Finally Chapter 4...this is the part of the fic where each chapter focuses on one setting and group of characters to see what they are up to and how they fare without our favorite edglord antihero protagonist in their respective picture. Also each chapter will contribute to advance the plot in a bit of a 'slow burn'(is that what this is called?) eventually we will get to the epilogue arc which serves as the climax which will hopefully tie everything together ss we drop mad twists and surprises that will hopefully lead to a satisfying climax(Read: Satisfying, but doesn't mean there will be a happy ending, or will there? Who knows?.
Anywho, no explicit or graphic content this chapter so please enjoy.
Chapter 4: Revelations of the Involutionary
It had only been what, nearly 2 months since the involutionary kid with the team of incredibly rare Legendary/Mythical pokemon had first ascended to the top of Mount Silver and it seemed like he made a niche for himself here. On the one hand he worked himself and his team as ragged as ever with their new strict training regimens and within one of the harshest environments in the world no less. On the other hand, he actually found ample enough time for both him and his pokemon team to rest in between sessions as there was no one else besides himself and his pokemon to interact with daily and of course, he would often make sure his pokemon attain sustenance consistently while he often starved himself in favor of making sure his pokemon don't keel over.
He barely ate and since he was out in the remote wilds, he would have to just make do for him and his pokemon being able to only eat berries and roots 95% of the time. For Kieran however, this type of fasting was also a part of 'his' training he would decide in order to ensure his resilience and mental toughness had improved. Eventually he would hit his limit. At least on the physical side of things, he still wasn't in the best shape. He still appeared malnourished as ever before and this was a thing as far back as a few years ago, but he would be sure to drink plenty of water and eat at least once a week while getting plenty of rest between training sessions.
After having just wrapped up yet another intense training session, his pokemon were eating to replenish their energy and were going to rest for a good 3-4 hours before resuming the regimen with yet another harrowing training session. Each day would yield 3-5 training sessions sometimes 6 and almost never less than 3, even on weekends. And Kieran deliberately set it up this way so his pokemon wouldn't get too complacent and 'become lazy' as they would say, but he definitely trusted this particular team more than even his old academy team not to do just that. Speaking of his old academy team, which he left behind at the academy with the academy nursery sector, he often did wondered how they were faring now, he also wondered how his older team hat he briefly raised in Kitakami were doing with his grandparents, especially his old companion Furret.
It was only 2 and a half hours after Kieran and his team took a nap to rest that suddenly, a faint crackling noise echoed throughout the lone cave that Kieran had carved at the base of the mountain peak to shelter him and his team from the harsh cold wintry chill of the mountain's peak. This noise echoed from outside the cave as the noise got louder and louder until a loud boom and thud startled him awake. As soon as he jolted, some snow and chilly winds came in through the cavern, likely dispersed by whatever crash landed on the outside.
As Kieran decided to get up in haste, slightly panicking but still composed, he headed out the cave and into the snowy peak outside to investigate the sudden burst of tumult. What he saw did only nothing but to confound him to no end. A large black dragon with a generator shaped tail which radiated an electric aura that seemed massively overwhelming unlike any other Pokemon Kieran had encountered in his life thus far had just appeared at the peak of Mount Silver, and that says alot since Kieran had previously encountered a Prehistoric Draconic Ride Kaiju from Paldea's Crater, a Crystal Turtle that nearly lobbed his head off with a stray crystallized blast, an Ogre that was and in a way still to be feared, and of course his own team of Mythical Pokemon which in his mind were even more harrowing to deal with except for a couple of them.
And of course, having attended a prestigious school within the Unova region, of course many a Unovan Legends, History, and Lore were taught in some of their classes. And thus of course Kieran knew about Zekrom and Reshiram and how several years ago they each appeared before a chosen hero to settle a monumental clash of truth and ideals which implicated that a paradigm shift of some kind would possibly take place depending on the outcome of that battle. Something involving an organization of eccentric separatists who sought to liberate Pokemon from humans or some weird jank like that which turned out to actually be some front for dastardly criminal enterprisings.
Question Kieran now has on his mind is...'WHAT THE HELL IS A FREAKIN ZEKROM OF ALL THINGS DOING IN THE TOHJO BORDERLANDS ON MT.SILVER'S PEAK?!!' However, before Kieran could vocalize such an inquiry or approach the massive dragon cautiously, a tall slim figure emerged of their perch on the dragon and jumped onto the snowy and icy ground below before making their way towards Kieran.
He approached so as to not startle this kid who seemed wary, now even more befuddled that such a powerful legendary Pokemon was potentially the partner of this mystery man who wore a hat, and had long, wild green hair, and wore some peculiar baubles around his neck. As the man approached Kieran he greeted him in a rather cordial manner. "Greetings young one! Pardon me for the intrusion for I had no idea anyone was here." The mystery man replied.
Kieran, not one to show any signs of fear or weakness, replied in a soft but firm tone, yet with an intense look that didn't quite match said tone. "Hello, who are ya and why didja' come here?" Kieran inquired, wanting to get straight to the point and figure out who this man is.
"Yes this is quite the strange circumstance indeed but one that I doubt anyone can just comprehend...such a bizarre formula is quite nuanced yes?..." The strange man trailed off, Kieran already losing patience with this guy just blabbering nonsense. The young man did continue to try and get to the point. "...ah forgive me, but I digress yes...see i was called here to this location by a very peculiar Pokemon, I heard that it was worried about it's friend... I surmise that particular friend to be you yes?" The mystery man finished with an out of left field inquiry that just left Kieran even more confused.
Kieran just replied with a bit indignation in his voice. "Really now, first of all there isn't any Pokemon here but my own team of six, and second of all we are fine...all of us...and what is this about being called by a Pokemon? Doesn't make much sense so far." Kieran quipped with an inquiry at the end, although it seemed like it could have been rhetorical in nature.
Before the strange man could respond, out popped one of Kieran's Mythical Pokemon from it's ball, his Latios, a blue and white Aerodynamic Dragon-type Pokemon. "Ah yes, it was you wasn't it?" The man simply replied to the pokemon in question to which it affirmatively responded with a nodding 'yes'.
Kieran basically was stupefied at this and addressed his companion. "Say WHAT?! You telling me this random guy can talk to YOU?!! And Latios reaffirmed the inquiry in kind by gesture. Kieran then asked the mystery man some more questions. "Okay so you can at least understand my Pokemon if not outright talk to 'em? If so then answer me this...How was you able to communicate with my Pokemon if one, it was in it's ball and two, you were nowhere near us when you claimed my Latios called out to you? Argghh it doesn't make one lick 'o sense...AT ALL!!" Kieran finished, quite frustrated at the bizarre developments occuring here.
At this the mystery man went towards the Latios and petted him lightly whilst replying to the inquiry in a dissuading manner. "Now now...one needn't fret so hard over this, the world is comprised of many formulas both remedial and complex indeed. All you need to know for now is that I can reach out to and understand the hearts and minds of Pokemon. And that I felt this Pokemon's heart call out to me whilst I rode through the skies of Johto with my partner... speaking of which..." He trailed off briefly, stopping his attention on Latios to address the large black dragon standing 10 feet behind him which remained still with a neutral yet wary expression. "This is my beloved partner...Zekrom." The mystery man said.
"Ok first of all...wowzers, never thought I'd see the legendary Deep Black Dragon of Tempest spoken in Ancient Unovan History and Legend. Second of all...wow, can you really tell what my pokemon are saying...thinking even? What's it's saying now?" Kieran asked the mystery man.
"It is telling me that it is mainly worried about your well being...while you seem to be working your partners a bit hard for my takes, it would seem the one you're truly neglecting is yourself correct?" The mystery man answered with an inquiry of his own.
In response, Kieran just growled under his teeth. Feeling indignant at the inquiry and how some random stranger is meddling in his affairs.
"I understand putting the needs of your Pokemon before your own...and I understand you are merely scraping by in this harsh unforgiving environment because you wish to get away from others while focusing on bonding with your Pokemon friends through rigorous training. Correct yes?" The mystery man further inquired.
"Yeah...me and my team here decided that we would become the strongest team of them all. Who needs human friends and family when I have my team of Pokemon?" Kieran replied.
"Yes yes...good...and I can sense that you are steadfast in your convictions in this undertaking. Even Zekrom here can sense the strength of your ideals...in fact I believe it took me here because it was drawn to such." Replied the mystery man, revealing key details on what led him and his partner to visit this unyielding mountain peak.
"Wait what? Ideals? Convictions? Now I'm lost. I am simply trying to get stronger" Kieran replied.
"That much I can now see...yet I am curious as to how genuine this ideal of absolute strength to the point of remaining in isolation from the rest of your fellow trainers truly is...and I believe I know of a way you can prove that..." The mystery man began to propose before continuing. "Let me and Zekrom here clash with your partner Darkrai." The mystery man finished, issuing a challenge.
"What?...you know of my Darkrai as well?...oh geez...now I'm curious...it's obvious your not an ordinary trainer, your special... perhaps even more so than she was..." Kieran trailed off, deep in thought.
"...she?..." Murmured the mystery man who silently was wondering who Kieran was referring to.
"Very well, I'll accept your challenge. One on One...take your position." Replied Kieran in a cold tone before taking the opposite side of the makeshift field of battle.
At this Kieran silently recalled his Latios then sent out his partner Darkrai and in response, the mystery man called out to his partner on standby and with a whirring of electrical pulses through it's tail and body it ascended quickly before descending in front of it's trainer, ready to be called into battle.
"We will allow you the first move, show me and Zekrom the strength of your ideals!!" The mystery man exclaimed before Kieran gladly took up on that offer.
"Very well, but we won't lose. Darkrai use Dark Pulse!" Kieran issued the first command of the battle.
As Darkrai quickly fired a massive stream of metadark energy towards the massive legendary dragon, the mystery man responded timely in turn.
"Zekrom intercept it with Dragon Pulse!" The mystery man issued a counter command.
Quickly charging up dragon type energy, Zekrom shoots a similar stream but with draconic energy which manages to intercept with and clash with the stream of metadark energy at the last moment and a massive explosion occurred nearly rocking the whole area of the summit on which they are now battling in. Both attacks were pretty much even in overall strength. This will prove that this match could go either way despite Zekrom seemingly outclassing Darkrai on paper.
"I must give credit where it's due...your Darkrai's strength is quite real indeed, perhaps spurred by your absolute convictions." Praised the mystery man as he prepared his next counterattack. "Now allow me to demonstrate the strength of my convictions through Zekrom's overwhelming power. Go Zekrom use Fusion Bolt!". He countered.
"I'll show you REAL conviction, Darkrai Focus Blast full power!!!" Kieran practically roared.
As Zekrom charged upwards of ten-trillion volts of raw physical strength and prepared to clash with Darkrai's conjured concentrated blast of of pure aura, which ended up being of similar size as Zekrom launching itself supercharged with absolute teravoltage. The two attacks collided as they battled for dominion of pitched combat. However, somehow the Focus Blast from Darkrai as it began being pushed back by Zekrom's supercharged colliding form, it began to grow much bigger and began pushing Zekrom back before the colliding forces reached critical mass and the resulting clash generated a powerful explosion which caused a tumult even ten times greater than the tumult that occurred when Zekrom first landed at the peak of Mt. Silver.
Some tense moments later as Kieran watched with gritted teeth. Soon the smoke generated from the collision dissipated revealing both Darkrai and Zekrom standing. Before another command could be issued, the mystery man held up his hand and began to concede the bout having fully recognized the absolute strength of his adversary's power and steadfast convictions. "Excellent, you and your partner have truly have demonstrated true strength of conviction and ideals. Therefore in light of our overwhelming bout and it's results thus far, there shall be no need to continue further. Therefore Zekrom and I shall hereby concede to you and your Darkrai on this glorious day indeed." The mystery man proclaimed, having acknowledged his foe's strength as a trainer and the burning flame of conviction that spurs it's ever present growth and cultivation.
Kieran however didn't really understand why his opponent just gave up and voice his resentment. "Wait, what? Your just giving up, but why?" Kieran inquired with a bit of a embittered tone.
"Well now that we have seen all we needed to see and gleaned all we needed to inform us of your ideals and the strength of your bonds and beliefs, it would be wise to halt this bout further before the tumult around this peak escalates into utter ruin. If it's any affirmation, your Darkrai likely would have emerged victorious over my mighty Zekrom. Not many have the conviction to do so, and to that, in my astute observations, I truly believe you are amongst the strongest of trainers I have ever witnessed as of now." The mystery man replied.
"Ah ok... makes sense I guess. If anything this just means we are making great stride and progress towards our end goal." Kieran remarked rather calmly now.
"Indeed." The mystery man said.
"So y'need anything else, any more questions?" Kieran inquired hoping to make this encounter as short and painless as possible.
"Just two...first off...when you surmised me and my Zekrom as quite extraordinary, you mentioned perhaps moreso than 'she'...just who is this 'she' you are referring to?" Inquired the mystery man.
With a wistful sigh, Kieran answered with a simple response. "All you need to know is that this trainer is a super talented prodigy that has been the murderer of my childhood hopes and dreams and the bane of my very existence, alongside that wicked wench that once dared to call herself my sibling."
After hearing this, the mystery man became silent for about a minute before responding. "Ah...I see...it would seem much of your motivations that shaped your truths and ideals are spurred from some form of betrayal?" The mystery man inquired.
"Yeah...I guess you could say that, but it's a lot more complicated than that...Even I don't fully understand what I am feeling, I just feel like I haven't been given enough in thisworld and others seem to get whatever they want while I often get nothing...It's more like vindication is my motive I s'pose." Kieran replied to the inquiry.
"Hmm...so you believe that the world has constantly been unkind and unfair to you and unless you can become the strongest, nothing about that will change, correct?" The mystery man inquired further on this subject.
"Yeah... pretty much that. But there's also the fact that if I had stayed or tried to make amends with the people I left behind, then I would have gone through all that I went through all for nothing. I would still have nothing to show for it. I should know because after all was said and done I was stuck in deep depression until I met Darkrai one fateful night." Kieran answered his honest take on what he had truly felt throughout his various ordeals since he was lied to during that fateful festival night long ago.
"So that explains why you're here in this harsh unforgiving place all alone...as for my next inquiry...do you have other pokemon partners besides the ones with you, perhaps convalescing somewhere else?" The mystery man inquired.
"Well I have a few teams worth of pokemon at home and at a faraway academy I used to go to, but I'm sure they are being well cared for. They already went through enough for me, I can't let them keep suffering due to my constant failures as a trainer. These 6 however with me are much stronger and are far more resilient than any other pokemon I've ever raised. As long as I become much stronger than ever before and become just as resilient as my new team of super special Pokemon, I can finally succeed where I long since kept failing miserably." Kieran answered.
"Is that part of the reason you have nearly neglected your needs of sustenance and health, focusing mainly on upkeeping your pokemon's needs and health before even considering your own?" The mystery man further inquired, Kieran getting a little antsy at the seemingly endless cycle of inquiries where answering one question leads the man in front of him to ask another.
"Well yeah that but... there isn't much out here so I had to pack very heavy on supplies and food. I actually have food and water with me but we resolved only to ration those for one meal every 3 months. We mainly try to live off the land. In fact my pokemon often climb down the mountain to look for twigs, berries, and fruit and they haul 'em up 'ere by 'emselves. It's good training in it's own right." They learn to be more self reliant, which is something I have been looking to practice since forever. Anywho,no think that should be it. Y'know I have just one more question to ask you...it dawned on me that we both didn't get to know each other's name even though we just met and had a battle and all that. The name's Kieran, what's yours?" Kieran answered that last question only to ask what's perhaps the final inquiry of this conversation.
"Ah how remiss of me, I never thought to have given something as cordial as to what name I go by." The mystery man replied.
"It's alright I guess, I did the same thing too here." Kieran replied back.
"You may simply refer to me...as N." The mystery man said. Apparently his name is...N? What kind of name is that? More like a single letter than an actual name.
"Really N? That's your actual name, or is that like a handle or something?" Kieran asked bewildered at such a reference to a person's identity.
"Now now, it's quite alright, I know that it may seem odd to you, all you need to know is I am indeed a friend to all pokemon and I can see your heart will and forever always will be with pokemon as well. Perhaps this is a fated meeting of kindred spirits perhaps? Who knows what fate has planned for each of us and what this meeting will serve in the overall roadmap of our lives. This is merely a small component of an intricate and complex formula that will shape our destinies. Anywho, with that I bid thee a fond farewell...till we meet again." N the mystery man said their farewells before climbing on top of Zekrom who immediately took off as Kieran watched, absolutely dumbfounded at this mystery of a man that seems much too weird too live, but much too rare to die.
As Kieran watched as they flew off into the sunset, Kieran watched in awe of that sight, one to behold of a man majestically floating through the skies. The perfect blend of mysterious, intriguing, strong, and most importantly free from whatever pain, anguish Kieran surmised that this man once held in his heart. For a brief moment, Kieran gazed into the future, the future of what he'd imagine he would be once he can cast aside all of his demons and truly break free from those he once knew who kept holding him down. He is now resolute more than ever to achieve his goals knowing that once he truly reached the other side where that grass looks greener, he would then truly begin his path to true redemption. Redemption for all his failures, all the mistakes he's made trying to get this far. And even though he will outright refuse to admit this, but after that chance meeting with N the mysterious man who partnered with Zekrom of all pokemon, perhaps he can one day find a new friend just as special as this 'N'' guy, only this time, Kieran could no, most definitely will stand as this person's equal and become just as special. This time no one like Carmine or Juliana will be there to whisk such a new friend away from him, and he will be strong enough to hold onto their loyalty and friendship unlike what happened with the latter.
With that thought as nightfall emerged at the peak of Mount Silver, Kieran recalled his Darkrai which all that time after the battle it just had, was idling inconspicuously next to him on top of his shadow being cast by the twilight of dusk, before heading back into the cavern at the peak he called his home for now.
Just as he stoically gazed onto the rising moon he had one thought which he monologued before heading inside.
"Guess you aren't the only gifted one in the world...Juliana... doesn't matter, because I'll win them all over...maybe even you one day will realize how badly you and sis took me for granted...think we will ever be friends again?... I don't know and quite frankly...
...silence...
...I don't care." Kieran finished with nonchalant callousness overlaying a sardonic demeanor before heading inside the cavern to rest for the rest of the night.
OK, hopefully this fic does well thus far. As i said before I don't know when I'll get chapter 5, but it's either gonna focus on the Blueberry Bunch setting up their Showcase or the Naranja Crew focusing on school life while trying various ways to cheer Juliana up and get her out of her depression over the loss of her 'true love'(don't worry gurl he ain't dead, just gone).
Anywho...see you all next time.
PS:Anyone spot a reference in this chapter(hint: Song)?