TW: Self harm, disassociation, depressive episode
I think it's time we begin training you in Aura sight," Sir Aaron said.
"Really?" Ash said.
The knight nodded. Though, the decision wasn't one made with tradition in mind. Usually there would be a few years of strengthening Ash's control, before attempting to use Aura sight. Especially for a more physical oriented user like Ash. Users who were more physically oriented excelled when it came to summoning Aura, gathering it into shapes and forms from your own soul and the surrounding world. It was the more hands-on side of aura. However, the knight had his reasons for his sudden choice.
First it was their lack of extra time that pushed for this decision, as Aura sight was a skill, that while a little tricky to navigate at first, was practical. There had been a number of times that Sir Aaron relied on his sixth-sense to not trip over a root in the middle of a night's walk or navigate through his home when all his candles suddenly disappeared...and it worked...at least in the root case. Never the less, it would certainly aid Ash in some way.
The second reason that he wanted to start teaching lessons regarding the more mental control of aura is because he felt these would be the easiest way to start his niece's training. While Amanda was a maiden of action, like Ash, she was far more of an intellectual. Someone who thought through their plans, even if said plans are slightly manic in nature. Amanda would have an easier time learning the techniques that required more mental concentration first, rather than the ones that needed a physical attribute.
"We'll start outside, in the garden. Plants are always richer in auratic value, and easier to see for first-timers," Sir Aaron said.
"What does a world of Aura look like?" Goh said.
Blue.
Sir Aaron nodded to his partner's blunt statement. Blue would be the first word that came to mind if he was asked to describe aura sight.
Goh hummed, his head tilted, "Well, you got to tell me all about it when I get back from school."
"You have school today?" Ash said rather confused.
"My and my teacher have a deal, I show up in person on test days, but I do all the lessons and assignments on my own time," Goh said.
"At least one of you care about your education," Amanda called from where she was sitting on the sofa, her laptop in front of her and fingers working furiously on the keys.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ash said.
"Well, I am of the belief that the more you study the better life you make for yourself in the long run. You can't get any high paying job without at least a Master's Degree," Amanda said.
"Me getting a master's degree?" Ash raised a brow, "Yeah, that was never going to happen."
"If you had applied yourself maybe it would've worked out better," Amanda said.
"Just because I preferred the trainers license doesn't mean I didn't try in school," Ash said.
"No, it just means you took an unnecessary gamble and dropped out," Amanda said.
Sri Aaron cleared his throat, "Speaking of lessons, I expect you both to meet me in the gardens in-"
"Nope, not going to happen," Amanda said.
"Pardon?" Sir Aaron said.
Amanda clicked her tongue, "Look I'm sure that you think that it's important for me to learn how to use this quote-unquote gift, but I'm not interested. Aura is a practically dead art and I'll have no use for it down the line. So, frankly it's a waste of time. Besides, I have a full day planned out."
Sir Aaron resisted the urge to either flinch or sigh. Despite, living on the lab grounds for a about a week, Amanda still hadn't opened up to...anyone really. His niece was closed off and only focused on the codes, or her studies. There was no kind of awkward bond that was smoothed out over time, like with Ash and Lucario. Any form of communication or connection was shut down. Which for an aura user, was worrying.
Bonds between users were always more than just simple friendships. They had to be since a large amount of them could feel each other's emotions and hear individual thoughts. Communication was far more intimate, compared to the way that non-users spoke. Users thrived off of the connections in the guild. It offered support, creativity, and aid. A web of safety that link all minds.
Yet, anytime Sir Aaron tried to offer that to Amanda, something disturbing occurred.
The knight wasn't sure what form of demon had attached itself to his niece, but it was not a welcomed presence. The vile thing clung to her beautiful soul with an unwilling grip. Black limbs, like brambles or shackles, wormed around her arms and legs. A large shape, like an ink splash, a stain, dripped from her hair, like a mourning veil, and pooled over her heart. The black pulsed and rippled against the flow of her soul. It strangled the shine in her spirit, leaving it dim, weakened. Like it was draining the will to live out of her.
Sometimes, the black seemed smaller, and her aura appeared brighter. However, bring up a certain topic, a flash of emotion, get her to smile, and it would tighten its hold. Diming her passion and life, spreading the darkness further and sinking deeper. Her pale face would return to numbness, and her eyes would look more like a dead woman's stagnant pools.
"You're cracking the encryption?" Goh said, drawing the Knight's attention back to the present.
"Among other things," Amanda said, "I am a student still after all and the last test I got back a 95%. So, I can't slack off anymore."
"Wait..." Ash's brows furrowed, "I thought 95% was a good score?"
"Maybe for you, but not for me. Anything below 100% is practically a failure," Amanda said.
"You can't actually think that," Goh said.
"Doesn't matter," Amanda said, she held up a piece of paper, "I have a schedule to keep and I can't slack," She sighed, "I'm going to get a coffee, see ya'll tonight."
With that his niece packed up her needed belongings, with the same frantic efficiency that she always moved with, and headed out of the kitchen. Pichu and Umbreon hot on their trainer's tail.
Sir Aaron shared a concerned look with Lucario; they had both noticed the black had spread since last night.
Goh stood up from his breakfast and walked over to the coffee table, picking up a stack of papers that Amanda had left. The lad looked over them curiously. He scoffed.
"And Chloe says I'm a micromanager," Goh mumbled.
"What is it?" Ash said.
"These schedules are down to the minute, for the next four years of her life," Goh said.
Is that normal for young humans? Lucario turned to Ash.
"Don't look at me. I've never made a schedule in my life," Ash said. Pikachu shook his head.
"No, it's not. This can't be healthy," Goh murmured.
"Hey, maybe she can't help it. She might have OCD, or some control disorder, so something," Ash said.
"Goh! Are you coming to school today?!" A young feminine voice called from the hall.
Ah, yes, the mysterious, young mistress of the lab. Professor Cerise's daughter, Chloe. Sir Aaron hadn't really seen the young girl on the grounds and she never really interacted with him. Which the knight didn't mind much. She was obviously shy and a little unsteady regarding her future. Many times, Sir Aaron had seen Emily act similarly when they were young.
"Yeah! Yeah! I'm coming!" Goh called.
Eevee blinked her big brown eyes, as she finally slipped through the RV's door. Miss Mandy had forgotten to lock it when she left this morning. The young normal type, knew that the human had wanted her to stay in the vehicle and stay out of sight. However, there was only so much that a Pokémon could explore inside of one RV. And boredom was particularly harsh this morning. So, like the adventurous little Pokémon she was, escape was the only sensible answer.
Besides, Miss Mandy wouldn't be nearly as harsh on her disobedience when compared with Professor Gen. Eevee was not at all fond of that cranky old woman. Test after test. Analysis after analysis. Demand after demand. The attention wasn't what Eevee wanted. She just wanted to be left alone. So, what if she wasn't ready to evolve yet? Why did it make her so interesting?
Unlike her brothers and sisters, Eevee hadn't really been all that eager to evolve, at least not for just a random trainer. Eevee chose to be patient; she wanted her trainer to be perfect. Someone who she could grow along side with, someone who would want to bond with her because they wanted to. Not so they could the next battle match. Every trainer that came to the reserve, they only wished to fight. To leave Ryme City and become a foreign region's champion. Eevee, wouldn't mind becoming a battle Pokémon, but she wanted to fight for a trainer that would love her with their whole heart.
However, the right one...just never came to the reserve.
Once upon a time, Eevee thought maybe Miss Mandy had been that perfect one, but over time it was obvious that Umbreon was the human's true partner and Miss Mandy was far too certain that her life wouldn't change. Eevee needed someone who was uncertain of their place in the world. She wanted to help her trainer discover who they were, and their potential.
That's why she hadn't evolved yet. She wanted to evolve with her trainer. Discover their destiny together.
But once more, none of the trainers she had seen felt right.
Eevee mingled around the grounds of the lab for a few moments more. Smelling the unfamiliar smells, chasing some mischievous leaves that danced in the wind, and digging up spots that she probably shouldn't be playing in but didn't care.
"Goh!"
The normal type's ears perked up, and her button nose twitched, "vee?"
"Are you coming to school today?!"
"Yeah! Yeah! I'm coming!"
Creeping up the edge of the front of the lab, Eevee's brown eyes began to shimmer. Standing in front of the double doors, was a young girl. A trainer no doubt. Her hair was the pretties shade of deep pink, that Eevee had ever seen. Her face, while frustrated, was calmer than anything. Only a hint of unease in her expression, but it was an exhausted look, like she was already tired of the day even though it had just begun. The human leaned against the door, and started playing with her braid. Almost appearing bored.
The other door opened (and it blocked Eevee's view of the girl, no! no! Shut door! Shut! Eevee needed to see her), and out walked a young human male. His hair a dark brown, and wearing clothes that were the same colors of the girl's.
"Took you long enough," the girl said.
"Keep talking. We aren't going to be late," the boy said.
The girl sighed, "Sometimes I wonder why we became best-friends."
"Simple we complement each other. When I get too deep into my stuff you pull me out, and when you have a hard time making decisions, I push you."
"Yeah, that's not it." The girl shook her head.
"Let's just get to class."
Eevee watched as the humans left. As the girl left...She was going to follow them.
"Ow..." Ash hissed.
Okay, aura sight training was far more...painful...then Ash thought. Honestly, he thought that staying still would be his down fall, but no...it was not moving fast enough and getting slammed right in the eye with a swinging log.
"Let me see," Sir Aaron said, gently pulling Ash's hand away from the now swelling eye.
You lasted longer than I thought.
"Gee thanks," Ash said flatly.
Quit your moaning, you are not the first here to be struck during this exercise.
"Yeah, and your bones are 5 times denser than mine, so you don't have to worry about a fractured eye socket," Ash said.
"Well, thankfully, I don't think it did that much harm," Sir Aaron said, "Now hold very still for me. I think this is with in my abilities."
Ash hissed at the gentle brush of fingertips against his bruising flesh. Then the pain leveled out, a buzzing warmth washing it away. A glow could be seen from underneath his eye lid before it quickly retreated. Ash's vision remained blurry as he blinked the now healed eye.
"Better?" Sir Aaron asked.
"Yeah," Ash nodded.
"Your eye may water for a while, but you should be fine."
"I'll take a watery eye, over a black one," Ash said.
"Wise words," Sir Aaron said.
"You'll have to teach me that healing thing, it would come in handy," Ash said.
"I'll show you what I know, but it isn't much. This was the one sector of training that I never really excelled in," Sir Aaron said.
"Really?"
"I was too excitable, the instructors for the subject secretly want to throw me off a cliff side," Sir Aaron said.
The knight started laughing, at Ash's sudden expression shift. Apparently, the surprise was enough to show outwardly. Even Lucario appeared surprised.
"I know it's hard to believe, but I could've been a terror in the class room if I wanted," Sir Aaron said.
"Did you want to?" Ash raised a brow.
"Depends on the lesson, and how youthful I was," Sir Aaron said.
So, was that the reason, you never taught me healing? You didn't pay attention to your own lessons?
Sir Aaron cleared his throat. He was clearly embarrassed. Ash tried not to snigger; he was getting good at reading the knight.
"I'll show you what I know, even if it isn't much," Sir Aaron said.
Ash nodded, "To bad there isn't a book or how-to guide or something. Then we wouldn't be limited by just what you know. Not that you don't know much..."
Sir Aaron shook his head, "Don't worry, I've long learned that you never everything, no matter how much you want to."
There used to be books. An entire library full if I remember correctly.
"Really?" Ash said.
Yes, at the temple. I had never been inside however.
"Why?" Ash said.
Un-matched pups were not allowed inside some of the more guarded areas, and I don't know how to read human scribbles so it was never of use to me.
"Huh?" Ash's head tilted to the side, "You've mentioned this temple thing a lot. Why haven't we gone there yet?"
We might have but Amanda said our people were destroyed. Hunted to extinction. Why would we look for something that isn't there?
"The people might be gone, but there has to be something they left behind," Ash said, "Where else would Team Rocket get their information."
Sir Aaron hummed, his furrowed in sorrow but also focus, "You might be on to something lad. True, our people are now myth, but all myths have some basis in truth. Something had to had been left behind. And if only non-users attacked, they wouldn't be able to access the inner chambers."
Where all writings were kept.
Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder. Both sets of brown eyes met; understanding between both trainer and Pokémon washing over them.
"Well, I guess we know where we are going next," Ash said.
Chloe was panicking.
The small brown fluffy Pokémon in her arms was all but clinging to her. It was honestly kind of adorable, and she didn't really want to let go of Eevee. The day hadn't gone as she planned, the average team rocket trio showed up, but Chloe wasn't really upset at them. They were kind of the reason she found Eevee.
However, they were also the reason that three well-dressed scientists found Eevee too.
Hence the reason that Chloe was panicking, they wanted to take Eevee away.
"You'll have to understand," the lead scientist, a woman with pale blue hair and eye spoke, "this Pokémon is a research subject that escape our facilities and must be returned. It's property of Gen Laboratories."
"I understand," Dad said, "We didn't mean to make any trouble when we found her."
No. No. Don't understand dad. Don't understand. Eevee shouldn't be going back with these people. Something isn't right. Chloe wanted to scream.
But she didn't scream. Nor did she move when the blue haired woman plucked Eevee from her arms. Yamper barked like no tomorrow, as the trio began to walk away. Dad held the electric type back.
Chloe bit her lip, her green eyes drifted upward towards the researchers. To the little brown bundle in the lead's arms. Eevee was looking back at her, and Chloe knew. This wasn't right.
Eevee knew it too.
The normal type began to squirm like her life depended on it. Eventually jumping out of the researcher's hold and dashing back towards them. Back towards Chloe. The young girl held out her arms and Eevee didn't hesitate to jump into them with a happy squeal. This. This was right.
The peace and joy of that moment of rightness...didn't last.
"Oh, come on now you stubborn thing. We need to get you back to the lab," The blue haired woman said reaching for Eevee.
Chloe pulled back, using her body to shield Eevee from the woman.
"Come on, honey, hand the Pokémon over," The woman said.
And in a rare moment of defiance, Chloe said "No."
"Chloe..." Dad tried to speak.
"No, dad this isn't right," Chloe said, "This Eevee isn't theirs."
"What's going on up here?!"
Chloe's green eyes snapped to the end of the side walk in front of the lab. Quickly focusing on the black haired, bespectacled girl who had an Umbreon at her side and a coffee in her hand. Amanda. Chloe hadn't really talked with her. Which, in her defense, Amanda didn't seem to want to talk to Chloe either, but still the fact was, they weren't close. Yet, as Chloe stared at Amanda, the elder trainer taking in the scene before her, she saw a shift in those cold grey eyes. It almost looked like anger.
The woman with blue had seemed to pale a little.
"Get out of here kid! This is none of your business!" One of the other researchers, one with red hair, said.
"None of my business?" Amanda raised a brow, "Well, I'd hate to break it too you, but you trying to steal the eevee I gifted to Professor Cerise's daughter, feels like my business."
"A gift?" the blue haired woman paled even further.
"Yes, it was a gift. A way to strengthen relations between Gen Labs, and this new establishment," Amanda said, lying flawlessly.
"You work for Gen labs?" The third researcher said.
"You really don't recognize me, do you?" Amanda said, stalking closer, like a predator closing in on dinner, "Does the name Amanda Gen ring a bell or do I need to explain who I am to you?"
"O-of course not, Miss Gen," The Blue haired woman was now practically panicking.
Amanda smiled, "Good," she said, and the smile vanished, "Now are you going to tell me what makes you think that you have the right to screw up my assignment?"
"Your assignment, Miss Gen?" The blue Haired woman swallowed.
"Yes, my assignment, personally given to me, by my mother, to reach out to Cerise labs for a joint project. I selected that eevee from my family's breeding reserve to bring as an olive branch. So, why are you trying to take her from her trainer?" Amanda said.
"Uhm...we believe this eevee to be an escaped test subject for your mother's research," The blue haired said.
"Well, you're wrong. I selected this eevee myself, as I knew she would make a good match for miss Chloe. She isn't my mother's test subject," Amanda hummed, "Wait a minute, are you telling me that you have been chasing and harassing an eevee that was for a trainer, that has been underneath a professor's daughter's care, while there has been an escapee on the loose?"
"Uhm no, no, no. It wasn't like that, Miss Gen-" Blue hair said.
"Cut the tauros-shit," Amanda snapped, "I should really report the three of you to my mother for this fuck up of yours. I know she would."
All three of the researchers wilted. Their faces flinching.
Amanda huffed, "But you three are really lucky, it was me who caught you. I should, but I won't as long as you get back to your actual jobs, and never speak of this again. Got it?"
They all nodded with great vigor.
"Good," Amanda crossed her arms, "Now get back to work. You've wasted enough time on this false lead."
It took less than a minute for all three of the researchers to bolt down the lab's front steps. It was actually kind of funny. They were more stumbling than running. One of them even tripped and face planted on the last step.
Amanda smirked, and took a sip of her coffee, seemingly please with herself. Then the goth walked up that last of the lab steps.
Chloe smiled at her, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it kid. Seriously, if my mother finds out about all the crap I just spit out, I'd really be disowned," Amanda said, "besides, Eevee deserves a trainer not a lab cage."
"Wait," Dad said, "This Eevee was the one they were looking for?"
"Not anymore," Amanda said, "Or at least she won't be soon if you get her into a poke ball pronto."
"What do you mean?" Chloe said.
"On the off chance that mother does find out about this, she will not stop until she gets Eevee back under her control. However, if Eevee is bound to a pokeball underneath your name, she'd have to go the legal route, and no matter how good the lawyer is, unless abuse is found, it is nearly impossible for a pokemon to be taken from their trainer."
Chloe gazed at the older trainer with new found respect, and gratitude, "Thank you."
"Like I said, don't mention it."
Amanda sighed heavily, and let out a frustrated growl. She shoved her laptop on the coffee table. Pushing up her glasses to rest on her forehead and mashing the heels of her hands into her face. Not caring about smudging her make up anymore. Her head hurt; insomnia was a bitch. Her fingers hurt; cramping up from typing. Her stomach hurt; she only drank coffee today, and the max amount of cinnamon the café could add into her brew wasn't nearly spicy enough.
Her eyes hurt.
Arceus, Amanda knew that her grey pools were slowly dying but couldn't they suck it up and work at least until she managed to get her idiot brother out of trouble?
Was that too much to ask?
It probably was for a selfish bitch like her. Especially after...
The beedrill buzzed angerly over her head. Eevee was held close in the 5-year-ols arms, the small Pokémon trembling. She hadn't meant to fall into their nest. It was an accident.
"Mandy!" Her brother called out, "Run!"
She couldn't run. She froze, stuck to the spot on the ground where she had tripped and fallen.
The beedrills' stingers began to gleam white, Amanda flinched back.
"No!" Brother screamed.
A flash of blue flew over her head. Striking the beedrill, and continued to fly into a tree. Green leaves and brown branches quickly burned into golden flames, and blackened wood.
Brother came running over to her, pulling her up on her feet. His arms wrapped around her tiny form in a relieved hug.
"What happened!?" Dad called, as he came running.
"Ri Ri is a wizard!"
Riley had saved her life that day, and now she couldn't even return the favor. This was something that she had been in debt to him for a long time. Some small part of her, hope that once this was over. When she had paid her dues, that she could finally forget Riley. Her brother had no use for her. She shouldn't have use for him.
He already made his need for her abundantly clear.
Amanda ran as fast as she could through the large long halls of the house. Her bear feet slapped against the hard wood floors. Eevee chasing after her. Riley was leaving today. The little girl ran to his room to say goodbye, but it was empty.
She was too late.
She had nearly reached the front door hoping to chase her brother down, but a thin hand snagged her shoulder and pulled her back.
"Where do you think your going?" Mother spoke.
"To say bye to Ri Ri," Amanda said.
"It's to say farewell. Bye is too casual," Mother said, "Besides you're too late, daughter. Riley has already left."
Amanda wilted. Her brother left? Riley left? Her brother didn't say good bye?
"Oh, wipe that sad look off your face. Don't worry Amanda, your brother has more important things to worry about now."
Amanda may not be the closest to her mom, but Professor Gen had been right about one thing.
Riley didn't need an annoying little sister weighing him down anymore.
She couldn't be a burden anymore.
She took a deep breath, shoved her glasses back into their place and turned her attention to the computer screen once more.
This is the least she can do.
Get her brother out of trouble.
Do her duty to the Gen name.
Despite the fact that she was utterly worthless in everything else.
Her eyes began to feel warm. Her throat slowly closing.
Tears? Seriously? What a pathetic bitch. She shouldn't let her emotions get in the way of her progress. Mother never let that happen to her. Riley probably never did either.
Dad? Dad had been sentimental. And it ended badly for him.
Just another life she ruined.
Just like everyone she touched.
Why couldn't she just do enough for everyone?
What was wrong with her?
Why was she so pathetic? Useless? Broken?
Why was she even here?
Dawn was always Sir Aaron's favorite hour to walk through his family's orchards. The gentle newborn rays of light would trickle through the young leaves, and remaining pale blooms on the trees. Wisps of the morning breeze, lifted his cape and played with his dark hair. The early chill forming dewdrop on the fresh green grass blades.
He took a deep breath. The sweet smell of the cherry blooms filling his nose and lungs. It felt like home.
The orchards were always quiet in the morning. Only the sounds of his own footsteps and breath.
Until the heard the singing.
"Into the garden, my love. Into the garden, my love. Into the garden, my love. Look me for me there, among the roses. Look for me there, among the thorns. I lay asleep. Waiting for thee. Waiting for thee to rescue me..."
Sir Aaron smiled; he knew that voice.
"...Into the garden, my love. Into the garden, my love. Into the garden, my love..."
He started towards it without thinking.
"...Look me for me there, among the roses. Look for me there, among the thorns..."
He weaved through the tree trunks.
"...I lay awake. Cold and afraid. Waiting to be taken away..."
Sir Aaron rounded a stump, at the edge of the orchard. The cliffs ahead of him.
"Emily?" He called and the singing came to an abrupt end.
His sister had her back towards him. She sat on a large low hanging branch. The horizon of the forest below the cliff and the rising sun in front of her. She wore a long flowing dress, colored in the palest petal blue. The skirt and sleeves long and flowing freely. Her long dark was worn down, spilling down her shoulder and back. It flew freely in the wind, whipping and whirling wildly. Blackened brambles adorned with pale white roses curled around her form. The thorns clinging to her dress and body as the vines twisting and twined around her. Their petals dried and withering.
"Aaron?"
Sir Aaron smiled, "Good morning sister. I've missed you."
Emily didn't turn around, but her shoulder shook with a small huff, "You're very late."
"My apologizes. You know how hard it is for me to get up the mornings that I visit home."
"Didn't I? I had to wake you every morning when we were children. It usually ended with me getting thrown to the floor by someone's pillow."
Sir Aaron winced, "You're never going to let me forget that are you?"
"As long as I was there to remind you."
"How have you been fairing? Has mother tried to arrange another marriage for since I've left?"
"Actually yes, she did."
"How do you plan on escaping this one?"
"I didn't."
"Pardon?"
"I didn't have a plan to escape."
"Do you love him? Your betrothed?"
"No. He was cold, controlling, cruel. Everything Father had wanted in a son-in-law."
"Then he is of the worst sort for you. Why don't you see need to plan your escape. You've always planned before."
"I used to have somewhere to go to escape. I didn't anymore. I was trapped Aaron. I had nowhere to run."
"You could've run to me. I would never turn you away."
"You weren't there, Aaron. You were gone."
"I'm right here," Sir Aaron said.
The knight walked closer, creeping up towards the branch. He reached a hand out towards her... and froze once he saw her. Once he saw the knife.
The front of her dress was stained the deep red of life blood. The scarlet pooled and blotched her loose bodice; dying the roses around her chest red. In the center of the of the red, right over her heart, was a single silver dagger. The metal handle, adorned with diamonds and pearls, was covered in bloodied fingerprints. Just as her hands, her hands laid gently in her lap, were stained red.
Yet, she still smiled.
"Emily..." Sir Aaron gaped.
"You can't save me Aaron. You're too late. Far, far too late."
"Emily...Who...who did this to you?"
"It doesn't matter who did this. It doesn't matter if it was by my hand or the people who pushed me towards it. It's done."
"How can you be so calm?"
"I've been like this for a long time Aaron."
Sir Aaron swallowed, his throat suddenly feeling tight. The horror filling his heart, quickly beginning to overflow. Drowning out any other feeling.
Emily let out a small chuckle, "Don't weep for me, Aaron. I'm finally free. You couldn't have changed anything anyway. You couldn't have saved me."
Sir Aaron stared, confused by his sister's words.
Emily's face saddened, "You couldn't help me, but someone else needs help."
"Emily?"
"She's drowning Aaron, and no one knows it. No one is coming to save her."
"Who Emily? Who's drowning?"
"They won't let her breath. They're choking her. They're killing her. She's in pain. So much pain. She's dying, Aaron."
"Who?"
Emily was silent for a moment, and then her grey eyes, her empty grey eyes, locked with his.
"Save her."
Sir Aaron woke up with a strangled gasp. His limbs failing slightly before he regained his composure.
He took a deep, shaking breath, running a hand over his face. A cold sweat on his brow. He swallowed. The knight wouldn't call the dream a nightmare, but it was still...unnerving. He glanced around the room to ground his mind, and slow his pulsing heart. The chamber was the same. The simple floor was still made of varnished wood. The walls formed from some material that appeared to be stone but wasn't stone at the same time. Lucario still curled up in the corner fast asleep.
Sir Aaron took another deep breath, closing his eyes.
Then he opened them to the creak of his chamber door.
Blue eye glanced up just in time to see Umbreon peak her head through. Red eyes looked up at the knight with panic.
"Umbreon?"
The shadow wielder leaped forward, jaw grasping onto the Knight's sleeve, and began tugged him towards the door.
"Umbreon? Whatever is the matter?"
Umbreon had lived up to her name as a Shadow wielder since the knight had met her. Silent, and unnoticeable, but always watching. Always by her trainer's side. Unmoving. Always ready. Patient. Waiting. Watching.
However now, the Pokémon appear frightened. Sir Aaron allowed Umbreon to drag him from his bed.
The black Pokémon clawed at the bathroom door. A small whimper coming from her throat. Sir Aaron looked at the door confused somewhat. A small line of light leaked out from the bottom of the door. Meaning someone was inside. Most likely Amanda, as the boys were still fast asleep. However, the bathroom was quiet, not a sound coming from the inside.
Sir Aaron knocked the painted wood lightly, "Amanda?"
No answer.
"Amanda are you alright in there?"
No answer.
"Amanda? You're worrying Umbreon. Please answer me.
No answer.
"I'm coming inside."
He griped the door handle cautiously. Opened the door and froze.
His niece sat on the bathroom floor, leaning against the side of the tub. Tear stains on her face and her arms covered in bleeding gashes. A small bloody knife held loosely in her limp hand. Her eyes still empty and her face still blank as she cried.
"Amanda," Sir Aaron gasped.
The knight rushed forward, grabbing one of the spare towels from the cabinet and then kneeled before his niece. The young woman didn't react when he tightly wrapped her forearm with the towel. He quickly repeated the action with the other arm. Once the worst of the bleeding was stanched, he pulled the towel away, the white fabric now a bright red, and began to heal the cuts one by one.
Arceus. There were so many. So, many tiny cuts on his niece's flesh. Like little slivers of ruby stabbed into her skin. And the scars. So, so many scars. Far more then the cuts she wore. Some white, some pale red, all of them crisscrossing each in horrid cross-hatching on her skin.
While appearing calm on the outside, Sir Aaron was panicking within. How did this happen? Why did this happen? There were too many scars, for this to happened once. But what on earth would drive someone to harm themselves in such a way?
The knight looked at her, looked at her soul, and swallowed back the urge to vomit. It was nearly black. A cold void where life was supposed to be. The vile thing, had nearly swallowed her aura whole. Squeezing and strangling her spirit, slowly killing like a band worn too tight on a limb. It looked dead.
"Amanda?" Sir Aaron called gently, using his free hand to tilt her chin towards him, "Can you hear me, dear?"
Amanda only blinked, a fresh set of tears dripping from the corner of her eyes.
The knight quickly finished healing his Niece's wounds, and then clean up the blood best he could. Umbreon had surprising knowledge regarding on how to remove the red stains, though he wasn't sure how she made the ruined towel vanish. When all was said and done, her tucked his niece back into her bed.
Removing her spectacles, he knew the moment her silent form slipped off to sleep. Her breath shifted and her empty eyes closed. He brushed away her bangs, and bit his own lip. His eyes flicked over to Umbreon, the Pokémon resting at her trainer's bedside.
"You knew about this, didn't you?" Sir Aaron whispered
Umbreon nodded.
"Why does she do this?"
Umbreon looked at the floor, before getting to her paws. The shadow wielder trotted over to Amanda's laptop. The Pokémon nudged the device open with her short snout. The screen lighting up with life as it opened.
Then she woke up Pichu. The yellow mouse seemed disoriented at first, but a few sharp words from Umbreon and he was fully focused. The lightning wielder leaped towards the device that was still on the floor. His tiny paws used the keyboard on the laptop with fluid experience. After tapping a few and using the smaller device that was ironically called a mouse, Pichu leaped off, and Umbreon shoved the laptop towards the knight.
Curiosity taking over Sir Aaron reached down and picked up the device. At the top of the screen, there were large orange letters that read, "'Chapter 14: Depressive Disorders'".
The screen was clearly from some sort of teaching book. The main subject seeming to be on an illness of the mind. And the more Sir Aaron read, the more he grew concerned. While the symptoms of this illness weren't a complete match, he could still pick out many that Amanda did show.
"'...the presence of sad, empty or irritable mood...loss of interest in pleasurable activities...appetite and weight changes, sleep disturbances, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating, feelings of self-reproach or guilt, and frequent thoughts of death, perhaps by suicide.'"
Sir Aaron swallowed. The last word of that sentence sending a chill up his spine. He wasn't a doctor, especially not a healer of the human mind, but it certainly seemed like his niece was suffering. And if it wasn't this depressive disorder, then it was something else. Her Pokémon seemed to think it was a correct diagnosis.
How could he help her? Especially in the worst case. His niece was ill, and he felt helpless. He read on. Did Sir Aaron believe Amanda was trying to die when he found her? No. However, he needed to know what might be happening to her if it were to come to that, and how to help her.
"'For adolescents and emerging adults suicidal crisis are often triggered by overwhelming interpersonal distress..."people desire death when two fundamental needs are frustrated"...the need to belong, to feel connected with others...the need for competence. If we do not perceive ourselves as able to do the things, we think we should be able to do, our need of competence was not met.'"
Sir Aaron, wasn't sure which would inflict his niece first, but he would be ready if the time came. He would protect her. Save her. Like his sister was trying to tell him. Amanda would not die from this, he swore it.
A/n:
When I first saw that aura sight training in the movie, I just knew that a lot of beginners would have been hit by the logs. For some reason it played through my head like an AFV clip.
So, I've never portrayed mental illness like this before. I just hope I didn't offend anyone. I was mostly going off of my psych class textbook, that's were I got the quote from. Sorry, if I didn't get it right.
I've been wanted to write that dream sequence since forever. It almost made me want to record the song Emily was singing and post it on youtube.
If you know someone who is in a dark place, please reach out. And if you fear the worst, please contact professional help.
Have a good day everyone.