Happy 3rd Anniversary of PercentVerse!
Chapter 24 - Ella and Izzy, with a whole ass new page on life
I gently fidget a small batch of legos from left to right using my physic powers on the table. Occasionally removing one piece and replacing it with another. Purposely removing some just to add to another area. I limit myself to around 8 pieces to see what kinds of combinations I get.
It's simple, and it's fun. It's cool. I have a yellow 2x4 and a green 1x5 and blue 2x3. 2x3's are super rare and I always-
I look behind me as the doorbell rings suddenly, I hate doorbells. I hate doorbells so much, they're so loud, they're a distraction and disruption. Worst of all: Someone is there.
'Should I go up? Should an elemental answer the door? I couldn't say anything anyways…it'll just be awkward. Just me looking at whoever rung it…dumbasses.'
I already hear my Mom quickly coming to the door
'Who…Who is even visiting? I wasn't told someone was coming-'
Before I could get off the chair, my mother was already there and opened it
"Oh…God, No-No it can't be-" I find myself completely frozen in fear.
"It's her again."
The same exact female agent from my last encounter with them is back before my very eyes, within my little escape from all the shit outside! Why the hell is she here?! What the hell should I do? How did she even come back? Why-…an elemental?
The woman in a police uniform and a bear cub-looking elemental comes in through the front door, I quickly turn back towards my little bricks to avoid any amount of eye contact. I take some slow deep breaths. I try to get out of this chair but I feel literally glued to it. This is a horrible position, I can't risk looking too scared, they're close by. But not directly close to me. Maybe they're just here to talk to my Mom, not me. Not me…
I glance back at the three of them, hoping to eavesdrop. They're all talking together, they're all chatting!
'They're…They're doing a check up on me?' I look back forward, now down to myself depressively. My ears droop along with my mood. 'My Mom definitely seemed to know what they were talking about, what a fucking idiot I am. I should've expected them to return. She's definitely in on this…god damn it. God damn it…God damn it…GOD DAMN IT. I am not dying today. I am-
I feel someone or something touch my head
I immediately jump in my seat and shake off whatever was on me, back arched, fur puffed, I look up and growl lightly only to realize it was dumb of me to do so.
"Sh, Sh…It's okay Jack. I didn't mean to scare you. You're good. No one's hurting you." My Mom said to me as she pet my head legitimately this time "I'll be right over here." She then walks away, I watch as she does and leaves with the agent into the back of the cabin or who knows where.
'They're…Gone?' I look around, 'Wasn't there an Ted-oh…'
The Teddy stops by the couch they were at before, and waves to me.
"Heya bucko. Your mother invited us over."
I watch him for a moment, and I end up doing quite the pathetic wave back. What kind of crap did my Mom get me into,
'No…I wasn't prepared for this…'
"Hey." The bear speaks again, coming over to me
He takes a seat, letting out a gravely grunt that I would expect from an older man. This little teddy bear isn't so little on the inside. Seems like a real tough older guy.
"Lots of crazy stuff happening recently, huh? I don't know if I'm gonna get used to this." He continued,
I look around, somewhat confused, I check the door again, and the windows. I check my entire vicinity. Looking around to see if there is anything or anyone I can possibly spot. There can be anything lurking around now.
I lean up to the bear
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
He puts on what I think is a nice smile?
"Don't worry about anyone coming in. It's just you and me. I came because I want to ask a few questions."
He stuck his paws up before I had the chance to properly respond.
"…Ok then."
"Now now, I'm not here to lock you up or something. The police learned that it wasn't a very effective strategy."
"I'm here for you to help me. And help you."
'. . . Wha-'
"Jack. I understand you've just been through something very frightening. You had a rare, close-up look at a new problem society is facing at large."
'Oh boy. This is getting to be some real SCP foundation type shit.'
I quiet myself and make myself look and become more attentive as I lean closer towards the bear
"These elementals you might have heard- they're being called the 'lost.'"
"For some reason, they stopped being people."
"You remember your relationship with Steven Williams?
"He was your friend, right?"
''I don't like where this is going,'
"Y-Yeah. He was. Look man I answered all the questions I could at the time. I'm sorry-"
"It's okay. For starters, when did you last talk to him? Or meet him?"
I take a deep breath, and I begin to think. I can't fuck up here. This is the future of my life I'm possibly deciding here.
"Look, alright."
"I last spoke to him after we went on a small walk down the side of the river."
"It was just a simple walk, an adventure, yaknow?" I said, trying to add some reason to it,
"Now…before I continue. I want to ask you a quick question." I ask "Are you…gonna hunt down people I mention? I-I mean,"
I leanback on my chair, hoping to seem calm,
"Like, I don't even know their real names. Most had cool nicknames, like. Of course you know. Nicknames are cool!"
The teddy doesn't show any outward change in emotion,
"Oh yeah. I understand the nicknames bit."
"You know, I used to be called Theodore, right? Theodore abbreviated to Teddy."
He looks down at himself.
"Yeah... That had to go."
He laughs.
I smile back, and relax a bit.
"We were all just kids, running around doing whatever. We didn't have much at home to do."
"There…" I stop for a moment, I began to feel quite hot as I know fully now I'm entering unknown waters, I stare at Teddy.
"There… was an abandoned factory."
He stares right at me.
"What happened there?"
"It was the main Elemental center for whatever bullshit,
Y'a know, having battles. Testing out powers."
I nod my head
"Whatever Shegniagans."
"That's where I met Steven for the first time."
"He was homeless, he wasn't too welcome at his home anymore. I'm sure you were able to get this information already. But the factory was where he mainly stayed as shelter, and I took somewhat care of him there"
"I gave him some food, some direction."
"He was definitely younger than I was…"
"Who knows what he has seen. I mean, had seen."
He nods, taking a pencil and jotting down some notes in front of me
"I always hate talking about this …It's just. All horrible."
I sigh
"I know. Take your time, kid."
He scoots closer to where I was sitting.
"There was a Leafeon, forget his name. Had Irish shit." I laughed lightly
I liked the hat though."
"Don't know what he was up to most of the time, I never knew him well. Keep details out of our conversations. Always seemed off to me."
"But he did have information on some locations and made a small map and gave it to me as, like a small gift. I wasn't able to go to all of them. Mainly because, of what happened."
"Do you have that map with you now?" The Teddy asked me
"If they were worth visiting, I might take my next vacation over one of those places. Heh."
"I don't think so."
"I guess not?" He responded
"I honestly don't know, maybe it's back at my home? Someone else has it now?"
"I stopped caring about all that stuff"
"That's alright. Next question. You've been very helpful, Jack."
"How did Steven change in behavior since you first talked to him, and the last?
Any symptoms?"
My face scrunches in distaste.
"eek…Well."
"He got more and more depressed every time I interacted with him. Scared as well."
"There was like, a fuckin, an Umbreon who kept on stealing shit.
I say in a sarcastic voice; "Became a spooooky real life urban legend."
"Steven was primarily scared about that Umbreon…Ugh. Which, fuck. Fucking became the actual monster we dealt with."
I look back at myself, my furry self.
'Is this gonna make 'lost'? I mean, I wasn't even directly attacked. Am I gonna slowly go insane? Lose my memories possibly?'
"The lost one that was taken in for treatment."
I look back up at him…slowly realizing the fact that the lost Umbreon was still alive.
" ?"
"Yeah, Yeah."
"But you're correct. Same one."
He smiles back at Jack, trying to calm him down.
"She's safe now."
"We are trying to understand her, just like Steph."
I breathe out a sigh of relief and mild satisfaction
He readies his pencil.
"You said he was generally more depressed and anxious?"
"Yeah, Yes. He said… I'm paraphrasing here; That he really had no life anymore. That he had no way to really go anymore. That he was going to die alone…he was like suicidal man. It really struck me hard, and…and. I didn't know what else to do other than trying to make him feel valued i suppose"
"Also…he feared that humans were going to hurt him because he was a fire type."
He is scribbling intently.
"I thought so."
"He had no one!"
I yowl,
"No one. No human ever tried to help him."
"He was going to be destroyed by them no matter what happened…"
He mumbles as the Teddy writes
"Isolated, delusional, suicidal…"
"The whole grocery list."
"I promise this will be the last question on that whole fiasco."
He stops scribbling.
"Can you describe as many elementals that frequented the place as you can?"
"What about a certain Vaporeon?"
"That would be Rin."
"Fuck, what happened with her? I haven't talked with her since then. She was hurt, she was hurt pretty bad."
"I left her side when I knew she would be taken care of by some paramedics when they showed up…and then some shots came out like some minutes after."
He continues writing.
"I got to check up on her too."
"She was the one most attacked by the Umbreon."
"It…it completely pounced her"
"She was practically being mauled!"
"She's stabilized. After keeping an eye on her, she doesn't seem to have the suspected symptoms."
"She is in good care, Jack."
"Whew…"
I similes, then a smaller laugh
"Thank goodness. Thank you."
"What about the Sylveon that was at the scene as well?"
"Oh… oh, right! Yeah!"
"That's Cyan!"
He blinks.
"You familiar with his real name?"
"Nope! I never asked."
"Alright. How involved were either of those two with Steven? You were all friends. Surely you did friendly things."
"Cyan was super cool, he was the one who actually got that lost Umbreon off of Rin!"
"He sure did. Took a bite for it."
"Oh…crap…Yeah, it looked like it hurt."
"It was just, . . ripped off-"
"Thanks to him, though, I know what happened that day. He's fine too- but I don't know if he will recover his... ribbon."
"Alright Jack. We're past the hard part. Take a deep breath."
"Now, I'm gonna ask about you."
"…!?"
"Huh? Wha?"
"Just be yourself! You seem like a smart kid."
"Is it true that you had no contact with the umbreon?"
"Or Steven, for that matter?"
I think extremely hard
"No, I never did"
He Nods.
"Good thing."
"I just, somehow. Got lucky?"
"Just got out of danger?"
"I wasn't even trying to avoid contact, I mean. Contact with Steven."
"Whatever you did, it was the right thing. I assure you. We can take ourselves out of that head space now. What have you been doing at home?"
"Get plenty of time to be with your family?"
"…"
Jack has become accustomed to being quiet, a valid answer to a question he doesn't want to answer.
He waits a moment. When he realizes Jack doesn't respond, he writes more things down.
"Jack, your health is pretty important in a time like this. You gotta look after yourself."
"Take it from my experiences. You can't stay alone. I don't care how your brain may have changed, just take some time to talk to someone who cares."
"..."
"Sorry for the lecture. I bet you already know that."
"Of course I do, but listen man, I can stay alone forever if I wanted to, and I assure you. I would be fine." I told him
"I don't know about that. Just take care of yourself. How do you feel about talking to others? To anyone, really."
"Look, I don't know man. I do enjoy talking to you right now, that's something, It's fucking awesome."
"Oh yeah. Lots of new people to meet."
"Don't talk to just about everyone, though."
"This has been like the first time I've talked to someone in a long time…" I shrug "Oh, Goodness. Do I look alright?"
"Do I look strange? Out of place?"
"Hey. You look fine."
"Next question."
"How are you feeling? Anything you don't recognize?"
"We're almost done here."
"Don't recognize?" I look at him with an absurd look.
I start to fidget in this seat,
"I mean, any unusual thoughts or urges."
"Aw come on man. You're gonna think I'm insane, you probably already do"
"No. I understand fully! I'm a freakin' bear, I've felt the need to stretch my back on a tree before!"
'damn'
"But I mean, unusual even for your new body. After the event."
I come closer to the table
"Alright, I feel you now. Yeah. I do have a few. That they are expected for Umbreon"
"Mainly, The moon."
"I heard about that. Your kind of elemental needs it to live."
"Ding dong. Yep." I responded, Then I do a double take and my ears perk all the way up, I look at him with wide eyes,
"Wait…I didn't know the live part, are you sure about that? either way, that's spooky…The Moon and I are pretty chill. Like, even before this transformation I thought it was cool. I do have unnatural thoughts about the moon though. I wanna be near it, I wanna be in its presence. The whole 9 yards. But hey, it's not a bad thing I like it-
Jack sighs deeply,
"Finally, someone I can actually talk to on this crap." I told him.
He laughs.
"You're serious about not thinking I'm crazy?" i asked him again.
"All this stuff, Jack, is healthy for an Umbreon. If that's really all you feel, you are sane."
"Anything extra?"
"I'm sorry, but what do you mean by extra?" i asked
"I don't have any crazy stuff with the moon…"
"Actually…"
"I…It's been a thing since the start"
"I call it…moonwalking. It's probably natural. But still it's something I would think as a extra or interesting"
"My Mom has seen me do it, I get up sometimes in the middle of the night every couple of nights and just go wherever there is moonlight and just…vibe there. Almost in trance. Sooner or later, go to sleep where I was before or sleep nearby. Which is really strange waking in a different spot."
"2…maybe. 3 times. I've been somewhat conscious during it all, which is strange. It's like watching myself do something without any control."
"That's more typical Umbreon behavior... Must be very disorienting. Hopefully it doesn't disrupt your life too much, I hope."
"It doesn't too much. Mainly just going to bed and waking up stuff." I hoped to explain
"That's good. Just don't spook your parents."
My Ears droop.
"They're already spooked."
"Ah well. I guess that can't be helped. My pal over there knows them better than I do."
"I'm- Yeah, she probably does know better"
"But still. Anything you would never think to do that is not related to the moon? Like sniffing butts or peeing on trees?"
"Ew! No!: I shake my head
"At least the butts part…"
"The trees? Only once like a couple days ago though. Only because I wanted to see how dogs have done it all this time. I didn't do it, but I thought about it"
"Less as a desire, and more so. Haha, what if I peed on this tree like a dog"
"It would be funny."
He jots some more notes in front of me
"I got it."
"Well, Jack. That's all I've been meaning to ask you."
"Really?" I asked, that wasn't all that bad.
He puts his notebook away and sighs.
"This doctor's only prognosis is to make new friends."
"Heh, I'm not actually a doctor. Just saying."
…even though he didn't want it. He actually sorta liked it. Even though he knew what he said would be probably be studied
"Make new Friends?"
"-I…,Uh. Alright. Sounds good. Thank you."
"Look…Kid."
"I don't want what happened back there to happen to you, okay?
"We are trying to figure things out. You are a big help answering my questions."
"And thank you again as well, at least my answers will at least help you guys make sure this doesn't happen again, or at least. Less."
He smiles.
"Just take care of yourself."
I give back a small simile
"I'll do so."
He nods a goodbye to me, with his equipment in tow as the female agent and my Mom are seeminglydone as well. I never moved from my seat once during the whole ordeal. I could only let go only fully when I heard that door click closed, and I sure did. I slump into the cushion in an exhausted pile.
The door finally shuts out the guests for the night.
—-
I've been through so much, so much god damn failure after failure and nothing changing, I can't let it all simply end here. I began to simply dread the idea of anyone knocking on the door. Why did they come again? What do they want with me? What did I do?
I know, I know what happens. They're gonna get me one day, I'm not stupid, I'm not dumb or oblivious. I have a brain.
It was…pleasant to actually talk with a person after all this time, even given the circumstances. Perhaps nothings gonna happen? They have bigger crap on their hands than to deal with me.
I hear some helicopters every so often, they're not too loud. I hear them just passing by.
Ugh. I don't care what happens, just leave me alone. That's everything. Why do people care? Why do people have to act so surprised…or pleased…or angry or upset? Being alone isn't a bad thing, it's a happy thing…isn't Umbreon supposed to be happy with that?
Isn't it?
They better stay away for damn good now. I don't want to see them again, I don't want to see them again, NEVER.
…the conversation was nice though.
I am currently in my room, using the desk and laptop I have always used up to this point. I was browsing Wikipedia, sitting down in my chair as quietly and naturally as can be.
I then lean on the back of the chair, letting go of everything. Letting things be what they need to be. I look outside the window and it's midday.
"Something familiar for once…reading my favorite website…"
I then put my paw on my chest, feeling my fur, and putting it back away again as I breathe in and out as I am doing that my phone beside me interrupts me.
I move myself more up and look at my phone, using my psychic powers to push the power button to look at what it is. It's a message.
I move my phone closer to me and a big smile forms on my face. It's a message from Ella.
"Hiya Jack! Wanted to notify you we're heading over. Wanted to tell you so you would have actual time to prepare FOR ONCE and not simply have people drop in. You've had too many damn surprises lately. Izzy's coming too."
"I have alot of things to tell you, important things, and you're very important. So it just fits together doesn't it?"
"I know you haven't messaged too much because of the whole paw thing most likely and that's perfectly fine"
It hits me like a truck, whole lotta guilt. I haven't even tried. My ears flop down and I slump in my chair. I'm such a pathetic excuse of an Umbreon not even keeping up with others this way…
I message out a response.
"Yeah, Paws are very hard. I'm so happy to hear from you, I'm so so sorry I haven't talked with you."
…I haven't talked with Missy or Brandon…or even Allie.
ugh…I'm a fuckup.
I look back to the phone.
"It's all good, main thing I'm so happy to hear from you again."
"When we arrive, can you please be with my sister for some time? It'll mean a lot. Izzy acts up very often, she cries and throws tantrums very easily and my mom doesn't know what to really do. We're going on a rowboat ride some time later as well on the lake nearby. oh and i also want to take to a market tomorrow! heh, ive come prepared to spend some solid good time"
Izzy and I slowly sit and swing slowly on the swings out back. It's just us Elementals, Izzy, just like when she was Is currently on her stomach.
I push her with my two front paws to maybe get her some height while she is like that, and she swings her legs around wildly.
"No! No! I wanna push myself! I'm alright!" She pouts.
I then stop and walk around to the side to watch her.
"See! Wait, Wait Jack. Watch me! I can do it on my own!"
She does some weird movements moving her back and front legs like she would've had to do. But due to her just laying flat on her stomach she doesn't really move much. The amount of movement she currently has is just simply from my push from earlier.
"It's not bad to ask for help, yaknow, Izzy."
"But…But, I have superpowers! I'm strong!" She continues to flail around.
"You're only still a kit" I lightly laugh as I then get into her direct view.
"But you're gonna get even stronger and stronger as you grow up."
"Can it just, go faster already?" She responds.
"Heh, sadly...no."
"Ughhh." She grunted looking up high and then back down again.
"Why don't these swings work the way they used to, Jack?"
I take a moment to think, and then I go on them as one. Just like her, flat on my stomach hanging off my front and back legs
"Because you have paws now Izzy," I said softly, "You don't have the hands anymore to hold onto the swings."
I continue.
"…Ella spends so much time making your fur clean and you have already ruined it by falling off like 7 times."
Izzy is stubborn. That's for sure.
…guess it runs in the family.
"Mommy says I have to be super duper careful now…" Izzy spoke.
"She doesn't like it when I run around, and then eat food 'like a dog'."
"Like a dog?" I replied.
"So like, simply eating?"
She stretches her legs, ears, tail and yells "Yeah!"
"I just wanna do something and NOT be told 'no no no no no!'"
"Does that happen to you allot, Jack? Ella speaks allot about you. How you're so cool, and chill. You just let anyone talk to you!"
'That was particularly true…before the event…'
'…oh god. Why am I the role model?' I look to Izzy.
'Actually…I'm happy it's me and not someone else.'
I smile.
"Yeah! You can learn about allot of important things just by listening, you learn about where people are from and what they like and what their interests are!"
"It's very important to listen, sometimes even to your mom or Dad. Even Ella as well!"
"But I do listen to them, and it doesn't always work. And sometimes it's plain old…stupid." Izzy Said "Do you get into trouble, Jack? What kind of things can you not do?"
"I don't get into trouble too much, nothing much at all."
"But I've been told to avoid using my powers, whenever possible."
"But why!?"
"Jack, you're like Batman. In fact, you're exactly like Batman. You have the colors and everything."
'…hell allot more like Batman than I'd like to admit to her."
"Does chocolate taste different to you now? You're the same color as it!?"
"No, I haven't tried Chocolate, ay ay! That can be bad for you! Why, have you had Chocolate?"
"Of course! Of course! I'll only tell you. Hehe."
"When was this?"
"Week ago."
"Do you feel alright?"
"I'm still grounded."
"I mean, you feel sick?"
"No."
"Okay, that's all I care about."
"Jack, do you have a Batcave?" She Asked, kicking her hind legs, "you have to have one. I already like having one of mine. It's a mansion, it's so big. It's so awesome. I hide stuff in it, what kind of pranks do you pull?"
"I do have my own BatCave. I've made it myself. It was made very recently though, I made it out of whatever I could find…pillows, blankets. Boxes."
"I guess you could call it…heheh. My absolute masterpiece! I even have my own door. Masterful design, can't be replicated."
"Can't be replicated!?" Izzy spoke, "aww come on! That's not fair! Lemme know lemme know!"
"Since you shared your little chocolatey secret with me…I do suppose I could teach you."
"Yay!"
"awsummmm…this is aweessummme."
"I don't pull any pranks, they cause trouble and can make people very sad if you do them in a way."
"but it's gets sooo boringgggg…"
"You have to have done so many of them! You're cool!"
"…But you listen to your Parents…" She said, saddened, "and you eat when you're supposed to eat. You poop in the toilet. You listen, you're calm, you don't cause trouble…you don't cause trouble at all."
"I'm not perfect. I know they may try to make it seem like I am. But I am not. I am flawed."
"I was supposed to go to first grade this year…but I'm currently unable to…I miss all my friends, Jack."
"How old are you, again?"
"I'm six!"
'…her functions truly do seem way beyond any 6 year old. God damn. And I just turned 16 months ago.'
"I miss my friends too, I lost allot because of this transformation and the chaos because of it." I said, as I got off the swing
"I don't know what to really do…"
"It's okay Jack…I'll be your friend!"
"Huh?"
She gets off her swing in a blink of an eye and with her floofy body gives me a massive hug, her tail wagging excessively.
"And you will be my friend! And everything will be alright in the world!"
It had taken me by complete surprise…a happy surprise for once. An extremely joyful surprise. The most joyous thing this week, In recent memory.
I hug back in whatever way I could, as I try to not to cry.
"I'm hungry!" Izzy let go of the small hug, and ran around near me, practically galloping. "Do you think anyone is nearby?"
"I? Uh, I don't think so." I look around, and it's just the two of us.
"Yeah, no one is here."
"Great!" She dives to the ground with an apparent passion.
She begins eating the grass right in front of my eyes.
"…"
She's actually eating the top part of the grass, good news for me is that she's not trying to eat the dirt. Just the grass for some reason.
"Ya like eating grass? That's why you checked no one was around"
"They saw me one time and made it a rule not to eat grass…it's so much fun though! You should try it!"
"…ehh not a fan, why do you eat grass?"
She picks her head up from her grass eating and looks at me.
"My Dog does it all the time, and if he's fine, and if cows are fine. Then I'm fine!" She goes back to doing small nibbles.
I lay down not so close beside her, watching her as she had already laid down to eat.
It was…sudden, but it grew on me. It was actually quite sweet watching such enjoyment out of damn grass.
She kicks me lightly.
"Jack tryyy it, come onnn."
"No, I don't want someone to see me do it! You know what they would think of me?"
"What would they?" She asked.
"They would think of me as nothing more than an animal, an absolute lie they have been spending time with, it wou-"
With both paws pushing down on my head as she shoves my face into the grass.
"You talk much! Too much!"
"Izzy, What the?" I snap back at her, then looking back at the grass. I could easily just lift my head back up effortlessly. But I don't want to knock Izzy off and potentially hurt her…even though she's probably much more durable now than she was as a human.
Her paws jump off, and she stands there next to me.
"Alright, I'll try it."
I put my head down and give it a little nibble of the top blades of the grass.
It's fine? I guess? It's mainly tasteless, but I do see the possible appeal. It's something to actually do. The wonders of children imaginations and stupid idea.
"yuck…"
She looked genuinely pleased.
"It wasn't as bad as I thought, I'll give you that. Heh."
"Heheh…" I continued.
"Jack!" Izzy runs off, I watch her closely as she scampers about, digging at a red ball which is still under the patio. To my surprise, she wiggles into a hole, her tail sticking out the whole time. Seemingly gets hold of the ball and backs out slowly.
"Oh! I've been wanting too much to ask you this."
She drops the ball and kicks it, the ball slowly rolling towards me.
"Throw it! Throw it! You have mind powers don't you?"
"Yeah, I sure do. What, you want to play fetch? I love fetch! I would actually legitimately play…but y'know…I don't want to ever ask my Mom that."
"Here, have at it."
I slowly lift the ball up in front of her to truly show her the 'magic'.
"When will I have powers like that! It's not fair!"
"You're learning…you'll learn, you might even have powers in the future that are even better than mine. You aren't even Evolved yet, and won't be for some time."
I have the ball in the air floating near Izzy, and she jumps multiple times to grab at it. All Which are unsuccessful. Sometimes pulling the ball away farther.
"Throw it out!"
"k."
I throw it far out into the distance, and she goes running! She isn't too fast, but she's definitely trying her best. I stand there watching her zoom about as it bounces across the grass. I have to make sure not to do it too far, cuz even if this is a large cleared out backyard this is, we're still deep in the forest and you can look out into it, which with some good eyes you can see other houses farther away, one even has a massive cage around it, or even a destroyed bus with a completely collapsed small shed like thing. The whole area is deeply shaded, with spots of sun peering through. Izzy comes back to me, she speaks, all while holding the ball in her mouth.
"Tug!"
"How about…a mental tug." I pull on the ball in her mouth, eeek ugh. I really…really feel it, It's even pulling me a little bit…I stumble slightly forward and let go of the ball.
"Woah…never had to actually fight over an object before using my powers. That was…surely an experience." I said as I watched her chew and munch on the ball.
"How do I evolve? I've asked Ella multiple times but she doesn't fully know."
"She thinks I'm too young to think about it!"
'She's definitely right…' I thought.
"…uh, I also don't fully know."
"I just…became like this."
"Woke up and had all this crap and uh, changed my life forever and I had no idea it was going to happen."
"Honestly kind of sucky."
"I woke up as well, do you think it was how much sleep we got?"
"I'm sure that wasn't really a factor. My hunch, it's just based on a lot of variables all combining into one. Like personality…bit of maybe pure chance…interests…who are you as a person really, just…the essence of who you are."
"There's absolutely zero proof at this time that's the case. But that's my idea."
"Did you not get enough sleep, stay up late like Batman and in Turn get turned into something like him?"
"I…uh…"
I think.
"I don't think that's correct…But yeah, I did stay up late."
"Why did I end up like this?" Izzy asked me.
"…" I look away for a brief moment to think on what I should say.
"Come on Jack, pleaseeee. If you know something I don't please tell anyone. Trust me, I won't tell anyone, it'll be our secrettttt."
"It's not like that, Izzy. I don't know why you ended up like that. I don't know, I know just as much as you do."
"You…don't know?"
"I don't."
"oh…"
"I…" she continued but didn't speak up too much as she huddles herself down as her ears flopped, "…o-okay."
"…You really don't know why?"
I sigh and I lay myself on the grass as well.
"Even though I don't know why this happened to us. There is still so much more to discover. I don't know everything about this world…"
"I'm sorry to burst your bubble on that."
'How do I comfort her?' I thought 'I have to be…hopefull. No little comments.'
"Even though I talked about my theory on what kind of variables for what kind of creature we would've become, I do not know…"
"Why we were the ones chosen to become one."
"I've never thought about it too much, mainly because of how random it was. There's no explanation, there's no reasoning. It's all null to me, it doesn't process well in me. So I simply just tell myself."
"'It happened, it's here to stay. There's nothing more to be said.'"
"Do you think it's a special gift from God?" She asked me.
I internally cringe, but keep myself contained. I don't know how to answer these questions…especially about God, I can't simply respond to everything, I don't know the answer to everything.
"It can be looked at from any direction, a gift for one, could be a curse for another. This has surely been a gift at times…and then a curse as well…"
"I'm fluffy…would you say that's a gift?"
I take my paw and awkwardly pet her.
"I would say so, Yeah."
"I would say it isn't too healthy to just think of God's hand doing an event such as this. It's way too out of scope at this point…"
"There's…never gonna be a why? Never going to be an answer?" She asked.
"Izzy, Please…"
"It doesn't matter why, this is what we have. This is who we are. We're…"
'I have to get her off this topic…'
"Here with a new surprise to this world!"
"Surprise?" Her head tilts.
"Think of it as a sudden little box that one day appeared on your doorstep, left by someone you don't know, and you get a whole new experience from…like…tickets to a biggg park. Lots of roller coasters."
"Ooooh…that sounds fun." She says.
"The whole park may seem overwhelming at first…I mean. You sorta had to go, they were free tickets. It may give you a few little scares…though you'll learn and see that those scares aren't even scares…"
'Frick…where do I even go with this…'
"You may see a big roller coaster that every single person who went on it had a great time, but it's way too new to you. And it's something strange, but you end up going on it anyways, and it's lots of fun. It's a trill."
"This whole experience…is just a 'peekaboo!'"
"Heheheh, Peekaboo! You're a little fluffy thing!"
"Sometimes a surprise doesn't always need a why, and we may even find that why someday. But that why doesn't matter. Just use what it gave you to your advantage, go have fun. You don't need to think about these kinds of things…"
"For someone who said they didn't know, they sure had allot of answers for other things."
"Heh…well, I guess you can say I think outside the box. I need to."
"You're gonna need to in this new world."
"We're gonna be beaten down at any waking moment by people who are going to want to harm us. They think we're something different, something to be destroyed, something to be eradicated. With all this new crap going on in the world, this whole wild Elemental crap added on as well. It's all gonna get worse. My Father is out in the middle of jackshit I don't know where most of the time."
"This whole north, the whole north of here Izzy. It's all Elementals, all of them. Practically all of them are Elementals. It's entirely pure static, there's little to no connection coming from up there. I've seen pictures of entire droves of refugees slowly trickling down south. ever since I was visited by some 'visitors' I had to get as much crap of information as I can or else I'll probably be destroyed."
"There's probably be droves…and I mean droves of Elementals going down south. I-I mean, that's probably why my Father was called out to act, He's gonna fuuuuuuuudggeinnnnnng…" I began to say as I looked at Izzy, who seemingly hasn't really been listening too much.
"You're making a funny Face Jack!" She laughed.
I silently sit there and reflect on myself for a long moment. She wasn't even really listening to me, I'm a goddamn bozo. Who am I, rambling to like a 5 year old…who is…I can't. I legit can't at this moment. Like an 8 year old or whatever.
'I can't, first she asks me why she transformed and then talks about God. Like what the absolute hell? Maybe her parents were talking about it and that's why she asked me…she hasn't been able to really talk to anyone else…She needs me just as I need her…but she isn't ready…she isn't. She just isn't."
'And here I am…talking about bullshit she doesn't understand…and-'
"Are you okay? Why is your sweat purple, Jack?" She asks me in the most calm chill tone.
"Purple? Purple?!" I wipe my head with my paw and I am indeed sweating.
"Ah I'm fine Izzy, I'm okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Stop, Please" I said to her.
"Ok."
"I know you're upset about all those people, but I'm sure they'll be alright."
"You don't understand, Izzy. And I'm struggling to get it into a way you can fully get. My Father is gonna have to deal with possibly millions upon millions of people over the next couple of months and I want straight out of this shit. He's gonna fucking die. He's gonna die. He's gonna die. He's gonna die."
"Those people? Most of them are most likely gone. New York and like Massachusetts, or New Brunswick or I don't know all of them. They're no longer practically existing, they're gone. Filled up with Elementals, probably already new governments forming in the wasteland at this very moment!"
"…when I heard the North was affected, I was hopeful. I thought. 'Ohh a safe Elemental world just for all of us! It's our natural born land for us!' In a way, that still holds up, and who knows what the future will bring. But the entire early rosey image has already been shattered. There's probably little to no security anywhere, food shortages…I mean. The entire world is ending up there. Maybe in a few years…things will be better. A whole world of progress, imagine an entire Elemental city! But it's no longer the place to be for practically anyone for right now."
"That kind of 'Elemental city' will have to be entirely rebuilt from the ashes from the old."
"…A-All gone?" Izzy looks at me. Her ears down and tail between her legs.
I sigh.
"I shouldn't have even gone off like that on you.
"What do you mean?…are we in danger?"
"No No No, We're not in Danger. We're perfectly fine. We're perfectly fine. That's real far away."
"We're alright, Izzy. Look around for a moment."
She looks around.
"We're completely safe, and that's really far away. You're never gonna see any of that. I promise."
"You promise?"
"I do."
"But what about those people! Someone has to help them! We have to help them, at least. Even if people are wanting to destroy us, we all have to work together!" She says.
"They're being helped…they're being helped," I said to her, "Gonna think positive, right?"
She pouts, with her ears dropping.
"You're still all sweaty…" she whispers.
'Way to mess that one up. You just had to fully unload on the child.'
'It's alright, I ended the conversation well. reassured her, and about to send her on her merry way. It was necessary, she's gonna see worse things in the coming years and months. And if the older age from the transformation is true. She's able to take it.'
'She's gonna be a panicked mess all from you now, all she's gonna be thinking about is helping and saving those Elementals, I have to deal with that kind of shit now.'
'But…So what? Perhaps I just sparked a core interest in her of wanting to help others. And she isn't wrong though on what she said either. I have to get myself into the game. This is a good way to prepare her for the future she's gonna have to deal with.'
'I should've gone slower, maybe simpler. Much more simpler…Ugh I wonder how her parents gonna react when she says she wants to help people. This is all very unhealthy, I should just probably disconnect from it all.'
'Disconnect now and I'll never gonna get my Dad back, Disconnect now and you're gonna be more open to danger and misinformation. They're gonna clap for her, because they're gonna think she wants to be a nurse. Face it. Face it directly. You can't stop it. You cannot stop it. They'll never get her properly under control.'
'That's what I'm here for. I'm here to keep her under control.'
'But Yet…You cannot even get myself an actual grip on reality first?'
'…'
'…'
I put my paw to my head as I began to get a small headache. I hate when I feel this way…I feel like the entire world is just enclosed on me forever and I'm stuck. I'm completely trapped.
"Agh…Ow…eggh" I breathe, shaking my head. My mind feels like it's an absolute cloud right now.
"I'm huuungry" Said Izzy, then going on her back and rolling all over the ground.
"But you just had some Grass I thought?"
"Oh, right. I forgot."
"I only get fed Mac and cheese when I'm good, and grass is only for munching…" She pouts.
"Is that even healthy for you?" I ask.
"I dunno."
"Thought so."
"Ella says I'm always a messy eater. so I always have to be super slow with it."
"I bet it's also not good for your fur as well, must be all sticky" I said, looking at her "No one wants sticky stuff in fur, right?"
Izzy gets up and begins to run around.
"Does it look like I care?"
"Come on, Jack." Her tail wagging excitedly "Just try to chase me! You can't get me! I'm too small! Just watch, just watch!"
"…"
"Heh, alright."
'There's no way ever that I won't be able to catch her, I just-'
"Ow!"
"You just threw a rock at me!" I yelled.
"Go!"
She begins to run away laughing.
"I'll give you a 10 second head start, just do it isn't toooo easy for me."
I see her scuttle away with a large burst of speed, and 10 seconds later. Still fully in my sight. I begin to lightly jog over to her, going slowly. I had a thought in my head to trip her with my psychic powers. But that would just be mean.
"!?"
"How about you close your eyes, Yeah! Close your Eyes Jack!"
"I have to keep close watch on you, remember Izzy? No closing of my Eyes."
"Grrr. Just close them!"
"Ugh"
The Backyard of the Cabin is a small clearing of trees, with of course a small wooden swing set. Outside of this clearing it gets pretty deep with leaves and twigs. There's only one tree in the clearing, which is at the far far back of it. Pretty easy for me to lose sight of her if I don't catch her going out of the clearing. I don't want to have her drown in leaves…maybe I'll get a bunch of leaves and hide in a pile later. Yeah…that would be nice.
"Alright, fine! 5 seconds! 5 seconds!"
I close them.
"5."
"4."
"3."
"2…"
"1."
I open them.
"…"
She's fucking gone. Why did I trust her? I'm retarded.
"Izzy?"
I look around.
"You're right behind that tree aren't you!"
I begin to walk over to it.
"When I was your age…and still a human. That was my best hiding spot as well…"
"I-"
I stick my head around the tree.
She isn't behind the tree.
"Uh, Darn."
I then quickly look all around me. far and wide she isn't ANYWHERE.
I run over to the firepit, the charcoal still in it. And stacks and stacks of logs are still plenty to the side. I look under and around all the tables and chairs, even the smallest corners.
"Izzy?"
'Oh god…if they come out and see me without Izzy, and I don't have an answer. I'm screwed…I'm screwed…'
"Izzy?!"
'I can only imagine…'
'I last saw her, most closely to the tree! she has to be there!"
I go back to the tree.
"…"
'I have an idea. My Father used this trick on me many times…'
"I found you Izzy! Nice spot!" I spoke out, hoping she hears me.
"What?! How did you find me! You didn't eve-" I heard her then she slowly silenced herself.
She's right by me, heh. Always works. I walk, She seems to be over…
here…?
'Well, at least I know she exists. Remember, the United States doesn't negotiate with Terrorists.'
I smile to myself over that joke.
'Good old Fall…Good for having leaves everywhere to play with, bad for having leaves everywhere to clean up.'
'and boy, In here. There's allot.'
"I already know where you are…"
`Mental gaming a 5 year old hasn't felt this good."
"It's only a matter o-"
My foot goes straight through the ground, and I almost end up tripping and falling.
"huh?" I said confused, lifting my paw up.
I swipe away at the ground, and upturn the leaves and twigs to find a fully sized hole, tunnels…and beyond.
'is she doing some Vietnam crap on me? These tunnels must've been dug before'
I stick my head into it.
"Oh, Hello there." I look down the small tunnel to find Izzy digging.
"AHH!" She turns around, jumps, and hits her head on the ceiling of the dirt tunnel.
"You cheater! You cheater, you cheater!"
"You weren't supposed to find me! This is where I plan to hide my things!" Izzy yelled, partially covered in darkness. Which doesn't matter, since I do well in the dark.
"You dug all this now? That Isn't possible in 5 seconds."
"It's been my project!" Izzy exclaimed at me proudly "This sucks…you weren't supposed to know about this one. But I have and will have others~" She then said smugly.
"ok."
"Still, pretty respectable of a dig." I turn my head around abit to look at it better. "I don't think this would fit me fully. I don't want to break what you have done so far."
"Good!" She then continued "then my stuff Is fully safe! When I get a good pile I'll show you…only a small amount."
"you sounded pretty scared up there hehhahahhah."
My ears peel back slightly.
'Maybe I should learn a thing or do from Izzy. She doesn't care, she's a…whatever year old now! She just does! Just does! She has the action! Look at what she accomplishes with just having some guts.'
'Next time I do something. The first thing that comes into my head. I will do it. Even if it feels wrong, because it's only my anxiety holding me back, I cannot trust myself.'
"You have this all still back at your one house?" I asked.
"Yeah but they fill them. Ugh. It's so stupid.
"You're quite a troublemaker ya know that? Maybe you should be more chill?"
"They're the ones making it a big deal."
"Promise me you won't tell anyone of this?"
"Yeah, of course. Elemental to Elemental."
"Huh?"
"Matter of speech, it means I won't tell them. In fact, I'll make a deal with you."
"Mm?"
"If I can expand this tunnel whatever you got goin, will you allow me to stay in here or do stuff in it when you're not around?"
"Sure sure! Sure! You'll be my flashlight!"
"Heh, happy to be of use."
"Though, I can see why they don't want you to dig."
"Why?"
She's completely covered in dirt.
"Because of all that."
"You can't notice it, I'm already brown. I'm fine."
"Whatever suits ya."
'Man, why haven't I thought about this before? I'm smaller, ain't no human. This is just natural!'
"The worst thing about this is the worms I find, but they're fun to play with."
"What gave you this idea to do all this?" i said looking around in place
"Dogs." She said.
"You get allottt of ideas from dogs don't you." I said bluntly.
She shrugs.
"..."
I remember my experience with Teddy
"Izzy…Im just checking up with you here, and there are no wrong answers' i give off a small simile
"Have you had any kind of 'unnatural thoughts'? weird impulses to do things?"
"No?" She responds
"It's okay to feel-No? Really? Just a No?" i spoke back confused "No?"
"I- Uh I honestly expected that you would feel or see things differently, like come on."
"Well, I'm shorter! And smaller! Yeah of course i would see some things differently., because its larger!"
"No, not that kind of seeing things. I meant like.."
"Emmm…" i looked at the dirt as i tried to make up my mind, and to find another good question to ask while i have her here. Theres 100% something to get out of this, even if she doesnt even realize shit or whatever
"Ive just been having Fun" she looks at me "nothing too complex 'bout it. Its just…ugh"
"Why are you getting so boringggg"
"Hey! Im not boring at all!"
"If you're not boring, then why aren't you helping me dig!"
"I'm too large, i can only kinda stand here at the entrance."
"Then make it larger for yourself, you showed interest in expanding it while im gone!"
"Izzy, youre not allowed to dig, if i, like, wait a sec"
I peek my head out and look around, to see if anyone was there or possibly looking for us. Were quite a fair distance from the cabin and i dont want to cause a panic if someone didn't see me or Izzy. I lower myself back down
"If someone knew we were doing this i would get into trouble, im supposed to be a positive influence on you!"
"We're just doing a little 'trolling' thats all"
"How the hell do you know the word trolling already?"
"Ella taught me."
"Goddamn it…"
"We should probably get out soon, but first off, again.
"...You really don't! feel anything different?"
She pauses and thinks
She shakes her head
"Well, I'm stumped then. That'll be the end of me being boring, lets's have some fun and live some life."
"Come on, before someone notices we're gone."
"Your Sister wants to take you on a boat ride!"