NSO Chapter 33
(Day 5)
I don't own Pokemon.
A bus pulled up in front of the Schroff residence, tyres squealing against the tarmac as the vehicle slowed to a stop. The doors hissed as they slid open, and a Vibrava stepped down the small flight of stairs. She looked around the front lawn of her house, the hopeful expression on her face slowly turning into one of disappointment and confusion.
"What's wrong, Gayle? You looked pretty bummed out." A Charmeleon got down the bus to stand beside Gayle.
"I don't know, Apollo. For some reason, I expected a more welcoming reception."
"So... what were you expecting?" Apollo looked around the neat, grassy lawn.
"I was expecting Zenith to hold some sort of 'Welcome Back' party. It just felt like the kind of thing he would do. But I guess I was wrong..."
"Wait, Zenith? The Umbreon?" Gayle didn't notice it, but the flame at the end of Apollo's tail started to burn a little more intensely.
"Yeah, he's... not my brother-yet. I guess you could call him a close friend. My dad and I live with him and his mom. And before you ask, yes. He has a girlfriend, a Vaporeon named Cleo-OH!" A blue blur tackled Gayle from behind, sending the both of them tumbling head-over-heels as they rolled across the lawn before sprawling to a stop. Cleo picked herself up immediately, running circles around the dazed Vibrava, talking rapidly as Apollo stared on in shock and surprise.
"Gayle!You'reback!Who'stheCharmeleon?Wehaveaproblem."
"What? Cleo, let's back it up a bit. You're making no sense." Gayle's head was still spinning from the tackle, and the constant stream of words leaving Cleo's mouth did not help to make things any better.
"Okay then. Slow down. Hey, need a hand up?" Without warning, Gayle was pulled to her feet by an unexpectedly strong Cleo, who then wrapped her in an overwhelming bear hug. "I'm sorry. It's just that you've been gone for so long. Questions, right? Right. Fire away."
"Firstly, where's Zenith?"
"That's the problem I was telling you about. Meet me in my room in 10 minutes?"
"Only Zenith knows where your room is."
"I'll wait."
"Fine. Give me five minutes." Gayle wiggled out of Cleo's grasp. "Can Apollo come along?"
"The Charmeleon? I suppose so. The more help we have, the better."
Five minutes later, five Pokemon were sitting in a circle, on a blue wooden floor: Cleo, Zoey, Julley, Gayle and Apollo. Zoey and Julley were discussing with each other in low tones, while Cleo pointed out the various details of her room to her two new guests. Gayle's eyes were darting around, observing every nook and cranny of the room, while Apollo just hugged his flaming tail close to his body, staring warily at the tub of water in the corner of the room. There was a moment of silence as Zoey and Julley's whispers ceased, and Cleo had finished talking Gayle through the layout of her room in excruciating detail. The atmosphere turned awkward as each Pokemon had something to say, but were uncertain to who wanted to speak first.
Gayle, determined to find out what had happened in the days she had spent in Battle Camp, decided to talk first.
"So... is anyone going to tell me what happened? Where's Zenith? And why is he a 'problem?'"
At the sound of the Umbreon's name, Gayle's super observant eyes caught a small tear shed from Cleo's eyes, but it was quickly wiped away by the Vaporeon, her expression hardening until her face was an emotionless slate. Gayle also expected Cleo to reply to her question, but an answer came from Zoey instead.
"Zenith's been taken from Cleo's side against his own will using pheromones and Attracts and is being forced to love another Pokemon."
"Who?"
"Sylvie. The Sylveon."
Gayle, being new to Kingdra High, was going to ask about Sylvie, but before she could do that, she was distracted by a sudden wave of heat from her left. Turning to look, she and the three other Pokemon saw that the flame on Apollo's tail had grown immensely, and was burning brightly, the Charmeleon's beautiful features contorted into an unmistakable mask of anger.
"Oh, I recognise that look," Julley noted, taking everyone by surprise. "She did it to you too, huh?"
"Yeah. Wait, how did you know? And did you say too?"
"Anyways," Zoey's loud voice rang out above Apollo's questions, drowning his voice out. "We're here now to think of a plan to free Zenith from Sylvie. A way to get Zenith away from Sylvie so we can figure out how to cure him. So, anyone have any ideas?"
"We'll be going for our Post-Exam Activities tomorrow. Let's see here..." Some shuffling of restless bodies as Cleo thumbed through her emails on her phone, searching for information. "Here it is. As part of Kingdra High's Post-Examination Activities, the 16-year-old students will be spending a seven-day six-night staycation at the local beachside resort. where we hope that the students will be able to pick up new skills, as well as master old ones through the assortment of engaging activities that the resort has to offer." Cleo looked up from her screen, shaking with anticipation at the news. "This could be our chance! Ambush Sylvie and Zenith when they're alone by the sea, and with my hydrokinetic powers, we can overpower the both of them and rescue Zenith!"
Zoey mulled over her sister's words for a few minutes, before nodding. "That sounds like a somewhat solid plan. Sylvie will definitely want to tag along with Zenith, so it'll ensure that we know where her location is since we have no idea where she lives in this neighbourhood, or even if she lives in this neighbourhood. With Cleo's abilities strengthened by the ocean, taking Sylvie down should theoretically be a piece of cake."
"What about adults? Our parents? Teachers?" Apollo tried to offer an alternative solution.
"Mom left for a business trip yesterday," Cleo interjected.
"My dad's working the late-night shifts, so he's not home that much. And I from what I've heard from Dad, Zenith's mom works overtime often, so no dice there." Gayle spoke up.
"Not to mention Mrs Sal's a Dragon-type, both weak and powerless against Sylvie's attacks," Zoey added on.
"So... no adult assistance?" Apollo looked around helplessly at other four Pokemon.
"Sorry, dude." Julley gave Apollo a sympathetic pat on the back. "Not to say that the adults are normally useless in situations like this, but none of the trusted adults we know can even help us right now."
-Time Skip-
"Well, see you tomorrow, Apollo." Zoey had concluded their little 'meeting' shortly after agreeing with her sister's plan, and Apollo had offered to walk Gayle home. Even though the Vibrava's doorstep was just directly across Cleo's house, she appreciated his gesture nonetheless. And judging from the expression on Apollo's face, it made his day too. Waving goodbye to Apollo, Gayle closed the front door, shutting out the red glow of the setting sun. She turned around and jumped in shock as she saw Kelli Schoff standing a few centimetres away from her, the Vibrava's face almost touching the Espeon's.
"Your father would be proud to know that you're making new friends."
"Oh. Hey, Kelli. You're home early. How was work?"
"It was nothing. No different from all the other days. But enough about me. Something's wrong, and it's about Zenith, isn't it?"
A few minutes later, Gayle lay on her bed while Kelli sat next to her, listening as she described her meeting with Cleo and the others in meticulous detail. The Espeon said nothing for a while, before swivelling her head around to lock eyes with Gayle.
Gayle felt a slight shudder run through his body as Kelli's white pupils met her own. They were unnerving, and their gaze seemed to stare straight into her soul and know her every thought and intention. Then again, with Kelli's Psychic-type and all, it was very possible.
"So... what are you going to do? You are his mom. Can't you just chaperone the staycation, and help us to free Zenith from Sylvie?"
Kelli shrugged nonchalantly, taking gayle by surprise. "I can't chaperone the staycation even if I wanted to without losing my job. I used up all five of my leave days of the month to spend time with Zenith. And I'm not really that concerned. My Zenith has always gotten into scrapes before and has always come out fine. Although I feel that this time, it might be a little different..." The Espeon's voice trailed off into silence, leaving Gayle to ponder her words.
"You used Future Sight, didn't you? Tell me what happens to Zenith!"
Kelli shook her head at a disappointed Gayle. "I can't tell you. Even if I did, the future can't be altered in any way. I can only see what's going to happen inevitably, not change it. But tell Cleo this: Whatever happens to Zenith, it had to happen." Getting off Gayle's bed, Kelli walked out of the Vibrava's room but stopped at a shout of her name.
"Yes, Gayle?"
"Just wanted to wish you a good night, mom."
Kelli raised her left paw, looking at the gleaming gold ring on her finger, smiling to herself.
"You noticed."
"So, when was the wedding?"
"Wednesday. Zenith helped, even though it was a quick ceremony." Once again, Gayle's eyes picked up a tiny droop of the Espeon's tail and ears when speaking her son's name, and she felt a rush of sympathy for Kelli. Although she acted strong on the outside, she cared deeply about her son on the inside, and was clearly burdened and worried by her knowledge of her son's future, but was unable to do anything to change it. Gayle longed to know what Kelli saw, but finally conceded to the fact that thinking about the future wouldn't make the Espeon elaborate on the topic. Pulling her blankets over her body, Gayle succumbed to sleep, a single, simple phrase remaining in her mind as she started to dream.
Only time will tell...