Thank you so much for the reviews and favourites! Omg, I definitely didn't expect any, let alone a review, haha. Thank you to CitrusHoney, guest, IggyKoopa2, and Gladius52.
Regarding to the pace, yes, it is quite slow I suppose, and I'll try to gradually make it faster. I'm an amateur writer, so thank you for the feedback! I'll try to improve (:
I forgot the disclaimers in both previous chapters so - DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokemon, just my OCs.
Prologue and Chapter One has a time gap of almost four years, just to clear things up.
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A single red and white sphere almost ominously tumbles out, shiningly well-maintained but scratches remains on it's exterior. I pick it up cautiously, goosebumps already forming on my arms and before I tap on its center button, I glance in the box.
Nothing there.
"Runt!" Triumphantly, Archè stamps a jagged foot onto the floorboards, and I grimace.
Hopefully that won't leave a mark…
Halfway ready to scold him, I pause as I see the parchment on the pale wooden floor, and I gingerly bend down to pick it up. With shaky fingers, I unfold the paper to see a familiar scrawl, and tears bite from the corners of my eyes.
Rei! Sorry that I didn't tell you but I'm on a grand adventure as you'd call it - I'm looking for a dear friend of mine, and will be back home soon. I estimate it'd take another half a year or so, and I've already been out of Unova for two months. Be a good girl and look after mom, okay? Oh, look after this as well, I have one too many in my party right now, and I'd feel bad if I put one of my longtime companions in the PC. I'll send a post-card sometime so look forward to that!
From your brother,
Eugene (fun fact: people know me as Black in Unova, isn't that cool?)
Stupid brother…
I sniffle loudly, and wipe the tears away, not being able to help smiling at his idiocy. I wipe my nose quickly with a tissue I swipe from the nearby cabinet, and my eyes go back a couple of sentences.
Two months?
Pieces fall into place, and I groan, burying my head into my hands. A part of me pipes up that it could've been only two months ago in September, but realistically thinking, I knew too much time had passed. I stay rooted from where I am for a moment, and let what had happened sink in. I close the door, and quickly walk to the living room, counting to 100 mareeps to try and slow down my breathing.
Breathe in. Breathe out. This can't be a dream.
I pinch my nose, and grimace once more. Out of all the times, this message is sent to me almost four years later. The good-natured Tyrunt nudges his snout on my thigh again, his eyes innocently blinks at the pokeball.
"Pfft, more interested in this thing, huh?" I snort, and he waves his tail seemingly in agreement. I almost don't want to touch it, in fear it might waver and disappear like an illusion.
Is it an ill omen?
Shaking my head furiously to rid the thoughts, I hesitantly reach for the sphere before drawing my hand back. I couldn't do it. Frustrated with myself, I bite my lip and anxiously clench and unclench my fingers - a bad habit if you will. The light bounces off the pokeball, and it gleams innocently, almost too innocently. I steel myself, and quickly pick it up, leaving no time for me to back out. The pokeball is solid (I don't know whether this is a good thing or not) and rolls around the palm of my hand comfortably, yet it feels foreign to feel something like this in my hands again. I look back at Archè desperately, at a loss whether or not I should unleash whatever Pokemon my brother had in there.
"Ty, run", the Pokemon looks at me skeptically, probably wondering why he wasn't already eating it since I was doing nothing but holding it.
"Geez, thanks for the encouragement, buddy", I mutter, but it's all I need to strengthen my resolve, and clumsily, I tap the sphere. It hypnotically enlarges, and opens, a flash of iridescent light surrounds the entire room.
I hear a whoosh of something, and a grunt of displeasure.
Archè's tail?
I couldn't say I was too pleased about the sudden burst of light either, and I blink rapidly, trying to get used to seeing again. The blurry outline of a...thing around my height stands tall in front of me, and it shuffles uncomfortably. In the corner of my eyes, I see my Tyrunt looking daunted at the unusual structure in the room, his tail whips back and forth as he cowers. I raise an eyebrow at his behavior, and while he was fairly nice, he was in no way scared of anything.
Probably ancient Pokemon mindset.
I snigger at the thought, temporarily forgetting what was happening before I pale. Two unblinking red eyes meets mine, and I stiffen, feeling the comfort of solid plaster behind my back. It was monstrous, almost a robotic looking being with a light turquoise body - the metallic sheen glitters alongside the large silver cross on the center of it's head. It's four legs - I notice with relief- is tucked in precariously as it hovers above the wooden tiles, but like it's body, they're ginormous. Especially compared to my Tyrunt and I.
I gulp, I knew this Pokemon but that was past tense.
I knew what time did to Pokemon, and who could say it doesn't apply to this Metagross either?
"Gross…", It's steady eyes stare past me to Tyrunt's, and flickers back to mine. I almost tremble as I put my hands up slowly, and walk towards it. It's name was Creatrix, one of my brother's first Pokemon, given to him by someone back in Unova as an egg. He only told us, my mother and I, when it hatched. He had a happy, satisfied grin when he announced that all his walking and maintenance for that darned egg wasn't for nothing, but we knew he would care for it, regardless of what Pokemon it was. He was just that kind of person, he had that charisma that drew people to him, and unfortunately a magnet for trouble. Eugene always seemed to have backup plans one after the other even when he didn't need them, and it never ceased to amaze me - he was my idol.
This was one of his Pokemon however, and that practically guaranteed that it was powerful enough to compete against top caliber, elite Pokemon.
But why would he send me it?
In the back of my mind, my mother's words echoed, and then I knew why.
"..a great white dragon."
"Creatrix?" I whisper, as I edge closer to it. It shows no signs of hostility, just calmness that I must admit, unnerved me a little. Archè yelps in worry, and I turn to him to mouth that it was okay. He probably wouldn't understand at all, but it seemed to calm him down a bit as he stood at the back of the room, watching me rigidly. I could have sworn that the Metagross' eyes brightened in recognition, when it heard my voice and took in my appearance as I approached. I wouldn't be surprised since it's species was renowned for their intelligence that rivaled supercomputers. Creatrix hums, and the sound vibrates throughout it's body as it allows me to place a hand on it's cold body.
"Why are you here so late?" I murmur, and I couldn't help but admire the gloss of the metal armor. He took care of Creatrix well. "Do you know where Eugene is?"
When no response came, I sigh in resignation. I should have expected that Creatrix wouldn't be able to talk, sure, some psychic types could via their ability Telepathy, but Metagross wasn't one of them. As if noticing my change in emotion, it looks at me apologetically. I shake my head, and give him a watery smile.
"Not your fault, don't worry, I'm just frustrated...and I miss him."
Somewhat more certain that the large creature wouldn't harm him, Archè scampers to me, and eagerly sniffs at Creatrix. The Metagross dwarfs the Tyrunt, but they seem to get along - I'm a bit shocked until I remember that Creatrix had a very motherly nature even as a Beldum. My brother had joked about it, but added that he wasn't complaining since he and his team needed someone to look after them. I study them, Archè animatedly caws and grunts while Creatrix responds in it's...unique ways.
Does Creatrix realize the amount of time that has passed?
I pause to contemplate telling, but decide against it since Creatrix could figure it out by itself in due time. I quickly step outside the room, and fumble inside my pockets until my fingers meet a thin, card-like object.
I need some answers, and I'm not going to get any by just staying here.
After I press the tiny power button, the Holo-Caster flutters into action, the screen aglow with my contacts and messages. My finger is just above the my mother's name [Andrea Underfell], before I hesitate. I didn't know whether to tell her or not, and I didn't want her to remember losing her son again. Most of all, I didn't want to give her any false promises that he was okay.
Am I going to have to do this myself?
I didn't want to, I loathed being by myself. I wouldn't know what to do, but somehow my brother's Pokemon did arrive at my place - to Reiyss Underfell, which is me, under his name. I stay quiet, it was no use going to Unova, because he obviously wasn't there for the past few years, so Hoenn seemed to be the most likeliest of having any leads.
I had a couple of connections in Kanto, Johto and Sinnoh - only Fantina in Sinnoh though, since I knew her from her visits to Valerie's workshop. And I hadn't heard anything from any of them about my brother, and they knew I was looking for him - they had given me sympathetic responses after the incident after all. That left Hoenn, and a few other regions, but they were exclusive to Pokemon Rangers and I doubted that even my brother could gain access there. Regions were heavily guarded at security at the borders nowadays, unlike years before, where it was relatively easy to get in and out. Maybe it was because Kalos had allowed people to immigrate there, and officials were scared of any possible illnesses spreading.
Hence, it was almost impossible for anyone to go between Kalos and Kanto/Johto/Sinnoh, except for the esteemed. Hoenn was surprisingly easier from what I hear, but I still didn't know the means to get there.
Do I want to leave?
After all, I had just gotten my dream job after working so long for it, but the thought of possibly getting answers I've yearned for seals my decision.
I groan - it seemed like that's all I do recently, and I flick my finger down on the screen to a contact I had, but never called.
The device buzzes in my hands, and an unexpected feeling swells in my bloodstream - anticipation. The Pokemon have slowed their chatter, and their actions appear more languid, and when I look at the time, I cringe. It was too late at night, and I knew that I wouldn't know how to deal with a cranky Tyrunt in the morning. I usher Archè who lets out an indignant squeal, which I roll my eyes at, and I stop at the door. With the still vibrating Holo-Caster in my right hand, I wonder what I should do about the Metagross that is silently levitating.
"Um...do you want to go inside your ball or stay..?" I question it unsurely, the pokeball was in the pocket of my jacket and just in case, I take it out.
"The living room is relatively comfortable…", I trail off when the Metagross answers for itself by slowly lowering itself on the ground.
I shrug, "Alright, that's cool. I guess I'll see you in the morning - g'night, nice seeing you again though."
Talk about awkward…
I step outside the doorway, and the sudden voice that projects into the corridor scares me. I jump, and clutch at my chest when the pokeball in my hand clatters on the floor noisily. I try to pinpoint the noise of the sound as I scramble for the spherical device, and I swear I heard laughs as I did. On my knees, with the pokeball once again in the confines of my pocket, I look up and see a hologram of flickering blue.
His eyes are warm, and with a noticeable Kalosian accent, he greets me.
"Bonjour, Miss Underfell!"
Letting a startled gasp escape my mouth before flushing in embarrassment, and I greet Augustine Sycamore in a sheepish manner. He waves my apology off, but I can see the tiredness in his actions.
"Another group of officials inspected your lab again?" I guess, and I appear to be correct as he gives a weary sigh.
"That's irrelevant though, but yes. How may I help you?"
I feel a twinge of sympathy; worldwide news of government officials being meticulous on inspections of professors' labs were common now. It didn't happen they went to visit an ungodly amount of times. Something about suspected abuse, and rebellion.
"Ineedhelptogettosomewhere", I blurt out, and I almost wanted to slap myself after seeing the Kalos Professor's shocked face.
I feel my cheeks getting warm again, and I try to avert my eyes, " I need help to get to somewhere. More specifically, Hoenn."
He stays quiet, and I'm worried that the line might have froze up but he looks at me dead in the eye.
"I know you probably have a good reason, but right now is not a good idea", he's more serious now, "I know your mother fairly well, but letting you go somewhere is very risky for me."
My heart hammers against my ribcage.
I'm so close though..!
Sycamore rests his face on his hands, arms propped on his desk, "If anything goes wrong, I'll be held responsible. I've heard a lot from your mother, and it seems you have a good character."
"I don't think I can let you go by yourself."
At those words, I try not to let the heartbreak and disappointment show on my face, "Please, this is really important -".
He holds a finger up to shush me, and although it's a worn out smile, it lights up his face wonderfully. "As long as you don't go alone. We adults know a lot more than we let on."
I wonder to myself if I was that obvious.
"I have someone who wants to travel to Hoenn as well, she just finished her stay at Kalos and she's from Unova", he says as he looks down at his papers and adds, "Meet me at the Lumiose station tomorrow at ten thirty a.m. sharp. Hm...with your luggage on second thought, we're on a tight schedule."
"Bonne nuit, Reiyss!"
The corridor returns to its normal dimness before I can utter a thank you, and I'm left alone in the darkness. I fumble all the way to my room, jerking the door open when I press on the light switch. Collapsing on the bed, I gaze at the ceiling, still not grasping what had just occurred.
"I might be going to Hoenn", I say quietly in wonder. It never dawned me until now that what I'm doing is reckless and very, very stupid.
What have I done?
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Hope you readers enjoy this chapter as well, and criticism is always appreciated!
(I'm not sure about my update schedule yet, I'm already writing chapter three as of now)
Apologies for the short chapters, I'm still trying to get used to writing more, but enough of the excuses, haha.
~Blue