Finally! After many months, I completed this chapter!
Too long of a wait, wasn't it? I really apologize for that. I had the urge to continue, but I just couldn't write at all. I'll try to continue quickly. Well, I guess I myself am interested in what will happen to Marina next.
Chapter 34
Lost
"Alright, I'll be straight and forward with you," the imposter Bugsy spoke to the object in his hand. The green and white ball shone elegantly in the sun along with its golden "N" imprinted on the green.
"I sense you've been a little more awake since I told Marina's friend the story about you, but you still haven't talked yet. I don't even know if you can, but this is the most of a feeling I've gotten from you since Friday."
The Neo Ball was silent, much like an inanimate object should be. Yet the boy narrowed his eyes at it. He could sense a tiny sliver of life swimming within, a spirit that remained dormant.
Latios put his free hand in his shorts pocket with a disproving attitude. "Does this mean you feel sorry now that you hurt him, using his friend like a puppet? You're a little late."
His chiding instigated no reply, and he sighed in defeat. Not a single sound, mentally or verbally, emitted from the Neo Ball. Even when he caught one of the Unown living in the ruins and tried to use it as a medium for communication, nothing happened. Calling out to the spirit within it using his psychic powers proved useless as well. She was just not responding to anything he did. It seemed as though something more was required to communicate with her.
"Looks like it's really a dead end," he muttered to himself, disheartened. "We were so close… Aura's right here; she knows everything we're trying to find out, and she's possibly the only one willing to talk. If only she could…"
"Hey! Bugsy!"
Latios remained still, not responding at first. But he lifted his head suddenly in recollection. "Oh, I almost forgot."
He turned just as Kenta slowed to a halt before him. The boy was wearing his backpack, ready to move on after the couple days of sulking, investigating with the scientists, and recovering from his mild injuries.
There he is. I knew he'd follow me. This is it, the last time I'll be talking to him. After this, I'm home free.
"Hey," Kenta greeted again. "I've been looking for you. What are you doing here?"
This went unreturned, as "Bugsy" seemed to only observe him. Kenta's eyes too wandered, but to the Neo Ball in his hand. His eyebrows slightly rose in dulled recognition. But before he could complete the process, Bugsy quickly hid it in his fist.
"You're still worried," he said, quite casual.
Kenta eyed him strangely. "What?"
The Neo Ball spun as Bugsy tossed it into the air repeatedly. "I promised that I wasn't going to say anything about this, but I saw her, too," he stated. "That night, when she had that sword."
The boy stared, stunned. The image of the large, divine blade Marina had held clearly came to mind, even the unforgettable glittering of its jewels when she had swung the sword in his direction without hesitation. Marina's cold, crimson red irises that night returned to him with an eerie shiver.
"You…You saw her? What happened?"
"That's a little complicated to answer," Bugsy answered with a guise of confusion, remembering that he still had to act in-character. "It seemed more like a dream, even when I talked to her."
Kenta took an eager step closer. "You talked to her? When?"
Bored of throwing the little sphere in his hand, Bugsy pocketed the Neo Ball. He was tense as Kenta snapped at his silence.
"Bugsy, what did she say?"
"She looked really shaken up; the most scared and confused I'd ever seen her."
"Was there anything—anything unusual?"
"Well, that doesn't matter now. She's already—."
Kenta gritted his teeth, grasping Bugsy's collar tightly. "Of course it matters! What happened then wasn't normal! She wasn't herself! And…!"
"And?" was all Bugsy managed to utter, gripped by the boy's anger.
"She was…crying." The intense burning in Kenta's navy eyes sizzled down to charcoal, and he loosened his hold. Solemnly, he looked toward the ground. "I hardly ever see her cry."
Bugsy shut his eyes for a moment. "Like Aura from the legend. If it really was a myth, then the moral would be to have an open heart instead of hiding and taking everything upon yourself.
"Because not just her and Marina are like that. Everyone feels the need to hide their weaknesses."
Kenta kept his grip, and the other boy sighed.
"…I don't know if this is of any help, but Marina was herself when I saw her," he said. "Distressed and confused, but herself."
At this, Kenta let him go, letting it fall limply to his side. Bugsy fixed his shirt.
"What do you think I should do?" Kenta asked eventually.
"You know her more than me, don't you? If that was Marina, then try to understand how she feels. That's all I can really tell you. So just do that for me, okay?"
"What does that …?" he asked in a murmur. He lifted his head to face the boy again, but stopped himself from questioning him.
Only nature accompanied Kenta, showering him with falling leaves. The one that called himself Bugsy had taken his leave—nowhere to be found.
"Hiya, Marina!" Jackson's voice exclaimed from Marina's PokéGear.
"Hi, Jackson," Marina greeted.
"It's been forever! How've you been?"
Her vacant gaze stared at the device held limply in her palm. Coming back to her senses, she shook her head and answered, "Oh, good! I'm in Ecruteak City now!" She twitched as her Pokémon egg, draped in a wool blanket, wiggled in her lap. A small smile rested on her lips, but it faded away as she looked about the lobby of the Pokémon Center.
"Ecruteak City? That's awesome! Have you battled the Gym Leader yet?"
I forgot there was a Pokémon Gym here. Marina gently ran her hand along the egg's warm shell. So much has happened and I was so wrapped up in it all…
"Kenta," she whispered to herself.
"What? Did you say something, Marina?" Jackson asked. "You were too quiet."
"Oh, no! I was…just saying how I haven't gone to the Gym yet."
"Really? I thought I heard you say something that sounds an awful lot like Kenta," he replied slowly.
Marina immediately appeared apologetic, even though he could not see her; he must have heard from the start, and just feigned being clueless to test her honesty. Jackson always forgave her for anything she did wrong, fortunately, but he could tell she was out of her normal cheerfulness. It was difficult for her to hide that sort of thing.
"Yeah, well…have you heard anything from him?" she asked him with a tint of nervousness.
"Eh, once recently. We don't talk very much, being so busy and all. What, are you worried about him?"
"Um…"
That's an understatement of the century, she thought. But wait…didn't Kenta get my PokéGear number along with Kenta? Her breath slowed in a small, shallow panic. So why hasn't he called me yet?
Marina donned a veil of stressed normalcy as she rationalized, "Yeah, he just hasn't called me yet. I was wondering why."
"Oh, is that all?" Jackson laughed. "Well, he doesn't have your number, so there's no way he can call you."
"What?" she gasped. "But—But what about the note I left behind at Professor Elm's Lab?"
"Kenta left before he even saw it! I, on the other hand, was observant and found the letter you graciously left behind for us," he heartily proclaimed.
"O-Oh," Marina stammered. Her fingers grasped the PokéGear, but very loosely. "Okay."
"Marina?" Jackson asked, sounding uncertain at her distant response.
"I gotta go now," Marina replied. "Tell me how Kenta's doing the next time you talk to him, okay?"
"Can do, Marina. Later!"
A few lingering beeps sounded from the PokéGear as it ended the call. Marina gently put it around her neck, releasing it and watching as it dangled. She sighed.
So he doesn't have my number, she pondered to herself. That's a relief, but at the same time…it definitely isn't.
Lifting the egg in her arms, she stood. "I guess it couldn't hurt to train at the Gym," she mused all of a sudden, "Maybe it'll help me relax, like my battle with Silver did."
Minutes later, having only needed to go down a single road, Marina stood before a large building similar in size to the other four Pokémon Gyms she had witnessed. This one's structure had an ancient feel, very much resembling and blending in well with the old city's style. The sliding doors were wide open, beckoning for her to enter. Lost in her thoughts, she did.
There was an open, empty room built with dark wood paneling, with the exception of the black surface of the battle arena at its center. On the other side, a young man in blue slacks sat waiting for whoever entered.
"Um, are you the Gym Leader here?" Marina called, her echo following after her voice. "I'm Marina Shimizu, a Trainer from New Bark Town. I'd like to battle."
He waited for her to finish entirely before speaking. "Then come in," his serene tone welcomed. "I'm Morty, and I am indeed the Gym Leader. I accept your challenge."
Huh, Morty? I've heard that name before… Oh well. I wonder what type of Pokémon he specializes in? Marina pondered as she made careful steps toward the Trainer box on her side of the arena.
As Morty stood, he released a breath in placid realization. "Oh, so it's you. You're the girl Eusine and I found inside the Brass Tower."
"What?" Marina immediately grasped her egg close to her chest as she, too, recognized the calm man, whose blond hair was held out of his familiar face with a headband. She retreated a few steps back on instinct, but fought stubbornly to stand her ground. "Oh my gosh, you're the Gym Leader?"
"Yes, and you're a Pokémon Trainer. I figured you were; the badges on your jacket tell me you've made quite a bit of progress despite being so young," Morty said with a kind demeanor.
"I…um." Marina bowed low. "I'm so sorry I ran away the other day! You aren't mad, are you? Am I in trouble?"
"No, that's fine. Eusine is pretty demanding; he can scare anyone off when he gets like that. But he's not here now, he left already." He added the last sentence as he saw Marina glancing around the Gym.
"O-Oh."
"So, back to the battle," Morty pulled out a Poké Ball as he spoke, "I normally have a referee to judge my battles, but it is not necessary so I can make an exception. Are you fine with two-on-two?"
"Wait! What?" Marina exclaimed in her confusion. "Aren't you going to ask me first why I was in the Brass Tower?"
Morty eyed her for a few moments, searching her body language. He slipped his hands into his pockets as he developed his reply. "I am curious, I have to admit. But wild Pokémon thrive in the Burned Tower, and it's only natural that a few Trainers will sneak in despite the warnings. But the night before we met you, there were reports of three large Pokémon leaping out of the Brass Tower. It is highly suspected that they were legendary Pokémon, so naturally we wanted more confirm this information.
"But as of right now, I am the Gym Leader and you are the challenger. I would like to see just what kind of Trainer you are," Morty concluded coolly.
Relief eased Marina's nerves, and she took on a serious expression and nodded. "Right." With care, she placed her egg down at her heels and clipped a Poké Ball off her belt. "Misdreavus, go!"
"Muu," chirped the little ghost.
Morty gave a glance at the Pokémon and released his own, one larger than Marina's in size. It hovered like Misdreavus, but its jagged mouth smiled like a jack-o-lantern and it moved its detached hands in mischievous delight.
Oh, a Haunter, Marina thought. All right, then… Pointing at the Gym Leader's Pokémon, she exclaimed, "Misdreavus, use Confuse Ray!"
"Muu?" The ghost's eyes wandered to her, but she quickly looked away and released a brash huff. Her Trainer noticed this disobedient gesture with a slight frown, but Misdreavus ignored it as her irises shone a rainbow of hues.
"Haunter, Shadow Ball," Morty ordered.
Uttering a giggle of glee, Haunter formed a black sphere of energy within its hands and hurled the sphere at the moment Misdreavus unleashed her Psybeam. They combined and faded in a windy bang, bits of dust springing into the air.
"Misdreavus, I said to use Confuse Ray, not Psybeam," Marina told her Pokémon. But the small ghost Pokémon turned away again—refusing to face her. Part of the girl Trainer's confidence whittled down. "Misdreavus?"
She's not listening to me again…
"Haunter, Curse!" Morty called to his Pokémon.
Haunter formed a playful, wicked grin, and a shadowy form of a nail developed in its claws. Marina winced as the Pokémon drove it into its head, even as the nail disappeared soon after. Almost instantly after, Misdreavus shrieked as a black aura flashed and zapped her.
"Misdreavus!" Marina exclaimed. "Psybeam!"
Misdreavus cast a frustrated glare at her before gliding to swiftly avoid Haunter, who came bolting toward her with its tongue hanging out frivolously. But she managed to release a quick psychic ray at it before the dark power of the Curse technique sapped away her energy again.
"Now, Mean Look," Morty calmly ordered.
At once, the excited Haunter whooped and dashed in front of its opponent with its piercing eyes shining an entrancing gray. The terrorizing face forced Misdreavus to fire a Psybeam, which Haunter took the hit with unbothered giggles. It then pulled away and vanished into the shadows, laughing as its foe endured another painful jolt.
Marina watched helplessly, but struggled to maintain her focus. With Mean Look, I can't return Misdreavus to get rid of the Curse status, and she won't listen to me now. This doesn't look good.
"Misdreavus, just hold on! Psybeam!"
Before her Pokémon could bother to react, the Gas Pokémon appeared behind Misdreavus with a prepared Shadow Ball in its grasp. It hurled the sphere into her back, causing the little ghost to express a shrieking cry of shock. Floating down weightlessly, she landed on the battle field.
"Misdreavus…" Marina muttered, gazing at her fallen Pokémon before recalling it. "You did good, return!"
The Gym Leader appeared disappointed. "Your Misdreavus is too strong for you to handle in battle yet."
"Yeah. I knew that already."
"Then why did you sent it into battle knowing that?"
"I…just thought Misdreavus would listen to me this time. Guess not…" As Marina said this, she simpered and lightly ran her hand down the bandana tied on her head. The Pokémon egg at her heels wiggled to no one's notice.
Morty's Haunter called in delight, fading away again. With a snicker, it appeared behind Marina, who was busy picking out her next Pokémon. Haunter launched its violet hands, which clamped onto Marina's pigtails, and it called out happily as it gave them a tug.
Marina let out a scream, glancing behind her for a second and putting her hands on her head. "Ah! Let go, let go! Stop it!"
Morty appeared a little taken aback, and he sighed in irritation. "Haunter! Leave her alone and stop goofing around."
At once, Haunter's gleeful exclamations deflated, and it unwillingly released its grip on Marina's hair.
"Geez," Marina said and ran her fingers through her twin ponytails.
Within another second, the Haunter called an echoing shriek of delight, a sound which the girl immediately took dread in. Before she could turn around, she had no time to witness as the Pokémon flew right through her in order to return to its side of the battle field. As it passed through her body, a sharp, cold shiver ran up her spine, leaving Marina breathless. She grabbed her arms, quivering, but then pointed at Haunter.
"What was that for?!"
Laughing, it waved at her happily, totally unaffected by the seriousness of her accusation.
"Geez!"
"I'm sorry about that," Morty apologized. "This Haunter can be a real jokester."
"...N-No, it's alright," Marina stuttered with a small smile. The last of her shivering went away as she flung her Poké Ball into the air. "Come on out, Prince!"
Meowing, her Eevee nobly stood and eyed Haunter. The two creatures stood still, watching one another and waiting for the other to move first, or until their Trainers would give them commands.
"Now Haunter's Ghost-type attacks won't work on Prince," the girl stated.
Also, he knows Bite, which will be super-effective. She smiled at her advantage. Looks like Prince will be my trump card once again.
"Haunter, Hypnosis!" Morty ordered.
"Don't fall for it, Prince," Marina called in response. "Use Bite!"
Prince watched Haunter's brightening eyes for a moment, but dodged the puffs of white-gray waves and approached fast, biting into Haunter. It wheezed and shook, shrieking in a tantrum as Prince released his grip and landed slickly. In a vengeful effort, Haunter shot an instantaneous light beam into the Eevee's eyes. At once, it grinned as Prince's gaze lulled about, his once-perfect poise ruined by dizzying steps.
"Oh no, Confuse Ray…!" Marina exclaimed.
"Now, Haunter, use Hypnosis again!" Morty ordered.
The glow returned in the whites of the ghost Pokémon's eyes, but it was busy moving around Prince in a teasing manner. The cumbersome Eevee stumbled and nearly tripped on his feet as he made a poor attempt to avoid contact.
"Prince! Use Bite!" called his Trainer. Marina watched as Prince's head tilted to the side and then upwards, blankly looking at the ceiling as he unstably walked backwards. "Fight it!"
Idly Prince opened his mouth, head still craned upwards without moving. Haunter cackled as it overshadowed him, laughing jeeringly with its face inches from his. Prince fidgeted, suddenly moved forward and snapped, his teeth inking in between the ghost's eyes. Haunter shouted and shivered, flailing about to remove the brown fox Pokémon. Once Prince released and tumbled onto the floor, it too descended to the ground with a thump.
Morty sighed, recalling the Haunter into its Poké Ball. "All right, Haunter. Return."
"Good job, Prince!" Marina praised from afar. "Hang in there, we've got this! Just one more!"
"Vui…" Prince was lying on his belly, still dizzy. He stood, a glazed look fogging his eyes, scanning around him in search of Haunter.
Marina let out a tense giggle. Let's hope you can fight through the confusion soon, Prince. If you can, then we might win this.
"It's clever to use a Normal-type that uses non-Normal-type moves," Morty delivered the compliment, holding a customized black ball in his hand. "But now you'll have to depend on luck. I will send out my second Pokémon, who is my strongest. Gengar, go!"
Before the creature even fully emerged, a sudden chill overtook Marina's body, a shiver stronger than when Haunter had passed through her. Standing before Prince was a plump Pokémon standing on two legs, its violet body and pointed spikes similar to that of Haunter. It launched an abnormally wide, toothy smile upon appearing.
"A Gengar!" Marina gasped. What a time to not bring my Pokédex, she thought quickly, but I think I know enough. It's the evolution of Haunter and it's the same Ghost and Poison type. The only difference is that Gengar is stronger, and that could be trouble.
She glanced at her woozy Eevee, gathering her wits. "Are you ready?"
"Vui…Vui?" Contradicting this confused reply, Prince nodded a few times but fighting the lingering effects of the Confuse Ray.
Morty pointed at the confused Pokémon. "Gengar, Thunderpunch!"
"Thunderpunch?!" gasped Marina.
Unable to give a responding command in time, she watched helplessly as Gengar throw a sparking fist at Prince, who flew midair before hitting the ground hard. Prince, however, bared his teeth and stood back up. The blow seemed to have knocked him back to his senses, in time to see Gengar sniggering at him.
Curiosity gripped Marina so tightly that she couldn't resist asking the Gym Leader, "Morty, how did your Gengar learn Thunderpunch?"
Morty seemed to honor her inquisitive observation. "It's good not only to train your Pokémon and let them learn the moves they naturally learn, but to teach them new techniques they wouldn't learn otherwise. TM's prove most useful in situations like this."
"I…I see. Prince, are you alright?" Marina clutched Prince's Poké Ball and blinked as Prince turned back to her. As if looking down upon any cowardice, the certain determination burned in his chocolate eyes once more. Slowly, Marina smiled again. "Right. No giving in. We're almost there!"
"Vui!" Not left disappointed, Prince stood with his head raised valiantly, facing his opponent with steadfast resolve. But he twitched, flicking his ears. His little body began to shine white, soon engulfing him completely.
Marina's mouth opened wide as her Pokémon's form began to change erratically within the aura. "Prince! You're…?"
He's evolving!
Prince's body grew larger and more streamlined, as did his tail that grew thin and forked at the ends. When the white shine faded, his fur had changed dramatically from brown to elegant lavender. Prince opened his deep indigo irises and the crimson jewel placed between them on his forehead glittered flawlessly. The new look complimented his royal personality, and he did not deny it with his brave posture.
"Eefi!" Prince meowed, his voice higher-pitched.
"An Espeon?" Marina managed to speak, surprised and amazed beyond words. "Just like that?"
Morty seemed satisfied at the sight. "Unlike with your Misdreavus, you and Prince work well. Eevee only evolve into Espeon if they trust their Trainer."
"Trust…" Marina smiled, even holding back a few emotional tears secretly as she stared entranced by the elegant fox before her. For once in recent days, things were looking up for her.
Gengar frowned, glimpsing at all of them. It twisted its face at Prince as if it had heard that the Espeon had cooties. It grunted loudly, disgusted.
"But it's also a Psychic-type," said Morty, "Now your Espeon has a disadvantage to my Ghost-type Pokémon."
"Yeah… I know." Marina, looking at him, nodded with absolute confidence for the first time in the battle. "But that doesn't mean we've lost yet! Right, Prince?"
"Eefi!" barked Prince the Espeon, strongly in agreement with her words. He glared at the sneering Gengar, but with a sense of stubborn sincerity.
A cold quiet followed until Morty called out his orders. "We'll see about that. Shadow Ball!"
Gengar slid into a fighting stance, gathering a dark ball of energy in its hands as Haunter had before it.
Marina frowned, locked within her focus. I don't think Prince knows any Psychic-type moves yet, so he'll have to get close to use Bite.
"Prince," she called, "Dodge it and move in for a Bite—!"
"MARINAAAAA!"
At the booming voice of excitement, everyone jumped out of their skin in shock, including the Pokémon. Marina looked over her shoulder, her eyes wide.
Jackson stood at the entrance, beaming at her. He pumped a fist to offer his own encouragement.
"Your best friend, Jackson, has arrived! Do your best!"
Marina blinked twice without doing anything else. "Jackson…?"
But within a few moments, Jackson's bright face was overcome with dread. "Marina, watch out! Which Pokémon is yours?!"
"What?"
A quaking blast shook the floor beneath them.
"Eefi!"
At the sound of Prince's distressed tone, Marina turned back to the battle field and gasped in worry.
"Prince!"
"I'm sorry, Marina."
Rain poured outside the glass doors of the Pokémon Center, the gray clouds blocking out the evening sunlight. Marina and Jackson sat on the bench in the lobby, safe from the storm. A grumble of thunder was the only sort of response Jackson got, as if the thunderstorm was roaring to leave the girl alone.
Nonetheless, the sensitive boy didn't heed this. "Marina, did you hear me?"
The only thing he could see of Marina's head was her bandana and her hair, which bobbed as she nodded once. She held the egg close in her arms. Her face, hidden from view, rested lightly on the top of the egg. She had been like this for some time, but she wasn't trembling with tears any longer like she had when they first arrived at the Center.
Jackson kept his deep, apologetic frown. "I didn't mean it, you know. …Right?"
"It's not your fault," Marina said. Her voice was uneven, and she still refused to face him or anything else.
"It's your first loss, isn't it?" He attempted a grin. "That's impressive. I expected no less from Marina!"
Jackson immediately regretted speaking, as she put a tighter grip on her egg, whose warmth and signs of life within brought some comfort to her. It also meant his compliment only served to bring her a little more grief he would rather not give.
"N-Not that losing is bad! Losing gives character! I've lost plenty of times, and look at me—well, I don't have as many badges as you, but... It lets me learn from my mistakes! Eventually I'll lose so much that I'll learn all my mistakes and boom! I'm gonna be unstoppable!"
"It's not that…"
Having failed at making her smile, he deflated back into the wall behind them. "What then?"
"He…He tried so hard," she mumbled. "Prince tried so hard and lost. He was strong, but… Because I wasn't…because I'm weak, we lost."
"That's not true!" Jackson rebutted incredulously. "You both tried your best. Don't believe that, not even for a second!"
Marina sighed.
Stubbornly, the boy crossed his arms. "Well, I don't believe it."
The rain outside filled in the absence of talking in the pair's conversation. Jackson, unable to stand this silence once again, spoke up.
"You'll beat him next time, I know it. Even if another person happens to barge in yelling your name at the top of his lungs like a crazy buffoon, that won't stop you. You'll see it coming now!"
She snorted a concealed hint of a giggle. Jackson caught onto this, beginning to smile in relief. At the very least, she wasn't completely immune to his jokes.
A cracking sound made them both freeze, especially Marina, who listened as the muffled cries of a Pokémon grew more prominent. She sat straight up, staring at her lap in bewilderment. The egg's shell began forming cracks that grew the more it trembled.
"The—the egg…!" she gasped softly.
"It's hatching!" Jackson finished for her.
Marina immediately turned to him, panicked. "Oh my gosh, what do I do?!"
"Oh! Um—Okay, just calm down first!" he exclaimed as she hastily stood. "You can go to Nurse Joy, but I don't think you need to do anything!"
Before he could get past saying, "Nurse Joy," Marina had rushed to the front desk cradling the blanket containing the fidgeting egg. The nurse too attempted to calm her, wearing a smile on her face at Marina's unneeded urgency as she led her through the white double doors into the infirmary. Jackson couldn't help but grin half-heartedly before following after them.