Chapter 20
April
I hover in mid-air, wandering the posts that tower over everything. My eyes wander from ring to target to dummy and back to ring again. This is what it was like for me for the past few days. Wandering, unsure of what to do. When I was still a Togepi, training was chattering away with Kila. I didn't know any attacks, didn't know how to fight. But, Kila helped waste away the time. Now, with two friends that are dead serious about their training, I'm left to wander the training grounds without purpose. Sure, I know Magical Leaf, but what good is that against the Wings of Legend?
My eyes wander aimlessly around the cavern, scanning over every pokemon that soars above and below me. I spot Fido talking to a pokemon far below, close to the ground. I flutter down a bit to get a closer look. I identify the guest pokemon as a Jumpluff. Fido nods to the Jumpluff, then looks up until his eyes rest on me. "April! Front and center!" His voice booms in the cavern. Startled, I waste no time getting down to eye level of Fido. I recognize the Jumpluff, now. My old mother, Ontinous, floats beside Fido who keeps talking as if I have no memory of the pokemon in front of me. "April, this pokemon says that she wants to speak with you." I nod and he flies up to go yell at someone else, leaving me and Ontinous alone. She has something in her fluff\hand. A red bundle of something.
"April, I'm so glad to see you again!" She forgets formal greetings and hugs me with her soft fluff. I hug her back. I've missed her so much. Ontinous breaks away and holds me at arms length. "I'm so proud of how strong you're becoming! When I heard that you went off to the last battle, I thought you were killed!" I smile a bit.
"I'm glad to see you, too." is all I can get out.
"April, I'd love to chat with you all day. But that's not why I'm here..." I blink. She lets go of me and holds the red bundle in front of her. "I came with a choice for you." I cock my head slightly. Ontinous explains further. "As a Togetic and a member of Skyborne, you've got two different choices to serve your tribe. Most Togetics have natural healing hands. They make outstanding medics which make up our infirmary. Another medic would surely be useful in these hard times. However, your evolved forme, Togekiss, is extremely powerful. Among the most powerful fliers in the skies. Strong pokemon are needed to end this war. So, you have a choice." Ontinous reveals what the red bundle is. The red is cloth. The scarf and certification of a medic. The wrinkled white seal makes it clear. However, something is still left in the cloth, wrapped within the scarf.
The sides drop down and hang off of Ontinous's hands. Inside the scarf is a stone that I've only seen a few times and have heard of it's mysterious effects. Cradled in the cloth is a Shiny Stone. At the sight of it, it stirs my heart. Making it race. The little bundle of the two items display my choices. To remain a Togetic and become a medic or to evolve and become a Togekiss. Ontinous smiles at me and places the items in my delicate hands. Once I cradle it, she ties the edges together to secure the precious evolutionary stone. "April, you're allowed time to think about it. But, I wouldn't dwell on it for too long. After all, we are in the middle of a war.
With that, Ontinous gives me a final hug. Her warmth embraces my body, letting every bone in my body relax. She breaks apart after a while, turns, and floats up to an exit. I watch her lightweight body disappear behind a cave wall, leaving me alone with my future cradled in my arms. I hover there for a long time, trying to process it all. I'm not a fighter. Never was, never will be. I'd be the most useful as a medic and I'd be safe from the outside perils. However, the scenes from that fateful war come back to me like agonizing pains. The roaring, the voices, the bones, the bones, the bones. My blood runs cold like ice. Seeing bodies like that everyday, watching soldiers in pain, in sorrow, and on the threshold of death. I'm not sure if I could handle that, just as much as I couldn't handle seeing it again on the battlefield.
My wings propel myself towards the exit. I don't even have the heart to fly around without cause. I want to curl up in my bed and wait for something. I don't know what, but something. So, I follow the passages to my living quarters, my feet dragging along the ground, yet still staying loft.
As a medic, I really could do a lot of good, though. Lives would be saved, injuries healed by my hands. The death toll could be reduced with more help, even if it is small. I could be the cause for a life. Besides, I'm not at all powerful, so it seems that I'd offer the most use as a medic. However, the main cause of all this pain, the war, doesn't need medics. They need warriors. To end the war, we need to win it all. But, for that, Skyborne needs all the power it can get.
I finally duck under the silk curtain\doorway to our room. Just as I so desired, I collapsed and curled up on my straw bed, awaiting night to arrive or for sweet sleep to overcome me. Whichever one comes first.