Siren's Story

The Watchmon

"You should be happy. You're alive, and life is wonderful." - Ambertwo, Mewtwo Origins

It's chilly up here. I pull my coat tighter around me. This bloody chainmail's always freezing in the winter and boiling in the summer, but I know better than to take it off. I certainly don't want another broken rib!

I lean against the window and gaze out at Grande City. I can see all the western side from my post, and in my completely unbiased opinion, that's the best bit. The sand-coloured wood-and-stone buildings, the clean cobblestone streets, the street-lamps that glow amber-orange at night, and the golden sunlight on Ruby Forest's rich red leaves during the day. Even though not much sun's getting through all those black clouds today. Something strange is happening in the sky.

But no matter how miserable it gets, I can still see my house! My girlfriend and her colleagues built it themselves along with all the others on Freema Street, and we pooled our money to buy it together at a worker's discount. She cleans, I cook. She fixes, I do the books. We're a good team.

I wonder what I should make her tonight. Maybe soba? Hmm, but we had that a couple nights ago. Pumpkin katsu curry with apple pie for dessert's her favourite, but I think I'll save that for when her crew finally finishes the MAARC (Markus Ashton Amputee Rehab Centre.) I've been saving a bit here and there to get her some Perfect Apples (I know a guy).

I see a spot of blue-and-black and rush to the binoculars. Of course, it's just Rei, doing her patrols as diligently as always. I feel guilty everytime I jump at the sight of her. But with the criminals on the loose you can't be too careful.

I raise my arms and stand on my toes and stretch (sun salutation!) I can hear the singers performing down in town square. I'm really glad they didn't let the attack at the camp ruin their funky flow. Left Batu with a nasty scar and cost Emmet some of his right wing, but the Varias can't take away their talent. Or the screaming fans. Emmet's soulful voice and Batu's deep rich one flow together wonderfully, and in places they sing together:

So open your eyes

It's easy to do

Just take the time

And look around you!

Never forget

This is a beautiful world!

They know how to keep us going through the tough times, that's for sure. I took my nephew to see them on his third birthday, right before giving him his very own mandolin. I taught him just the basic chords, and now all he wants to be is a musician. I chuckle thinking of all the other things he absolutely-definitely-1,000,000% is going to be when he grows up: chef, healer, builder (I know you planted those seeds in his head, Carla, you sneaky Simipour.) I wonder what he really will grow up to be. Maybe a Watchmon like his uncle.

I spot a flash in the distance. The gap in the tower is only open 90° for my protection. I put my eyes to the binoculars. There it is again, a pink-red light hovering in mid-air, streaking off so far north I can't see it all from my vantage point. I call down to Julieta below me:

"Are you seeing this?"

"Uh-huh, it's coming from Mount. Mire," the Ruby Noivern responds.

"Send a yellow alert down the line?" I suggest.

"On it."

I hear footsteps descending. I crane my head as far as I can to keep an eye out for that flash. I wait there for 2 minutes, maybe 3, when I see a streak of light heading towards us. I ring the small bell beside my window; it'll echo down the tower, but no one outside will be able to hear it. Amber alert.

I hear movement down below and stay at my post. Out of the corner of my eye I see Carla's crew wrapping up for the day. Sorry, baby, doesn't look like I'll be home tonight.

I watch. It takes another hour, maybe 70 minutes, but the explosions and the pillars of black smoke dotting up across the crownlands are slowly but surely getting closer. I say slowly, but if this is the work of only a few Pokémon, they're moving incredibly fast. Fire is filling the sky.

Another 10 minutes past and I can see the culprit now: it's one Pokémon. A big one, bigger than a Charizard, but surely they're not doing all of this themselves? Moltres above, how are they moving so fast?! I watch as they zip from one patch of land, pause, strike from above, and turn once again into a pink-red streak in the sky.

I see a fiery comet headed for Mahogany Village. That's close enough, you bastard. I run to the middle of the room where the giant rope hangs, jump, and pull it down with my weight. The bells of Queen Booster ring out across the city. Red alert.

I stand at my post and let my stripes flash. The mirrors placed on all the tallest buildings bounce the yellow light from place to place; now everyone in the city will be able to see it. But so will that Pokémon.

A hundred flares go up in the sky. The Skarsgards soldiers run their posts, I can hear the rustle of steel and the barking of their Generals and Commanders. I just hope that monster has something else on their mind before they-

Another flash of light and suddenly they're hanging right above us. I don't know what that is, but it's not a Pokémon. It's some kind of hideous beast with wings made of pink-red fire, a skull that looks like it was carved from stone, dozens of blue eyes, and a belly that looks like rows of teeth.

I look down at mine and Carla's house, directly beneath it. Suddenly the flour from the bakery and the straw from the stables, the tiles from the roofs and the civilians down below are being sucked in a giant raging hurricane. I look for my girlfriend but everything down below is chaos. The creature throws its head back and a glowing pink-red creature soars up and bursts. Suddenly a thousand comets trailing are crashing down over the city.

"Carla!"

A burning dragon's head with hollow eyes and gnashing fangs is heading right towards me, it hits the tower, the stone crumbles, the sound is deafening—