little, but I ignore him and continue my rant. "And seriously, that was one of the most pointless sessions ever. Even a toddler would know to dodge an oncoming attack – it's just an attitude problem of Gallade's – instead of retreating backwards and avoiding an attack, he just has to be stubborn and go forward to meet it head-on!"
"Riolu," Pichu says pleadingly, grabbing my arm and tugging it lightly. "I'm sorry… I wasn't trying to insult you…"
I pause to take a deep breath and calm myself down. "I – I know… I'm sorry for my outburst…"
"No, it's all right!" Pichu smiles, looking relieved that my anger has subsided. "And anyway, I see now what you meant earlier at the shop." At my puzzled expression, he explains, "You said that we have to train to get stronger – and it does work, doesn't it? Gallade has indeed improved his evasion skills; so much to the extent that it has pretty much become a reflex. And I've slightly increased my resistance to Ground-type attacks, though not by much yet."
That's right, I have nearly forgotten. Pichu's training mostly involved building up his defence against Ground attacks, seeing as it is his only weakness. This holds true even when he reaches his final stage of evolution, which I guess is one additional reason why the Trainer keeps Pichu around.
"So, um… I'll go with you to the forest, if you want to." He tries to put on a brave front, but I can see him shivering a little – though I guess that it might have been because of the cold. But still, I get the feeling that he is only agreeing to follow just to appease me.
"Thanks. I promise it won't take long."
"Why do you want to go there anyway? Is it really for the training?"
Hesitating, I shuffle my feet uncomfortably. I guess the truth would come out eventually… There is no point in lying anyway – if we really did stumble into a wild Pokémon in the forest, I wouldn't stick around to fight. I would flee right off the bat. "Well… it's rather complicated…"
"Yes?"
Darn it, I thought inwardly. I was hoping Pichu would get the hint and back off, but no, he continues staring at me innocently.
Pichu blinks, looking bewildered. "Uh, sorry?"
"I haven't said anything yet." I sigh, once again checking around the surroundings to make sure that no one is eavesdropping. "All right – don't tell anyone, okay? Gardevoir has had a vision."
"A vision?" His expression is one of mild curiosity. I guess my revelation did not leave much of an impact on him – he must not realise how grave the situation is. "About what?"
"About Gallade. Apparently, he'll be venturing there, and… well… I just want to scour the area a little."
"Oh, okay," Pichu says, looking confused. "Why mustn't I tell anyone though? And how did you come to know about the vision anyway?" A mischievous grin spreads across his face. "I get it – you overheard them talking about it! You've been spying on them! That's why you want me to keep mum!"
"Uh… sorta, I guess."
"But is it really that important? I mean, it is kinda risky, going into the forest… We aren't exactly the strongest of Pokémon…"
"It'll be all right," I say firmly. "Maybe we aren't strong, but we're fast. We can easily outrun any enemies we encounter."
My words were not enough to raise his confidence, apparently. "I'm not so sure about that…"
"Well, if you don't want to come with me, I'll just go by myself." I walk straight past Pichu, towards where the mountain and forest is located. I keep my ears pricked though – any second now, he will cave in; I know what he's like. He'll probably call out for me in three… two… o–
"Wait up!"
Oh well, close enough. I grin to myself as the sound of Pichu's hurried footsteps fill my ears, and I turn around to see him rushing up. "What?"
"I'll come with you!"
"Great!"
"I really don't think I'd be able to outrun any wild Pokémon though…"
I reach out a paw and pat him on the back reassuringly. "Well, you know what they say. You don't have to outrun the enemy – you just have to outrun your friends. Don't worry; I'll give you a brief head start."
He gapes at me in horror – seriously, that look never gets old. "I'm only kidding, of course. If we meet an enemy, I'll grab you and Quick Attack our way to safety, all right? Now let's hurry; it'll get dark soon."
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Pichu's – and admittedly mine as well – worries were unwarranted. There are a few Pokémon here and there in the forest, but none of them pays us any heed. I guess a plausible explanation is that we do not pose much of a threat, which means that this is one of those rare occasions where our tiny statures end up being beneficial.
As evening starts to set in, Pichu begins to complain again, fatigue showing in the way he slowly trudges through the snow. "We're lost, aren't we? How are we going to get back later?"
"No, we're not." I point at the footprints we have left on the snow behind us. "And we can easily follow the trail back."
"That is assuming the snow does not start to fall again. And don't forget a wild Pokémon could easily cover the footprints. Or worse – follow them right to us!"
"Don't be silly." I highly doubt a Pokémon would follow our trail, but I'm worried that a human might. Then again, we have our metal tags with us, though I doubt a human would spot it from a distance – they really should have given us bigger tags or something.
Ah well. What's the worst that could happen? We might get hit in the head by an empty Pokéball or two, or even challenged to a battle, but that's about it. All the same, I decide to keep those thoughts to myself.
"We have walked quite a long way," Pichu whines. He points through the trees, where the evening sun can be seen casting a red glow upon the city. "Look – we're even hiking the mountain now – what happened to just exploring the forest?"
I stay silent and stare at the sunset, not really paying attention to Pichu. There is just something eerie about the scene, as though it is a sign, or a warning, that something unpleasant is just waiting right around the corner.
Now that I'm here myself, I can see that this would be a good place for committing a murder. There are few Pokémon about, which means the murderer is less likely to create a witness. All the trees around also creates plenty of hiding spots for the murderer to stay out of sight, if needed. And who needs a murder weapon when the environment itself is a hazard? Gardevoir had seen Gallade jumping off a cliff…
But that is the crux of the matter – Gallade jumped on his own accord. No one pushed him. No one attacked him. It is all so strange.
Pichu tugs at my arm pleadingly like a little child wanting something from an adult. "Can we go home now?"
"Not yet; just a little further, okay? I really need to check something."
The Electric-type's shoulders slumps, but he nods. "All right, but you owe me one for this."
"Thanks."
Without another word, I trudge up ahead, quickening my pace. Though I haven't seen the vision myself, I have a gut feeling that it takes place somewhere around here – I mean, where else could it have been? Sure, it's unlikely for Gallade to ever want to set foot into this location, but there might be an unknown reason behind his presence here in Gardevoir's vision…
Weaving my way through the trees with Pichu doing his best to keep up, I look around for signs of a clearing, in which Gardevoir had claimed to see Gallade jump to his death. After several more minutes, I finally find it.
It's a small clearing, true, and I've no idea if it is the same one that Gardevoir had seen. At the end is the edge of a cliff, overlooking a sea of snow-capped trees which stretch out far and wide until they meet the city. Right behind me, Pichu let out a small gasp as he marvels at the vista.
"It's beautiful…" Pichu whispers, taking a few steps forward. He turns to me, his eyes shining. "So, Gardevoir had a vision about Gallade coming here? I can see why – he probably thought it's a romantic location."
"I… don't know." I walk forward as well, though making sure to stay far away from the edge. I mull over Pichu's words – perhaps I was wrong. Maybe Gallade did have a reason to come here after all: to enjoy the scenery with his beloved. Well, at least the vision has warned her about it. By now, Gallade probably has been told to steer clear from cliffs.
I try to peer downwards to see how far away the bottom is, but I cannot get a clear view from where I am standing. There is no way I'll ever admit it to Pichu, but I seem to have developed a sudden case of acrophobia. I nudge him, pointing towards the front. "Hey, can you walk over to the edge and see what it's like down there?"
"What? No way! You do it yourself!"
… Well, it was worth a shot. Sighing, I drop to my knees and begin to crawl forward. I don't care if Pichu teases me about it later – I swear my legs have turned to jelly right now.
Dragging myself to the edge, I summon enough courage to stare down. My paw bumps into a pebble, and I watch in horror as it plummets downwards, imagining it to be a little Riolu whose life is about to end. It is a very, very high cliff, and I can see that Gallade's chances of surviving a fall from it are incredibly slim. No, scratch that. They are practically nonexistent.
And here I am, at the very edge of the cliff. All it would take is a little push, and… I don't even want to think about it. I'm still so young.
It is then I realise that I'm shaking all over. Thank goodness Pichu is the only one here with me. Gallade would taunt me about it forever – Pichu probably would as well, but I can easily tease him back about something else and shut him up. And Hitmonlee, oh Arceus, don't even get me started.
He would rush up to me, cackling, and possibly try to shove me a little. His idea of a joke. I wouldn't even be surprised if Hitmonlee go so far as to grab me by the tail and dangle me over the edge. In fact, I can just imagine the scene vividly in my mind right now, with him bursting out from the trees behind to surprise me and that horrible look in his eyes and that maniacal laughter and –
"Ri–Riolu! Riolu! Riolu!" Pichu yells frantically, causing me to almost jump out of my fur in fright.
The panic emanating from him is immense, and it's making me fearful as well. "What? What?"
"I – I heard something coming from over there!" he says, pointing towards the trees. "And I saw a shadow too! Someone's there!"
No way… there is no way the scene from my imagination is going to come true… I crane my neck around, trying to get a better view, but there's nothing there. Pichu is still gazing around in a panic – he probably thinks it's a wild Pokémon or ghosts or something.
Whoever it was, I need to get as far away from the edge as I can, but there is just one small problem: fear has rendered me immobile. "Pichu – I can't move – help! Pull me backwards!"
"O–okay! I'm coming!"
I let out a gasp of fright as I felt a pair of cold paws grasp my feet, but I realise it's only Pichu, dragging me away from the edge. Once I'm a safe distance away, I manage to put myself in a sitting position. Pichu has gone back to looking around for signs of the person or Pokémon that he saw.
"Are you sure you saw someone?" I ask, trying to stand up. "Could it have been your imagination?"
"No, I really did! I even heard 'em, whoever it was! I'm not making this up!"
"All right, all right, I believe you." I stretch my legs a little, glad that they have finally stopped shaking. "Do you think whoever it was is still lurking about?"
Pichu slowly shakes his head, his eyes darting about wildly as he continues to scan the area. "I dunno… I – I think we better leave quickly."
I nod. "No objections here. Let's go."
With our paws locked together, Pichu and I run as fast as we can, as though our lives depend on it – which may not be too far from the truth. Although I've neither seen nor heard anyone when we were at the cliffs, I doubt Pichu is lying. The fear I felt from him was genuine… I think.
"Are you sure you know the way?" Pichu asks between pants as I lead him through the trees.
"Yes – our footprints are still here; and besides, I have a good memory!"
And true to my word, it doesn't take long before we manage to escape from the forest and into the safety of Snowpoint City, where it is unlikely for wild Pokémon or murderers to harm us – not with people and Pokémon walking about.
I immediately sit down on the sidewalk, leaning against the side of a building as I catch my breath. Interestingly enough, our journey back from the cliffs ate only about half the time it took us to reach there in the first place. I guess it really makes a difference when you know the way – and when there's a possibility that some unknown entity is chasing you.
Casting a glance towards the forest, I search for any signs of movements in the trees and shrubbery, but all is still. Nonetheless, Pichu is extremely jumpy and insists that we rush back to the Inn, which is fortunately not too far away. I agree with him – I've had enough adventures for today.
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Pichu and I are the only ones of our team back early for dinner at the Inn, though there are also a few other Pokémon about. I don't know any of them well, but at least they are polite.
Pichu tells me that he is exhausted, and would like to retreat to his room. I nod and thank him again for following me, and he walks upstairs with a bunch of berries from the dinner table in his paws.
Chewing on a berry myself, I stand at the entrance hallway and stare at the iron gates out front. Any minute now, the Innkeeper will grab the ring of keys hanging from the peg by the counter and lock those gates, and any Pokémon late to return will be shown no mercy… just like what happened to me yesterday.
But I'm already safe and snug inside the Inn; so today, I'm hoping that someone else gets locked out instead. Imagine if it was Hitmonlee… I could stand safely at the other side of the gate and taunt him to my heart's content. Of course, I would probably pay the price for my moment of fun the very next day, but still…
A lone figure soon approaches the gate, and I realise that it is Magneton. The Electric-type spots me and floats lazily over – I take it that he is no longer mad at me, if he even was in the first place.
"Hello," I ask cautiously, gazing upwards at him. "Where have you been?"
"Around," he replies shortly. "The city has many interesting things. Nice change, being able to look around instead of training our life away. It is not like all of us need the training anyway."
With that brief remark, he continues on his way. Just as I'm pondering if he was secretly making a jibe at me with that comment, there comes a shout from the gates. I turn to the source of the commotion – great, Hitmonlee is back. He isn't alone, however; Gardevoir and Gallade are there as well, and as usual, the latter seems to be quarrelling with Hitmonlee. I guess without the Trainer to keep them in check anymore, their squabbles are bound to increase in frequency.
I walk a little closer to the doorway and look on as they verbally abuse each other, tossing about plenty of words which I've never even heard of before. Great way to expand my vocabulary, I guess. They then progress from throwing insults to punches, and at this point, Gardevoir tries to act as the peacemaker, pushing her way in between the two.
Big mistake.
A kick meant for Gallade hit Gardevoir squarely in her torso instead, and she falls backwards, clutching her stomach. Gallade immediately rushes to her side, checking on her condition. Upon ascertaining that she is fine, he casts a murderous glare at Hitmonlee.
In an instant, Gallade dashes up to him and delivers a huge punch, the impact sending Hitmonlee flying backwards and crashing into one side of the open gates. There is a loud creaking sound as the gate swings around, and I cover my ears quickly. All of a sudden, I'm pushed to the side – I look up in surprise, and see that the Innkeeper is swiftly making her way out, a broom in her hands.
Oh, this is about to get exciting.
As Gallade has gone and attended to Gardevoir again, the Innkeeper turns to the only Pokémon who is seemingly responsible for almost destroying her gate. She raises her broom high above her head, and –
SMACK.
If only Pichu was with me – he would enjoy this. Hitmonlee raises his arms defensively, trying to shield his head as the Innkeeper continues bashing him with the broom. I cannot help but laugh at his helplessness – not so tough now, are you, Hitmonlee?
Unfortunately, Hitmonlee manages to dodge her next swing, and he quickly runs towards the Inn – towards me. My reactions are too slow, and I find myself being picked up by the scruff of my neck as he glares deep into my eyes, effectively wiping the smirk off my face.
He shakes me violently. "And what are you so happy about?"
Without a word, I raise a paw and point behind Hitmonlee. Before he could turn around, the Innkeeper whacks him hard again, causing him to drop me onto the floor. Seizing the opportunity, I scamper up the stairs and into my room, slamming the door shut. I'm inwardly grateful that we have separate rooms now.
I climb up onto my bed and stare out of the window – not that there is much to see, what with the scaffoldings blocking my view. Just my luck to have been given a room close to the construction area. My mind eventually turns elsewhere, reeling with images of the Technical Machine shop, the cliff, and the expression on Hitmonlee's face as he is being attacked by a broom-wielding innkeeper.
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A couple of days pass by like the ever-precipitating snow without any incident. Gallade is still alive and kicking – quite literally too, for he had had a few more scuffles with Hitmonlee. From this fact alone, I had expected Gardevoir to be less worried, but no – it is quite the opposite, in fact. She seems to be extremely stressed, always paranoid and jumpy.
Though I wanted to ask Gardevoir if she had told Gallade about her vision – as well as his reaction to it, if she had – I never did get the chance, seeing as she is always by Gallade's side. I certainly wouldn't wish to have a chat with him around.
As such, I decide to corner Gardevoir when she is in her room alone tonight. I press my ear against my room's door, trying to hear if Hitmonlee is about. He has been on the lookout for a certain little Riolu ever since the day I witnessed him getting whacked by the Innkeeper, and I'm sure he will vent his anger at being humiliated on me.
Hearing nothing at all, I slowly open my door, wishing it would not creak so much. The hallway is deserted, and I pad over to Gardevoir's room. I knock, but there is no answer. I suppose I'm not surprised – she is probably with Gallade right now. That makes it harder for me to question her…
My Aura Filters perk up; there is a rush of emotion pouring from somewhere nearby. Curious, I allow my senses to lead me right to the source, and I soon find myself standing outside Gallade's room. Though the door is closed, I can easily detect the presence of two individuals within.
From where I stand, the soft sounds of Gardevoir sobbing reaches my ears, and I strain hard to listen.
"I'm sorry," I can hear Gardevoir whisper, and I picture Gallade with his arm around her. "It's just that… I cannot get that image out of my head… every time I close my eyes, I see it… I just don't know what to do anymore…"
"Listen," Gallade says sternly. "It's only a vision. What's more, you have told me about it. All I got to do is stay away from mountainous areas and I'll be fine! It's worked so far, hasn't it? Am I not still alive?"
"But I'm still worried," Gardevoir replies, and I imagine her looking up into his eyes. "It's easy to say that you'll steer clear from them, but what if… somehow… the murderer lures you there? Furthermore – who is to say the murderer will not try to kill you somewhere else?"
He laughs. "Nothing will ever make me go near there, all right? If it were anyone else, I wouldn't care – but this is a request from you, and you know I'll not refuse. As for the murderer, I told you, you didn't even see one in your vision, so you can't say for sure that someone wants me dead. If it'll make you less worried though, I will just stay away from isolated areas… I'll just stick close to you."
There is a brief moment of silence, broken occasionally by the sniffs coming from Gardevoir. I can see in my mind's eye Gallade wiping a tear from her eyes and squeezing her paw while she leans her head on his shoulder.
… Wait, why am I picturing every single little action that they perform?
"If only I could trade places with you," I hear Gardevoir say. "I don't mind being the one who dies, as long as you can be safe…"
"Really, Gardevoir, what a thing to say! Don't be silly – nothing will happen; you'll see. Now, take your mind off the vision, and think of happier things… about our future… Since we no longer have a trainer, we don't need to worry about training or battles anymore… We'll have more time for each other…"
"I'll like that, yes…"
"Yes, it'll be a bright future… So just focus on that, and banish all thoughts of the vision from your mind. Just think of it as a dream… or a little lifeline, for is that not what it was? Like I said, now that I'm forewarned, my death can… no, my death will be prevented."
They fall silent again, until Gallade speaks up after a while. "All right, it's getting late. Go and sleep, okay? We have the whole day to ourselves again tomorrow."
"But… but I don't want to leave you alone here…"
Gallade laughs again. "Gardevoir, we've been through this before. I'm not going anywhere, don't worry – I've been fine by myself for a few days now. And I'd like to see anyone try and attack me while I'm sleeping – I'm not like the Trainer; it won't be easy to kill me just like that. Have faith in me."
"I do…" Gardevoir says, but there are traces of doubt and concern in her voice.
"Then sleep, and I'll see you again tomorrow morning."
"All right."
I hear a soft creaking noise – probably the two Pokémon standing up from the bed – followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Realising that Gardevoir is going to leave the room, I quickly run as silently as I can down the hallway, hiding behind the leg of a table. Neither of them would be too happy if they found out that I had listened in on their conversation…
The door opens and Gardevoir walks out before turning around to face Gallade, who is standing at the door. "Are you sure –?"
"Yes," Gallade says firmly, pulling her into a hug. "You need to stop agonising over your vision, Gardevoir. Go and have a nice, long rest – it's been a stressful day for you."
They let go, and she takes his paw. "Goodnight… I will see you first thing in the morning…"
"Yeah, I'll see you then." Gallade gives a smile – one that he only reserves for Gardevoir. "Goodnight."
Gardevoir nods and walks towards her room, reaching out for the doorknob. She opens the door and takes a step in before looking back across the hallway at Gallade. Their paws rise up at the same time to wave, and Gallade laughs at this coincidence before retreating into his room, the door closing with a light thud.
There's a sad smile on Gardevoir's face as her paw slowly slides down again. I can tell that she is still extremely worried for Gallade's wellbeing. Figuring that it's safe now, I pad up to her. She turns to me, looking surprised.
"Oh… good evening, Riolu…"
"Hi," I reply casually, looking at Gallade's door to make sure that he's still in his room. "So, I've been wanting to ask for ages – did you tell Gallade about your vision?"
"I did… And it was like you said; he didn't take it seriously at first. He even wanted to bring me to the mountains to prove that it's all right."
"Whoa." Memories of my excursion to the mountain with Pichu resurface in my mind, and I begin to wonder if it was them that Pichu had seen lurking about near the cliffs. "So, did you two end up going there?"
"No, of course not," she says, a little indignantly. "I manage to convince him after a bit – and now he promises to stay away from them, but all the same, I cannot help worrying."
"Well, don't. Gallade knows how to take care of himself, so take it easy. And besides, I just thought of something – you said that, in your vision, Gallade was yelling your name, am I right?"
She nods slowly, looking uncertain at where I'm going with this. "Yes… why?"
"That probably means you were there as well. Thus, if you avoid going near mountains, so will he."
She pauses for a moment before smiling. "All right, I'll take note of that. Thank you, Riolu."
I grin in return. "Hey, glad to be of help. Well, it's getting late – I'm going to turn in now. Goodnight!"
She reaches out a paw and pats me on the head. "Goodnight."
Gardevoir enters her room and closes the door, leaving me alone in the hallway. I glance at Gallade's room again, worried if he had seen me talking to his lover, but all is silent. I wonder what he's doing now.
Ah well.
I walk back to my room and shut the door behind me before plopping down on the bed. Snow has started to fall again outside. I curl up in my warm, fuzzy blanket and close my eyes, quite certain that all of Gardevoir's worries will amount to nothing, and that everything will be all right.
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"Riolu! Wake up!"
Someone is at the door, pounding away. My eyelids are heavy, but I open them slowly only to find that daylight has filled the room. What – morning already? But… it felt as though I had only just fallen asleep… I close my eyes again and shift my position, pulling the blanket up to my chest.
"Riolu!"
… It is Pichu's voice, the inconsiderate fellow. Just because he's always bright and peppy in the mornings doesn't mean I have to be the same. I grab my pillow and press it against my ears. The Trainer is no longer around… just let me sleep already…
There comes such a huge pound at the door that I'm surprised it did not break down. "OI!"
What the – it seems like Hitmonlee has come to wake me up as well. Giving up, I slowly slide off the bed and walk over to the door. Opening it, I glare at them both. "What?" I ask rudely.
"Riolu," Pichu begins anxiously, cutting ahead of Hitmonlee. "Gallade has gone missing!"
In my half-asleep state of mind, I did not immediately register his words. I stare blankly at Pichu. "Come again?"
"Gallade isn't in his room! And Gardevoir is going hysterical – she keeps on yelling about going to save him before it's too late – Magneton is trying his best to restrain her downstairs. Do you know where Gallade could have gone to?"
Now fully awake, I shake my head, trying to keep calm. "How would I know where he decided to run off to? Maybe he just went for a morning jog or something."
"A jog?" Hitmonlee says, sneering. "Trust you to come up with stupid explanations like that!"
"Hey, I only just woke up, all right? Give me a break."
Hitmonlee would probably have pounded me to a pulp had Magneton not come floating over to us. "Please go downstairs," he says monotonously. "The officer says so."
I look up in surprise. So the police have been called in to investigate Gallade's disappearance so soon? Or is this to do with the Trainer's murder? Or… is it something else? "Well, all right…"
Even before reaching the bottom of the stairs, Gardevoir's wails reaches our ears, anguish and despair overflowing from her being. Next to her, Navy-Blue is talking in a low voice to the Innkeeper, both of them looking grave. He turns to us as we approach and performs a quick head-count.
"All right, you're all here." He nods to the Innkeeper and walks towards the door before turning around and motioning for us. "Follow me."
I crane my neck to see if there is another van or something waiting to pick us up, but it looks like we'll be journeying on foot this time. I turn to Gardevoir, hoping to question her a little as to what is going on, but she's too distraught to take notice of me. She keeps on mumbling Gallade's name over and over, her eyes swimming in tears.
All of us remain silent throughout the journey, not uttering a single word. Pichu has his arms wrapped around his body the entire time, shivering slightly as he throws occasional glances at Gardevoir. Both Hitmonlee and Magneton seem neutral about the situation, though there is no mistaking the air of uneasiness lingering over us.
My heart skips a beat as I realise a while later that we are all heading towards the forest. Pichu seems to be uncomfortably aware of this as well, a paw over his mouth in shock as he throws me a questioning gaze. This can only mean one thing…
I look at Gardevoir again. She has stopped sobbing, though the tears are still flowing. It is my belief that, deep down, she already knows what we are soon to find.
Navy-Blue leads us through the forest at a steady pace; he sure seems to know the place well. He eventually deviates from the path which would bring us to the top of the mountain, guiding us instead through a route that eventually leads to a clearing at the bottom of the cliffs. I spot a few more officers there, most of them peering at something on the ground.
Gardevoir lets out a cry, running ahead and pushing her way through the other policemen. The officers step aside to make way for the distressed Pokémon, revealing what exactly it was that they were staring at.
It's the broken body of Gallade, spread-eagled, eyes gazing unseeingly into the sky. His mouth is hanging slightly open, his expression one of shock and horror. Snow has accumulated on top of his body, blanketing the Psychic Pokémon as he sleeps, never to wake again. The air is once again filled with Gardevoir's wails as she kneels besides her lover, grasping his paw tightly and sobbing into his chest.
Pichu suddenly clings onto me as he stares fearfully at the fallen warrior. I turn to Navy-Blue, hoping for some sort of explanation.
Apparently, he understood. "A travelling trainer gave us a call not too long ago. Said he found the dead body of a Gallade. We came to check – he's not wearing his tag, so we weren't sure who exactly he was at first – but I remembered your team has a Gallade. I went to the Inn, and found out that your Gallade is missing. And judging by the way she is acting," he nods towards Gardevoir, "I guess it's safe to say that he's one and the same. We'll do a detailed check later though."
I feel that further checks are unnecessary – this most certainly is the Gallade from our team. I tilt my head upwards, as does Pichu, gazing at the top of the cliffs that we had visited yesterday. So Gardevoir's prediction had come true after all… The ordeal is not over yet.
As I turn back to Gardevoir, who looks so depressed and tormented, I cannot help but wonder what this means for the rest of us.