Hey folks, another update coming at ya! As always, I appreciate the feedback on the story because it really helps me to improve in areas that need such improvement. Anyways, if you haven't yet, be sure to read chapters 34 – 38 to get up to speed with Cy and Km's story.
Enjoy this next chapter!
Volume III
Life of a Pokémon
Chapter forty-eight: A Northern Wind
A few minutes had passed since Leila and I left the partially frozen shore of Celadon River.
She and I tried our best to find her missing brother: Michael, but he is still nowhere to be seen. His robot companion, Holo, Scanned the whole area for any clue as to the man's whereabouts; however, the spiderbot and its single red, mechanical, eye could not find him.
Km is in total despair, overwhelmed by the sudden disappearance of her only living family member. It doesn't help that it's cold and we're in the middle of a deadly blizzard…
I tried pulling her away from the river to find shelter from the storm, trying to get the ex-grunt to realize our dangerous situation. Unfortunately, my injured leg stops me from trying to drag her away, a method I thought to use if reasoning failed…I have so much trouble walking on my own let alone stand up for long without help…I just feel like a burden…
Everything is just SO messed up right now…
No…she needs me…I…I can't…let myself think like that…Leila lost her brother…I CAN'T be a burden to her!
Despite the pain in my leg, I make my way to her, but unfortunately, as expected, I fall…so much for all that…
Unbeknownst to me, Km had turned around and caught me before I made contact with the freezing snow and I look up towards her, "l-listen…we…have to g-go…we c-can't stay!"
All she does in return is shake her head to me as my desperation for our survival grows, "Leila!" I called her by her real name, "the storm will KILL us if we don't leave, NOW! Come on!"
I knew it would be hard for her to accept, but she finally understood now…
I nod to her in response, "We'll go out looking for him again later. In the meantime, we HAVE to find shelter!"
Km finally nods and I take this time to look up at the robot hovering above us, "give us some more light down here!"
The robot did as commanded and used its headlights to help guide us deeper into Celadon Forest.
"Bring out Growlithe" I ask Km as the girl does so, releasing the fire-dog from its ball. She then instructs the canine to help keep us warm, even though Km could already do that thanks to her new-found powers. I figured she is just too exhausted to use her fire abilities…having used them earlier in the sewers and on the rooftops of the city.
And so, Km and I, assisted by Holo and Growlithe, make our way through the dense forest in search of a brief respite from the storm. Progress is slow since the winds constantly batter us and there is poor visibility in all directions. Because of this, we don't realize that we're approaching the edge of a hill which descends about twenty feet.
"Km!"
Right after we both end up tumbling down the snow-covered slope as Growlithe gives a yelp of shock in quick response. The dog and the spiderbot hastily make their way down to us.
"Ansel!?" Km exclaimed worryingly, having emerged from the deep snow before looking around for me. I soon pop out nearby, shaking my body to get most of the flakes off, "I'm…okay!"
The fire-dog appears and proceeds to lick their trainer's cheek while the spiderbot flies overhead and spots a place just along the hill: it's some sort of cave entrance. The semi-sentient machine makes a few "beeps" to get our attention and the three of us look toward the cavern before Leila and I look at each other.
Not long after, our group entered the dark cave along with Michael's airborne robot. The machine lights up the wide dark corridor sending us deeper into the cavern. I look behind us to see the light of the entrance fading a bit…all the while hearing the howling wind that is battering the forest just outside. A few moments later we find a place to hold up and gather our thoughts: there is a raised rock in front of us, about three feet up from the ground…it's like a little table, so we decide to rest there for now. Nothing else to do…but wait…fun am I right?
Leila/Km and I gather some things to start a fire: using her Growlithe as our tinderbox. Once the fire gets going, we huddle around it as "Holo" patrols the entrance.
All is quiet in the cave except for the noise coming from the cracking and popping of dry wood in addition to the prevailing winds right outside. I sigh softly to myself, how are we going to make it out of this area…it seems like it'll be a while until we'll be able to travel again. Even then, what do we do? Will Km and I head back to Celadon to search for the missing man, or do we keep heading west? It just seems like we're in a hot mess despite it being colder than the back of an endangered Lapras right now!
Km's probably thinking to do the obvious…her brother did a whole lot for us after all…for goodness sake he's her brother! I look toward the brunette, and I can see and feel her melancholy. After all that has happened to us these couple of days and weeks it seems as though the whole world is after us…and now…losing her brother on top of all of that? I just can't imagine how torn Leila must be right now. Her face is pale and her eyes glued toward the floor…she's probably thinking the same thing I'm thinking.
I-I think I'll try and go searching for Michael once the storm clears…wh-what am I even thinking right now!? I'm in no position to go out there by myself with my leg, in a cast, like this!
Unknown to me, Km notices my expressions at myself and slides closer to me…, "you okay?"
"I- ah…" I scratch my head; I look up to see her dark brown eyes gazing into mine, "listen Km…"
"I know…I'm worried to death about him…" she mutters as I look away a bit.
"Well…yea…but I was thinking…maybe we can send the spiderbot out there…it'll be practically invisible…have it go looking for your brother."
I turn back toward her as hope fills her once again, "you'll do that…" she crosses her arms afterwards, "it's worth a try…"
"We'll have to keep moving soon though…we lost most of our supplies in the river…and those cops and their hounds are still nearby looking for us."
"Ansel," she starts by saying, "we can't leave without him…"
I look down toward the ground in response, not sure how I could convince her, "we're going to need rest for later, Leila…we have the opportunity, we might not get much of it later 'ya know? I'll get Holo to start a search while we gather our strength. Michael knows what he's doing…he seems to be trained in this kind of stuff."
"He WAS a grunt like you and me in the past" Km nods before sighing softly, rubbing her sleeves from the cold, "you're right Ansel…you're right…"
The girl moved even closer to me; our bodies are literally touching by this point. My body seems to get a bit tense from this action, but I decide to wrap my arms around her. Km welcomes my embrace and rests her head against my shoulder, "you know why…" I mutter softly in her ear as she makes a soft, closed grin.
She figures we could share our body heat to warm ourselves even more, just as she did with me not too long ago. She is a hell of a lot more comfortable now…is-is she…smiling? Is…is she blushing? What do I say…what do I do next? What is the right thing to do in this kind of situation?
"Leila…"
She chuckles at this, "you know…you've been calling me by my name way too much recently…"
"Sorry…I sometimes forget you hate being called that…" I bring my hand to my face in embarrassment.
"It's fine…I don't mind when YOU say it…we've known each other long enough." She finished, giving a hefty sigh whilst closing her eyes.
Gosh…what are we doing…we're putting our lives at risk here the moment we entered that river…this isn't a game…all of us could die…and even if we somehow make it to Johto…it doesn't guarantee everything will be resolved.
I look back again to Km…she's falling asleep against me…she probably thinks I'll protect her from anything…though it's DEFINETLY the other way around…heh…she looks so peaceful in her sleep…I guess I'll just…leave my arm around her for now…
Man…I sure have changed these past couple of weeks…
…
Mid-day…
The storm finally softened to a snow shower and the temperature rose quite a bit. Thankfully, the fire, and our tight embrace, has kept both of us warm. Km and I had gathered enough strength to recollect ourselves.
The girl had taken some snacks out from her bag, some of which had been saved from the raging river: she offers some to me and I gladly take them without question…figuring that we'll need some food in us for the travels ahead. Even if it's barely any food…a little is better than no food at all.
The girl looked toward the entrance to find snow barely entering the cavern now, and the winds had softened to a soft wisp.
"It's been a while since Holo checked the forest, maybe we could send him out again…now that things are calmer out there?" Km suggests and I think about it, answering softly, "sure thing, Km."
And so, we sent the spiderbot/needlebot hybrid outside to scan the area encompassing the Celadon River in hopes of finding Michael.
Some time passes by…unfortunately, there's still no sign of him anywhere…the robot returns empty-handed and these ill-attempts only fuels Km's desperation. I look over to my partner and notice her shaking hands…her skin is clammy and cold from despair. It's not much of a surprise to me once I see her making her way towards the exit, alone. I immediately rush toward her, nearly tripping, "Km! Stop!"
"I'm going to look for him" is all she murmurs defiantly as Growlithe follows behind closely. Once making it to the entrance, she instructs Holo to join also, "stay here Ansel, we'll be back in a few minutes."
"K..m…"I shake my head, "please…" I lower my head…realizing that I won't be able to change her mind, "just…make it quick" I sigh softly to her in defeat.
"I'll try" she retorts, tying her hair into a bun before leaving the moist cave with the others. I shamble back to the rock to rest, looking down at the dirty cast that imprisons my injured leg…thinking to myself for a moment…
D…damn it! Why can't this leg just heal faster!? I'm just stuck here…being useless basically right now…no…I don't have to be…maybe I can take this time to BE useful…maybe I can think of the plan ahead…maybe see what path to take, which routes to pass by…maybe even come up with a strategy in the meantime…yea…I'll do that…
Some time passed by, I am now lying down on the rock, waiting for the others to return. I think I came up with a good plan on how to get to the border of Kanto/Johto. As I'm silently thinking to myself regarding this plan, I hear voices by the cave opening and I rise up.
They're two voices…has Km found Michael!?
"Km…" I ask softly, almost muted, since I am unsure if it's actually her…
The voices get louder as the two people get closer. I squint my brown eyes, trying to recognize them.
Let's check in here
At this point, my heart sank to the floor and I am filled with deathly shock rocking through my body…the voice belonged to an unfamiliar man, and I'm immediately sent into panic!
Ohhh shit, they're here!
I move away from the rock, looking around for a place to hide, but the cavern doesn't go deeper…I'm at a dead end! They're getting closer too and it only serves to drive me to think about my choices: hide or fight back…
They've taken out their flashlights and begin looking around the cave. It's clear by this point that they are police officers from Celadon City. There's no place to hide! Where's Km, damn it! This is not good at all…
I back up against the wall, but it's only a matter of time. Thus, I reach into my belt and pull out the ball containing Diglett.
Then, their lights shine on me…
I turn away and close my eyes, blinded by them.
"H-hey!?" one of them managed to exclaim as they approach me, displaying handcuffs soon after.
"Y-you're that fugitive!"
"Stay right there, kid!"
"I'll call this in, take him into custody."
My finger was on the ball trigger, ready to unleash my friend to aid me in my escape…
Suddenly, as the man turns to reach for his radio, he meets an unseen tranquilizer needle that was shot at him. The officer is almost immediately downed as his partner quickly turns, withdrawing his weapon to shoot back; however, they too are downed by the third intruder. I look towards them: both men are now unconscious. The flashlight they had is now on the ground lighting up the strange person by the entrance. The stranger is still holding their weapon as I expect the same to happen to me, and indeed they aim their tranquilizer at me with clear intent. They walk closer, but suddenly it seems as though they stopped…
I realized that it's because they immediately recognized me…
"Man…is this going to happen every time with you two? I swear I'm always saving your hide!"
It's…it's Michael! He survived!
"M-michael…" I stutter in complete surprise and confusion before he walks toward me, lowering his weapon down.
"Yea, I'm okay, thanks for asking" he sarcastically retorts.
I shamble away from the policemen in the meantime, "how did you…"
"Make it out?" the thirty-year old interrupted, "I was thrown off when we were falling down the waterfall. I ended up on this side of the river, but the storm made it hard to go anywhere. Plus, I was freezing, so I made a small fire inside of a hollow tree that shielded me from the storm."
I raise an eyebrow at this, "o…okay…not really what I wanted to ask…how did you find me?"
Michael puts a hand on his hip and shakes his head in annoyance apparently, "I can track Holo with this" he pulls out and brandishes a device similar to a Pokédex.
Suddenly, we both hear someone else approaching before we turn to the mouth of the cave! The man next to me prepares his gun. Then, however, we hear a voice call out to us:
"Ansel!?"
I don't even need to ask who it is…it's Km!
Soon enough, she indeed shows up along with her Pokémon and the robot beside her. Almost immediately after recognizing her brother, she throws herself at him and both of them enter a brief embrace, "y-you're alive!"
"Leila…it ain't about me…it's about you two."
"Stupid…Idiot, your life matters too 'ya know" Km objects, small tears leaving her eyes from extreme relief
"I'm just happy the both of you are safe" Michael finishes.
I make my way to the both of them as the brother reunites with Holo, displaying the same affection as if it were a Pokémon, which confuses me…it's just a robot…oh well…
"Hey bud, thanks for looking after them."
"How did you escape the river?" Km asked as Michael stood up from "petting" Holo.
"I told Ansel here already. I'll explain later, we should leave this place, now."
"I agree" I decide to add, "now that Michael has been found, we can get out of this area. I do have an idea where we should go to get out of here" I explain.
As we leave the cave behind, Michael, along with Holo and Km, looks back toward me with an inquisitive expression, "what do you have in mind?"
A smile found its way onto my face, something that hasn't happened in a while, "allow me to explain."
…
That's the end of this chapter, hopefully you guys enjoyed. See you all next time.
