Chapter 8: When Love and Death Embrace

"Aoi how could you give up on being a trainer. We promised each other that once we were old enough we would go on a journey together. I never thought you were a spineless coward but I don't need you anymore. I will free them without your help!"

"Wait Aya! Please don't go..come back please" Aoi jumped up out of the bed, he had tears rolling down from his eyes and he was covered in sweat. "So it was just a dream, but why was Aya so cold and distant and what did she mean by freeing them. I don't remember her every mentioning anything like that before. Seeing as he was already up he decided to get ready and head out. He wrote a note to thank the prof. for letting him stay the night and let her know to give him a call if he ever needed to borrow yume for her research.

On his way out the front door opened up and Amanita walked in. She was wearing a track suit and had her long hair in a ponytail and she was wiping her face with a towel, and she accidentally bumped into Aoi and fell onto the ground.

"Are you okay Amanita? Sorry I didn't think you'd be up this early." He said as he reached his hand out to help her up.

"n-no I'm so-sorry I shou-should've been watching where I was going." She went to grab his hand and then she turned really red and stopped.

"Umm Amanita do you need a hand?"

"….but I'm all sweaty right now….I don't want you to think I'm gross or anything." She said as she twiddled her fingers. He wasn't sure what she meant by that but he thought since he knocked her over he should help her up, so he grabbed her hand and started pulling her back up. Amanita squealed when he grabbed her hand and she immediately broke free from him and jumped back up and ran towards the stairs. "s-ss-so-sorr-sorry you ju-just surprised me is all. Please don't hate me."

"Umm why would hate you?" Aoi was really confused why she would think he would hate her. "Well I'm sorry for scaring you."

"it's okay it's not your fault, but why are you up so early are you going to leave already?

"yeah i need to find my friend so I can't waste too much time. Thank you for your hospitality please give my regards to the prof." Aoi started to walk out the door. Amanita wanted to tell him to stay so she could make breakfast for him and be with him a bit more, but she couldn't work up the courage. After he left Amanita realized that was the last time she would talk with Aoi for a really long time. Fearing that he might forget about her or he might not ever come back she started to cry. Prof. Fennel came down the stairs and found Amanita bawling like a togepi. She ran down the stairs and threw her arms around Amanita.

"What's wrong Amanita?! Why are you crying? What happened?!"

"sniff…sniff…It's Aoi he..sniff…he..he left already..and i-i-i-I didn't get..sniff..to tell him good luck"

"How long has it been since he left?"

"sniff..10 maybe 15 minutes"

"Well you still have time to tell him! He said he would be heading for route 3 in the morning. Unless he ran there he shouldn't be there yet. So if you hurry you can catch him."

"sniff…sniff d-d-do you really think so?"

"Yes I do! Come on you can't waste anymore time." Fennel grabbed her by her arm and dragged her to the door and pushed her outside. "Go on Amanita! Don't let him get away"

"Right I won't" Amanita started running to the route 3 checkpoint"

"Ohh don't forget to tell him how you feel!" Fennel said coyly

Amanita had never run so fast in her life, everything went by in a blur. She took every shortcut she could see hoping that it would let her catch up to him. As she was getting close a pack of lillipup jumped in her way causing her to fall over. She tried to get up but as she did a sharp pain shot through her ankle and she fell back down. Amanita was so close yet so far away. It was just around the corner she thought.

"It's not like Aoi really cares about me telling him good luck. Why did this have to happen to me, I really am worthless, nothing really matters anymore. It's better this way now I can go back to how things used to be…but can't I be selfish just this once. I've come this far already right, I can't stop not now!

She pushed through the pain and was able to stand back up and quickly made her way to the route 3 exit. At the gate she spotted Aoi and made one last rush to him and threw her arms around him. He was completely surprised by her and jumped up like a skitty.

"I-I-I'm sorry Aoi if I startled you but I need to tell you something. Most trainers catch a lot of Pokémon but they only use a few of them whereas the rest of them are placed in a pc box and left there for a really long time. So if you wouldn't mind I would like to look after the Pokémon you're not using that way they won't be trapped in your pc."

"Uhh amanita is that you?!"

" Yes…umm also…I forgot to tell you good luck on your journey and finding your friend!"

"You almost gave me a heart attack. Next time call out to me please, and if you will really take care of my Pokémon I would very much appreciate that. Hey do you think you could let go of me it's getting kinda hard to breathe."

"Sorry sorry I didn't mean to hurt you or anything"

"Its ok my mom's grip is much worse. Well if there isn't anything else than I'm going to head out. Thanks for everything I'll see you again." Aoi gave her a smile and started heading toward route 3. Just as he was about to leave Striaton city he heard Amanita call out to him once more.

"Aoooooi! I really really really like you! Please be safe!" Aoi didn't know how to react to her confession, so he just turned around and smiled at her again. Amanita watched him walk away and she let out a huge sigh and collapsed onto the ground. She grabbed her X-transceiver and scrolled down to Prof. Fennel's name and tapped her name. "Hey Fennel do you think you could come pick me up?"

Aoi walked for about an hour or so on route 3 before he came to a rest stop next to a kindergarten where the path spilt. He decided that he should consult the map and see which way would lead him to the next town. Before he could read his map though somebody grabbed it from his hands and started running off with it. Aoi sat still for a couple of seconds dumbfounded by what had just happened, he felt anger boiling up inside him. Aoi leapt off the bench and started sprinting after the culprit. The thief kept looking back making sure Aoi was still following even going so far to slow down so they wouldn't lose him after a series of turns or shortcuts, almost as if they were leading him somewhere.

It wasn't long before they reached a cave at the end of the road. The thief ran inside and Aoi followed suit. The cave had been abandoned for what seemed like years. There were lights but no power and most of them didn't have light bulbs or the wire was ripped from them most likely taken by people who were trying to make a quick buck. Aoi knew at this rate he'd never find the thief so he called out Kuro and asked him to help seeing as how Purrloins were known for their sight at night.

"Alright Kuro I want you to help guide me and if you see anyone else in here don't let them get away!"

"Right I won't let you down Aoi!" The two of them wandered around for about a half hour before they even saw another Pokémon, and when the Pokémon saw the two of them they all ran away.

"I guess their scarred of humans. I wonder wh-" As Aoi was mentioning this he heard someone screaming "Watch out below!" He tried to move out-of-the-way but since it was so dark he inadvertently tripped over a rock falling onto his butt and what felt like a small child landed on his stomach making him spit up a little from the sudden shock.

"Aoi are you alright?" asked kuro

"Yeah I think I'm going to be alright but what was that and who tried to warn me. Do you see anyone kuro?" He did a quick scan around the room and saw someone who was riding some sort of Pokémon.

"To think after all these years your still cushioning other's falls." Said a woman chuckling.

"What are you talking about?! Who are you?!" barked Aoi

"My my you used to be so kind and gentle I never would have imagined that you'd grow up to be so cold." Aoi tried to stand back up but there was a big rock sitting on his stomach. He went to lift it off him and it started to move. It hopped off his stomach and cowered behind him.

"I'm sorry about that I forgot my manners but I'm not exactly in the best of moods now. My name is Aoi and you are?"

"Well that's better but still I can't believe you don't recognize your best friend. I know its been a long time but it hurts my feelings that you don't even know who I am." She said letting out a huge sigh.

"Wait no it couldn't be! Aya! Is that you?!" Aoi said as he started to move closer to her. Before he could get too close though the Pokémon the landed on him jumped in front of him and blocked his way.

"Don't do it mister she's a bad person. She has been hurting all of my friends and family in here and her buddies took the rest." Aoi looked down at the Pokémon and back at Aya.

"Hey Aya do you know why the Pokémon here are all scared of humans I mean you've lived in unova a lot longer?

"Oh that's right you lived out in the boonies of kanto, well this here is wellspring cave and years ago it used to be a digging site where humans and Pokémon worked together to gather materials for building or rare minerals but a few years ago a group of bad people came in and kicked out the workers and started stealing Pokémon from here or leading unsuspecting trainers her to take their Pokémon and money. They left after a big battle with the league and this place has been abandoned ever since."

"Ok well what are you doing in here then?"

"I could ask you the same thing Aoi"

"Well I was chasing someone who took my town map they ran in here and I lost track of them. You haven't seen anyone else right."

"Oh is that so..well I haven't seen anyone running around here except you."

"Are there any other entrances they could have used to escape?"

"Nope there's only one entrance into this cave."

"I guess they must be deeper in the cave then."

"Maybe or they could be closer than you think"

"What's that supposed to mean Aya?"

"…..Aoi you still don't get it do you." Her voice changed from its normal happy tone to a very serious one.

"Huh what do you mean?!"

"Do you think its normal for a roggenrola to go flying through the air and not to mention you didn't even listen to what it had to say. It even tried to warn you but just because I'm an old friend your choosing to ignore what it said. I guess you really did shut out their voices didn't you?!"

"No! You're wrong I heard what it said but I didn't want to believe it….You took my map too didn't you? Why Aya? What are you trying to achieve?!

"Ahh that's better I'm glad you're not as dumb as the rest of them. I'll tell you if you can beat me in a battle. A one on one battle is fine right?" She said as she hopped off the Pokémon she was riding and it stepped forward.

"Fine if that's the way you want it. Kuro use fury swipes!" He pounced onto the other Pokémon unleashing a barrage of slashed with his claws. The other Pokémon stood still taking every hit.

"Charge" The Pokémon continued to stand still but you could see sparks of electricity running through its fur and collect up at the top of its horn on its head.

"Alright now use assist!" Kuro hopped back and started to glow and a beam of light shot from Yume's pokeball to him. He stopped glowing and let out a big yawn which shot out a cloud from his mouth and it traveled to the other Pokémon. Aya's pokemon eyes started to get drowsy but it was still ready to fight.

"Again!" Her Pokémon sat still once more but the sparks of electricity began to grow much more violently and changed colors.

"Now another fury swipe Kuro!" He was only able to land two hits this time but the last one cut really deeply compared to the others.

"Is that all you've got Aoi? I know you only have one badge so far, but I thought maybe you might have inherited your parents battling skills I guess I was wrong."

"What are you talking about this battle has just started and you haven't attacked once."

"I've grown tired of this. Blitzle shock wave" She snapped her fingers and her Blitzle released all the energy it had been storing up and shot a beam of electricity towards Kuro."

"Quick Kuro dodge it!" Kuro sidestepped out-of-the-way of the attack "Nice one Kuro!"

"Don't you know Aoi, shock wave is an attack that always hits." Before he could react to it the beam curved back and hit Kuro. He cried out in agony. The attack only lasted a couple of seconds but it felt like an eternity.

"Kuro! Are you alright?!" Screamed Aoi. Kuro didn't say anything back but he turned around to look at Aoi and with a smile on his face said thank you before falling onto the ground. Aoi ran up to Kuro picking him up.

"Come on kuro! Wake up! Please get up I know you can do it! No Kuro please don't leave me. I'm sorry I should have done better!" Cried Aoi

"Well looks like I won, not like it really matters. That was just pitiful not even worth being called a victory, but since I feel sorry for you I'll give you a consolation prize." Aoi was silent tears running down his face.

"Aoi I bet you're wondering why I asked you to come along with me on my journey. Well I want you to rule along with me. I was chosen by team plasma to be one of the two heroes to awaken the legendary Pokémon Reshiram and Zekrom and with their powers we will cleanse Unova and liberate all Pokémon from the tyrannous rule of humans, but if I'm gonna be the queen of this new world then I will need someone who can stand beside me and you're the only person who can Aoi. No one else will work and I will get rid of anyone who tries to interfere. Like that Amanita girl. I can't have you running off with some harlot who will taint you."

"What are you talking about? Have you gone insane?! You're not the Aya I knew!"

"Mmhmm looks like you still need some convincing. Blitzle shock wave on Aoi now!" Blitzle knocked over Aoi and shot another beam of electricity at him. Aoi had never experienced anything so painful in his life before. He let out a horrific cry as they attack traveled through his body. "Now let's see these clothes won't do at all either let's get rid of these now." Aya pulled out a knife from her back pocket and started to cut his clothes.

She grabbed some of his hair and lifted his face up next to hers and she held the blade up to his throat. "Now Aoi I want your word that you won't ever think about falling in love with another girl if you do I don't know what I might do to them and you!" Aoi knew that if he didn't say yes to her that she's hurt him again or even worse kill him. He nodded yes and her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Ohh Aoi you have no idea how happy that makes me to hear that. If this were a more romantic setting I'd make you mine right now"

"Excuse me commander we have intruders and their really strong too. They demanding that we give back the Pokémon we stole this last night.

"Didn't I tell you buffoons that I didn't want to be disturbed?! You were supposed to make sure no one else entered. How many of them are there?

"Just one right now but the other two went to bring the police and they'll be back any minute now!"

"Just when things were starting to get interesting." She said pouting.

"It ok~ Aya you were able to tell Aoi about team plasma and he swore not to fool around."

"Mhm your right! You always know what to say to cheer me up don't you May"

"hehe anything for you miss. Now you go and take your leave I'll make sure they don't screw anything else up."

"Alright I'll be expecting an answer from you soon Aoi goodbye" She gave him a kiss on the cheek and skipped away in joy.

"Now you imbeciles give back the Pokémon you stole earlier and make sure you don't get caught retreating afterwards."

"Understood! Your heard the lieutenant everyone retreat!"

"Good luck Aoi I hope you make the right decision and you better not make Aya cry or I won't be able to guarantee your safety. Aoi laid face down on the ground barely conscious of what was going on. He looked over at Kuro one last time and said goodbye before passing out. Aoi woke up in a hospital bed later that night.

"Oh you're finally awake. For a while there I was thinking that I'd have to wait forever." Said the girl sitting next to his bed.

"Where am I?" he asked groggily

"You're in the hospital. You were pretty much dead when we found you this morning, they said it was a miracle that you were still alive."

"And I take it you're the one who found and brought me here."

"No and yes! You can thank this little guy here for saving your life. If he hadn't shown me where you were then I doubt you'd still be with us." She held up a Roggenrola and put it in his face.

"Thank you for saving my life I'm indebted to you."

"No problem mister thank you for trying to take down the evil woman. If you'd let me I would like to go with you so I can have a chat with her. I'm sure if I stay with you then she's bound to show up."

"Alright sounds good! Welcome to the team"

"Uhhh what was that just now?!" Aoi had completely forgotten about the girl sitting next to the bed.

"Well umm you see I can understand pokemon" Aoi closed his eyes fearing that she'd start yelling or say he's a liar.

"That's… soooo freaking cool! I really wish I could understand them!" She got super close to his face and her eyes seemed to sparkle. "Ohh sorry about that I didn't mean to startled you. It's just sometimes I get so excited that I can't contain it!

"Its ok, my mother is like that to. I'm just surprised that you're not scared by me being able to talk to Pokémon. Umm by the way what is your name?"

"Ohh right my name is Eve! It's nice to meet you. We've had a few classes together at trainer school but we never really talked or hung out so that's probably why you don't recognize me."

"Thank you Eve for everything you did."

"Awwwh no problem I'm glad I was able to help. Well since you're finally up I can finally go get some rest."

"Have you been by my side this entire time?"

"Well as soon as the doctors let me. Somebody had to make sure you were ok, and plus that roggenrola refused to leave your side. Alright I'll see you tomorrow. Make sure to keep an eye on him for me kay little guy. Bye bye Aoi"

"You can go back to sleep Aoi I'm sure your still in some pain. Don't worry I won't let anyone hurt you promise."

"alright actually one thing before I go to bed. What is your name?

"Its Terra"

"Thank you again Terra goodnight"

-Chapter 8 End-