Secrets of the Night
DISCLAIMER: I Do NOT own Pokemon!
Chapter 13: Land beneath the Sunlight, part 1
Takamoto Estate, Kanto region
The old English manor was cloaked in darkness of the moonless night. All but a glow from a small desk lamp, radiating from a window, indicated that a life was still stirring. In a room of books and important documents, a vintage grandfather clock continued to tick back and forth.
With a soft sigh, Neo massaged the space between his brows and placed the letter back on his desk. He had mixed feelings about his friend's decision. On one side, he was glad for her to muster the courage to see the world, and embark on an adventure. It would be quite the experience, having lived in a place with so much formalities and limitations. On the other, she mentioned something about boarding a ship to Unova. Neo knew of the dangers, having lost his parents when they were travelling home by sea. Faye Lin was alone, and not even familiar with the other cities in her home region Kalos, yet she chose to journey to a whole different region. It was something to be very concerned about, yet it was too late to stop her. She was probably already halfway to Unova, if not already there.
There was only one thing he could do. Neo silently prayed for Faye Lin's safety and reached for his tea once again, fearing his mysterious sickness would surface after he felt an ache in his chest. With a long calming breath, he attempted to take a sip, but something felt amiss. The teacup was lighter. Confused, he peered inside and saw that it was empty. Could he have drank it all? But he only took a couple of sips.
"Khehehehe…." A playful cackle echoed in the room as a dark purple figure shifted in the shadows. A smile crept into the boy's features as he turned his revolving chair about and came face to face with a Gengar, grinning mischievously, and beside it was a Lampent, dimly glowing blue. As the cheery mood simmered down, the two ghost-types motioned the boy to his bed and vanished yet again in the shadows.
With a kind smile at his pokemon's concern, Neo sighed in defeat and stood up. "Very well. I give in."
Faye Lin's eyes fluttered open as she stirred in the warmth of cozy sheets. Her mind was dazed, and her body kept yearning to sleep once again. But something was telling her to get up. The sun had already risen.
When her eyes fully opened, she saw she was lying in a white room with a chair with her bag on top, a wooden desk with a clock displaying the time 10am, a desk with a mirror, a door, a potted plant with pink flowers and a pair of windows with faded blue curtains, billowing in the wind as sunlight beamed down the warmth of the late morning.
Faye Lin sat up and gave out a soft yawn. Her mind was slightly hazy, but she understood that she wasn't at home. So where was she? How did she get there?
Before she could start remembering, a small pink and cream pokemon with round ocean blue eyes entered through the door. Faye Lin never saw any creature like it. Its large ears flicked as it smiled genuinely at her. Then the door opened wider. Behind the pokemon appeared a pink-haired lady dressed in a peach-colored nurse uniform with a white apron.
"Good morning. I hope you slept well," the lady greeted with a kind smile, mirroring her pokemon's.
Expecting a reply, she faced the blonde girl but then noticed the confused expression on her face, asking for an explanation. The kind-looking lady obliged. "You're here in Castelia City's pokemon center. I'm Nurse Joy," she gestured to herself and then motioned to the sweet little pokemon beside her. "And this is Audino."
"So I am here in Castelia City?" Faye Lin questioned herself, unsure whether or not she was still dreaming. She remembered leaving home and sneaking in a cargo ship to Unova. Then after she got on board….
"Earlier, a boy carried you in and asked to stay for the time-being," Nurse Joy continued, interrupting Faye Lin's trail of thought. With a short ponder of recollection, she added further, "It was very unusual since it was extremely early in the morning. I was suspicious and reluctant at first, but looking at you two, I guessed you had a long night's travel... So in the end, I prepared two rooms for you."
"I see…" Faye Lin took in the pink-haired lady's words and pieced together the final pieces; the massacre at the ship, the silver-eyed boy Aeron and the long flight to Unova. At the first point, her thoughts desperately nagged to tell the authorities about the incident on the ship, but she managed to control it. First things first, after all. "Uhm, pardon me, but may I ask where the boy is now?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. He left as soon as the sun rose," Nurse Joy answered. "But he did leave you a note." Nurse Joy motioned her Audino and on cue, the pink bunny-like pokemon walked over with a piece of paper in its hands. "I'll leave you for now, breakfast is downstairs. And your two pokemon are fully healed and also waiting below. If you want to take a bath, the bathroom is at the end of the hall."
"Yes. Thank you very much." Faye Lin bowed slightly and bid the kind nurse goodbye. The door shut, and once again, she was alone. Her thoughts wandered to a certain silver-eyed boy as she looked down on the folded up paper in her hands. With a hint of curiosity, she unfolded it and began to read.
To her surprise, it only had one line.
Do not speak a word of what happened.
Faye Lin felt a chill crept into her fingertips. The nagging voices became silent. Instead, the horrors she witnessed on board swirled in her mind. Her body began to tremble again, but when Aeron's face, his back cloaked in black flashed in her mind, she gradually calmed down. Then she realized that keeping what occurred a secret was for both their safety. After all, the assassin with the scythe did threaten to hunt them down.
Without a point to argue with that matter, Lin got out of bed and tidied her wrinkled clothes as much as she could. When she moved up to her red top, she noticed the blue scarf was still there, though it was loose and merely draping over her shoulders. Did Aeron forget it? Or did he leave it on purpose? She asked herself.
Aeron already did so much for her. He protected her, stood up for her. He took her safely to Unova and even arranged for a room for her to sleep in. Faye Lin felt disappointed in herself for being so weak and burdensome. She told herself to find a way to return it, and at the same time, thank him properly.
After taking a shower and getting changed, Faye Lin went downstairs and approached the counter where Nurse Joy was. As she walked, her eyes continued to gaze at every corner of the vicinity. She heard a lot of things about pokemon centers, but she never got the opportunity to go inside one. The machines around looked really complicated. She wondered how they work or what purpose they serve.
"Here are your pokemon…" Nurse Joy handed over a couple of pokeballs to the girl, who gladly accepted them with smile of gratitude.
Unsure how effective pokemon centers were, Faye Lin sent out her two pokemon and checked them if they alright. Twin crimson matters shot out and materialized on the spotless floor tiles. Isis jumped up and grinned happily, while Freya cocked her head to one side and raised a paw as if to say hello.
Awed and satisfied, the blonde girl laughed and scooped up her furry duo. She was glad they were fine, after the intense time they had yesterday.
They had brunch in the waiting room, where various trainers and pokemon either came in, sat down, stood around or left. To many, it was a common sight, but to her, it was all very fascinating.
Afterwards, she went up to her room and tidied her belongings in preparation for her departure. Her plans: Find her sister and return Aeron's scarf, after finding him first. She packed up her clothes and neatened the contents of her bag. Surprisingly, it felt more spacious compared to when she left home. It was only then that she recalled her Togepi egg. Aeron's Noibat snatched it away when they were at the cargo hold. She never got the chance to get it back. Now, the girl had more reason to find the boy.
Meanwhile…
Aeron was making his way to route 4, a road connecting Castelia City to Nimbasa City. He had continued on foot after he left the pokemon center in Castelia City, figuring that his father would find him easily if he travelled by air. Noir and the Hydreigon were now asleep in their pokeballs, after Nurse Joy treated them, after she offered to. The Snivy was also treated, but since it didn't have a pokeball Aeron had to carry it with. It was fine since he had to keep an eye on the parcel, still persistently held by the grass-type.
When Aeron was nearing the outskirts, he breathed out and calmed his thoughts. It was nearly over. The long urban trek was an overwhelming experience for him, as a person, who was used to looking down with a bird's eye view. For the first time, he felt the sheer size and difference of a place called a city.
The smells, the sounds, the sights were all new to him. There were barely any trees and plants. The earthy soil was covered in thick gray pavement. Rows of massive skyscrapers towered over him in every direction, almost covering the grand blue sky. Many even rivaled the height of Zephyr Pillar. Truly, he was no longer in a world like Semira Isle.
The streets were bustling. Various kinds of people pass him by, paying not much heed to him, as they were busy with their own agendas. Aeron also gave little attention to such strangers, seeing as they knew nothing of his origins. He barely stood out anyway, without the ominous black cloak, and only a Snivy in his arms and plain brown knapsack over his shoulder which carried his necessary supplies.
Upon, reaching route 4, he was greeted by whipping sandy winds. He immediately shielded himself and the Snivy, and wondered what place he arrived in this time. It wasn't as grand as Castelia City, more like a sever downgrade. Many buildings where under construction, or at least left that way. The roads were completed, though. The urban noises and smells lingered, but at least the cool blue sky was more visible, giving him a hint of easiness.
Aeron checked a small piece of paper with the directions to the client. The rendezvous point was in route 4, near the boundaries of Castelia City. It wasn't long now. His part in the mission was almost over.
He continued onwards, but he took out his goggles to protect his eyes, and the Black Scythe cloak to wrap the Snivy around with. The timid little grass snake found his gesture reassuring and comforting. But any means of trying to express gratitude was muffled in the whistling winds. All that it could do was nestle deeper into the ebony sheet and hug the parcel more tightly.
After a short walk, Aeron arrived at the doorstep of a three-story building located at the corner of the road. Pulling his goggles over his head, Aeron breathed out and eyed the area cautiously. Other than the billowing breezes, it was quiet. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. He held the Snivy securely in one arm and knocked thrice.
The door creaked open with no one behind it. Aeron proceeded to come inside and scanned the vicinity. It looked abandoned, with walls barely painted, floors cracked and dust settled in the corners. The boy peered through each room until he found a staircase and decided to head to the next floor. Upon reaching the 2nd level, he saw there was a humanoid pokemon, seemingly waiting for him.
It stood at the end of the wooden hall, avoiding the warm light of the sun, peering through the window panes. With discerning eyes, Aeron studied the tall gothic pokemon for a few moments and approached. He wasn't familiar with its species. It looked feminine with its long black dress, adorned by a series of white ribbons that matched the one behind its teardrop-shaped head.
The humanoid stared back at him with its piercing blue eyes, but once the boy was near enough, the pokemon turned away and ushered him to a door which opened with a stroke of its hand. Aeron could guess it was a psychic-type since there was a bluish energy radiating from its dainty hand. He nodded at it for acknowledgement and entered the room.
The gothic pokemon followed him in and shut the door behind it. Aeron faced front and saw a man, clothed in a formal business attire with a white mask covering his face. He was standing firm with arms crossed. There was no one else present. The room itself was nearly empty. The only purpose it held was the transaction.
"You are from Semira, I presume?" The man inquired, presenting a parchment with appears to be the contract that Lord Tristan had. It had the Black Scythe's insignia stamped on nodded and unraveled the black cloak, revealing the Snivy and the package. He placed the grass-type starter on the wooden floor and stepped back.
Nervously, the grass snake looked back at Aeron and then to the tall man in front. Gulping, it shrank back and wrapped its arms around the item, as if to hide it. No matter the situation, it seemed determined to protect the item.
The man stared down at the little green creature and snapped his fingers. Immediately, the gothic Lolita-styled pokemon used its psychic powers and pried the item away from the Snivy who struggled off the ground, but was inevitably separated from the parcel.
The masked man held the mysterious item in his hands and dismissed the boy. "Your work here is done."
Aeron bowed dutifully and prepared to leave, but his eyes caught the sight of the Snivy approaching the man, with the package still in its sights. He wondered about its attachment to the item and what will become of it after this.
The man looked down at the grass snake and motioned his pokemon who was still standing behind the boy. The Gothitelle came over and glared down at the Snivy with the same cold air as its trainer.
"It seems it was convinced that if ever the package made it to its destination, it would be rewarded with a chance to be taken in with a trainer," The gothic pokemon, after reading the Snivy's mind, explained through telepathy, in which Aeron was also able to hear.
"So that's why…" Aeron whispered to himself. He thought back when he first saw the Snivy. It was seventh individual in group of six. And basing on its personality, it didn't seem that good with socializing with humans and pokemon. But its yearning was able to show through by its protectiveness over the parcel.
"I have no use for a grass type, especially one as weak as this…" The man declared and turned around. "Grass-types have several weaknesses compared to other starters, which is why they are rarely chosen. And furthermore, this particular one, seems extremely feeble. Not many would want a pokemon that can barely stand up for itself."
That man's words struck the already trembling Snivy hard. With tears welling up, it shut its eyes and attempted to erase what it heard from its thoughts. But the words continued to echo and haunt its mind. Part of it though, wanted to prove him wrong. Mustering its courage, it raised its head to try and defy the man, but it was lifted off the ground with a psychic force and tossed aside like worthless trash.
"You can do whatever you want with that thing. Just get it out of my sight…"
Without batting an eye, Aeron nodded and picked up the Snivy that landed in front of him. After another bow, he took his leave and exited through the door. On the way out, he could feel the grass-type's fragile frame, crying and trembling in his arms. His eyes softened slightly as he wondered what he should do with it at that point.
Once outside, Aeron placed the Snivy on the dusty pavement and stood by. Individuals at his level weren't allowed an additional pokemon unless they were seniors. And besides, he was from the sky unit, a group specializing in flying-types. What would he do with a grass-type?
The Snivy was severely crestfallen. Its hopes were riding on the package and now that it's gone, what else could it do? Would there still be someone to take it in? There was a young trainer in front of him. The Snivy decided to try for one last time. Still tearing up, it looked at the boy with hopeful eyes.
Aeron gazed back at the little creature and sighed. The Snivy's face lit up but then it felt its world shatter when the boy turned around, as if to leave. Disheartened, it slumped back unto the cold pavement and whimpered.
Just as Aeron took another step, a pokeball burst open and a Noibat flew out, fuming angrily. Noir flopped unto his master's head and persistently clawed his ebony hair. Aeron reached for him, but the purple bat leaped off and hovered near the Snivy who was wiping its tears away. Then Noir landed with a cheerful grin and it flicked it ears around encouragingly.
Aeron turned around and stared at his partner. "Noir, I have no time for games…"
The Noibat shook it head and sat down, defiantly.
Aeron knew what Noir was after, but he must abide by the rules in Semira Isle, and he had no idea how to raise a grass-type in the first place. He narrowed his eyes and attempted to reason out with his Noibat, but Noir continued to ignore him. Aeron admitted that his partner was stubborn and spoiled to the core. He stood his ground and once again tried to call his partner, but he was interrupted.
"Hey! Wanna have a pokemon battle?" A child with an orange cap and shirt called out to him.
End of Chapter 13
Well, the Snivy's backstory is up. :)
Aeron so cold, luckily, Noir to the rescue!
Review! Please and thank you!
I'm working on Aeron's resketch, I'm done with Alex and Ikari.
But I still have to edit on photoshop. May take a while. (My Laptop's broken)
I'm using the family desktop.
I still have a hard time finding references for Lord Tristan's look.
Any suggestions?
Anyway, review! :D