"Oh... Hey Alex." Josh says nervously. How long were you there?"
"long enough to know something's amiss. Would you happen to know who that Sylveon was?"
I spot a flash of panic in his eyes followed by the illusion of control. "N-n-nope!" Never seen her before in my life." I nod slowly. There's something he's hiding, clearly. I'm gonna pry a little deeper. "Where's Shadow by the way? I wanted to ask her something."
"S-she's... well she's... she's busy. She doesn't want to be disturbed."
I cross my arms and simply stare.
"What's going on here Alex?" Thunder asks. I gesture for him to wait a moment.
"Josh, what exactly are you not telling me?"
Josh sighs. "Fine... Shadow evolved and I kinda... sorta... yelled at her? A little?"
"You-" I pause, baffled. "Why would you yell at her? Isn't evolution something to celebrate?"
"I mean yeah." He looks away sheepishly. "But see I wanted her to be an... Umbreon." He says the last word as quickly as he can manage. Suddenly things start making sense. That Sylveon outside was Shadow.
"You did not." I hiss.
"I'm sorry, okay!? I was mad! I couldn't help it!"
"Oh for Arceus' sake... You do realize what it means when an Eevee becomes a Sylveon, right? That they trust you immensely. That they love you more than words can describe. And you just..." I take a breath. I need to stop. Yelling isn't going to fix this. "We gotta go after her. Growlithe, do you think you can follow the trail of that Sylveon's scent?"
"Yeah. Easily. Is it Shadow?"
"Yes. She's run away."
"Run away!? In the middle of the night?!" Thunder exclaims. "She could get pounced by a wild pokemon! What made her decide to leave?"
"I'll explain on the way. Now let's hurry." I put Thunder on my shoulder. "Lead the way Growlithe."
"Wait! Alex, I'm coming with you. I messed up, I want to fix it."
"Not a good idea. You're probably the last person she wants to see right now. Hold back and wait for us to get back."
"Yeah... yeah I suppose that's best."
"We'll be back soon and sort this out." With that I close the door behind us. and head off into the night.
"I still can't believe he'd do that to her." Thunder mumbles. "I mean I get it. Wanting one evolution and getting another. I hear some Eeveelutions grumble about it from time to time but to scold someone else for it..."
"And with a Sylveon no less. Poor Shadow must be heartbroken." I turn to Growlithe. "How much further?"
"Not much more. She's close." Growlithe replies before returning to sniff the ground. We continue onward for some time before the booming rumble of thunder roars from the sky above us. A quick glance behind me tells us that a storm is brewing and headed this way.
"The heck did that come from?" I say, befuddled. "The forecast called for a clear night."
"Maybe they made a mistake." Thunder says. "Or there's a scuffle involving an electric type. If one loses control of a Wildbolt Storm or something like it, it can become a real storm."
"Oh yeah. That's right. You guys don't do it that often so I keep forgetting.
"Yeah. Rather not be responsible for a forest fire if I can help it."
"Hey, you hear that?" Growlithe intrudes. We fall silent and the unmistakable sound of sobbing makes itself known. "It's her. No question."
"Shadow?" I call out. The sobbing stops but she doesn't respond. "Shadow it's me. Alex. Thunder and Growlithe are here too."
"Go away..." She croaks quietly.
"Shadow-" Thunder begins before being immediately cut off.
"Stop calling me that! Now I said go away!"
"We're not just going to leave you out here. For one there's a storm brewing."
"I don't care. I don't care about anything anymore..."
"Sha-" I quickly stop myself. "Sylveon, we know what happened. Josh told us all about how he yelled at you."
"Oh, did he now?" She finally steps out from the bush she was hiding in, teeth bared and ribbons rolled up into an approximation of fists. "Did he tell you about how he shoved me off the couch? Slammed a door on me? Threw me outside and left me to fend for myself!? I don't care what you have to say. Any of you. Josh is dead to me. I hope that storm strikes his house and it burns down with him inside. I hope a wild pokemon breaks in and eats him! I loved him and what did I get in return? This. I'm not going back. So you just go home and let me be. Even better, tell Tsunami and Salty everything! They'll leave and that pathetic loser will be left with nothing! I... I-I..." She starts to stammer before collapsing to the ground and sobbing.
I tentatively kneel down beside her and run my hand across one of her ribbons. She pulls away but not before I make contact. If I remember correctly that short touch should have put my emotional state on full display. All my sympathy and desire to help front and center.
She looks at me, hesitating for several seconds before taking hold of me in a massive hug, ribbons and all. I let it happen. I want her to feel my empathy, to let her know that there is at least one person who cares about how she feels. That she's not as alone as she feels. Even Thunder and Growlithe decide to join in. I lose track of time while we sit there bundled together. Eventually she lets go, looking far improved.
"Thank you. I needed that... But still... I'm not going back. Josh has made himself clear. He doesn't want me. And I don't want him."
"At least hear him out. He wants to apologize. Give him a chance to speak his mind before bailing on him."
"Alex, I get you're trying to make things better, but I felt his disappointment in me." She waves her ribbons to accentuate her point. "One of the most joyous moments of my life and he essentially spat in my face." Her voice cracks for a moment and tears well in her eyes. She closes her eyes and takes a breath to regain her composure. "I don't care what he has to say. His words will be hollow. I'm done with him."
"At least come back for shelter. The storm is looking pretty severe." I gesture to the looming cloud, bright bolts of lighting casting shadows across the sky. "I'm not going to leave you out here in that."
She ponders for a moment before sighing. "Fine. But I don't want to catch even a glimpse of him."
"I'll keep him away. You have my word."
"Well, your word is good, at least." With that we begin our return trip home. Sadly I'll have to tell Josh that this bridge is well and truly burned.
"By the way, since you don't want to be called Shadow anymore, what should we call you then?" Thunder asks.
"I'll let you know when I have an idea."
We were fortunate to get within sight of the house by the time the rain started. However by the time I get within a few dozen feet from it I notice something unnerving. Charred grass patches all around the house, the front door open, the window smashed. Something bad happened while we were away.
I break into a sprint. If Josh is hurt because I left him behind I'm never going to forgive myself. I reach the door and dash inside to find the living room ransacked. I debate calling out. He might be hidden or whomever broke in might still be around... screw it.
"Josh!" I yell. "Josh are you here?! Salty?! Anyone?" No response.
"What happened here?" Thunder mutters. "Were we robbed?"
"Over here! Looks like a note!" Growlithe calls out. He swiftly picks it up and hands it to me. What I read off of it sends ice through my veins.
GIVE US THE PROTOTYPE
OR THE FAMILY DIES